Application of radar techniques to the verification of design plans and the detection of defects in concrete bridges

Abstract

Non-destructive tests (NDT) are an essential tool used in special inspections to gather detailed information about the condition of a bridge. The inspection of bridge decks is a critical task, and, currently, can be successfully carried out using a wide range of NDT techniques. Nevertheless, some of these techniques are excessively expensive and time consuming. One of these techniques, the ground penetrating radar (GPR), has been used for some decades in the non-destructive inspection and diagnosis of concrete bridges. GPR is useful to find general information about the true position of reinforcement and tendon ducts, and check the quality of the construction and materials. A significant number of reinforced and prestressed concrete bridges are deteriorating at a rapid rate and need to be repaired and strengthened. During these rehabilitation processes, designers are often faced with a lack of original design plans and unawareness of the real position of reinforcement and tendon ducts. In this paper, three case studies of the use of GPR techniques for the inspection of concrete bridges are presented and analysed. The main aim of this research is to show the strong need and usefulness of these techniques, which can provide non-visible information about structural geometry and integrity required for strengthening and rehabilitation purposes.