Non-destructive Evaluation of Civil Engineering Structures

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Select suitable non-destructive evaluation methods for concrete, steel, timber, and bridge foundations

• Interpret test results to identify deterioration, hidden defects, and conditions affecting structural performance

• Define the scope of an investigation and integrate non-destructive evaluation with visual and intrusive testing

• Plan condition surveys and detailed bridge inspections using a structured evaluation approach

• Use evaluation findings to support defensible repair, rehabilitation, and asset management decisions

Description
Aging structures can present significant uncertainty when deterioration is concealed, difficult to characterize, or not fully understood through visual inspection alone. Corrosion, cracking, material degradation, foundation defects, and other conditions can affect structural integrity and serviceability, but determining their extent and significance requires more than simply identifying visible damage. Without a well-planned investigation, engineers may collect insufficient or unnecessary data, misinterpret structural conditions, or recommend interventions that do not address the underlying causes of deterioration.

This course provides a practical framework for investigating the condition of existing concrete, steel, and timber structures, including bridge foundations, using non-destructive evaluation methods. You will learn how to select investigative techniques based on the suspected deterioration mechanism, structural condition, and information required to support an assessment. Emphasis is placed on understanding what different methods can reveal, recognizing their limitations, interpreting findings in context, and determining when visual inspection or intrusive testing is needed to supplement non-destructive evaluation.

Through case studies and practical examples, you will develop a more systematic approach to planning investigations and evaluating the information they produce. By connecting observed conditions, deterioration mechanisms, testing strategies, and engineering judgment, you will be better equipped to reduce uncertainty in condition assessments and develop technically supported recommendations for maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or continued service.

Who Should Attend
This course is designed for:

• Structural and civil engineers responsible for evaluating existing structures

• Engineers, technologists, and technicians involved in bridge inspection and condition assessment

• Project managers responsible for infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation

• Consultants and contractors performing structural investigations or non-destructive testing

• Municipal and transportation agency personnel responsible for bridges and aging infrastructure

• Asset owners and managers who use condition information to plan maintenance, repair, and capital investment

Day I

Overview of Damage and Degradation in Concrete Structures and Bridge Structures

• Corrosion of reinforcing steel

• Freeze-thaw cycling

• Alkali-aggregate reactivity

• Sulfate attack

• Shrinkage and creep

• Loads and workmanship

• Common problems in steel bridges

• Common problems in timber bridges

Overview of Non-destructive Evaluation

• Objectives and rationale of nondestructive evaluation

• Visual Inspection

• In-situ strength and surface hardness

• Pull-out and break-off tests

• Resonant frequency methods

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Concrete Structures and Bridges

• Acoustic emission methods

• Infrared thermography

• Ground penetrating radar

• Corrosion evaluation methods

Non-destructive Evaluation of Steel Structures and Bridges

• Metallography and fractography

•  Eddy current

• Magnetic particle and radiological inspection techniques

• Ultrasonic and acoustic emission methods

• Radiography

• Strain gages and instrumentation

Discussion Forum - Q&A

Day II

Non-destructive Evaluation of Timber Structures and Bridges

• Radiation Tomography

• Thermal imaging

• Microwave Imaging

• Ultrasonic Imaging

• Nuclear magnetic resonance

• Evaluation of decay, wood species and preservatives

Non-destructive Evaluation of Bridge Foundations

• Sonic Echo Method

• mpulse response method

• Impedance logging

• Parallel seismic techniques

Planning and Performing NDT Bridge Evaluation

• Defining the scope of the investigation

• Correlation with intrusive testing

• Performing level 3 bridge inspection

• Condition survey of bridges

• Integrity and structural performance

Case Studies of Structures / Bridges Evaluation and Repair

Open Forum: Questions and Answers, Feedback on Achievement of Learning

Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment