FHWA NDE Center FACILITIES
Component Specimens
An important part of the NDE Validation Center (FHWA NDE Center) is an extensive collection of component specimens. Component specimens
are small sections of highway structures (both with and without defects) that have been removed from in-service bridges or
manufactured. The collection of component specimens is continually evolving as specimens become available from decommissioned
bridges, purchased from qualified vendors, or manufactured in the FHWA NDE Center laboratory.
Component specimens allow NDE technologies to be tested in the laboratory to determine their capabilities. Laboratory trials on component specimens
serve as the first step in evaluating NDE reliability. Since the component specimens contain well-characterized defects, they can
be used to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of NDE technologies.
Among
the steel component specimens currently maintained by the FHWA NDE Center is an extensive library of welded details (Photo 1) containing defects.
Other steel specimens include pin and hangar assemblies (Photo 2) and built-up riveted members (Photo 3.) The specimen
library maintained at the FHWA NDE Center is available to state and federal agencies, academia, and industries wishing to evaluate NDE
technologies.
The FHWA NDE Center has also acquired a large group of "full scale" concrete component specimens. More than a dozen 6 ft by 12 ft reinforced
concrete bridge deck specimens (Photo 4) are housed at the FHWA NDE Center. These deck sections have a variety of thicknesses, reinforcement
patterns, and topping materials. An at-grade test pit is currently being constructed that allows mobile bridge deck evaluation systems
to be driven over the specimens at normal operating speeds during testing. Other concrete specimens procured by the FHWA NDE Center
include full sized prestressed box girders (Photo 5) with broken and de-bonded strands.
FHWA NDE Center Facilities continued:
FHWA NDE Center Laboratory
Test Bridges
