What is Bridge and Tunnel Inspection?

Bridge and Tunnel Inspection in the construction testing industry is crucial for ensuring the safety of infrastructure. It mainly includes non-destructive testing of structural elements (such as ground-penetrating radar, rebound hammer testing for strength/rebar location/cover thickness), performance testing (static load tests to assess bearing capacity, dynamic load tests to assess stiffness and seismic resistance), material testing (cement, asphalt, concrete, bearings, etc.), and advanced geological forecasting (for tunnels). Intelligent equipment and technologies are used to monitor the entire lifecycle, from construction acceptance and operation and maintenance to defect diagnosis, ensuring the structural integrity, safety, and durability of bridges and tunnels.

Inspection Content and Technology

• Structural Body Inspection:

• Non-destructive testing: Using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), integrated digital rebound hammer, rebar scanner, etc., to detect internal defects in concrete, rebar location, cover thickness, cracks, voids, etc.

• Static load test: Assessing displacement, strain, and cracks under static load to determine bearing capacity.

• Dynamic load test: Measuring the natural frequency, damping ratio, and traffic response of the bridge using exciters to assess overall stiffness and seismic resistance.

• Material and Component Testing:

• Material testing: Testing the strength, durability, and chemical composition of cement, concrete, asphalt, mortar, admixtures, etc.

• Bridge component testing: Inspecting the performance of key components such as rubber bearings, expansion joints, and steel strands.

• Tunnel-Specific Testing:

• Lining inspection: Ground-penetrating radar is used to detect the internal structure of the lining and identify voids and defects.

• Advanced geological forecasting: Before excavation, seismic waves and ground-penetrating radar are used to detect unfavorable geological conditions ahead, providing early warning of faults, weak interlayers, and water bodies.

• Traffic Safety Facilities Testing: Testing the reflectivity of signs, the thickness and anti-skid properties of road markings, and the performance of raised pavement markers.

Inspection Stages

• Construction Phase: On-site laboratory monitoring of materials and construction quality.

• Acceptance Phase: Assessing whether the overall structure meets design requirements.

• Operation and Maintenance Phase: Regular inspections to identify defects, conduct health monitoring, and ensure long-term safety.

Intelligent Development

• Utilizes artificial intelligence-assisted recognition to achieve three-dimensional tomographic imaging.

• Employs cloud storage and information management platforms for interactive control between the field and the office.

• Provides various types of equipment (vehicle-mounted, handheld, and remote-controlled tracked vehicles) to adapt to different scenarios.