Our Marine division Divers performed a detailed condition assessment of a steel H-pile supported bridge pier foundation to provide vital data on the underwater conditions of the structural system.
PE Diver Spenser Wigsten, PE and crew performed Level I visual/tactile inspection and Level II hydro-blast cleanings on the subject h-piles to remove obscuring marine growth and corrosion byproduct prior to collecting steel thickness measurements on the webs and flanges using a Cygnus Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement Gauge (UTM). The UTM is a specialized underwater tool that allows our Divers to collect high accuracy data without the need for destructive testing.
Inspection Results
This type of detailed inspection effort provides critical information on the severity the existing deterioration mechanisms and reliable qualitative and quantitative data used to perform an engineering analysis of the structural system. These engineering analyses, in turn, inform and support our engineering recommendations for emergency-, priority-, or routine-level repairs or reconstruction efforts which will help to ensure the continued functionality of a given structural system and the safety of the traveling public.
