The Challenge
A water tank facility in Bukit Jalil was preparing for an upgrade that required coring through the tank wall. From the outside, the tank appeared as a regular cylindrical structure, but the internal walls were slanted, making the wall thickness vary at different points. Before proceeding, the client needed to determine the accurate thickness and reinforcement layout at 2 key areas to avoid damaging critical structural elements.
Our Approach & Result
A structural assessment was conducted with Xradar™’s non-destructive tools, combining Ultrasonic Pulse Echo (UPE) to measure wall thickness and locate voids, and Rebound Hammer testing to estimate concrete strength. In addition, we mapped the reinforcement layout at the proposed core locations to ensure no rebar would be compromised during drilling. The entire assessment took just under 4 hours.
At a recent job in Bukit Jalil, we were called in to assess a cylindrical water tank slated for upgrading works. The plan involved coring through the tank wall, but while it looked like a standard vertical wall from the outside, the internal structure was actually sloped, making it critical to verify thickness and embedded elements before proceeding.
To avoid any structural damage, we used UPE to measure the wall thickness at 2 designated points and identify any hidden voids. We also mapped out the rebar arrangement around the intended core zones to prevent drilling through reinforcement that could compromise the tank’s integrity. UPE allowed us to assess the internal condition of the concrete non-invasively and determine if the target areas were safe to core.
In addition, we conducted Rebound Hammer testing to estimate the concrete’s compressive strength and identify its likely grade. The test was fast, accurate, non-destructive and left no mark on the surface.
The full assessment was completed in just 4 hours. With clear data in hand, the client was able to proceed with confidence, knowing exactly where and how to carry out their upgrade without affecting the structural performance of the tank.
