An Investigation of Concrete Strength and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity for an Existing Bridge Group

Preventive maintenance of civil engineering structures is a highly crucial measure, not only for achieving efficient distribution of limited budgets over existent aging infrastructures but also for maximizing their service lifespans. This paper presents the results of an experimental field study of penetration resistance and ultrasonic pulse velocity test measurements for a pilot bridge group containing 10 bridges located in North-West region of Turkey. Due to maximum energy transmission from the transmitted ultrasonic pulse and the possibility to have access to two faces of the member, direct method is chosen for ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements on middle piers and the girders of the bridges. Decks and the abutments were not tested. The results of concrete strength vs. pulse velocity for the bridges did not show a notable correlation as opposed to typical correlated plots in the literature. However, although the empirical formulas obtained in this study do not follow the typical correlation plots presented in the literature, it seems possible that the formulas obtained in this study may estimate (from pulse velocity) the concrete strength of the middle piers and girders of all reinforced concrete bridges in Turkey built between 1950s and late 1970s.