1- Overview :

- The Thermal Profiling Method was developed at the University of South Florida and originally implemented by Foundation and Geotechnical Engineering LLC (FGE). Research and development are a joint effort of FGE and PDI. The TIP conforms to ASTM Standard D7949 - Standard Test Methods for Thermal Integrity Profiling of Concrete Deep Foundations.

- Heat generated during curing cement . By measuring temperature, TIP evaluates concrete both inside and outside the cage

- TIP evaluates the entire cross-section and the entire length of the foundation. Results are available shortly after shaft installation is concluded: TIP™ reveals necks or inclusions (regions that are colder than average), bulges (regions that are warmer than average), variations in concrete cover, and the shape of the shaft and cage alignment.

- TIP also evaluates shaft at early stages of curing (as early as 12 hours).

- TIP advantages :

+ Evaluate the entire cross-section and the entire length of the foundation.

+ Insentive to debonding

+ Access tubes eliminated ( Wire method)

+ Accelerated construction schedules ( 24 to 48h by compared with 5 to 7 days using CSL)

+ Significantly reduce costs

- Results are available shortly after shaft installation is concluded: TIP reveals necks or inclusions (regions that are colder than average), bulges (regions that are warmer than average), variations in concrete cover, shape of the shaft and cage alignment.

- The average temperature within a concrete shaft is dependent on its diameter, on the concrete mix design and on the time of measurement relative to concrete casting. Measured temperatures at the reinforcement cage vary with the distance to the center of the shaft and with the concrete cover.

- TIP is available in two models: with Thermal Wire brand cables or with Probes

+ The TIP THERMAL WIRE Model includes a starter set of THERMAL WIRE cables (copper cables fitted with uniformly spaced temperature sensors), and Thermal Acquisition Ports that transfer collected data to the TIP main unit. The cables are cast into the shaft (often tied to the rebar cage). An additional short THERMAL WIRE cable may be installed parallel to one of the main cables to help, refine the estimate of the concrete cover.

+ The TIP Probe Model includes a thermal probe (with 4 orthogonal temperature sensors) that is inserted into access tubes for data collection, and a Thermal Acquisition Port that transfers collected data to the TIP main unit. Shafts must be built with access tubes to be tested with this system.

- Data collected by either TIP system is downloaded to a computer for analysis by the TIP Reporter Software. The TIP Reporter Software displays measured temperatures versus depth and mapped on cross sections of the shaft. A straightforward examination of these graphical representations is often sufficient to indicate a shaft with no integrity issues or one with defects.

2-Thermal Integrity Profiler  (TIP) Specifications :

Main unit :

Size: 135 X 104 X 52 mm

Weight: 0.45 Kg

Sunlight readable VGA color display for any lighting conditions, resolution 640 x 480 pixels

Screen size: 9.4 cm 

Contains 3 installed Varta Li-Ion batteries, or 1.92 grams Equivalent Lithium Content (ELC)    

Electronic Microprocessor: PXA270 @ 520 MHz

Data Storage: Built in 1 GB drive USB port for easy data retrieval

Temperature Range: 0 to 40°C operating;-20 to 65°C storage 

Thermal Acquisition Port for Probes (TAPP) :

Size: 114 x 133 x 57 mm Weight: 822 g

Temperature Range: -20 to 65° operating; -40 to 85°C storage

Contains 2 installed Varta Li-Ion battery. or 1.28 grams ELC

Internal Battery (8 hour duration)

Sampling frequency: once per second, or as a function of depth (user input) 

Probe Sensor :

Type: infrared (four orthogonal sensors)

Size: 127 x 30 mm

Weight: 5.2 kg

Cable length: 60 m

Sensor operating temperature: up to 105°C 

Depth Measurement Unit :

Type: Rotary Encoder on a self retracting reel

Resolution: 2.5 mm 

Thermal Acquisition Port for Wires (TAP) :

Size: 133 X 102 X 57 mm

Weight: 766 g T

emperature Range: -20 to 65° operating; -40 to 85°C storage

Contains 1 installed Varta Li-Ion battery. or .64 grams ELC

Internal Battery (30 day duration)

Sampling frequency:  user programmable, defaulted to once every 15 minutes

Hangs from reinforcement cage; may be bolted to cage for security 

Thermal Wire® Brand Cables Sensor :

Type: digital 

Furnished in rolls of length starting at 6 m (20 ft) with 1.5 m (5 ft) increments.

Sensor spacing: 305 mm

Sensor operating temperature: up to 105°C 

Other :

Comply with ASTM D7949

Operates in English or Metric units

TIP Basic software license

Technical manual included

Full one-year warranty 

3- TIP Result Example TIP  :

Early Anomaly Detection