Performance Evaluation Test of the Time-of-Flight Diffraction Technique for Welded Joints of Steel Bridges

摘要

Ultrasonic testing can be applied to welded joints of steel bridges following a revision of the Japanese Specifications for Highway Bridges. The time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) technique and the pulse echo technique are possible testing methods. However, the efficiency of the TOFD technique for steel bridges has until now not been investigated completely. A round robin test project using testing systems of several different companies was organized by the Ministry of Construction for this purpose. The performance of each participant system was evaluated and applicability of the TOFD technique was investigated.