Revolutionizing Concrete Bridge Assessment: Implementing Nondestructive Scanning for Transformative Evaluation

This study focused on analyzing the impact of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scan spacing on accurately assessing the reinforcement of concrete bridge girders, providing practical insights. A decommissioned bridge box beam was evaluated to unveil rebars and tendons’ depth and spacing. The box beam w...

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Main Authors: Wael Zatar, Felipe Mota Ruiz, Hien Nghiem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11590
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author Wael Zatar
Felipe Mota Ruiz
Hien Nghiem
author_facet Wael Zatar
Felipe Mota Ruiz
Hien Nghiem
author_sort Wael Zatar
collection DOAJ
description This study focused on analyzing the impact of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scan spacing on accurately assessing the reinforcement of concrete bridge girders, providing practical insights. A decommissioned bridge box beam was evaluated to unveil rebars and tendons’ depth and spacing. The box beam was decommissioned from the West Virginia Division of Highways inventory. An innovative algorithm was developed to fully automate the analysis of survey grid data across all sides of the beam. Implementing this algorithm into a computer code has paved the way for comprehensive automation of GPR data analyses. Comparing GPR data analyses from various profile line offsets, this study assists in producing optimal protocols for inspecting box beams. Transverse profile line offsets between 4 in. and 24 in. yielded nearly identical results, setting a new standard for precision. Utilizing more than one longitudinal profile line was highly beneficial in accurately assessing prestressed concrete box beams. This research helps redefine bridge evaluation by precisely finding rebar spacing, concrete cover, and other internal characteristics. This study’s findings offer invaluable advancements and equip state departments of transportation with the knowledge to accurately assess in-service concrete bridge box beams, empowering them to make informed decisions.
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spelling doaj-art-5bb5e938f8ad45c1aa82fd202cc64fa52024-12-27T14:07:46ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-0114241159010.3390/app142411590Revolutionizing Concrete Bridge Assessment: Implementing Nondestructive Scanning for Transformative EvaluationWael Zatar0Felipe Mota Ruiz1Hien Nghiem2Encova Center for Engineering and Safety, Department of Civil Engineering, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755, USAEncova Center for Engineering and Safety, Department of Civil Engineering, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755, USAEncova Center for Engineering and Safety, Department of Civil Engineering, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755, USAThis study focused on analyzing the impact of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scan spacing on accurately assessing the reinforcement of concrete bridge girders, providing practical insights. A decommissioned bridge box beam was evaluated to unveil rebars and tendons’ depth and spacing. The box beam was decommissioned from the West Virginia Division of Highways inventory. An innovative algorithm was developed to fully automate the analysis of survey grid data across all sides of the beam. Implementing this algorithm into a computer code has paved the way for comprehensive automation of GPR data analyses. Comparing GPR data analyses from various profile line offsets, this study assists in producing optimal protocols for inspecting box beams. Transverse profile line offsets between 4 in. and 24 in. yielded nearly identical results, setting a new standard for precision. Utilizing more than one longitudinal profile line was highly beneficial in accurately assessing prestressed concrete box beams. This research helps redefine bridge evaluation by precisely finding rebar spacing, concrete cover, and other internal characteristics. This study’s findings offer invaluable advancements and equip state departments of transportation with the knowledge to accurately assess in-service concrete bridge box beams, empowering them to make informed decisions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11590reinforced concreteprestressed concretecorrosiondeteriorationbridge inspectionbridge assessment
spellingShingle Wael Zatar
Felipe Mota Ruiz
Hien Nghiem
Revolutionizing Concrete Bridge Assessment: Implementing Nondestructive Scanning for Transformative Evaluation
Applied Sciences
reinforced concrete
prestressed concrete
corrosion
deterioration
bridge inspection
bridge assessment
title Revolutionizing Concrete Bridge Assessment: Implementing Nondestructive Scanning for Transformative Evaluation
title_full Revolutionizing Concrete Bridge Assessment: Implementing Nondestructive Scanning for Transformative Evaluation
title_fullStr Revolutionizing Concrete Bridge Assessment: Implementing Nondestructive Scanning for Transformative Evaluation
title_full_unstemmed Revolutionizing Concrete Bridge Assessment: Implementing Nondestructive Scanning for Transformative Evaluation
title_short Revolutionizing Concrete Bridge Assessment: Implementing Nondestructive Scanning for Transformative Evaluation
title_sort revolutionizing concrete bridge assessment implementing nondestructive scanning for transformative evaluation
topic reinforced concrete
prestressed concrete
corrosion
deterioration
bridge inspection
bridge assessment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11590
work_keys_str_mv AT waelzatar revolutionizingconcretebridgeassessmentimplementingnondestructivescanningfortransformativeevaluation
AT felipemotaruiz revolutionizingconcretebridgeassessmentimplementingnondestructivescanningfortransformativeevaluation
AT hiennghiem revolutionizingconcretebridgeassessmentimplementingnondestructivescanningfortransformativeevaluation