Steel Bridge Testing Program

completed

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) nondestructive 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.