Abstract
Problem statement: The integrity of deck joints in highway bridges plays a major role to determine overall performance of bridge system. As the bridge maintenance program, the defects in deck joints have historically been detected by conventional non-destructive testing and evaluation methods such as visual inspection, chain-dragging and by the detecting sounds under the traffic. Future bridge maintenance challenges will demand the development of techniques and procedures to detect and monitor such defects before they become apparent. Approach: Two non-destructive methods; namely Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) and Seismic Properties Analyzer (SPA) were employed to assess the integrity of deck joins installed in North Carolina bridges. Results: The results obtained with the GPR and SPA allows to quantify the subsurface defects in bridge deck joints. Conclusion: The practical application and limitations of each method are discussed in this study.
Highlights
There are many factors which can affect the overall performance and longevity of highway bridges, including the integrity of its deck joints
The current generation of portable equipment is relatively inexpensive, exhibits improved diagnostic capabilities and is deployed by a single operator. They are well-suited to studies of highly localized areas such as deck joints. All of these attributes make these newer technologies an attractive alternative to the conventional traditional Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT/E) methods that are assessment of bridge decks was performed by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)
One noteworthy item is the attention paid to ensuring that passes made by the Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) unit are Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) 3.18
Summary
There are many factors which can affect the overall performance and longevity of highway bridges, including the integrity of its deck joints. Protect the structure below it by restricting leakage Be reliable throughout the range of temperatures expected in service generally constitute a major portion of a bridge’s construction cost, yet over time, joints that are improperly designed, installed or poorly maintained can cause damage that far exceeds their relative size and initial cost (Scotta et al, 2003).
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