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Paul Fisk, NDT Corporation

The document discusses using nondestructive sonic and ultrasonic testing to evaluate the condition of concrete railroad ties. It describes how impact velocity and impact echo measurements can detect properties like velocity, thickness, delaminations and cracking. The results can be used to classify ties as functional, marginally functional needing retesting, or non-functional and needing replacement. Automated testing equipment allows fast testing of about one tie per second.

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Carlos Musella
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34 views25 pages

Paul Fisk, NDT Corporation

The document discusses using nondestructive sonic and ultrasonic testing to evaluate the condition of concrete railroad ties. It describes how impact velocity and impact echo measurements can detect properties like velocity, thickness, delaminations and cracking. The results can be used to classify ties as functional, marginally functional needing retesting, or non-functional and needing replacement. Automated testing equipment allows fast testing of about one tie per second.

Uploaded by

Carlos Musella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NONDESTRUCTIVE CONDITION

ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE
RAILROAD TIES

Paul Fisk, NDT Corporation


CORPORATION

 Nondestructive Concrete Testing Services


 18 Years-600+ projects
 Developed Sonic/ultrasonic NDT Equipment
BACKGROUND

1. Union Pacific Railroad Call


2. Test Out of Service Ties
3. Test Siding Ties
4. Test Plymouth Commuter Rail
5. Comparison of Impact Velocity
Results with AMTRAK Rating

NDT CORPORATION
Impact Velocity and Echo Measurements

Impact Velocity Measurements


Compressional, Shear and Surface Wave Velocity
Moduli Values
Average Dynamic Strength
Crack Density

Impact Echo Measurements


Thickness
Delaminations

NDT CORPORATION
Impact Velocity

Impact Echo

NDT CORPORATION
Properties Detected by
SONIC/ULTRASONIC Testing
 Velocity
 Concrete Condition (strength,
cracking)
 Thickness Resonant
Frequencies
 Thickness

 Delamination

 Signal Attenuation
 Delamination

Sample Test Data


NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
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NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
CONCLUSION
 Sonic/ultrasonic results can be used to evaluate and
document the current condition of concrete railroad
ties
 Ties can be classified as
 Functional
 Marginally Functional-should be retested in the near future
 Non-Functional- take out of service

NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
NDT CORPORATION
Automated Testing
Estimated 1 tie per sec

NDT CORPORATION
SUMMARY
 Sonic/ultrasonic pulse velocity data can be used to
evaluate and document the current condition of
concrete railroad cross ties

 Ties classification correlates with systems currently


used by rail roads

 Automated Sonic/ultrasonic data acquisition is fast


(1 sec/tie)

NDT CORPORATION
QUESTIONS ????

NDT CORPORATION

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