CIVE1140

Infrastructure
Management

Dr David Law

Room 12.13.31
Condition Assessment

• Procedures
– Read Reports & discuss with Client
– Get background information
– Identify requirements for initial site visit
– Initial Site Visit
– Visual Inspection
– Photographs and sketches
– Identify areas of interest and additional data required
– Identify test locations and equipment/personnel required
– Issue report (if required)
– Detailed Site Inspections (if required)

2 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Preparation
– Why is assessment being undertaken?
– Discuss with client
– Deterioration detected
– Standard/Routine inspection
– Fire/Impact damage
– Change of Use/Loading conditions
– Obtain previous reports
– Design/As built drawings and construction specifications and records
– Suitability of tests
– Coatings can prevent electrochemical measurements
– Environmental conditions can severely affect tests

3 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Testing
– Initial Inspection
– Visual Inspection
– Delamination Survey
– Detailed Inspection
– Cover Survey
– Half Cell Survey
– Resistivity
– Corrosion Rate
– Sampling
– Other

4 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Equipment (visual/delamination survey)

– Pen, pencil, paper (special test sheets), clipboard
– Copies of construction drawings (as built if available)
– Chalk/Crayons, chalk line, spray can
– Tape measure, steel ruler, crack gauge, brush/scraper, hammer,
chisel
– Camera, batteries, binoculars, torch
– Storage cases

5 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Equipment (specialist)
– Power cables, leads, screwdriver, batteries, sample bags, drill, drill
bits (masonry and steel), generator, bucket, steel rod, gloves
– Covermeter
– Half cell (Cu/CuSO4, AgCl), distilled water, multimeter
– Linear polarisation kit, laptop, half cells (3 x Cu/CuSO4)
– Resistivity meter
– Coring Rig, water supply, replacement mortar, paint, paint brush,
– Phenolphthalein
– Schmidt Hammer
– Any other specialist equipment

6 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Personnel
– Experience
– Knowledge of deterioration
process
– Familiar with equipment
– Appropriate safety
training/inductions
– Relevant cards
– Specialist testing
– Coring contractors
– Divers
– Cherry picker/lift operators
– Scaffolders

7 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Access
– By foot, pavements, road, bridge, ladder, car
– Cherry picker, scissor lift
– Crane/Dog Box
– Scaffolding/Platforms
– Boat
– Abseiling
– Inaccessible sides of buildings
– Diving
– Bridge piers

8 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• OH&S
– Mitigate Risk
– Prepare Risk
Mitigation Plan
– Develop Site
Induction Plan

9 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Site Induction
– All personnel must be
inducted on to site
– Each site has own specific
site induction, possibly in
conjunction with company
induction
– May allow them to work alone
or be accompanied by
inducted personnel at all
times

10 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Job Safety Analysis

– Each Job/Test must have a
safety analysis undertaken
– This must be specific to each
site location
– Often the same for different
sites allowing the same JSA
to be used, or slightly
modified

11 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• Write a Work Method Statement for each test based on

JSA
– Detail Tasks to be undertaken
– Write procedure, step by step
– Detail all hazards
– Detail all safety measures to be taken
– List all equipment
– List all materials
– List all Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used

12 RMIT University
Site Investigations

• PPE
– Safety Boots
– Hard Hat
– Reflective vest
– Goggles
– Ear Plugs
– Safety Harness
– Breathing Apparatus
– Life Vest
– Specialist Training
– Confined Spaces
– Working at Heights

13 RMIT University
Visual Inspection

• Visual Inspections
– Cracks
– Rust staining
– Spalling
– Delamination
– Poor workmanship
– Water leaks/damage
– Poor quality repairs
– Other damage
– Causes

14 RMIT University
Cracking

• Corrosion
• Casting
– Plastic Shrinkage
– Drying shrinkage
– Surface Crazing
– Thermal
• ASR
• Loading
• Impact

15 RMIT University
Corrosion - Cracking

RMIT University 16
Cracking – Plastic Shrinkage

• Water evaporates rapidly from

the surface when cast.
• Faster than it can be replaced
by the bleed water.
• The surface layer concrete
“shrinks”, but is restrained by
the concrete below.
• Tensile stress develop in the
“plastic” surface concrete
leading to “plastic shrinkage
cracking”

17 RMIT University
Cracking – Plastic Shrinkage

• Can be solved by good curing

• Occurs when concrete is still
“plastic”
• Cracks run parallel to each
other
• Mainly at surface
– less than 0.3 mm wide, 2-10 mm
deep
• But can penetrate to rebar
– 1-2mm wide, 20-30mm deep

18 RMIT University
Surface Crazing

• Small cracks in surface of

concrete
• Surface shrinks at different rate to
bulk concrete below
• Causes
– Rapid Drying (high temperatures)
– Rapid Cooling (overnight)
• Occurs at point concrete goes
from plastic to solid
• Cracks typically less than 0.3mm
thick and 1-2 mm deep
• Can be solved by good curing
• Mainly aesthetic rather than
durability

19 RMIT University
Cracking – Drying Shrinkage

• Concrete generally contains more

water than is needed for hydration
reaction. As such water is lost to
evaporation
• As water is lost concrete shrinks
• The concrete is restrained due to other
parts of the structure
• Results in tensile stress being
developed which cause drying
shrinkage
• Most structures drying shrinkage is
inevitable

