Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair

Udaya Halabe.

Abstract

This document presents the findings of an experimental study on the use of Infrared Thermography for nondestructive evaluation of subsurface anomalies in composite bridge decks.;Composite bridge deck specimens were constructed in the laboratory with varying subsurface delamination conditions such as sizes, thicknesses and filler materials. These simulated delaminations were placed between the 3/8&inches; thick wearing surface and the top of the fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) deck. The laboratory specimens were tested using the infrared imaging system. The infrared images from the delaminated specimens were compared with solid (undamaged) specimens to study the effect of subsurface anomalies (delaminations) on the infrared images under controlled laboratory conditions. In addition, several field tests were conducted using infrared thermography on the composite decks of two bridges (Wickwire Run and Laurel Lick) located in West Virginia. The field tests were used to detect subsurface delaminations and study the effect of environmental parameters on the infrared images. As an additional example, infrared testing was conducted to evaluate FRP wrapping and detect debonding between the FRP wrap and concrete columns on the Pond Creek Bridge in West Virginia.;This study shows that the infrared thermography technique can be used effectively for rapid evaluation of subsurface condition of composite bridge decks. The study also shows how the environmental conditions (e.g., shadow, oil spill, and angle of reflection of solar rays) can affect the output infrared images.

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