Investigation of Mix-Variation Effect on Defect-Detection Ability Using Infrared Thermography as a Nondestructive Evaluation Technique
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 21, Issue 3
Abstract
Infrared thermography (IRT) is a promising nondestructive evaluation technique that has been widely used for bridge deck inspection. It is a quick and fairly simple method for providing preliminary information about defected areas in bridge decks. However, detection capabilities and sensitivity to environmental conditions and material properties impose certain challenges for the application of IRT. In this paper, the effect of various concrete mixtures on passive IRT was investigated. Four concrete mixtures (i.e., conventional, high-strength, self-consolidated, and lightweight concrete) were considered in the evaluation. Various defects with relatively small sizes placed at different depths were simulated and planted in cast-in-place slabs. The casting and testing took place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is considered a hot-weather region. The defected slabs were imaged, and the existence of defects was judged visually. A minimum of 0.8°C was used for successful detection to make a more confident judgment for the existence of a defect. In addition, the images were compared with those of nondefected slabs to enhance the judgment of defect detection. Thermal conductivity of each mix was estimated using the Maxwell–Eucken two-phase composite-material model, and rapid chloride penetration was tested and used as an indication of concrete density. The slabs were imaged during the cooling cycle. Results showed that mix variation had a significant effect on IRT. High-strength concrete provided the highest detection possible among the mixes. Results also showed that the higher the density and thermal-conductivity coefficient, the better the defect detection using IRT under ideal imaging conditions. For the UAE, ambient conditions are favorable for passive IRT because the results indicated minimal sensitivity to wind, relative humidity, and temperature, as opposed to other locations in the world where passive IRT would not be applicable. Nevertheless, because of its limitations, IRT would better serve as a health-monitoring technique using baseline comparisons rather than as an independent inspection tool for bridges.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research effort is a part of the American University of Sharjah’s Provost’s Challenge Grant, 2011. The financial support provided by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies at the American University of Sharjah is greatly appreciated.
References
Abdel-Qader, I., Abudayyeh, O., and Kelly, M. (2003). “Analysis of edge-detection techniques for crack identification in bridges.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng., 255–263.
Aggelis, D. G., Kordatos, E. Z., Soulioti, D. V., and Matikas, T. E. (2010). “Combined use of thermography and ultrasound for the characterization of subsurface cracks in concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater., 24(10), 1888–1897.
Aggelis, D. G., Kordatos, E. Z., Strantza, M., Soulioti, D. V., and Matikas, T. E. (2011). “NDT approach for characterization of subsurface cracks in concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater., 25(7), 3089–3097.
Al-Hadhrami, L. M., Maslehuddin, M., Shameem, M., and Ali, M. R. (2012). “Assessing concrete density using infrared thermographic (IRT) images.” Infrared Phys. Technol., 55(5), 442–448.
ASTM. (2007). “Standard test method for detecting delaminations in bridge decks using infrared thermography.” ASTM D 4788, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2012). “Standard test method for electrical indication of concrete’s ability to resist chloride ion penetration.” ASTM C1202, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2013). “Standard test method for thermal diffusivity by the flash method.” ASTM E-1461, West Conshohocken, PA.
Cheng, C.-C., Cheng, T.-M., and Chiang, C.-H. (2008). “Defect detection of concrete structures using both infrared thermography and elastic waves.” Autom. Constr., 18(1), 87–92.
Dekelbab, W., Al-Wazeer, A., and Harris, B. (2008). “History lessons from the national bridge inventory.” Public Roads, 71(6), 30–36.
Demirboga, R. (2007). “Thermal conductivity and compressive strength of concrete incorporation with mineral admixtures.” Build. Environ., 42(7), 2467–2471.
Demirboga, R., and Gul, R. (2003). “The effects of expanded perlite aggregate, silica fume and fly ash on the thermal conductivity of lightweight concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res., 33(5), 723–727.
Gunduz, L., and Ugur, I. (2005). “The effects of different fine and coarse pumice aggregate/cement ratios on the structural concrete properties without using any admixtures.” Cem. Concr. Res., 35(9), 1859–1864.
Howlader, M., Rashid, K. M. H., Mallick, D., and Haque, T. (2012). “Effect of aggregate types on thermal properties of concrete.” ARPN J. Eng. Appl. Sci., 7(7), 900–907.
InfRec Analyzer NS9500 [Computer software]. Nippon Avionics, Tokyo. 〈http://www.infrared.avio.co.jp/en/products/ir-thermo/pdf/catalog-g120ex-g100ex-e.pdf〉.
Jana, D. (2007). “Delamination—A state-of-the-art review.” Proc., 29th Cement Microscopy Conf., International Cement Microscopy Association, Québec City, 135–167.
Kee, S.-H., Oh, T., Popovics, J. S., Arndt, R. W., and Zhu, J. (2012). “Nondestructive bridge deck testing with air-coupled impact-echo and infrared thermography.” J. Bridge Eng., 928–939.
