Non-destructive Evaluation of Civil Engineering Structures
Fee: $1,645 / Online / Aug 9 - 10, 2027 / Course Code: 18-0804-ONL27
OVERVIEW
Please note, This instructor-led course has specific dates and times:
This course is held online over 2 days on the following schedule (All times in Eastern Time Zone): 10 am to 6 pm Eastern Time Please note that all attendees must sign a "Confidentiality Agreement" before receiving the course notes for this online offering.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Select suitable non-destructive evaluation methods for concrete, steel, timber, and bridge foundations
Interpret test results to identify deterioration, hidden defects, and conditions affecting structural performance
Define the scope of an investigation and integrate non-destructive evaluation with visual and intrusive testing
Plan condition surveys and detailed bridge inspections using a structured evaluation approach
Use evaluation findings to support defensible repair, rehabilitation, and asset management decisions
Description
Aging structures can present significant uncertainty when deterioration is concealed, difficult to characterize, or not fully understood through visual inspection alone. Corrosion, cracking, material degradation, foundation defects, and other conditions can affect structural integrity and serviceability, but determining their extent and significance requires more than simply identifying visible damage. Without a well-planned investigation, engineers may collect insufficient or unnecessary data, misinterpret structural conditions, or recommend interventions that do not address the underlying causes of deterioration.
This course provides a practical framework for investigating the condition of existing concrete, steel, and timber structures, including bridge foundations, using non-destructive evaluation methods. You will learn how to select investigative techniques based on the suspected deterioration mechanism, structural condition, and information required to support an assessment. Emphasis is placed on understanding what different methods can reveal, recognizing their limitations, interpreting findings in context, and determining when visual inspection or intrusive testing is needed to supplement non-destructive evaluation.
Through case studies and practical examples, you will develop a more systematic approach to planning investigations and evaluating the information they produce. By connecting observed conditions, deterioration mechanisms, testing strategies, and engineering judgment, you will be better equipped to reduce uncertainty in condition assessments and develop technically supported recommendations for maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or continued service.
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for:
Structural and civil engineers responsible for evaluating existing structures
Engineers, technologists, and technicians involved in bridge inspection and condition assessment
Project managers responsible for infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation
Consultants and contractors performing structural investigations or non-destructive testing
Municipal and transportation agency personnel responsible for bridges and aging infrastructure
Asset owners and managers who use condition information to plan maintenance, repair, and capital investment
Special Feature
A special feature of the seminar is the clarification of the principles and the different techniques used in the non-destructive tests to determine different elements such as concrete cover, thickness, rebar, etc. including cases studies.
SYLLABUS
Day I
Overview of Damage and Degradation in Concrete Structures and Bridge Structures
Corrosion of reinforcing steel
Freeze-thaw cycling
Alkali-aggregate reactivity
Sulfate attack
Shrinkage and creep
Loads and workmanship
Common problems in steel bridges
Common problems in timber bridges
Overview of Non-destructive Evaluation
Objectives and rationale of nondestructive evaluation
Visual Inspection
In-situ strength and surface hardness
Pull-out and break-off tests
Resonant frequency methods
Non-Destructive Evaluation of Concrete Structures and Bridges
Acoustic emission methods
Infrared thermography
Ground penetrating radar
Corrosion evaluation methods
Non-destructive Evaluation of Steel Structures and Bridges
Metallography and fractography
Eddy current
Magnetic particle and radiological inspection techniques
Ultrasonic and acoustic emission methods
Radiography
Strain gages and instrumentation
Discussion Forum - Q&A
Day II
Non-destructive Evaluation of Timber Structures and Bridges
Radiation Tomography
Thermal imaging
Microwave Imaging
Ultrasonic Imaging
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Evaluation of decay, wood species and preservatives
Non-destructive Evaluation of Bridge Foundations
Sonic Echo Method
mpulse response method
Impedance logging
Parallel seismic techniques
Planning and Performing NDT Bridge Evaluation
Defining the scope of the investigation
Correlation with intrusive testing
Performing level 3 bridge inspection
Condition survey of bridges
Integrity and structural performance
Case Studies of Structures / Bridges Evaluation and Repair
Open Forum: Questions and Answers, Feedback on Achievement of Learning
Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment
INSTRUCTOR
Dean, College of Engineering and Physic — University of Guelph
Guelph, ON
Dean, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Moncef received his BASc from Laval University, MASc from Sherbrooke University, and Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, all in civil engineering. He is currently dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Guelph. He was previously professor and chair of the Department of Civil Engineering at McMaster University and professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Western University, where he also served as associate director for Environmental Research Western.
His industrial experience includes serving as technical manager for three different companies. He was licensed as a professional engineer in British Columbia in 1998 and in Ontario in 1999. He is the past chair of the ACI committee 555 on recycled materials, past chair of the CSCE sub-committee on cement and concrete, past chair of the CSCE Materials and Mechanics Division, is deputy chair of the RILEM committee on concrete data science, and was co-chair of the Infrastructure Division of NSERC’s Discovery Grant Committee 1509. He has provided consulting services for some world landmark projects, including some of the world's tallest buildings, the world’s largest airport, the world’s most venerated pedestrian bridge, and the world’s deepest and second-largest water treatment plant.
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