2013 Session: 269

• Nondestructive Evaluation-Based Assessment of Deterioration Progression in Concrete Bridge Decks
  Abstract: Within the framework of the Long Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program, decks of several bridges throughout the United States are being periodically monitored using a variety of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. This paper discusses the monitoring of deterioration progression by NDE in two bridge decks in the states of Virginia and California over a two-year period, from 2009 to 2011. Given their importance to the state DOT's, three major deterioration types are considered: delamination, reinforcement corrosion, and concrete degradation. The NDE techniques used to detect and characterize the deteriorated areas of the deck include ground penetrating radar (GPR), impact echo (IE), ultrasonic surface waves (USW), half-cell potential (HCP), and electrical resistivity (ER). Deterioration maps for each bridge deck are presented and the damage progression over the two-year period is discussed for each individual deck. A condition rating scheme with respect to each deterioration type is introduced as a quantitative measure of the deck condition. The overall condition rating of a particular deck is calculated as the weighted average of individual condition ratings. Utilizing these condition ratings alongside segmentation of the deck can significantly improve the efficiency of deck rehabilitation prioritization. This study paves the way for developing more objective and realistic performance prediction models for reinforced concrete bridge decks, and for more objective assessment of the effectiveness of various approaches to deck rehabilitation.
  Authors: Gucunski, Nenad; Romero, Francisco A.; Imani, Arezoo; Fetrat, Farhad A.
  Authors: Gucunski, Nenad; Romero, Francisco A.; Imani, Arezoo; Fetrat, Farhad A.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 269
  Paper Number: 13-3043
• Concrete Tunnel Lining Evaluation Using Nondestructive Techniques: Multimethod Case Study at Eisenhower Tunnel, Colorado
  Abstract: An in-depth investigation of tunnel linings is performed at Eisenhower Tunnel 60 miles west of Denver, Colorado, using a combination of four nondestructive testing methods: air- and ground-coupled ground penetrating radar (GPR), ultrasonic echo (US echo), ultrasonic tomography (UST), and impact echo (IE). A robotic frame with pneumatically operated vacuum plates is used to automate GPR, US echo, and IE. UST was performed manually. These techniques are used to identify and locate the reinforcement mesh and structural steel ribs. By analyzing the phase shift from the ultrasonic data, it is also possible to estimate the bond between the concrete and the embedded steel. It is shown that this combination of methods can be used synergistically to provide tunnel owners with the layout and possible condition of tunnel lining reinforcement and structural components.
  Authors: White, Joshua; Wolf, Julia; Shokouhi, Parisa; Hurlebaus, Stefan; Wimsatt, Andrew James
  Authors: White, Joshua; Wolf, Julia; Shokouhi, Parisa; Hurlebaus, Stefan; Wimsatt, Andrew James
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 269
  Paper Number: 13-3381
• Infrared Thermography-Based Inspection Technique for Void Detection in Bridge Stay-Cables
  Abstract: Cable-stayed bridges are being constructed more frequently due to their architectural appeal, ease of construction, and lower cost and environmental footprint in comparison to other bridge types. On some more recent bridges of that type built in the past 10-20 years, the stay-cables are comprised of greased-and-sheathed, stranded steel wires enclosed in high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes with the interstices filled with a cementatious grout. This design is susceptible to voids in the grout, which can possibly promote cracking in the HDPE piping and reduce the ability of the corrosion protection to safeguard the wires. Several non-destructive techniques have been used to detect defects (voids) in stay cables. In this work, voids in stay cables are studied using passive infrared thermography during solar irradiation over days from sunrise to sunset. Effects of stay cable material properties, time of the day, solar orientation and void sizes on the capacity of passive infrared thermography to detect defects were studied using a mockup cable constructed with known void sizes and locations. Field testing of the thermographic method was also performed on the US 231 William Natcher Bridge in western Kentucky to validate the mockup results. Grout voids in the bridge stay cables were successfully detected, the detectability of which was found to be dependent on the cable orientation relative to the solar irradiation and the angle of the cable relative to the ground. The thermographic void findings correlated well with other nondestructive methods (GPR and sounding).
  Authors: Salaimeh, Ahmad
  Authors: Salaimeh, Ahmad
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 269
  Paper Number: 13-3912
• Thickness Measurements of Structural Concrete Members with Compact Dimensions Using Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo and Impact-Echo
  Abstract: Thickness measurements are one of the most common applications for acoustic non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for concrete components such as ultrasonic pulse echo and impact-echo. They become relevant whenever components are accessible from only one side and, for example, the design thickness needs to be verified or the geometry of a structure needs to be assessed.While such measurements are relatively easy to conduct on test objects with simple geometries and wide dimensions, they become challenging when the geometry of the test object is more complex or when the dimensions of the test object are rather compact. In this study, measurements have been performed on two test blocks with different geometries. Block A is a solid slab-like block of mostly constant thickness. Block B consists of areas of different thickness. All measurements are conducted using an automated test frame, thus providing dense scan grids and therefore good statistical significance. Two- as well as three-dimensional imaging techniques are applied to the data.Within the thickness range investigated here (169 to 510 mm), ultrasonic pulse-echo has proven to be generally robust even on block B with a rather complex geometry.While impact-echo provides satisfying results on the rather simple slab-like block A, it is severely affected by geometrical effects when measurements are being conducted on a test block B.
  Authors: Algernon, Daniel; Hiltunen, Dennis R.; Ferraro, Christopher C.; Ishee, Charles A.
  Authors: Algernon, Daniel; Hiltunen, Dennis R.; Ferraro, Christopher C.; Ishee, Charles A.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 269
  Paper Number: 13-3913
• Nondestructive Evaluation-Based Assessment of Deterioration Progression in Concrete Bridge Decks
  Authors: Gucunski, Nenad
  Authors: Gucunski, Nenad
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 269
  Paper Number: 13-3043
• Thickness Measurements of Structural Concrete Members with Compact Dimensions Using Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo and Impact-Echo
  Authors: Algernon, Daniel
  Authors: Algernon, Daniel
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 269
  Paper Number: 13-3913
• Infrared Thermography-Based Inspection Technique for Void Detection in Bridge Stay-Cables
  Authors: Salaimeh, Ahmad
  Authors: Salaimeh, Ahmad
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 269
  Paper Number: 13-3912
• Concrete Tunnel Lining Evaluation Using Nondestructive Techniques: Multimethod Case Study at Eisenhower Tunnel, Colorado
  Authors: White, Joshua
  Authors: White, Joshua
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 269
  Paper Number: 13-3381