Vibration Monitoring During the Deconstruction of a Post-tensioned Segmental Bridge: Case Study

Problems such as poor workmanship and inadequate grouting increases the failure probability of post-tensioning tendons and raises questions about the integrity and performance of post-tensioning tendons in existing concrete segmental bridges. Corrosion of post-tensioned tendons is a serious problem in concrete segmental bridge structures. The corrosion is typically not visible and difficult to discover using routine inspection methods. Corrosion causes deterioration of tendons and reduces the strand cross section thereby affecting their strength and potentially affecting the ability of the structure to carry load. The deconstruction of a post-tensioned segmental bridge near the Ft. Lauderdale airport provided an excellent opportunity to investigate several techniques for evaluating the condition of the structure. The FIU research team, aided by Olson Engineering, performed a number of tests before and during deconstruction of the bridge. This paper focuses on the acoustic emission tests that were conducted to identify tendon break events and the location of these events during the deconstruction of the bridge. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the acoustic emission technique in detecting the tendon breakage event and the location of the event. Results of the field testing indicate that all the tendon breakage events were detected by the acoustic emission technique however; the location of the events was not captured correctly in most of the instances.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFF40 Standing Committee on Testing and Evaluation of Transportation Structures. Alternate title: Acoustic Emission Monitoring During Deconstruction of Posttensioned Segmental Bridge: Case Study.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Taghinezhad, Ramin
  • Gull, Jawad H
  • Pham, Huy
  • Olson, Larry D
  • Azizinamini, Atorod
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2017-1-8 to 2017-1-12
• Date: 2017

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 96th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic emission tests; Case studies; Concrete bridges; Corrosion; Demolition; Field tests; Flaw detection; Posttensioning; Structural analysis; Tendons (Materials); Vibration
• Geographic Terms: Fort Lauderdale (Florida)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01626739
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 17-03627
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 27 2017 9:26AM