Structures

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Pontis Wins Second Prize
in International Competition

A comprehensive computer software program, Pontis, is now being implemented by 40 States as a tool for managing bridge preservation and replacement activities. Pontis represents an innovative application of operations research/management science (OR/MS) to bridge management. This year, an international OR/MS association, INFORMS, recognized the quality, uniqueness, and potential impact of Pontis by nominating it to compete for the prestigious Franz Edelman Award for OR/MS.

On May 5, 1996, representatives of FHWA and the California DOT (CALTRANS) joined Dr. Kamal Golabi, President of Optima, Inc., who developed many of the key deterioration models, to describe Pontis to a four-judge panel of experts in OR/MS at the 25th Annual Franz Edelman Competition. Dr. Golabi explained the unique and innovative concepts used to develop Pontis. The implementation and impact of Pontis on public agency bridge programs was explained by Stan Gordon, Chief of FHWA Bridge Division; James Roberts, Director of CALTRANS Engineering Services Division; and Richard Shepard, Chief of CALTRANS Structures Maintenance. An eclectic group of agencies and companies presented applications of OR/MS that have been developed and implemented as part of public programs or company business practices.

Pontis is an innovative bridge management system
now being implemented by 40 States

Second prize for the achievement in OR/MS was awarded to Pontis for its development and implementation. This honor is convincing evidence that the efforts to develop an innovative approach to bridge management using state-of-the-art scientific principles were successful. The bridge community already recognizes the potential impact of Pontis on preservation of critical infrastructure and maximization of limited preservation dollars. This second place award indicates that an unbiased panel of experts agrees.

-- George Romack and John M. Hooks

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Scour Monitoring and Instrumentation
Demo Project Held

Scour Monitoring and Instrumentation, DP 97, is underway with presentations having been held in Pembroke, N.H., Indianapolis and a special presentation for the International Bridge Conference in Pittsburgh. The project is presented by Dr. James P. Schall (Ayres Associates) and Abigail Ginsberg (FHWA Bridge Division).

The Bridge Division and Office of Technology Applications (OTA) developed DP 97 to promote the use of new and innovative equipment to measure and monitor scour at bridges. This demonstration project (DP) implements the findings of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program study 21-3, "Instruments for Measuring Scour at Bridge Piers and Abutments," and various research projects conducted by FHWA, U.S. Geological Survey, and State highway agencies. The scour monitoring instrumentation falls into three broad categories: (1) fixed instruments; (2) portable instruments; and (3) positioning instruments.

The classroom portion of DP 97 covers the types of equipment available, selection and deployment considerations, and the use of scour monitoring instruments as part of an effective scour monitoring program. During workshop sessions, several of the instruments are demonstrated and available for DP 97 participants to try themselves.

Some of the new and innovative equipment
used to measure and monitor scour at bridges

-- Abbi Ginsberg

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NDE News: New Crack Detection Method Tested

The Special Project team in nondestructive testing has been testing a new crack detection instrument developed in England. This new instrument uses a method known as Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM) to detect and measure fatigue cracks in steel. The instrument, known simply as the U9, was developed by Technical Software Consultants, Inc. (TSC), an English company with close affiliations with the University College, London. Trials on piping applications conducted in England have suggested that this new method is highly effective in not only detecting cracks, but making accurate measurements of crack length and depth. It has not been previously available in the United States.

From May 28 to 30, 1996, David Parramore of TSC visited TFHRC's Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Laboratory to demonstrate the instrument to the FHWA NDE team. Team members were trained in the theory, use, and application of the instrument. The team members included in the training were Dennis Richards, NDE lab technician; and Glenn Washer, NDE Lab Director. Also attending the demonstration was Victor Kelly of NDT International.

Dave Parramore from TSC scans a fillet weld
with the newly developed U9 ACFM instrument

The ACFM technique is an electromagnetic non-contact method developed for detecting and sizing cracks that break through the surface of a variety of materials. The basis of the technique is the induction of an electrical current in a thin skin at the inspection surface. This current in turn induces a magnetic field just above the surface of the material. Changes in the vector components of that magnetic field caused by surface breaking cracks can be measured and used to define the length and depth of the crack.

After Mr. Parramore's visit, the U9 ACFM instrument was tested in the NDE Laboratory on a variety of fatigue cracks in typical weld details. The results of these trials indicated that the U9 was effective and reliable in detecting and measuring fatigue cracks. The trials also indicated that the probe geometry employed in the trials was best suited to detect and measure longitudinal cracks at the toe of a fillet weld, rather than a transverse crack. Other probe geometries are available but were not part of the laboratory trials. The trials showed that the method was effective when cracks were covered by non-conductive coatings.

-- Glenn Washer (202) 493-3082