Condition Assessment of Bridge Decks through Ground-Penetrating Radar in Bridge Management Systems

Highway agencies around the world are looking into adopting cost-effective and accurate methods for assessing the condition of their infrastructure network. In such an effort, agencies explore alternative testing methods that can be used for assessing (1) as-built construction quality, and (2) in-service condition of bridges. Such information is crucial in bridge management systems (BMS) for managing the vast network of bridges and making wise and cost-effective decisions on maintenance and rehabilitation. Following the catastrophic collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Italy in 2018, bridge inspections were intensified for those in the lower condition category, like the one investigated herein. In this study, an old prestressed bridge deck in poor condition was surveyed with ground-penetrating radar (GPR). The bridge is located in the southeastern portion of Sicily, Italy. It was the objective of the study to assess the current conditions in terms of (1) asphalt overlay thickness, and (2) depth and potential deterioration of the reinforcement. The methodology and analysis used in this study confirmed the ability and reliability of GPR in assessing such conditions and thus could be used elsewhere to carry out such inspections.