Bridge deck condition assessment with electromagnetic, acoustic and automated methods

Reinforced concrete bridge decks are high-performance structural elements with designs that require survival of decades of harsh loading. Early detection and accurate assessments of distress can lead to more effective and economical maintenance and management. A difficulty with bridge deck assessments is that much of the important damage is subsurface and hidden from sight. An ideal assessment system would detect the presence, location and extent of subsurface damage, with a minimum of detection errors, without impeding the flow of traffic and require only modestly skilled personnel to operate. This paper will present the results of a study that used three primary types of sensors to assess bridge deck condition. The sensor types include: 1. Electromagnetic in the form of ground penetrating radar (GPR), 2. Acousto-elastic wave in the form of impact echo and chain drag, and 3. Electrochemical in the form of half-cell measurements. Some of the sensor systems were automated - others were manually operated.