Rebound Hammer

Rebound Hammer

In 1948, Ernst Schmidt created the rebound hammer to evaluate the quality and strength of concrete structures. This tool is a non-destructive testing method that operates on the principle of correlating the hardness of a surface to the rebound of a spring-loaded mass. To measure the surface hardness of concrete, the rebound hammer applies a spring-loaded mass to its surface and measures the rebound of the mass.

The rebound hammer can assess the uniformity of concrete, estimate its compressive strength, and evaluate the deterioration of concrete structures over time. Before using the rebound hammer, the user calibrates it against a known reference concrete surface. The plunger of the instrument is then placed against the concrete surface, and the user strikes the plunger with a spring-loaded mass. The instrument measures the rebound of the mass and provides a reading on a scale that corresponds to the concrete's compressive strength.

The rebound hammer is extensively used in the construction industry for quality control and evaluation of concrete structures, including bridges, tunnels, and buildings. It allows for a quick and non-destructive assessment of the concrete's strength without the need for laboratory testing. Furthermore, the rebound hammer is used in research and development to study the properties of concrete and improve the design of concrete structures.