NDT V-E-400 User manual

V-E-400
Emodumeter
Operator’s Manual
Original Instructions: Revision February 2017

Notice
The James Instruments Emodumeter ™ has been tested in accordance
with the EU regulations governing Electro-Magnetic compliance and it
meets required directives.
Emodumeter™ is a registered trademark of James Instruments Inc. and is
property of its respective owner.
© 2017 James Instruments Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, mechanical, electronic,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
James Instruments.
No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information
contained herein. Moreover, because James Instruments is constantly
striving to improve its high-quality products, the information contained in
this manual is subject to change without notice. Every precaution has been
taken in the preparation of this manual. Nevertheless, James Instruments
assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability
assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained
in this publication.

Contents
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Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................1
Instrument Contents List ..................................................................2
Contents List............................................................................3
Testing Bench Contents List ............................................................4
Contents List............................................................................4
Emodumeter Overview.....................................................................6
Control Panel Buttons..............................................................7
Menu Layout.....................................................................................8
Emodumeter Run Mode...................................................................9
Emodumeter Setup Menus ............................................................10
Emodumeter Selections.................................................................11
Gain.......................................................................................11
Sampling rate and number of data points .............................11
Trigger Level..........................................................................12
Review Menu..................................................................................13
System Setup.................................................................................14
Changing Date.......................................................................14
Erase Memory.......................................................................16
Display Cursor.......................................................................17
Battery Operation ..................................................................18
Battery Charge ......................................................................19
Simple Guidelines for Battery Maintenance..........................20
Upload Menu..................................................................................21
Test Bench.....................................................................................22
Accelerometer................................................................................23
Testing Procedure..........................................................................25
Longitudinal Frequency Mode...............................................25
Transverse Frequency Mode ................................................29
Torsional Frequency Mode....................................................32
Emodulinx Introduction...................................................................35
Features ................................................................................35
Minimum System Requirements ...........................................35
Emodulinx Overview ......................................................................36
Menu Descriptions.................................................................37
Software Installation.......................................................................38

Contents
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Connecting the Emodumeter .........................................................43
Overview of Menus ........................................................................44
Setup Menu ...........................................................................44
Selection Menu......................................................................46
Review Menu.........................................................................47
Upload Menu .........................................................................48
FFT Menu..............................................................................50
Tips and Troubleshooting...............................................................51
Sampling Frequency and frequency resolution.....................51
Contact accelerometer ..........................................................51
Trigger level...........................................................................51
Gain.......................................................................................51
Missing Drivers (Emodulinx)..................................................52
Safety.............................................................................................54
Specifications.................................................................................55
Sales Numbers...............................................................................55
Warranty Information......................................................................56
Repair Policy..................................................................................61

We: James Instruments Inc.
Of: Chicago, IL
In accordance with the following Directive(s):
2006/95/EC Low Voltage Directive
hereby declare that:
Equipment Emodumeter
Model Number V-E-400
is in conformity with the applicable requirements of the following
documents
Ref. No. Title Edition/date
ASTM C 215 Standard Test Method for Fundamental 2008
Transverse, Longitudinal, and Torsional
Frequencies of Concrete Specimens.
ASTM C 666 Standard Test Method for Resistance of 2008
Concrete to Rapid Freezing and Thawing.
EN 61000-6-3 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generic 2007
standards. Emission standard for residential,
commercial and light-industrial environments.
EN 61000-6-2 Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) 1999
Part 6-2: Generic Standards—Immunity
for Industrial Environments.
I hereby declare that the equipment named above has been designed to
comply with the relevant sections of the above referenced specifications.
The unit complies with all applicable Essential Requirements of the
Directives.
Signed:
Name: Michael Hoag
Position: President, James Instruments Inc.
Location: Chicago, IL
On: 2/23/2017

