Capture and Quantification of Deterioration Progression in Concrete Bridge Decks through Periodical NDE Surveys

Abstract

Monitoring the condition of concrete bridge decks is essential because bridge decks are deteriorating faster than other bridge components. This study concentrated on bridge deck condition assessment using complementary nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. The assessment had three main components: evaluation of the corrosive environment and corrosion processes, concrete degradation evaluation, and assessment with respect to deck delamination. Five NDE techniques were used: impact echo (IE) to detect and characterize delamination, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to describe the corrosive environment, measurement of the concrete cover and description of its overall condition, half-cell potential (HCP) to assess corrosion activity, ultrasonic surface waves (USW) to describe concrete quality, and electrical resistivity (ER) to estimate corrosion rate. The ability of NDE methods to objectively characterize deterioration progression is illustrated by the results from four NDE surveys of a bridge in Virginia during a period of five and a half years. The results, which include condition maps and condition indices, demonstrate the ability of NDE technologies to accurately and objectively detect and quantify deterioration progression. Results from periodical NDE surveys show a high potential for development of more realistic deterioration and lifecycle cost models for bridge decks.