High/Ultra Performance Concrete Standoff Detection and Diagnosis

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) needs a technology to detect, identify, and differentiate between traditional concrete, high performance concrete (HPC), and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). The technology must be portable, lightweight and ultimately perform desired operations from a large standoff distance quickly.  This capability will then be used in the aid of creating targeting packages by determining the optimal selection of warheads or weapons required to breach a structure. In this Phase I proposal, Texas Research Institute (TRI) Austin will perform an experimental demonstration campaign using a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, laser ultrasound, air coupled ultrasound, milli/microwave electromagnetic testing, and active microwave thermography to identify a technological pathway to detect and differentiate between these types of concrete.  The technologies will be graded by their ability to discriminate between the different types of concrete (the key project driver), time required for analysis operations, miniaturization/ability to package into a final product (focusing on portability), and ability to perform desired operations at stand-off distances of interest (~30 ft desired upon completion of the Phase II).  This technology will then be put forward as a candidate to DTRA for development of a prototype inspection unit in subsequent Phase II work.