Inspection and diagnosis techniques for concrete structures: Practical applications

Now more than ever, sustainability is a key concern across various sectors of society. In civil engineering, the pursuit of optimised and increasingly non-invasive methods to assess existing reinforced concrete structures has led to more sustainable approaches in the use, maintenance, and strengthening of infrastructure and equipment. This article summarises several techniques that have proven effective in extending the lifespan of existing structures or in diagnosing the true condition of structural elements where design or construction records are unavailable. Some of the tests presented represent the most advanced technological approaches currently applied in Portuguese engineering, utilising state-of-the-art equipment and innovative methodologies.