Abstract
In civil structures and infrastructure, assessing true performance and characterizing unusual structural behaviors can help avoid severe structural problems. To further refine or validate the conclusions from structural health monitoring (SHM) analyses, nondestructive evaluation or techniques (NDE or NDT) can be applied in conjunction with SHM approaches. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an NDT that has been used to investigate defects and internal features in concrete structures, but is not commonly used to assess mechanical properties for the purposes of SHM. As a preliminary investigation of the effectiveness of attribute analysis techniques, a GPR survey was conducted on Streicker Bridge (a pedestrian bridge on Princeton University campus with embedded fiber-optic strain and temperature sensors). The bridge was constructed in two phases, where different curing conditions produced different material properties (compressive strength of 51 MPa and 59 MPa). Both standard processing techniques and attribute analysis techniques were employed to interpret GPR reflections in each phase of construction to identify construction elements and to compare the attribute signatures of different strength concretes.Though this study presents primarily relative differences, the sensitivity of these attributes to material property differences is confirmed. This validates SHM studies of the bridge and indicates the potential of the attribute analysis method for material characterization, especially as a compliment to other SHM and NDE techniques.
Highlights
The rebar uplift validated in Ground penetrating radar (GPR) scans indicates areas of insufficient concrete cover and high likelihood of rebar exposure on the upper surface of the bridge itself
This paper presents a high frequency GPR survey of a reinforced post-tensioned concrete pedestrian bridge and associated attribute analyses with the principal aim to explore the capabilities of these attributes to asses physical and mechanical properties of materials
The location and presence of each feature included in the construction drawings can be identified in the GPR data, as can important deviations from those plans
Summary
As the world’s infrastructure ages, structural health monitoring (SHM) is a process encompassing a collection of methods and tools with which the performance and safety of these structures can be assessed. These methods and tools are important in estimating the true capacity of a structure (altered by damage or age) and understanding unusual behaviors, which can prevent costly repairs and replacements as the structure deteriorates [1]. SHM methods are based on monitoring a variety of parameters, including strain, temperature, and vibration. SHM tools monitor these parameters for a variety of objectives [1]. SHM projects can be deployed on existing structures (e.g., [2,3]), or installed during the construction process to provide important reference state and early age information
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