Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2018

Document Type

Problem/Project Report

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair

Udaya B. Halabe

Committee Co-Chair

Hota V.S. GangaRao

Committee Member

Hema J. Siriwardane

Abstract

Nondestructive Evaluation of Concrete Bridge Columns Rehabilitated With Fiber Reinforced Polymers Using Digital Tap Hammer and Infrared Thermography Andrew Wheeler In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave bridges in the U.S. a C+ rating. Almost four out of every ten bridges are 50 years or older. In 2016, there were on average 188 million trips across a structural deficient bridge each day. With such a large number of bridges needing replaced or repaired, transportation officials are utilizing various bridge rehabilitation techniques to provide a cost effective solution to such a widespread problem. One rehabilitation technique involves the application of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite wraps to strengthen various bridge components. The initial and in-service, evaluation and acceptance of such FRP systems are crucial to their overall success and serviceability. Previously, several traditional methods such as visual inspection and coin tap testing of FRP composites were accepted as common practice for inspecting the quality of material and structural components. This type of evaluation was very subjective and dependent on the inspector's level of experience. More recently, nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques can identify internal or external defects without affecting the form, or function of a structure. Digital Tap Hammer testing and Infrared Thermography (IRT) are two commonly used NDT techniques for field evaluation of civil infrastructure, because these techniques are user friendly and highly mobile. This problem report reviews the recent advances on the applications of digital tap hammer testing and infrared thermography at identifying defects in various elements of infrastructure and FRP composite wraps applied to bridge columns in southern West Virginia. Additionally, this report includes information on process of repairing dilapidated reinforced concrete columns in preparation for the installation of a FRP system. All of this will serve as a demonstration of how crucial non-destructive evaluation (NDE) is to the success of FRP bridge rehabilitation. Furthermore, the conclusions indicate a need for NDE to ensure quality control of field rehabilitation projects.

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