Bridges
Bridges play a critical role in connecting communities and supporting the movement of goods worldwide.
As populations grow, increased demand is placed on existing bridge infrastructure, much of which is aging. Collecting accurate condition data is an important part of managing these structures and supporting informed maintenance and rehabilitation planning.
Our Expertise
NDT Corporation specializes in the testing and evaluation of bridge infrastructure. We work across a wide range of bridge types and configurations, collecting objective data that supports condition assessment and durability-related decision-making.
Our testing services provide engineering teams with information needed to understand existing bridge conditions, document material performance, and identify areas that may require further investigation. This data is commonly used by owners and engineers as part of inspection programs, maintenance planning, and rehabilitation design efforts carried out by others.
NDT Corporation’s testing services support bridge-related evaluations in areas such as:
Substructure reuse
Post-tensioned components
Load rating studies
Corrosion-related investigations
As accelerated bridge construction becomes more common for deck and superstructure replacement, understanding the condition of existing substructures is increasingly important. NDT Corporation provides testing data that supports engineers and owners in evaluating existing substructures as part of rehabilitation planning.
Unknown As-Built Conditions
For many older structures, original drawings and records are often unavailable. Understanding as-built conditions is critical when evaluating load-carrying behavior. Using a variety of NDT non-destructive techniques, our team can:
Locate reinforcement within bridge decks, abutments, piers, and piles
Determine rebar spacing and concrete cover depth in decks and structural elements
Identify post-tensioning ducts and tendons within girders or pier caps
Confirm reinforcement layout to support load rating analyses
Identify voids or unknown inclusions within concrete elements
Locate embedded utilities, conduits, or anchor systems within bridge components
Corrosion and Durability Concerns
Exposure to deicing salts, moisture, and environmental conditions can introduce chlorides into concrete and accelerate corrosion of embedded reinforcement, leading to cracking, delamination, and potential reductions in structural capacity. Using a variety of non-destructive testing methods, our team can:
Identify active corrosion zones within bridge decks, piers, and abutments
Evaluate the extent of corrosion-related deterioration in reinforced concrete elements
Determine areas of chloride contamination that may contribute to corrosion activity
Detect delamination in bridge decks caused by reinforcing steel corrosion
Assess the condition of reinforcement in corrosion-affected concrete
Identify areas where corrosion-related damage may require further investigation or repair planning
Common Challenges
Identifying grout defects in post-tensioned systems is a well-known challenge and can have a significant impact on bridge performance and durability. NDT Corporation uses non-destructive testing methods to locate and document grout conditions, providing data that supports further evaluation by project teams.
For many older structures, original drawings and records are often unavailable. Understanding as-built conditions is critical when evaluating load-carrying behavior. NDT Corporation applies a range of non-destructive techniques to document reinforcement layout, material properties, and construction details, allowing engineers to perform load rating analyses using measured data.
Corrosion is one of the primary contributors to bridge deterioration. NDT Corporation provides testing services that document corrosion-related conditions and material performance, supplying information that owners and engineers can use when considering durability and corrosion-related planning.
Access constraints frequently present challenges during bridge evaluations. NDT Corporation deploys specialized equipment such as scaffolding systems, tracker carriers for shallow water conditions, bucket trucks, and reverse-articulating under-bridge inspection units (UBIU) to access critical structural elements and perform testing where it is needed most.
Using a UBIU to perform IE/PV on the underside of a bridge.
Using a bucket truck to perform GPR on an abutment wall.
Using a tracker to perform IE/PV on a bridge in a shallow stream.
Using scaffolding to perform through testing on buttress.
Experience You Can Rely On
Founded in 1994, NDT has built a reputation for delivering reliable data, practical insight, and responsive service on technically complex projects. Our team combines decades of field experience with advanced testing technologies to produce results that are clear, defensible, and actionable for engineers and owners.