Non-Destructive Testing Applications for Steel Bridges

Date

2021-10-19

Authors

Khedmatgozar Dolati, Seyed Saman
Caluk, Nerma
Mehrabi, Armin
Khedmatgozar Dolati, Seyed Sasan

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Abstract

The growing population and increasing demand for surface transportation have highlighted the importance of maintaining safe and reliable civil infrastructures for daily use. Among all civil infrastructures, bridges are one of the most important elements in the transportation system. As such, to prevent any failures caused by aging and environmental impacts, bridges require periodic inspections. This becomes even more critical due to climate change and its effect on bridges, especially in the coastal regions. Most of the inspections conducted incorporate the visual type of evaluation due to its simplicity. However, with the current developments in new technologies, there is a need for more advanced techniques of structural health monitoring (SHM) methods to be incorporated in the maintenance programs for more accurate and efficient surveys. In this paper, non-destructive testing (NDT) methods applicable to steel bridges are reviewed, with a focus on methods applicable to local damage detection. Moreover, the methodology, advantages and disadvantages, and up-to-date research on NDT methods are presented. Furthermore, the application of novel NDT techniques using innovative sensors, drones, and robots for the rapid and efficient assessment of damages on small and large scales is emphasized. This study is deemed necessary as it compiles in one place the available information regarding NDT methods for in-service steel bridges. Access to such information is critical for researchers who intend to work on new or improved NDT techniques.

Description

Keywords

non-destructive testing (NDT), non-destructive evaluation (NDE), steel, bridges, inspection, damage detection, vibration method, vision-based method, robotics

Citation

Applied Sciences 11 (20): 9757 (2021)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering