Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Home|Legal Information|Privacy Policy|Copyright Notice
 
SHRP2 Nondestructive Testing Solutions

SHRP2 Nondestructive Testing Solutions

NDE Web Manual

 

FHWA’s Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Web Manual allows users to search for technologies relevant to specific materials, types of deterioration, and/or infrastructure elements. It includes also best practices, sample applications, and performance attributes of various technologies.

New nondestructive testing (NDT) solutions to better construct and maintain America’s roads, bridges, and tunnels.
  • Geophysical, mobile-scanning, and hand-held technologies to help inspect concrete bridge decks or tunnel linings more quickly and comprehensively.
  • Tools to detect project-level pavement delamination and debonding early on in a project.
  • Infrared and radar technologies that provide real-time testing of nearly 100 percent of the pavement area during construction.
  • Market-ready technologies that provide real-time verification to ensure construction materials meet specifications.
  • Proven technologies to help improve concrete pavement smoothness during construction.
  • Advanced utility identification technologies to detect, locate, and characterize subsurface utilities.
Nondestructive Testing General Information
Nondestructive Testing for Concrete Bridge Decks and Tunnel Linings (R06 A/G)

Technologies that define the actual extent of deterioration—beyond what can be seen—for improved repairs.

  • Geophysical technologies for evaluating and inspecting concrete bridge decks; mobile-scanning and hand-held technologies for mapping voids, debonding, delaminations, moisture, and other defects behind or within tunnel linings.
  • For more information, visit the R06 A/G product page.
  • Implementation states for R06A: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia; implementation states for R06G: California, Colorado, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
  • Contact: Hoda Azari, FHWA, Hoda.Azari@dot.gov.
Techniques to Fingerprint Construction Materials (R06B)

Two market-ready technologies were introduced, X-ray Fluorescent Spectroscopy (XRF) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), that can be used during construction to verify the chemical compounds or presence of certain additives or contaminants in some commonly used construction materials.

X-Ray Florescence (XRF)

Rapid Technologies to Enhance Quality Control on Asphalt Pavements (R06C)

Two products were used to provide real-time testing of potentially 100 percent of the pavement area, providing much more inspection coverage than existing methods for Asphalt Pavement construction.

  • For more information, visit the R06C product page.
  • States that implemented R06C (IR): Alabama, Alaska, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; R06C (GPR):   Nebraska, Maine.
  • Contact: Steve Cooper, FHWA, Stephen.j.cooper@dot.gov.

Using IR scanner for pavement project, Peoria, IL

Advanced Methods to Identify Pavement Delamination (R06D)

Three technologies – GPR and IE technology, combined with the Seismic Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW) system – to detect project-level pavement delamination and debonding before the deficiencies cause visual pavement distress.

Ground Penetrating Radar Antenna Array

Tools to Improve PCC Pavement Smoothness During Construction (R06E)

Information and tools to evaluate pavement smoothness in real-time while the concrete is still wet.

  • Through equipment loans and demonstrations, states participating in the Implementation Assistance Program (IAP), along with a number of non-IAP participating states, received hands-on experience using these tools, along with training.
  • For more information, view the R06E fact sheet.
  • States that implemented R06E: Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Technical assistance is available to support additional agencies if requested.
  • Contact: Steve Cooper, FHWA, Stephen.j.cooper@dot.gov. 
Utility Locating Technologies (R01B)

Two advanced utility identification technologies were introduced that may help transportation agencies looking for more detailed information than previously known about their subsurface utilities. The first is Multi-Channel Ground Penetrating Radar (MCGPR). Since this technology does not work well in clay soils, a second technology was identified in the research. Time Domain Electromagnetic Induction (TDEMI) can work in highly conductive soils; however, it cannot detect non-metallic utilities without a tracer wire. Soil type, terrain, and other geophysical attributes will help determine which technologies are appropriate for a given location.