Introduction
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Introduction
The Resonant Frequency Tester may be used in the laboratory for
research purposes or in the field to assess quality control and
concrete stiffness evolution or the damage induced by freezing and
thawing of concrete. It is a non-destructive method to determine
the longitudinal, torsional, and flexural or transverse resonant
frequencies of a variety of materials. The specification complies
with ASTM C-215, ASTM C- 666, BS 1991, and JISA 1127
standard for testing concrete specimens by the resonant frequency
method. It also meets standards to measure modulus of Elasticity
of rocks and other materials.
The instrument consists of the Resonant Frequency Tester, a test
bench for longitudinal, flexural and torsional resonance
measurements to take specimens up to 28” x 6” x 6”, a miniature
accelerometer is used as a receiver and a set of 6 hardened steel
balls are used to generate the vibrations on the sample by a
mechanical impact. In order to obtain the resonance frequency of
the sample, the received signal is analyzed in the time domain and
the frequency spectrum is displayed on the instrument’s screen.
The Emodumeter system comes with 6 different (steel) ball sizes:
6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 16mm. The maximum
frequency that can be generated by each size can be found in the
chart below.
Steel ball diameter = Maximum Resonant Frequency possible
6mm = 48.5 kHz max freq.
8mm = 36.4 kHz max freq.
10mm = 29.1 kHz max freq.
12mm = 24.3 kHz max freq.
14mm = 20.8 kHz max freq.
16mm = 18.2 kHz max freq.
(Note: All impactors sold and manufactured at James Instruments,
Inc. are made of steel.)

Instrument Contents List
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Instrument Contents List
Each Emodumeter comes with the following items included in the
carrying case.
Figure 1: Emodumeter Contents

Testing Bench Contents List
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Contents List
Item #
Description
1
Case –Used for carrying the Emodumeter and
accessories.
2
Emodumeter Instrument –Resonant Frequency
Tester encased in a durable protective case.
3
Instruction Manual –Operating instructions for
Emodumeter.
4
AC Power Adapter –Used to power the Emodumeter
and recharge the unit.
5
240 VAC Adapter Plug –
6
USB Cable –Serial cord used to connect the
Emodumeter to a PC to upload data.
7
Accelerometer Pickup Cable –Connected to
Sensor/Accelerometer.

Testing Bench Contents List
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Testing Bench Contents List
Each Emodumeter comes with a testing bench which has the
following items included.
Figure 2: Testing Bench Contents
Contents List

Testing Bench Contents List
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Item #
Description
1
Emodumeter Test Bench –Base for performing tests.
2
Flexural Spacer Assembly –Base, #2 and #3.
3
Torsion Block (#3) –Used with Items 9 and/or 12.
4
Rubber Cushions –4”.
5
Mounting Bolts –Slide on Mounting Rod.
6
Sensor Mounting Rod –Assembly
7
Knurled Clamp Nuts –Used to Hold Sample and Item
11.
8
Pick-Up Mount Bracket Assembly –Used to Hold
Sensor (Accelerometer).
9
Torsion Block (#2) –Used with Item 12.
10
Impactor Set –6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16mm.
11
Clamp/Bar –Used to Hold the Sample in Place.
12
Torsion Block (#1) Base –For Sensor Placement
along Concrete Sample. Used with Item #8.

Emodumeter Overview
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Emodumeter Overview
The following is an overview of all of the external features of the
Emodumeter.
Figure 3: Emodumeter Overview

Emodumeter Overview
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Control Panel Buttons
Key
Definition
The power button. Momentarily push this key to turn on
the unit. Pressing it again turns off the unit. The unit will
power up displaying the main menu screen.
The up arrow. This key is used to scroll through various
settings, wave frames and allows to increase input
values needed for calculations.
The down arrow. This key is used to scroll through
various settings, wave frames and allows to decrease
input values needed for calculations.
The left arrow. This key allows you to scroll through
various settings.
The right arrow. This key allows you to scroll through
various settings.
The Enter key. Pressing this key allows you to choose
main menu selections. The enter key also allows you to
prepare the Vu-Con for testing mode. Pressing the
enter key once will give you a message “Emodumeter
is Ready”. Pressing the key one more time a message
“Emodumeter is not Ready” will be displayed.
The Esc key. Pressing this key allows you to return to
the main menu screen from any sub screen.
The light button. Pressing this key the backlight of the
display comes on. Pressing the key again turns the
backlight off.

