Current bridge condition determination is based almost entirely on the use of visual inspection. This approach to bridge inspection provides data that is subjective and not traceable. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is a tool that in actuality is little used on bridges, but could eliminate much of the subjectivity of the...
This report shows the results of acoustic emission (AE) monitoring, and provides additional information on the nature of the ultrasonic indications in the north east trunnion shaft.
A remote global monitoring system is being operated on a 65 year old lift bridge in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin. The system uses both strain gages and clinometers to continuously monitor the "health" of the fracture critical components of the bridge. Ruggedized miniaturized data loggers are locally mounted on the structure...
Acoustic emission (AE) testing was deployed on details of two large steel Interstate Highway bridges: one cantilever through-truss and one trapezoidal box girder bridge. Quantitative measurements of activity levels at known and suspected crack locations were made by monitoring AE under normal service loads (e.g., live traffic and wind). AE...