Detection of manufacturing flaws in composite retrofits

摘要

Abstract: Composite materials are being used for bridge column seismic retrofits and to rehabilitate other concrete structures. There are three different manufacturing methods for applying composites to concrete columns which are outlined in this paper. Each method has the potential for creating debonds at the composite-concrete interface and within the composite itself. Thermography is a non-destructive evaluation technique which can be used to image debonds below the composite surface. Background fundamentals of the thermographic technique are discussed. Data from thermographic tests of a variety of retrofit applications, which include examples for each of the three aforementioned manufacturing processes, are then presented. The paper concludes with a list of issues which need to be addressed when performing a thermographic inspection in the field.!0