BRIDGE DECK CONDITION SURVEYS USING RADAR: CASE STUDIES OF 28 NEW ENGLAND DECKS

Repair and replacement of deteriorated bridge decks represent a major expense to many state highway agencies. Current techniques for assessing deck condition have limited the effectiveness of efforts to program, order by priority, and estimate maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) projects. A research program sponsored by 5 New England states led to the development of ground penetrating radar as a rapid and accurate means for deck deterioration assessment. The program involved surveys of 32 asphalt-overlaid decks in the region, 28 of which were studied during maintenance for deterioration quantities. Before maintenance, radar was collected on all of these decks and analyzed. Analysis techniques were developed to predict the concrete deterioration from the variations in the concrete dielectric constant as computed directly from the radar waveforms. The computation was used to predict overall deterioration for each deck and each major span. This prediction was then correlated with the actual deck deterioration determined when the asphalt overlay was removed and the bare concrete was visually examined and chain-dragged. Correlations were carried out both at a detailed project level (100% coverage) with underside survey, and a network level (30% coverage). The project-level correlation produced a good fit (R squared equals 0.83), with standard error of plus or minus 4.1% of the deck area. The network-level correlation produced a reasonable fit (R squared equals 0.72) with standard error of plus or minus 5% of the deck area. Both project and network survey methods have subsequently been implemented at highway speed, at costs comparable to traditional survey methods.

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  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1304, Highway Maintenance Operations and Research 1991. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Maser, Kenneth
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 94-102
• Monograph Title: Highway maintenance operations and research 1991
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1304
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Bridge decks; Case studies; Condition surveys; Costs; Deterioration; Dielectric properties; Forecasting; Ground penetrating radar
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rapid methods
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00620406
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309051118
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 31 1992 12:00AM