Periodic NDE for Preservation of Concrete Structures

Corrosion of steel reinforcement and prestressing strands is the main cause of deterioration and failure of concrete structures leading to considerable costs for inspection, maintenance, restoration, and replacement. This paper describes the concept of periodic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) as a tool for preventive maintenance and preservation of concrete structures. The paper showcases a collaborative benchmark project set up at FHWA NDE Center evaluating multi-sensor NDE techniques for monitoring deterioration of typical concrete structures such as a bridge deck. The objective is to devise a test protocol for monitoring corrosion and asset management of the concrete structures by performing periodic baseline NDE measurements.