BASELINE NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION (NDE) OF PULTRUDED COMPOSITE BRIDGE BEAMS

This paper describes baseline nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of pultruded vinyl ester carbon/glass fiber reinforced bridge beams prior to their field installation. The NDE has been performed to support long-term field monitoring of a bridge structure constructed over Tom's Creek in Blacksburg, Virginia. Results from acoustic emission monitoring of proof tests of the individual beams, acousto-ultrasonic measurements as a function of load cycles, ultrasonic c-scanning of selected beam sections, and infrared thermographic examination are presented. The strategy for long-term monitoring and development of field inspection methodologies is discussed.