Hardness Tests on New and Existing Steel Structures

Non-destructive tests represent a valuable resource to achieve a higher knowledge of existing structures without excessively compromising its safety with the sampling operations. In this framework, the Leeb hardness test allows to measure the hardness value of steel elements directly in-site with portable devices without taking samples from the structure for laboratory tests. The purpose of the research is to find a relationship between the Leeb hardness values and the tensile strengths of steel elements to obtain reliable results that can allow to disseminate the use of this test type.