According to information from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), about a quarter of all of the bridges in the United States are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. In their 2013 report card for America’s bridges, it becomes clear that our bridges are barely holding up. One in nine of our country’s 607,380 bridges is structurally deficient, and many of our bridges are quite old. Many are sixty to eighty years old. It is critical that they receive the proper attention, including bridge deck inspection.
Bridge Inspection Techniques
There are numerous methods in the toolbox of professionals looking to inspect bridges. These include:
-Half-cell potential: This method of assessing rebar corrosion is great for catching corrosion early, before it has done significant damage.
-Infrared: This quick method relies on changes in infrared radiation, but cannot be used on all types of bridges.
-Visual Inspection: This low tech method is the least effective, as it largely addresses the surface. It involves mapping any surface anomalies or damage.
–GPR: Which is explored in full below.
The Benefits of Using GPR
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) uses pulses to to image the subsurface of bridge decks and other structures. It is an NDT method that uses electromagnetic radiation in the microwave band of the radio spectrum. Utilizing these it can detect reflected signals from structures hidden deep below the subsurface. GPR can be used across a wide range of applications. These include rock, soil, ice, fresh water, pavements, and structures. It can be used to detect objects, changes in the material, and cracks. It is commonly used to peer into asphalt and concrete highway surfaces and bridge decks.
Do you need help with bridge deck inspection from Concrete Visions?
Concrete Visions has over 12 years of experience and expertise in concrete scanning and we know how to detect any problems lurking beneath the surface. We use ground penetrating radar accurately and expertly and are familiar in many other methods that can be used when appropriate like concrete x-ray and electromagnetic conductivity. We are also very familiar with the latest construction safety techniques and train all of our workers to do their work quickly, accurately, and safely. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, give is a call at (410) 766-2210 or visit us online. For more articles and tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.