01128667

Component

It is essential for the long term safety of bridge infrastructure over water that the bridge piles are inspected periodically. Currently, bridge piles, including submerged piles, are inspected visually. This paper introduces the application of long range ultrasound (LRUT) using guided waves generated by Electro-Magnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) for the inspection of bridge piles. Submerged piles were inspected from above the waterline. Laboratory tests of bridge piles with manufactured defects using LRUT show significant promise towards application of the method to field inspection. LRUT was able to detect manufactured defects such as wall loss even through obstacles in the pile structure such as splices and braces. Field tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMAT sensors to detect and characterize wall losses. Distance-amplitude correction (DAC) curves for different wall loss amounts at varying distances from the sensors were also developed to account for ultrasonic attenuation in the bridge piles. The field data interpretation procedure developed shows that the LRUT technology is ready to be applied in field inspection of H-piles to identify and characterize wall loss in them.

01120148

09-3491

English

12p

2009

Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting

DVD

Figures; Photos; References (10) ; Tables (1)

Acoustic detectors; Bridge substructures; Bridge superstructures; Inspection; Long range planning; Support piles; Technological innovations; Ultrasonic detectors

Electro-magnetic Transients Program (Software)

Bridge inspection

Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2009 Paper #09-3491

TRIS, TRB

Jan 30 2009 7:54PM