Destructive Testing

Core sampling on a highway bridge

Core sampling is the gold standard for concrete inspections – AITHON makes this possible without asset downtime, without endangering workers, and without compromising on results.
Our technology allows for the safe and precise extraction of concrete core samples at hard-to-reach locations — no scaffolding, no rope access.

The mission in short

At a highway bridge in the mountains, critical locations for corrosion were identified. To continue safe operation, ground-truth samples from the asset were required. With AITHON, these samples were extracted without closing the road and in the same time as it would have taken human workers. The resulting cores were sent to lab testing for chlorides and carbonation.

How does AITHON extract concrete cores?

Core sampling has four phases: detection of rebar, core drilling, extraction, and hole repair. Together, this ensures that the asset is not damaged by the investigation. Each step takes between 5-15 minutes including flight time. Cores are extracted up to a diameter of 80mm and a depth of 200mm, according to SN EN 13791.

“How does it work?”

Our solution is as ingenious as it is straightforward – Let’s break it down into four steps.

Rebar Localisation

Localize and mark rebars.

Mounted with a profometer the UAV takes of attaches to the desired location and scans an area 40x40cm to detect the rebars, determines and marks the optimal location for the sample extraction. Once done it lands back on the ground ready for the next step.

Core Drilling and Retrival

Drill and retrive the concrete core.

With the core drilling tool mounted the UAV flies to the marked location and attaches there. After positioning the tool, it starts drilling. After that it takes out the core and lands safely on the ground.

Cleaning

Cleaning of hole.

After retrieving the core, the drone equipped with a brush, flies back and cleans the hole.

Refill Hole

Mortar Filling.

The cleaned hole now needs to be filled with mortar. For that the drone flies back with the next tool. Once attached it fills, seals the hole, lands on the ground. Mission done!

In-depth non-destructive evaluation

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