Nonlinear Ultrasonic Testing on a Laboratory Concrete Bridge Deck

Abstract

Nonlinear ultrasonic testing has been shown to be extremely sensitive to distributed damage in concrete. Nonlinear nondestructive ultrasonic tests were performed on a laboratory bridge to detect distributed damage in the deck after it had been overloaded. The NLUT detected damage throughout the deck, and of particular interest in locations where damage was not visible. These results were compared to results obtained using pulse velocity tests at the same locations. The nonlinear ultrasonics were several orders of magnitude more sensitive than results obtained from pulse velocity.