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Reliability Assessment Of High-Risk Steel Bridges By Nondestructive Test Methods, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka, Robert C. Deen
Reliability Assessment Of High-Risk Steel Bridges By Nondestructive Test Methods, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka, Robert C. Deen
Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report
Fatigue-crack related failures of high-risk (fracture-critical) steel bridges may be prevented through application of nondestructive tests (NDT). Economical reliability assessment of those structures requires 1) application of a suitable NDT method, 2) testing of fatigue-susceptible members, and 3 ) periodic retests of those members to preclude problems with growing or previously undetected flaws.
Six conventional NDT techniques were tested in the laboratory using buttweld configured specimens having intentionally embedded cracks. Those NDT methods were 1) visual inspection, 2) magnetic-particle testing, 3) dyepenetrant testing, 4) florescent-enhanced surface testing, 5 ) eddy-current testing, and 6) ultrasonic testing. The other NDT methods provided …
Acoustic Emission Monitoring Of In-Service Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, David W. Prine
Acoustic Emission Monitoring Of In-Service Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, David W. Prine
Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report
An experimental acoustic emission (AE) device, the GARD Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor (AEWM), has been field tested on six bridges during this study. In addition, the device was used to test three other bridges under separate contracts from state highway agencies. The device was evaluated to determine if it could detect fatigue-crack growth on in-service steel bridges.
The AEWM employs a proprietary three-step model (filter) to reject noise-related AE activity and detect and locate defects subject to varying stress conditions. The unit uses built-in microprocessors to compare incoming data to the model. If defect-related AE activity is detected, the AEWM …