Dive Brief:

• Research at the University of Buffalo is nearing the end of testing for a new technique that will allow engineers to inspect tensioned steel cables for corrosion without having to cut into surrounding concrete.
• The new test uses measurements of how ultrasonic waves move through the steel, with variations in their movement divulging the presence or corrosion or minute cracks.
• The project, led by Ph.D. candidate Alireza Farhidzadeh, is using a tank of salt water with a low-voltage DC current running through it to accelerate corrosion in cable to allow for rapid development of the technique.

Dive Insight:

In addition to allowing tests without having to drill into concrete to expose sections of tensioned cable, the technique of implanting piezoelectric transducers allows for regular monitoring of the cable's condition without having to schedule physical inspections. That would allow a closer eye on the condition of cables without the expense of sending crews to each cable to drill.