20 RMIT University
Cracking – Drying Shrinkage

• Solve by using control joints or

reinforcement
• Occurs when concrete sets
• Mainly at surface
– less than 0.3 mm wide, 2-10 mm
deep
• But can penetrate to rebar
– 1-2mm wide, 20-30mm deep

21 RMIT University
Cracking – Thermal Cracking
• Hydration reaction is exothermic.
– High temperatures are generated in
the centre of the concrete which can
result in large thermal gradients,
particularly in large mixes
• Thus as the external concrete cools and
contracts the centre is still hot and
expanding.
• This results in tensile stresses giving rise
to thermal cracking
• Crack size and depth dependant upon
thermal gradient
• Generally to depth of reinforcement,
significant durability issues
• Solve by controlling size of mix, cooling
mixing water or adding mixing water as
ice
• Casting often done a night

22 RMIT University
Loading

• Increased loads
– Vehicle numbers and size
increase with time
• Repetitive Loading
– Repeated loading cause fatigue
• Poor design
– Design does not account for
actual structural load
• Washout
– Foundations, soil or supports are
washed out due to flooding or
river flow

23 RMIT University
Loading

• Impact
– Vehicle impact on bridge
– Load dropped on to structure

24 RMIT University
Cracking

While it can be a problem – appearance and performance

(cracks<0.3mm often autogenously heal)

It is that it allows access to aggressive agents such as

chlorides and acidic gases, which promote corrosion, that
is the major cause for concern.

This in turn will lead to further cracking, spalling and

eventually failure!

25 RMIT University
Delamination

• Delamination occurs when

the concrete has de-
bonded from the steel but
has not spalled
• The concrete sounds
hollow
• Testing with a hammer
tapping survey
– Chains or a coin may also be
used

26 RMIT University
Spalling

RMIT University 27
Poor Workmanship

• Low cover
– Poorly fitting formwork
– Wrongly placed steel
– Too high a detail

• Poor compaction
– No vibration
– Too much water in mix

• Poor QA
– No curing
– Wrong mix
– Too long standing

28 RMIT University
Poor Design

• Durability assessment
– No durability assessment
– No consideration of
environmental loading
– No allowance for change in
exposure/use
– Poor drainage
• Materials selection
– Cheap materials
– Inferior materials
– Insufficient testing

29 RMIT University
Poor Quality Repairs

RMIT University 30
Interpretation of Visual Data

• Single structure
– Client has only one structure
– Structure is unique

• Network of structures
– Large number of similar structures
– Single owner
– e.g. Highways Agency, bridges
– Similar structures many owners
– e.g. Port authorities, docks

31 RMIT University
Condition Assessment System (CAS)

• Collect Data
• Record Data
• Evaluate Data
– Rating system
– Algorithm
– Experience
• Recommendations
– Individual structures
– Network of structures
• Store Data

32 RMIT University
Condition Assessment System

• Prioritisation of structures for inspection/assessment

• Categorisation of component parts
– In network first step is to break it down to individual structures
– Piers, abutments, bridge deck, etc
• Categorisation of vulnerability of structure and it’s
components
• Categorisation of extent and severity of deterioration and
structural adequacy
• Rating of structure

33 RMIT University
Level of Inspection

• Routine
– Set period of time
– 1-5 years
– Visual/delamination
– Installed monitoring equipment
• Detailed
– Set period of time
– 5 – 10 years
– Defects identified in routine inspection
– Standard NDT equipment
• Specialist
– Defects identified in detailed inspection
– Specialist testing equipment

34 RMIT University
Rating Systems

• Routine and visual inspections often given a standard rating system

• Generally based on 4 or 5 levels
– 0-4 or 1-4 most common
• Further testing and repair triggered when higher levels are reached
– Levels 2, 3 or 4
– Based on degree of deterioration and extent
• Generally reactive rather than proactive
– Some deterioration must be evident before action taken
– Will affect repair and maintenance strategies as deterioration already
underway
• Requires experienced personnel
– Subjective decisions
– Training and reference photographs are available to make decisions

35 RMIT University
Visual Inspection

Rating Description

0 No visible sign of deterioration

1 Rust staining, hairline cracks

2 Severe rust staining

Cracks upto 0.3mm
3 Severe cracking
Some minor spalling
4 Major spalling, exposed rebar showing
significant section loss, structural concern
36 RMIT University
Extent and Severity

Extent Severity Damage

1 No significant defect No significant defect

2 Slight, not more than 5% of Minor defects of a non-urgent nature

length/area affected

3 Moderate, 5 – 20% affected Defects which shall be included within

next annual maintenance programme

4 Severe, more than 20% affected Severe defects where urgent action
required

37 RMIT University
Detailed Inspection

Rating Description

0 Cover below specified limit

1 Initiation of corrosion

2 Longitudinal cracking

3 Spalling of cover in non-sensitive areas

4 Potential collapse

38 RMIT University
Structural Inspection

Rating Description

0 Damage had no influence on performance

1 Damage will influence performance of component over the long term, if

unchecked. A growth of damage or consequential damages of other
components is not expected
2 Damage has influence on performance of component and will lead to an
influence of component durability in the long run. Medium term damage
elimination necessary
3 Damage has influence on safety but overall structural capacity unaffected

4 Due to the damage the component no longer possesses an adequate margin

of safety. Restriction of serviceability or renewal required

39 RMIT University