Graduation Semester and Year
Summer 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
Department
Civil Engineering
First Advisor
Nur Yazdani
Second Advisor
Jay Rosenberger
Third Advisor
Suyun Ham
Fourth Advisor
Md Nazmus Sakib
Abstract
Reinforced concrete bridge decks are critical to highway infrastructure but are highly susceptible to deterioration due to environmental exposure, heavy traffic, and construction deficiencies. Accurate and objective condition assessment of bridge decks is essential to prioritize maintenance, optimize resources, and ensure safety. Traditional visual inspection methods are widely used because of their simplicity and cost-effectiveness; however, they are subjective and limited to detecting surface-level defects, leaving subsurface deterioration unaddressed. Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) technologies, such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Impact Echo (IE), provide objective and quantitative insights into subsurface damage but generate large, complex datasets that are difficult to interpret and integrate into actionable decisions. This research develops a comprehensive, data-driven framework that integrates NDE techniques, clustering analysis, and fuzzy inference systems to assess the condition of reinforced concrete bridge decks. Advanced NDE methods are employed to detect early-age and hidden defects, including plastic settlement, delamination, and voids. A multi-sensor data fusion model uses unsupervised clustering algorithms to classify deterioration into meaningful severity levels. iv Finally, a fuzzy logic–based decision system combines expert-weighted visual inspection data with NDE-based clustering results to produce a single, interpretable condition rating index. The proposed framework overcomes the limitations of current practices by combining surface and subsurface information, addressing subjectivity, and supporting proactive maintenance strategies.
Keywords
Non-destructive evaluation (NDE), Ground penetration radar (GPR), Impact echo (IE), Concrete bridge, Plastic settlement, Condition rating, Clustering algorithms, Condition assessment, Fuzzy inference system
Disciplines
Civil Engineering | Structural Engineering
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Tella, Ibukunoluwa G., "AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO CONDITION RATING OF CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS USING NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION AND VISUAL INSPECTION" (2025). Civil Engineering Dissertations. 525.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/civilengineering_dissertations/525