The number of concrete bridge decks in poor structural condition is one of the biggest problems affecting bridges in the United States. Nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques have the potential to quickly and reliably provide the needed information about under-the-surface conditions of these decks. The objective of SHRP 2 Project R06A (Nondestructive Testing to Identify Concrete Bridge Deck Deterioration) was to conduct an independent evaluation of the capabilities and limitations of the most common NDT techniques for detecting and characterizing typical deterioration mechanisms in concrete bridge decks. The final report documents this evaluation, and it grades and ranks the technologies based on the results. The main product of this project will be an electronic repository for practitioners, known as the NDToolbox, which will recommend technologies for detecting particular deteriorations.
* To make research available as early as possible, SHRP 2 is temporarily posting final reports that have been submitted by the research team, reviewed according to the relevant National Academy of Sciences procedures, and accepted for publication. These prepublication drafts, which have not been edited or formatted for publication, will be replaced by the final versions as they complete the editorial process.