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	MsS technology can effectively inspect the approximately 3-inch-diameter suspenders of the George Washington Bridge.
	Comparison of the data collected from four wires in the suspenders on the bridge. "D" represents a defect. "SK" represents a socket and "G" represents a gatherer, both of which are normal components of the suspender. Suspender 1 had been recently replaced, and thus showed a clean signal with no defect indications.

Magnetostrictive sensor (MsS^®) technology was applied by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists to inspect suspenders on the George Washington Bridge. The bridge, almost a mile long with a span of approximately 3,500 feet over the Hudson River, was opened in 1931. The bridge and traffic loads are carried by vertical suspender ropes, each approximately 2.85 inches in diameter and composed of 283 wires.

Using 10-kHz longitudinal guided waves, the MsS system could inspect the entire length (up to 33 feet long) of a suspender from a test location near the upper-level bridge deck and generate data that could be used for grading the physical condition of suspenders to help prioritize the rehabilitation schedule.

With some additional developments in the inspection procedures and system software for data analysis and reporting, MsS technology could also be transferred to commercial companies for bridge cable inspection.

For more information about our nondestructive evaluation (NDE) capabilities, magnetostrictive sensor technology, or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Sergey A. Vinogradov, Ph.D., at sviogradov@swri.org or call (210) 522-3342.

ndesensors.swri.org

| Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department | Mechanical Engineering Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

January 03, 2013