Overview of Nondestructive Evaluation Projects at NSF

Abstract

During the past several years, many reports have been published concerning the sad state of deterioration of the nation’s public works, such as, bridges, roadways, water and sewer systems, ports, harbors, airports, and buildings of all types. According to the 1988 National Research Council Report on “Building for Tomorrow” estimates of public infrastructure amounted to $49 trillion in 1984, and growing rapidly. The infrastructure ages and deteriorates with time. The deterioration is mostly a result of aging of the materials, excessive use, overloading, climatic conditions, lack of sufficient maintenance, and difficulties encountered in proper inspection methods. All of these factors contribute to the obsolescence of the structural system as a whole. As a result, repair, retrofit, rehabilitation, and replacement become necessary actions to be taken to insure the safety of the public.