USE OF NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING TECHNIQUE AS A ROUTINE INSPECTION PROCEDURE. FINAL REPORT

A feasibility study for utilizing proven nondestructive testing techniques in the routine periodic inspection and evaluation of bridges is presented. This inspection procedure, intended for bridges to be built, will enable engineers to obtain a quantitative description of the condition of a newly built bridge throughout its life. By instrumenting a bridge with off-the-shelf sensors and transducers during its construction, an economical inspection procedure can be developed. The method proposed was an automated long-term monitoring of a bridge's behavior as an inspection tool. This monitoring would generate reliable quantitative experimental information that would help diagnose the condition of all elements of a bridge and would differentiate between cosmetic damage and structural deficiency. It covers two areas: a global evaluation, i.e., structural integrity; and a local evaluation, i.e., material integrity; so that unfavorable trends can be detected and dealt with at an early stage. The report includes the highly stable, permanent installed type of sensors chosen for each evaluation, their method of installation, location, and number needed for each evaluation. The data analysis includes the type of data obtained and the specific information that could be determined from such data. Finally a cost analysis was undertaken, which will provide the State with information necessary to make an appropriate decision regarding the cost of using the nondestructive testing technique as a routine inspection procedure.