Impact echo data from bridge deck testing: Visualization and interpretation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Abstract

Accurate assessment of the condition of bridges leads to their economic management. Ultrasonic seismic methods can be successfully used for this purpose through evaluation of changes in material characteristics and detection of the development of defects and zones of deterioration. The impact echo (IE) method is of special benefit in evaluation of corrosion-induced deck delamination, due to the method's nondestructive nature, speed of evaluation, and ability to detect delaminated zones at various stages of deterioration: from initial to progressed and developed. The traditional approach in condition assessment of bridge decks by IE on the basis of review of individual test point records and a new automated approach based on three-dimensional (3-D) data visualization are presented. The developed 3-D visualization platform allows both the advanced presentation and interpretation of IE data. The data presentation is provided as 3-D translucent visualizations of reflectors in a bridge deck section and horizontal and vertical cross sections through all distinctive zones, including a zone of delamination. The associated interpretation platform allows both (a) the overall assessment of the condition of the deck, through cumulative distributions and histograms of reflection intensity, and (b) identification of deteriorated zones of the deck for repair or rehabilitation in an efficient and intuitive way. The visualization platform effectively enables an IE device to be used as a type of bridge deck sonar device.

Identifier

56749178781 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Transportation Research Record

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.3141/2050-11

ISSN

03611981

First Page

111

Last Page

121

Issue

2050

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