Lotte Construction Obtains Patent for Bridge Internal Void Exploration System

Checking Empty Spaces Quickly Without Drilling Holes in Bridges

Seismic Wave Detection Device

Lotte Construction announced on the 23rd that it has obtained a patent for the "Elastic Wave Detection Device for Bridges and an Internal Cavity Exploration System Including the Same," developed through joint research with AI Bridge Co., which explores empty spaces inside bridges.

Using this technology, it is possible to detect empty spaces occurring inside the ducts of bridge beams during bridge construction by utilizing an elastic wave detection device and artificial intelligence (AI).

Generally, PSC (Prestressed Concrete) bridges place steel tendons inside the ducts of the bridge and fill the ducts with grout to prevent corrosion and strengthen the bridge. Since it is impossible to visually confirm the grout filling inside the PSC bridge ducts, some empty spaces may occur. The only way to check this was to drill holes in suspected areas and inspect them with an endoscope. This method was time-consuming and could not inspect all sections.

Cross-section of a duct properly filled (left) and cross-section of a duct with voids (right)

However, by using the newly developed technology, it is possible to inspect simply and quickly without drilling holes in the bridge. The location of the ducts is identified through GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) exploration, the internal condition of the ducts is diagnosed using the elastic wave detection device, and then AI is used to determine whether empty spaces exist inside the ducts based on the diagnostic results.

Recently, as the distance between bridge columns has increased, the application of PSC bridges has expanded. Globally, cases of collapse or steel tendon replacement in aging PSC bridges are increasing, so the utilization of this technology is expected to grow.

A representative from Lotte Construction’s Technology Research Institute stated, "This technology can detect empty spaces inside PSC bridge ducts with high probability, enabling quality management of new bridges as well as maintenance of existing ones. We expect that by expanding its application to PSC bridge construction sites, a higher level of quality control will be achieved during bridge construction."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.