TISEC delivers Practical Pattern Recognition Workshop for NDT in Montreal, Canada, June 28-30, 2010
TISEC's ASTIA™ Above-ground Storage Tank Inspection and Assessment goes live, March 2010.
Level III UT Training course completed in State College, PA, March 2010.
WINS presents talk on ultrasonic guided wave potential towards helicopter maintenance to Indian Air force, February 2010.
WINS funded by Transportation Research Board to develop Bridge Cable Inspection Technology, February 2010.
Watch video of Wireless Acoustic Emission Sensor Network for Bridge Structural Health Monitoring.
2010 NDT Training Course Schedule is available now!
New look of TISEC's Super ICEPak® web site, November 2009.
Download and try out TISEC's Super ICEPak® today, contact TISEC for a trial key, November 2009.
New Brunswick DOT has awarded TISEC to inspect LRUT bridge cables on 3 cable-stay bridges using new MsS system, November 2009.
WavesInSolids acquires state-of-the-art equipment for enhanced Guided Wave Inspection Services for Pipelines and Bridge Cables, November 2009.
WavesInSolids delivers Acoustic Emission Level III Training Course in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 5-9, 2009
WavesInSolids is awarded contract with U.S. Department of Energy for developing inspection technology for health monitoring of coal power plant components, August 2009
WavesInSolids presents a paper at NYC Bridge Conference titled "Structural health monitoring using wireless acoustic emission sensor network" in August, 2009
WavesInSolids is awarded contract with NSF for developing inspection technology for Steel Piles, July 2009
WavesInSolids presents "Acoustic emission input to inspection- based bridge maintenance" at theInternational Conference on Fracture & Fatigue in July, 2009
Underwater Bridge Pile Inspection
Currently bridge pile inspections are done visually and in case of submerged piles, divers perform these inspections. In many cases, significant sections of piles can not be visually inspected since they are submerged in environments that prevent visual inspection. Submersion and oxidation cycles in aerobic zones are primary cause sand accelerators of wall loss corrosion in bridge piles.
Using TISEC's PILEUT inspection technology, it is possible to inspect submerged pile from above the water line. PILEUT is cost-effective because it minimizes the requirement to send divers underwater to inspect pile for wall loss or pipe failure. The technology could be used to inspect up to 20 feet under water/ground for zones of 50% wall loss as small as 7 in2.
Working Principle
- Ultrasonic transducers are mounted above the waterline.
- Long range ultrasound is generated above the waterline and then travels underwater then underground.
- Where wall loss is present, ultrasound is partially reflected backwards and transmitted forward.
- The reflected ultrasound locates and sizes the wall loss.
Data Interpretation
The PILEUT scanner is capable of inspecting the pile for wall loss and characterize the wall losses as 75%, 50% and 25%. 100% wall loss indicates a pile end. The Distance-Amplitude Correction (DAC) curves generated from observed field data for different amounts of wall loss are overlaid on the signal reflected from wall loss. This provides a quick and easy way for the bridge inspector to interpret the data and identify the amount of wall loss.
Our American Society for Nondestructive Testing certified inspectors have complementary training in fall protection, highway safety, railway safety, and confined space entry. With over 300 bridges tested to date, we have a proven track record for high quality nondestructive testing services and safety. Our inspectors are also FHWA trained underwater bridge inspectors and are certified underwater divers. Our inspectors are trained for follow-up underwater inspection on a need be basis.