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West Virginia University

Nondestructive testing of concrete bridge decks using ground-penetrating radar and the chain drag method

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis presents the findings of two different nondestructive techniques that are used for bridge deck analysis: the chain drag method and ground penetrating radar (GPR). The chain drag testing was performed in the laboratory with 23 simulated concrete bridge deck specimens. The specimens contained varying internal conditions such as with/without steel reinforcement and with air and water filled cracks. The tests were to determine if the chains could uncover the different characteristics of each specimen, and to see if the varying sizes of the three chains had any influence on the outcome of the results.;The GPR testing was performed in the field on three highway bridge decks. The purpose of this testing was to determine if the GPR technique could accurately assess the depths to the different deck interfaces (overlay/concrete, 1st layer rebar, deck bottom, etc.), and to examine whether the radar software could find bridge deterioration.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MS
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Year dc:date.available
1998

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Scheff, Jerry J.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Roger H. L. Chen.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1938

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
West Virginia University
Base URL
researchrepository.wvu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Scheff, Jerry J.. Nondestructive testing of concrete bridge decks using ground-penetrating radar and the chain drag method. Thesis thesis, 1998. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.935