Khan, M. I. (2002). “Factors affecting the thermal properties of concrete and applicability of its prediction models.” Build. Environ., 37(6), 607–614.
Kim, H. K., Jeon, J. H., and Lee, H. K. (2012). “Workability, and mechanical, acoustic and thermal properties of lightweight aggregate concrete with a high volume of entrained air.” Constr. Build. Mater., 29, 193–200.
Kim, K.-H., Jeon, S.-E., Kim, J.-K., and Yang, S. (2003). “An experimental study on thermal conductivity of concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res., 33(3), 363–371.
Kobayashi, K., and Banthia, N. (2011). “Corrosion detection in reinforced concrete using induction heating and infrared thermography.” J. Civ. Struct. Health Monit., 1(1–2), 25–35.
Lehmann, B., Ghazi, W. K., Frank, T., Vera, B. C., and Tanner, C. (2013). “Effects of individual climatic parameters on the infrared thermography of buildings.” Appl. Energy, 110(10), 29–43.
Maierhofer, C., Arndt, R., and Rollig, M. (2007). “Influence of concrete properties on the detection of voids with impulse-thermography.” Infrared Phys. Technol., 49(3), 213–217.
Maldague, X. (2001) Theory and practice of infrared technology for nondestructive testing, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Neville, A. M. (1996). Properties of concrete, 4th Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Nguyen, L. H. A., Beaucour, L., Ortola, S., and Noumowé, A. (2014). “Influence of the volume fraction and the nature of fine lightweight aggregates on the thermal and mechanical properties of structural concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater., 51(1), 121–132.
Oh, T., Kee, S., Arndt, R., Popovics, J., and Zhu, J. (2013). “Comparison of NDT methods for assessment of a concrete bridge deck.” J. Eng. Mech., 305–314.
Sengul, O., Azizi, S., Karaosmanoglu, F., and Tasdemir, M. (2011). “Effect of expanded perlite on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of lightweight concrete.” Energy Build., 43(2–3), 671–676.
SHRP-II (Second Strategic Highway Research Program). (2013). “Nondestructive testing to identify concrete bridge deck deterioration.” Rep. S2-R06A-RR-1, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C. 〈http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/SHRP2_S2-R06A-RR-1.pdf〉
Sirieix, C., Lataste, J. F., Breysse, D., Naar, S., and Derobert, X. (2007). “Comparison of nondestructive testing: Infrared thermography, electrical resisitivity and capacity methods for assessing a reinforced concrete structure.” J. Build. Apprais, 3(1), 77–88.
Svaić, S., Boras, I., and Hiti, M. (2011). “Infrared thermography and numerical methods in civil engineering.” United Nations Development Program: Int. Conf. on Energy Management in Cultural Heritage 2011, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Tuson, A., and Charman, R. (2012). Thermal material properties for modelling of the 2 metre box, Radioactive Waste Management Directorate, Oxfordshire, U.K.
Uysal, H., Demirboga, R., Sahin, R., and Gul, R. (2004). “The effects of different cement dosages, slumps, and pumice aggregate ratios on the thermal conductivity and density of concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res., 34(5), 845–848.
Vaghefi, K., Silva, H., Harris, D. K., and Ahlborn, T. M. (2011). “Application of thermal IR imagery for concrete bridge inspection.” Proc., National Bridge Conf., Precast Concrete Institute, Salt Lake City.
Wang, J., Carson, J. K., North, M. F., and Cleland, D. J. (2006). “A new approach to modelling the effective thermal conductivity of heterogeneous materials.” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 49(17–18), 3075–3083.
Washer, G., Fenwick, R., and Bolleni, N. (2010). “Effects of solar loading on infrared imaging of subsurface features in concrete.” J. Bridge Eng., 384–390.
Yehia, S., Abudayyeh, O., Nabulsi, S., and Abdelqader, I. (2007). “Detection of common defects in concrete bridge decks using nondestructive evaluation techniques.” J. Bridge Eng., 215–225.
Yehia, S., Qaddoumi, N., Hamzeh, L., and Farrag, S. (2013). “Non-destructive techniques for bridge inspection in United Arab Emirates.” IABSE Symp. 2013: Assessment, Upgrading and Refurbishment of Infrastructures, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1526–1532.
Yun, T. S., Jeong, Y. J., Han, T.-S., and Youm, K.-S. (2013). “Evaluation of thermal conductivity for thermally insulated concretes.” Energy Build., 61, 125–132.
Zhao, G., and Chen, J. G. (2013). “Infrared thermo-graphic inspection technique for concrete retaining wall.” Electron. J. Geotech. Eng., 18(1), 1521–1528.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 21 • Issue 3 • March 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 4, 2014
Accepted: Jan 26, 2015
Published online: Sep 25, 2015
Discussion open until: Feb 25, 2016
Published in print: Mar 1, 2016
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.