• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 2015

One of the main causes of a limited use of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies in bridge deck assessment is the speed of data collection and analysis. The paper describes development and implementation of the RABIT (Robotics Assisted Bridge Inspection Tool) for data collection using multiple NDE technologies. The system is designed to characterize three most common deterioration types in concrete bridge decks: rebar corrosion, delamination, and concrete degradation. It implements four NDE technologies: electrical resistivity (ER), impact echo (IE), ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and ultrasonic surface waves (USW) method. The technologies are used in a complementary way to enhance the interpretation. In addition, the system utilizes advanced vision to complement traditional visual inspection. Finally, the RABIT collects data at a significantly higher speed than it is done using traditional NDE equipment. The robotic system is complemented by an advanced data interpretation. The associated platform for the enhanced interpretation of condition assessment in concrete bridge decks utilizes data integration, fusion, and deterioration and defect visualization. This paper concentrates on the validation and field implementation of two NDE technologies. The first one is IE used in the delamination detection and characterization, while the second one is the USW method used in the assessment of concrete quality. The validation of performance of the two methods was conducted on a 9 m long and 3.6 m wide fabricated bridge structure with numerous artificial defects embedded in the deck.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.4A
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• pp.295-302
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• 2011

The setting time which is the important element for the determination of slip-up speed of Slip-Form system is the hardening time of early-age concrete when the in place concrete has minimum compressive strength before the concrete appears out of Slip-Form system. But it is very difficult to predict the setting time because it depends on not only the composition ratio of concrete but also various conditions of construction fields. Thus, the technique to estimate accurately and continuously the hardening time of early-age in place concrete during operating Slip-Form system is necessary to guarantee the safety of Slip-Form system and the maintenance of the shape of concrete. Ultrasonic wave-based nondestructive testing methods have the advantages which are accurate and continuous in estimating concrete compressive strength. Of such methods, the method using surface wave which propagates along the surface of material is effective for thick member such as a pylon. Thus, in this paper a study on the determination of slip-up speed for Slip-Form system using surface wave velocity is performed. The relation between the slip-up speed of Slip-Form system and the setting time is formulated, and the surface wave velocity is estimated from continuous wavelet transform of the numerical results for surface wave propagation. Finally, the accuracy of this method according to the distance between the wave source and receivers and the relation between the estimated surface wave velocity and the elastic modulus are investigated.