Bridge Inspection services

Bridge inspections are a necessary part of any kind of bridge maintenance program. It is mandatory in the US for every bridge owner to conduct a routine bridge inspection every two years and a detailed bridge inspection once every five years.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) is a leading name in transportation infrastructure inspections, including bridge inspection. During bridge inspections, IPC ensures the publicsand inspection crew's safety by utilizing advanced non destructive testing methods. We also use robotics to locate deteriorations in difficult to reach places.

IPC provides fast and accurate quantitative results to our clients for quick decision making. The results are digital, recorded and illustrated in many cases graphically for easy understanding and storage for later analysis. Our skilled bridge inspectors are well versed with all safety standards and efficiently handle the latest in modern technology and robotics  to interpret the collected data and deliver a concise condition assessment report to the asset owners within current maintenance budgets.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporations expert teams consists of certified professional engineers, technicians, inspectors and commercial divers and certified nondestructive testing experts who are experienced in highway bridge and structure inspections. Our bridge inspection service is in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) and FHWA bridge inspection procedures and criteria. We also have the latest safety devices and our staff follows the OSHA safety requirements.

What are our Bridge Inspection services?

l  Routine and In-Depth Bridge Inspections

l  Bridge Inspection of Fatigue and Fracture Prone areas

l  Underwater Bridge Inspections

l  Emergency Bridge Inspection Response

l  Non-Destructive Materials Testing Utilizing Liquid Penetrant and Magnetic Particle Testing Methods

l  Structural Analysis and Load Ratings

l  Concrete Crack detection and crack deterioration over time.

l  Detailed Inspection Reports Including Structure Repair Recommendations and Cost Estimates

l  Detailed Section Loss Measurement Utilizing Ultrasonic Measuring Devices

l  Avoiding the need for special equipment like Cranes, Man lifts, Bucket Trucks and night time inspections by manufacturing their own robotic inspection devices.

l  Element Inventory and Assessment Coding

l  Electronic Field Note Capabilities

To know more about our services, you can log on to our website https://www.infrastructurepc.comor leave your contact details with us by filling out a contact form available on our site or emailing doug@infrastructurepc.comand we will get back to you in the shortest time possible.

Robotics in bridge inspection

Robotics are increasingly advancing many of our most important industries. They are advancing the capabilities and mans ability to push technology forward. Moreover, it can play a very important role in fields where the risk of life is very high. Bridge inspection and transportation infrastructure is one such field which has great potential for robotics technology to increase safety and improve results.

As we can see, traditional bridge inspection has been a very time consuming and labor intensive process. It requires inspection of the entire structure and its members and is mandated to be inspected every 2 years in the US. The manual inspection causes inconvenience to the traffic as the lanes need to be closed down to avoid any kind of accident. The inspection result is also subjective and not precise as it can be by using todays technology. Many small and minor cracks and other deterioration go unnoticed using manual inspection and cannot compete with todays modern technology and robotics.

Robotics can easily handle all the above-mentioned issues. Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC), a trusted name in road and bridge inspection services has implemented this technology in its services and benefited its clients in terms of effectiveness, safety, and cost savings.

Our robotic technology provides accurate and precise quantitative condition assessment results in short time which saves time, money and labor. Since it is non-invasive and nondestructive the integrity of the bridge structure remains intact, unlike traditional bridge inspection where methods like coring and sampling further damage the structure and allow air and exposure to the elements to further deteriorate the structural components of the bridge.

The latest in robotic systems utilizes technologies like infrared, electromagnetic waves, radio waves etc. to collect data from the surface and subsurface of the structure. IPC’s robotics provide real time data and also stores it for analysis. These robotics are customized to perform the exclusive assessment of different members of the bridge like stay cables, post tensioned tendons, bridge deck and bridge approach ways, etc.. These members are currently inspected manually with lane closures and heavy equipment, but our robotics system performs inspection of these members very easily and collects data from every angle up to the entire length of the member which is impossible with the traditional bridge inspection methods.

To know more about our robotics system and other infrastructure inspection services, you can log on to our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or leave your contact details with us by filling up a contact form available on our site. You can also get a free estimate of our services by providing your details. Our customer support will contact you as soon as possible.

What is a post tension tendon?

“Post tensioning is a technique for reinforcing concrete. Post-tensioning tendons, which are pre-stressing steel cables inside plastic ducts or sleeves, are positioned in the forms before the concrete is placed.” Post tension cables in effect allow us to safely build large concrete structures. They allow larger spans, thinner slabs and greater distances between support commons. Post tensioning is used in bridges and box girder structures worldwide including on our bridges, on and off ramps.  Post tensioning makes it possible to build structures that might not otherwise be possible. Because concrete is not flexible it can crack under loads.  Although rebar is used to reinforce the concrete to prevent cracks from growing the concrete can still sag under increased loads. PT or post tension cables are load bearing and can stand large increases in loads bearing up the concrete.

There are many benefits that are gained by using a post-tensioned approach.  It allows for flexibility of design, faster construction and lower material costs. Over the long term, it can reduce maintenance costs and allow for increased loads over time.

