Nondestructive Evaluation of Four Sister Bridges in Virginia Using Manual NDE Technologies and Robotic Platform RABIT


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CAIT project no.: CAIT-UTC-059

Fiscal Year: 2014/2015

Status: Final

Rutgers-CAIT Author(s): Hooman Parvardeh, Patrick Szary, Ph.D., Nenad Gucunkski, Ph.D.

External Author(s): Hoda Azari

Sponsor(s): FHWA - RITA, FHWA - Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center

Summary:

Within this research project, condition assessment of the four bridges in Virginia will be conducted using manual NDE technologies as well as the robotic platform RABITâ„¢. The following NDE methods will be used in both the automated and manual testing: Impact Echo, Ultrasonic Surface Waves, Ground Penetrating Radar and Electrical Resistivity method. The data collected from all the technologies will be analyzed and the results presented in terms of condition maps and calculated condition indices. Similarly, data related to the speed and cost of data collection using the two approaches will be recorded and analyzed. A report of detailing the comparisons will be generated. In addition, conclusions will be drawn on different aspect of performance of these bridges, as well as the deployed NDE technologies.