New non-destructive diagnostic method of bridges

Abstract

Currently, on the base of foreign experience the Bridge Management System of the Czech Republic is created and progressively implemented. In connection with this process the requirements for non-destructive testing realized directly during the bridge structure inspections are on the increase.
In the past it was sufficient to realize only visual examination of defects. Now the prognosis of a future behaviour of the structure and determination of a residual life-time are required. The new bridges are more frequently equipped with monitoring facilities including data acquisition systems. As a part of the bridge inspection is commonly used carbonation depth survey, content of chloride and extent of reinforcement corrosion. The most frequent methods for determination of corrosion extend are ultrasound, sonar, infra-red camera, radar, electric potential measurement, radiography, vibration analysis, etc.
Next potential methods, which can be used in this area are modal analysis and acoustic emission method. The application of these methods on bridges is at the beginning.
The Czech Ministry of transport supports research and development (R&D) projects dealing with these two promising methods.
The article is dealing with R&D project, which is focused on usage of acoustic emission method as a tool for non-destructive testing of bridge structures, with a view to an assessment of reinforcement corrosion.
The measurement realized on laboratory samples and bridge structure will be mentioned, including information about equipment and measurement technique