Suitability of Nondestructive Testing Methods for Structural Health Monitoring of Civil Infrastructures

Abstract

This paper explores the inter-relationship and differences between NDT and SHCE/SHM using some commonly used NDT methods to explore the reasons for under-utilization of NDT methods. This showed that use of NDT methods has been successful in SHCE/SHM when hazard-centric needs of SHCE/SHM and physical demands of these hazards are recognized. OVERVIEW Nondestructive Testing (NDT) methods have been in use and in continuous development for more than a century. The ir main use has been to provide better understanding of material and system properties. The re are numerous publications on this subject including several handbooks such as NDT Methods Handbook of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. Structural Health in Civil Engineering (SHCE) and its subcomponent Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) are emerging fields in the infrastructure arena and are intended to provide more information about structural condition (health) to make appropriate decisions. Even though there are a vast array of NDT methods and techniques that are available to the SHCE/SHM professionals, the use of NDT methods in the SHCE/SHM field has been relatively slow. This paper explores the inter-relatio nship and differences between NDT and SHCE/SHM using some commonly used NDT methods to explore the reasons for under-utilization of NDT methods. We then took a look at NDT methods from a purely SHCE/SHM viewpoint, i.e., hazards view point. This showed that use of NDT methods has been successful in SHCE/SHM when hazard-centric needs of SHCE/SHM and the physical demands of those hazards are recognized. The paper also gives specific examples of the sonic method and thermography that have been used successfully to perform SHM projects.