DETERMINATION OF UNKNOWN DEPTH OF BRIDGE FOUNDATIONS USING NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING METHODS

This paper presents the test results of a research study on the feasibility of using nondestructive test (NDT) methods for the determination of unknown depths of bridge foundations. Of the over 580,000 highway bridges in the National Bridge Inventory, 104,000 of these bridges are over water and have both unknown foundations and consequently, unknown foundation scour risks. Foremost is the need to determine the foundation depth and then foundation type (footings or piles), geometry, and subsurface conditions. A comprehensive evaluation was made of potential NDT technologies that have relevance to this problem, of which only the surface-based Sonic Echo/Impulse Response and Flexural Wave methods for timber piles, and the borehole-based Parallel Seismic and Induction Field methods had been previously used to determine foundation depths. This study documents the results for two acoustic NDT methods of Ultraseismic (a proposed new test method), and the Parallel Seismic test method which were found to have the broadest application to the investigated concrete, timber, and steel bridge substructures.

• Corporate Authors:

  Technomic Publishing Company, Incorporated

  851 New Holland Avenue, Box 3535
  Lancaster, PA  United States  17604
• Authors:
  • Jalinoos, F
  • Olson, L D
• Conference:
  • Structural Materials Technology. An NDT Conference.
  • Location: San Diego, CA
  • Date: 1996-2-20 to 1996-2-23
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 91-97

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustics; Boreholes; Bridge foundations; Bridge piers; Bridge substructures; Bridges; Concrete bridges; Depth; Feasibility analysis; Field tests; Metal bridges; Nondestructive tests; Piles (Supports); Research; Scour; Steel bridges; Substructures; Test procedures; Timber; Wooden bridges
• Old TRIS Terms: Determination; Field methods; Timber piles
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Research; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00725860
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 10 1996 12:00AM