Non Destructive Testing for Bridge Inspections

IPC’s patented inspection services can x-ray a steel or concrete structures, identify early and advance stages of deterioration and recommend repairs before the deterioration spreads and compromises the structure's ability to carry its designed loads. 

Repairing early stage deterioration prolongs service life expectancy of concrete and steel structures. DOTs do not have the funds to replace aging infrastructure and are looking for ways to prolong their service life should look to www.infrastructurepc.com.

Nondestructive testing (NDT) is the process of inspecting, testing, or evaluating materials, components or assemblies for discontinuities, or differences in characteristics without destroying the serviceability of the part or system. In other words, when the inspection or test is completed the part can still be used.

IPC is focused on providing quantitative inspections solutions that not only save time and money but do away with current “subjective” testing methods using lane closures and dangling an inspector from a boom truck with a helmet and a flashlight or a hammer or chain to listen for differences in sound by an inspector to determine deterioration. Conventionally used in manufacturing and fabrication, NDT has matured to where Federal and state bids are requiring that NDT be used in the inspection of our nations assets. This makes IPC’s technology and equipment not only appealing to federal and state governments but to the engineering firms vying to win these bids

IPC's unique service can x-ray a bridge, identify earlier stage deterioration and recommend repairs before the deterioration spreads and compromises the structure’s ability to carry its designed loads.  Repairing early stage deterioration prolongs the service life expectancy of a bridge. DOTs do not have the funds to replace 180,300 aging bridges and are therefore looking for ways to prolong their service life.  The only method to detect early stage deterioration is through NDT. IPC's testing procedures and equipment are unmatched in exposing and reporting early stage deterioration in bridge structures. See Exhibit “E” for comparison of IPC’s inspection report to a traditional inspection report.  

IPC provides the following geophysical engineering services:

1.    Bridge Deck Deterioration Assessment identifies 12 levels of deck deterioration and delamination. This is used to identify high levels of deterioration for repair as well as early stage deterioration.

2.    Remaining Life Assessment is used to project the remaining life of a bridge based upon a CBI inspection report (a visual inspection report from a Certified Bridge Inspector) and a full structure NDT inspection.

3.    Bridge Roadway Approach Assessment is used to identify levels of void formations, water intrusion and loss of base and sub-base density under roadway approaches to bridges.

4.    Bridge Approach Slab Condition Assessment identifies the slab’s ability to maintain traffic flow by measuring slab deterioration, void formations and loss of density within base and sub-base under slab.

5.    Bridge Abutment Backwall Assessment is used to identify water intrusion through the backwall of the abutment, void formations and scour conditions within base and sub-base behind the backwall.

6.    Bridge Rebar Pattern and Size Assessment identifies primary and secondary rebar patterns, bar sizing and cover depth.

7.    Void Detection involves locating, classifying and estimating the size of voids and potential sinkholes within roadways, around bridges, embankments, around concrete and steel structures and new construction areas.

8.    Steel Bridge Section Loss Assessment identifies section loss and stress within load members and adjoining elements.

9.    Concrete and Steel Condition Assessment of structures including residential and commercial buildings, columns, culverts, parking garages, docks, balconies and many other reinforced concrete structures.

10. Damage Assessments involves determining structural integrity after a structure has been damaged through impact or fire.

11. Bridge Tendon Assessment identifies voids, water and corrosion within external bridge tendons.

12. Cable stay Assessments identifies voids, water and corrosion within bridge cable stays.

13. High Mast Light Pole Inspections: (Patent Pending) IPC provides high definition video of high mast light poles. These poles are required to be inspected every 5 years.  There is currently no other technology other than visual inspections currently being performed.

The bridge tendon inspection services were developed by IPC in response to an October 2011 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) memo (see Exhibit "B"), which warned all states' Department of Transportation offices of the high-potential for early stage corrosion and failure within post-tensioned tendons (which hold

large bridges together). IPC developed TendonScan™, an NDT inspection system that can identify early stage corrosion within post-tensioned tendons of these identified bridges. TendonScan™ identifies corrosion within tendons down to .05% and provides a "Recommendation of Corrective Action Plan" providing a level of detailed analysis that no other service is able to match.

For more information go to http://www.infrastructurepc.com or email info@infrastructurepc.com