FHWA NDE Program

Hoda Azari, Ph.D.NDE Research Program Manager

Infrastructure Management Team

Federal Highway Administration

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

• Completed and ongoing research studies

• Smart bridges technologies

• FHWA NDE Program strategic plan FY19-22

Outline

Ongoing/Completed Projects

• Technology Evaluation:• NDE techniques on bridge decks with overlay

• Conventional and Phased-array UT for Steel and weld inspection

• Unmanned Arial System (UAS)

• Technology Development/Enhancement:• Non-contact impact echo

• Magnetic NDE for prestressed girder

• Magnetic NDE for internal PT tendons

• Use of high resolution imaging techniques for condition assessment and damage detection of bridges

• Data fusion and visualization

NDE Web Manual https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/ndep/

Provide concise and unbiased guidance to help practitioners identify proper NDE technologies

Application based as opposed to technology based

NDE Virtual Lab – Sample ScreenshotsInteractive Data Portals Simulation Portals

Smart Bridges

• energy harvesting sensors,

• environmental sensors,

• embedded/installed sensors,

• monitor integrity of structural components,

• manage traffic and gather traffic data,

• autonomous vehicle-bridge interaction, and

• truck-bridge interaction

smart construction material, smart paint, self-healing construction, intelligent sensor networks

DRAFTFHWA NDE Program Strategic Plan FY19-22

• sensing, information, and robotic technologies has impacted many industries

• Incorporate technology in asset management and performance-based

management plans

• Infrastructure owners are gaining more confidence in the added value of

using NDE technologies

Introduction

• Some promising NDE technologies have not been packaged, integrated and

delivered in a cost effective manner for asset owners to use on a routine basis.

• Performance requirements are not fully defined

• Manual data collection using NDE technologies is a costly and time-consuming

process

• Data interpretation and visualization to extract information requires extensive

expertise.

• There are no standards and guidelines.

Challenges

SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION ACCOUNTABILITY

GOALS: DOT FOR FY 2019-2022

GOALS: FHWA FOR FY 2019-2022

NDE PROGRAM

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

PROGRAMDELIVERY

SYSTEMPERFORMANCE

CORPORATECAPACITY

Assist in maintaining the

highway Infrastructure

assets in a state of good

repair

Future Potential Studies

• Incorporate NDE into NBIS and asset management process

• Minimum UAS standards for supplementing visual inspection

• Augmented reality and virtual reality for visualization of NDE data

• Machine learning for analysis and interpretation of NDE data

• Develop NDE Standards for consideration by AASHTO and FHWA Technical

Guidance

• Develop Technical Guidance for the use of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

Thank you!

Hoda Azari, Ph.D.NDE Research Program ManagerInfrastructure Management TeamFederal Highway Administration

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterHoda.Azari@dot.gov