Interpreting Impact Echo Data to Predict Condition Rating of Concrete Bridge Decks: A Machine-Learning Approach

Asphalt overlays have been commonly used to extend the service life of deteriorated concrete bridge decks. Nonlinear, viscoelastic asphalt has properties that differ considerably from the properties of the underlying portland cement concrete (PCC) deck. The impact echo (IE) method has been extensively used to nondestructively evaluate PCC structures. The method, however, performs differently on asphalt overlays, especially when a membrane is placed between the overlay and the deck. The general recommendation has been to perform IE tests on asphalt overlays in cold weather. The temperature range under which IE can be used, however, is still uncertain. This study was conducted to systematically examine IE performance on asphalt overlays. Three PCC specimens with three types of asphalt overlays―asphalt with a liquid membrane, asphalt with a sheet membrane, and asphalt without a membrane―were tested in a temperature chamber. The three PCC specimens had identical designs, materials, and artificial defects. The nondestructive evaluation (NDE) results from the tests indicate that: (1) 32°F and below is the appropriate temperature range for IE to detect defects in the underlying deck; and (2) membranes can significantly reduce the propagation of waves into the underlying deck.

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Impact-Echo Defect Detection in Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks without Overlays

Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities ◽

10.1061/(asce)cf.1943-5509.0001638 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 04021058

Author(s):

Zachary W. Coleman ◽

Anton K. Schindler ◽

Christian M. Jetzel

Keyword(s):

Reinforced Concrete ◽

Defect Detection ◽

Bridge Decks ◽

Concrete Bridge ◽

Impact Echo ◽

Reinforced Concrete Bridge ◽

Concrete Bridge Decks

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Deterioration Prediction Modelling and Inspection Schedule Estimation for Concrete Bridge Decks

Journal of Civil Engineering and Construction ◽

10.32732/jcec.2020.9.2.63 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 63-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aqeed Mohsin Chyad ◽

Osama Abudayyeh

Keyword(s):

Bridge Deck ◽

Bridge Decks ◽

Good Condition ◽

Distribution Functions ◽

Concrete Bridge ◽

State Data ◽

Condition Rating ◽

Concrete Bridge Decks ◽

Concrete Bridge Deck ◽

The Impact

Accurate and reliable deterioration rate estimates for concrete bridge decks are an important part of the overall bridge condition assessment. The main objective of this paper is to determine the time in condition ratings (TICRs) of concrete bridge decks and assess the impact of average daily traffic (ADT), age, and deck area on the bridge deck condition. Condition ratings of bridge decks over 24 years for Michigan state were collected from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) data. The Anderson-Darling statistical test was used to evaluate and rank five practical probability distribution functions to select the best fit for Michigan state data. The results indicate that the best statistical model for Michigan state data is the lognormal function. It was illustrated that the TICR decreases when the condition rating decreases. When a concrete bridge deck condition is rated at 8, it can take 11.29 years to drop to the lower rating of 7. However, when the concrete bridge deck condition is rated at 4, it may take 6.64 years to drop to the lower condition rating of 3. It was also observed that on average, bridge decks in Michigan stay much longer than the typical inspection interval (i.e., 2 years), suggesting that inspection intervals can be longer than 2 years for bridges in good condition ranges. The results also show that ADT, age, and deck area are important factors in the deterioration rates of concrete bridge decks.

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