Menu Layout
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Menu Layout
Figure 4: Emodumeter Function Flow Chart

Emodumeter Run Mode
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Emodumeter Run Mode
In order to run the Emodumeter, you need to press the right or left
arrow key. The message will change from “Run enable is OFF” to
“Run enable is On”. After the system is in the “Run enable is On”
mode, the unit will trigger with the impact of the hardened steel ball
on the surface of the sample.
Caution: the system can be triggered with another event, different
than the impact of the steel ball on the sample. Once the unit is in
the mode “Run enable is On,” any contact with the specimen, cable
or accelerometer can trigger the instrument with a meaningless
signal.
Figure 5: Emodumeter screen showing the “Run Enable Mode”

Emodumeter Setup Menus
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Emodumeter Setup Menus
By pressing the “Enter” key, the user will be able to change the
testing parameters. The first option is the testing Mode. The user
can select Longitudinal (E), Transverse (E) or Torsional (G) by
using the left and right arrow keys. By pressing “Enter” in one of
these modes, the user can manually input the value of G or E,
needed to compute Poisson’s ratio. The unit will obtain one of
these values according to the testing Mode selected (the output of
the test) and will use the user input value for the other variable.
The other option that the user can control in the Setup Menu is the
shape of the specimen. According to the user selection, different
parameters related to the dimensions of the specimen will appear in
the same screen. The user can change the values using the left
and right arrow keys by pressing “Enter.” This action opens another
screen, allowing the user to control and change parameters before
running a test. The dimensions needed are the same that are
required by the ASTM C-215.

Emodumeter Selections
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Emodumeter Selections
The Emodumeter selection menu allows the user to select the
parameters for testing according to their needs. The Amplifier Gain
and Sample Rate can be adjusted to the user needs. The Sample
Size or number of data points recorded can be selected from 1024
to 2048 points. The trigger level can also be adjusted by the user
according to specimen characteristics.
Gain
On the main screen, scroll the cursor down using the up or down
arrow keys until you get to the Emodumeter selections menu option
and press enter. The Emodumeter enters a sub-screen; title of the
sub-screen should read Current Selections. Scroll the cursor to the
option to be changed. Use the right and left arrow keys to change
the values of the selected option. The gain shall be adjusted when
testing different specimens. The smaller the sample, the lower the
gain shall be. The gain can be adjusted from 1 to 500. The gain is
the ratio of an output quantity to an input quantity. The gain options
are as follows: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500.
Sampling rate and number of data points
The user can select the sampling rate and the number of points to
sample the signal according to the specific applications or
standards requirements. The selection of these parameters affects
the frequency resolution and the maximum frequency in the
spectrum.
Sampling frequency can be 10 kHz, 20 kHz, 40 kHz or 80 kHz. The
number of data points sampled can be 1024 or 2048 points. Figure
6 and 7 show the frequency resolution and the maximum frequency
for each combination of selections. In order to achieve the
minimum frequency resolution (4.9 Hz), the settings shall be a
sampling frequency of 10 kHz and signal length of 2048 data
points. Using these settings, a maximum frequency of 5 kHz can
be identified, and frequencies higher than 5 kHz are not detected
with these sampling parameters.

Emodumeter Selections
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1024 points
2048 points
80 kHz
78.1 Hz
39.1 Hz
40 kHz
39.1 Hz
19.5 Hz
20 kHz
19.5 Hz
9.8 Hz
10 kHz
9.8 Hz
4.9 Hz
Figure 6: Frequency resolution for each combination of sampling frequency and
number of points
Maximum
Frequency (kHz)
80 kHz
40
40 kHz
20
20 kHz
10
10 kHz
5
Figure 7: Maximum frequency (kHz) for different sampling frequency selections
The selection of sampling frequency and number of points shall
allow the user to identify frequencies with the needed accuracy and
in the required range of frequencies.
Trigger Level
The Trigger level is adjusted in percentages: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%,
50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%. Pressing the escape keys the
system returns to the main menu, so test can be started. Lower
trigger level should be used when testing small samples. The
Trigger Level should be set to a level that the system records the
signal just after the impact and not before. When using low trigger
levels, environmental noise could trigger the system. Trigger level
should be increased because the system should only be activated
by the actual impact of the steel ball.

Review Menu
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Review Menu
The review menu allows the user to review previously recorded test
results. All the results and parameters used in the test are
presented in this menu. The user can review the FFT or the time
domain signal as well.

System Setup
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System Setup
The System Menu option on the main menu screen allows the user
to make modifications of the system configuration. The user can
change the date on the instrument, erase data or change the
display colors. It also, allows monitoring the battery operation. The
Emodumeter can only be set to use the English language.
Changing Date
Press the up or down key until you get to the system setup menu
option.
Figure 8:
Press “Enter”, the setup Menu sub screen should appear.