INSPECTION OF BRIDGE TIMBER PILING. OPERATIONS AND ANALYSIS MANUAL. FINAL REPORT

A non-destructive method for determining the in-place strength of bridge timber piling above and below water, developed under the Maryland Highway Planning and Research Program, is presented. It is an ultrasonic wave propagation method in which the in-place strength (load carrying capacity) of a timber pile is correlated to the pile's wave velocity normal to the grain, and to its in-place unit weight. This manual covers the information an inspector needs for field testing, as well as the information needed by engineers in the office for analysis and data interpretation. The manual includes a description of the equipment and instructions for its use. The kinds of data to be collected as well as data collection procedures are covered. This is followed by instructions for data analysis, accompanied by all figures needed for data interpretation. To ensure quality of performance, the factors that contribute to the repeatability and consistency of the results are presented. Factors that might cause inaccuracies in the results are also highlighted. The conditions under which the method can be used, its limitations, as well as any potential problems involving its use are also presented.

• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/68037
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Maryland, College Park

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  College Park, MD  United States  20742

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • Aggour, M S
• Publication Date: 1989-7

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 46 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Bridges; Data analysis; Data collection; Field tests; Inspection; Manuals; Mathematical analysis; Nondestructive tests; Support piles; Testing equipment; Timber; Ultrasonics; Underwater construction; Underwater structures; Wave motion; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge inspection; Repeatability; Wave velocity
• Old TRIS Terms: Pile bearing capacities; Timber piles; Unit weight
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00489986
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-IP-89-017, 3D9B0083
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-87-C-00108
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1991 12:00AM