Steel Bridge Testing Program

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)non destructive evaluation (NDE) Center is currently undertaking a detailed study of NDE technologies capable of detecting growing cracks in steel bridges. This study is designed to identify and evaluate nondestructive systems and/or techniques capable of detecting surface or subsurface growing cracks as small as 0.25 millimeter (0.01 inch) in length or depth. The intended uses of these nondestructive testing systems would be on steel bridge structures at locations of high stress, fatigue prone details or other critical locations where the presence of growing cracks could be detrimental to the long term performance of the structure. The program includes in-depth evaluation of selective nondestructive testing technologies that can be employed to detect growing cracks. Both commercial and emerging technologies will be evaluated under controlled laboratory settings, which include the use is small-scale and full-scale specimens (Phase I). Laboratory evaluation will be followed by field validation in Phase II. Information learned through the study will be assembled and made available to the bridge engineering community through a web-based database.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $4000000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  5202(d) of Title V o

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Project Managers:

  Jalinoos, Frank

• Performing Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Principal Investigators:

  Satyanarayana, Raghu

• Start Date: 20060301
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20121201
• Source Data: RiP Project 20288

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Fatigue (Mechanics); Nondestructive tests; Research projects; Steel bridges
• Uncontrolled Terms: Long term performance
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01459711
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Contract Numbers: 5202(d) of Title V o
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 1:11PM