Radar signal processing and analysis for evaluation of reinforced concrete bridge decks

This paper presents the findings of a study on the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for nondestructive evaluation of concrete bridge decks. Several concrete bridge deck specimens of varying internal conditions such as with/without reinforcement and with air and water-filled cracks were cast in the laboratory. The individual radar waveforms from these specimens were compared to study the effect of anomalies (e.g., cracks) on the radar waveforms. In addition, a computer model was used to conduct waveform inversion on the radar waveforms for these specimens in order to distinguish between specimens with and without embedded cracks.