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Title:

Laser Spectroscopy for Rapid Profiling of Steel Bridge Coating, Corrosion, and Heavy Metals

Accession Number:

01589825

Record Type:

Monograph

Availability:

National Technical Information Service

5301 Shawnee Road
Alexandria, VA 22312 United States

Abstract:

The project focused on the development of laser-scanning technology that could provide direct measurement of the condition of the bridge surface and undercoating and assess the level of corrosion, if any, in the underlying steel structure. The concept is based on a laser ablation process where a high-powered laser is focused and fired at a layer of coating, ablating a microgram quantity of mass and inducing a tiny plasma spark. This spark generates an emission of light with a characteristic spectrum. The characteristic of this spectrum depends on the type of coating or condition of the steel. Once the characteristic spectrum is determined for a known coating type or a known level of corrosion, it is possible to match unknown coatings or levels of corrosion to the known spectrum to identify the nature of the unknown sample. The aforementioned technique is a form of pattern matching or fingerprinting. Using the subject technology commonly referred to a Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), the research effort focused on five areas of investigation: heavy metals analysis; titanium in paints or coatings; coating identification; corrosion indexing; and depth profiling. Since the subject technology generates answers in real time, deployment of such a technology could provide the bridge inspection technician with a tool that generates in the laboratory or in the field, real-time data defining the thickness of the coating, the presence of heavy metals in the coating, and the type of sub-coating corrosion. Such data cannot be detected in real time with conventional inspection techniques.

Supplemental Notes:

This NCHRP-IDEA investigation was conducted by Chesner Engineering and New Mexico State University.

Report/Paper Numbers:

NCHRP IDEA Project 164

Language:

English

Authors:

Chesner, Warren H
McMillan, Nancy J

Pagination:

41p

Publication Date:

2015-5

Edition:

Final Report

Media Type:

Print

Features:

Figures; References; Tables

Subject Areas:

Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; I35: Miscellaneous Materials

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Feb 3 2016 3:41PM