TxDOT Research Library - Publication Details

Show:

Title:

Use of Ground Penetrating Radar to Delineate Bridge Deck Repair Areas

Report No.:

FHWA-NH-RD-12323S

Authors:

by Glenn E. Roberts

Published:

2002

Concord, New Hampshire

New Hampshire. Department of Transportation. Bureau of Materials and Research

Type:

Hard copy + Online document

1 volume (19 pages)

Online Access:

https://mm.nh.gov/files/uploads/dot/remote-docs/nh...

Access Note:

1.7 MB

Summary

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has emerged as a viable means of nondestructively determining the locations of deteriorated sections of bituminous-overlaid, reinforced concrete bridge decks. While prior GPR successes on such structures were traditionally limited to estimating repair quantities and had not been shown to consistently provide an accurate indication of the "location" of distressed areas, work conducted in 1998 and 1999 on several New Hampshire bridges produced predictions of deterioration that compared favorably with ground truth data and conventional (destructive) survey techniques. Recent developments in GPR technology provided high resolution images of the bridge deck structure that were used to create contour maps detailing different levels of deterioration. This report summarizes efforts initiated and sponsored by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation related to location-specific predictions of corrosion and freeze/thaw induced deterioration on existing bridge decks scheduled for rehabilitation. In 1998, twin 842-ft (257-m) interstate bridges spanning the Connecticut River between Lebanon, New Hampshire and White River Junction, Vermont were surveyed using a combination of horn and ground-coupled antennas. These surveys, supplemented by an underside inspection and limited coring and chloride testing, were successfully used to estimate and locate repair areas prior to a deck rehabilitation project on the structures. In 1999, four structures located along I93 in Thornton-Woodstock, New Hampshire were surveyed without the use of supplemental, destructive testing or lane closures. Contour maps were produced on all structures, showing varying degrees of predicted deterioration. Although statistical comparisons were not performed, the contour maps showed a high visual correlation with independent maps generated based on sounding, half-cell potential, and/or chloride content testing.

Publ. Place

Concord, New Hampshire

Notes

"April, 2002"

Study Sponsor