Bridges that utilize post tension tendons are able to contain long and clear spans, have few beams and slender members and thinner slabs can be used which is not possible in case of regular bridges. This method reinforces or strengthens the concrete or other material with high strength steel bar or strand which is known as “tendons”. It significantly reduces the building weight and foundation load which is very useful in seismic areas.

Post tension tendons help in construction of complex bridges which has specific geometry requirements such as complex curves and super elevation. Extremely long span bridges can be constructed with the help of post tension tendons. Such architectures functions effectively without disrupting the traffic moving under it and also reduces the impact on environment significantly.

Post tension tendons are made of prestressing strand, anchorage, ducts, and grout and corrosion protection materials. Since this technology is new therefore there are no inspection systems for tendon components. Recent cases of corrosion of post tension tendons in complex bridges have become a significant problem.

After getting information about tendon corrosion, department of transportation has inspected their post tension structure inventory to assess and quantify the rate of tendon corrosion and to estimate the remaining lifespan of the affected member.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) has developed a comprehensive post tension tendon inspection service named “TendonScan®” which utilizes non destructive testing and evaluation methods that can find corrosion and section loss within a PT tendon. 

What it is?

As we have mentioned above that it is a comprehensive tendon scanning system which works on non destructive testing principals to find out voids, water intrusion and bleeding grout in external tendons. This system also includes a device to detect section loss within the tendon.

Why was it developed?

During construction of complex bridges, tendons are filled in grout to prevent corrosion. But during grouting process, the grout tends to separate depending on grout’s quality, admixtures, pumping equipment and procedures. This separation result into low pH grout at tendon points and anchorage which made these locations susceptible to corrosion.

Complex bridge inspection is incomplete without tendon testing therefore we have developed this TendonScan system to resolve this problem.

How it is used?

It is a battery operated robotic system that uses the latest in non destructive testing and modern technology. This system couples itself with the tendon and travel along it to perform a MRI like inspection of the material inside it. The inspector stands on the mobile control unit which travels along with the sensor. The sensor works through wireless connectivity to transmit the collected data. The information is transferred to control station for real time assessment of the tendon condition. The image of internal section of tendon is then illustrated in 3D color graphics so that any discontinuity like water intrusion, void or bleeding grout can be identified and quantified easily.

What problem does it solve?

This tendon assessment system helps in locating corrosion, voids, bleeding grout, section loss and other problems inside and outside the tendon. Moreover, it also helps in monitoring the discontinuities over a period of time which helps in deciding that when to repair or replace a post tension tendon. 

To know more about our products and services, you can visit our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or contact us at info@infrastructurepc.com.

Introduction to BridgeScan

Infrastructure is the backbone of our nation’s economy. The ability to get to work on time, get goods to market and safely travel relies on the condition of our infrastructure. Our nation’s infrastructure averages over 50 year old and is ageing and deteriorating at a faster pace than they can be repaired. Although the infrastructure is required to be inspected at regular intervals the inspection methods have not kept up to allow the asset owners to properly maintain them. If infrastructure is maintained properly on regular intervals, then its service life span can be extended. Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) provides inspection services through non-destructive testing methods and robotic engineering. We have patented technologies for various specific needs related to inspection and monitoring issues of the different structures like bridges, roads, high mast light poles and more says Doug Thaler, Exec. Vice President.

Here we will discuss some features of our in-house technology BridgeScan®.

What it is?

It is a patented bridge deck inspection service which utilizes non-destructive testing methods to cater following needs

• Identify rebar pattern

• Locate crack and monitor its progression over time

• Fill density assessment

• Locate delamination, deboning and concrete deterioration

• Abutment water intrusion assessment

• Void detection under approach slab

• Prepare condition assessment report for the asset owner

• Identifies 12 levels of deterioration.

• Conducts bridge deck & approach slab deterioration assessment.

Why it was built?

Traditional method of chain dragging or visual inspection of bridge deck has many drawbacks and limitations like

• It provides subjective results

• Poses risk to public and crew’s life with lane closures and the parking of heavy equipment on the bridge.

• It is time, cost and labour intensive

• Unable to locate delamination from internal layers

BridgeScan® effectively takes care of these problems and has many advantages over traditional methods of bridge inspection

• Offers quantitative results

• Allows the asset owner or DOT to properly allocate assets

• Provides actionable items for repair

• Create 2D and 3D images for analysis

• Accurately create the rebar patterns

• Detect cracks, voids, delamination and deboning

• Reconstruct bridge beam configuration

How it is used?

Although it is a computerized robotic device it is operated by the same bridge inspectors that currently inspect our bridges. Data gathered during the inspection by the device can be analysed in real time without interfering with the integrity or functionality of the bridge’s surface and subsurface.

What problem does it solve?

It detects any kind of minor or major deterioration on super surface and subsurface and creates a detailed illustration in 2D and 3D. Moreover, it stores data for later analysis and works on any kind of bridges old and new. The bridge does not need to be closed and traffic can move easily during bridge inspections.  All bridge inspections conducted by IPC are conducted within the DOT’s (Department of Transportations) current maintenance budgets.

