Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Prestressed Bridge Girders with Premature Concrete Deterioration

Acoustic emission monitoring on prestressed concrete bridge girders subjected to premature concrete deterioration due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and delayed ettringite formation (DEF) was carried out at the University of Texas at Austin. Results from tests performed in the laboratory and from background noise testing on in-service bridge girders were used to develop a field test procedure. The procedure is based on acoustic emission parameters and can be used as a tool to evaluate the structural condition of an in-service prestressed concrete girder subjected to premature deterioration.