The Infrastruct team prepared and presented a paper for the CERAI Conference in August 2022 at the Technological University of Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. The paper was titled ‘The Effectiveness of Non-Destructive Testing for Decision Making in Structural Assessments – A Case Study using Impulse Response Method’.
In the paper we note that infrastructure around the world is aging and to ensure the continued safe use of aging infrastructure, there is an on-going need to actively manage the structural condition, undertake repairs, and/or strengthening.
The use of Non-Destructive Techniques (NDTs) along with minimal destructive testing can enable efficient evaluation of the structural condition, and target deteriorated areas for repairs, rehabilitation, and strengthening. There are many types of NDT systems available within the Civil Engineering industry, from simple devices to highly advanced systems. The selection of the right system will lead to a better match between the information needed by the Engineers for their structural assessments and the information collected on-site.
The collection of appropriate data when testing on site will lead to more effective decision-making in structural assessments.
Our paper presented a brief overview of certain NDTs. A case study is presented where the impulse response method was successfully used in assessing multiple composite slabs within a larger floor system. Based on a comparative analysis of the NDT results, a limited number of floor slabs were further evaluated by static load testing. The case study showed that the use of a NDT technique led to a cost-effective evaluation of the in-situ slabs.
Our paper provided an example of the use of NDT methods for better decision-making in structural assessments for the practicing engineers and relevant personnel.
Read Full Paper: The Effectiveness of Non-Destructive Testing for Decision Making in Structural Assessments – A Case Study using Impulse Response Method