To know more IPC and their products and services, check out their website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or contact them at info@infrastructurepc.com.

Advance Movable Bridge Inspection Technologies for Bridge Preservation and Maintenance

Moveable bridges like drawbridges, swing bridges, etc. have been around for a long time. An early version would be a draw bridge that goes over a moat to protect a castle from invaders.  Over time no matter what the materials all of these bridges need to be inspected.  In the US. The federal government requires that bridges including moveable bridges draw bridges be inspected every two years.

Although, movable bridges are found in many forms and many styles some of which include Drawbridge, Bascule bridge, Folding bridge., Curling bridge., Vertical-lift bridge. Table bridge, Retractable bridge (Thrust bridge), Rolling bascule bridge, etc.. 

Types of movable bridge

* Vertical lifts – the bridge deck is raised to allow passage to any vessel

* Bascules – vehicular deck moved from horizontal position to vertical position or near to vertical position.

* Swings – Bridge deck pivots in the horizontal position creating two channels for vessel passage

* Drawbridge - a bridge, especially one over a castle's moat, that is hinged at one end so that it may be raised to prevent people's crossing or to allow vessels to pass under it.

The dynamic nature of the these bridges and their location near the water bodies especially salt water, make them vulnerable to rusting and other micro damages therefore periodic inspection is very important in their smooth functioning and preservation. The fact that they move also brings to mind the wear and tear imposed by heavy loads ,strained motors, hydraulics and gears.

Movable bridge inspection is of two types: Routine inspection (typically conducted every two years) and in – depth inspection for fracture critical or functionally obsolete bridges (typically conducted every year). “Routine inspections have been conducted the same way for years. As bridges age a manual, visual or subjective inspection is just not adequate to be able to properly assess a bridges current condition or to allocate available assets properly” says Doug Thaler of Infrastructure Preservation Corporation.  “Our company took the current inspection requirements and added modern technology and robotics to create a comprehensive inspection of a drawbridge within the department of transportation’s current budget. Another words within the same budget or for the same price but with much more quantitative data.”

In depth movable bridge inspection is detailed evaluation of the physical and mechanical and structural condition of the movable bridge. Conventional movable bridge inspection  are manual, subjective and sometime involves intrusive and destructive methods to quantify and document the deterioration level. This leaves the bridge in worse shape than it was originally found.

At Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC), we provide the most advanced non destructive and non intrusive technology for thorough condition assessment during routine or in – depth movable bridge inspection. Our advanced but easy to use technology allows the bridge inspector and other staff to evaluate the condition of movable bridge with utmost safety and without disturbing the ongoing traffic on bridge deck. Infrastructure Preservation Corporations, (IPC) structural health monitoring can also tell when something is going wrong before a drawbridge gets stuck and traffic is held up.  By being able to know before a motor goes bad or when hydraulic fluid needs to be replaced it can minimize or eliminate emergency calls and an angry public.

Our movable bridge inspection methods conform to FHWA & AASHTO requirements and uses non invasive technologies and cutting edge technologies to collect accurate data about internal cracks, damage, minor or major deterioration, electrical problems, gear issues. Full mechanical and operational issues as well as structure critical and fracture critical items.

Moreover, data collected during routine inspection helps in detecting early stage deterioration and maintenance issues that can cause a drawbridge or moveable bridge to be stuck in the up position requiring emergency repair. The quantitative data provided by IPC allows the  decision makers to take appropriate actions to properly maintain or repair a drawbridge For more information about our products and services visit www.infrastructurepc.com and contact us for further assistance.

Robotic inspection device peers through concrete and steel to help preserve our Nations infrastructure

Post tension cable assessment uses robotics to peer through the cables that hold up our nations bridges, dams and heavily loaded concrete structures in order to help maintain, repair and extend their service life.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation’s “IPC’s” develops a robotic device that can peer through concrete and steel structure to update 50 year old manual inspections of post tension cables.

IPC’s robotic post tension cable inspection provides the department of transportation and infrastructure asset managers a comprehensive inspection of post tension cables. IPC’s post tension cable assessment robots have the ability to peer through concrete and steel to both identify air, water and bleeding grout as well as locate corrosion down to .1% within post tension cables.

IPC does this utilizing the latest in nondestructive testing methods that they patented .

By finding early stage deterioration and correcting it, IPC can help extend the service life or our valuable infrastructure assets.  It is important to use destructive methods only when and where necessary.  Every time you drill into a post tension cable, we are exposing it to air which will escalate corrosion and speed up deterioration.   Each one of IPC’s devices clamp on the exterior sheath of the cable and glide along via a manual operator walking the unit down a cable or robotically driven up a cable and returned to base. Each area of concern is marked.  The entire inspection is recorded and a cross section view of the inside of the post tension cable is available to see the size, shape and position of the problem areas.

The post tension cable inspection or PT evaluation can create a baseline condition assessment of all PT cables that can be compared against future inspections to monitor deterioration progression over time.

The units themselves are lightweight and portable and allow for minimum clearance when dealing with cables near the floor.

For more information go to https://www.infrastructurepc.com/.