Stiffness and Cavity Test of Concrete Face Based on Non-Destructive Elastic Investigation
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The paper concerns the investigations about the concrete face slab of the dam. The tests included IR and ERT methods, which are appropriate to study cavities. The study presented is very interesting and present the actual aspect of dams monitoring. Experiment is well designed and described properly. Detailed comments are listed below:
1. Line 42-43 - The examples of NDT methods presented are only a part of the entire non-destructive testing methods of cement structures. The authors may state that for other applications, e.g.: to assess the degree of cracking of the structure, the computer image analysis is commonly used, which is also a non-destructive test, examples of references:
Szeląg M.: Influence of specimen’s shape and size on the thermal cracks’ geometry of cement paste. Construction and Building Materials, vol. 189, 2018, s. 1155-1172
Hutchinson, T. C., & Chen, Z. (2006). Improved image analysis for evaluating concrete damage. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 20(3), 210-216.
Fic S., Szeląg M.: Analysis of the development of cluster cracks caused by elevated temperatures in cement paste. Construction and Building Materials, vol. 83, 2015, s. 223-229
2. Section 2 - It is worth to attach in this place the actual photo of the dam, to illustrate the research object.
3. If it is possible, it is worth giving material parameters of the concrete face slab, e.g.: compressive strength can be obtained in a non-destructive manner by means of the Schmidt hammer test.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
The paper concerns the investigations about the concrete face slab of the dam. The tests included IR and ERT methods, which are appropriate to study cavities. The study presented is very interesting and present the actual aspect of dams monitoring. Experiment is well designed and described properly. Detailed comments are listed below:
We are very appreciate for your comments and kind suggestions for original manuscript. We would like to answer for your comments as following:
Point 1: Line 42-43 - The examples of NDT methods presented are only a part of the entire non-destructive testing methods of cement structures. The authors may state that for other applications, e.g.: to assess the degree of cracking of the structure, the computer image analysis is commonly used, which is also a non-destructive test, examples of references:
Szeląg M.: Influence of specimen’s shape and size on the thermal cracks’ geometry of cement paste. Construction and Building Materials, vol. 189, 2018, s. 1155-1172
Hutchinson, T. C., & Chen, Z. (2006). Improved image analysis for evaluating concrete damage. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 20(3), 210-216.
Fic S., Szeląg M.: Analysis of the development of cluster cracks caused by elevated temperatures in cement paste. Construction and Building Materials, vol. 83, 2015, s. 223-229
Response 1: We have added reference of detailed analyses in NDT methods by reflecting opinion by reviewer (Line44-45).
Point 2: Section 2 - It is worth to attach in this place the actual photo of the dam, to illustrate the research object.
Response 2: The dam of target object is a damaged facility and the domestic management agency does not permit the use of actual photo.
Point 3: If it is possible, it is worth giving material parameters of the concrete face slab, e.g.: compressive strength can be obtained in a non-destructive manner by means of the Schmidt hammer test.
Response 3: We think the opinion of the reviewer is very reasonable. But we could not obtain the material parameters of the concrete face slab, so we added this opinion to the conclusion (Line 317-322).
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
In this paper, non-destructive testing has been utilized to evaluate the stiffness and cavity of concrete face. The paper is interesting and well-written.
Please explain about the novelty of this research. What does it add to the current literature.
Please use the full form of acronyms when you are using them for the first time throughout the manuscript. For example, in line 42, please use the full form of non-destructive testing.
Some grammatical errors can be seen throughout the manuscript. For example, see line 52. A quick review will catch them.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
In this paper, non-destructive testing has been utilized to evaluate the stiffness and cavity of concrete face. The paper is interesting and well-written.
We are very appreciate for your comments and kind suggestions for original manuscript. We would like to answer for your comments as following:
Point 1: Please explain about the novelty of this research. What does it add to the current literature.
Response 1: We emphasized that the NDT method we applied is not a conventional NDT method (Line 294-296). Unlike conventional NDT methods, ERT survey can evaluate area where cavity is expected by visualizing the electrical resistivity distribution of the target object. It is also possible to analyze the vulnerability of concrete in combination with IR survey.
Point 2: Please use the full form of acronyms when you are using them for the first time throughout the manuscript. For example, in line 42, please use the full form of non-destructive testing.
Response 2: Acronyms of the manuscript have been checked and revised.
Point 3: Some grammatical errors can be seen throughout the manuscript. For example, see line 52. A quick review will catch them.
Response 3: Revised manuscript have been corrected for grammar errors.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
