Active infrared thermography is the method to detect the exfoliation of concrete by heating the surface of concrete using irradiation devices, such as halogen lamp, xenon arc lamp and far-infrared irradiation device. In this paper, irradiation tests of plain plate specimens using these above-mentioned three types of irradiation devices were carried out to investigate the characteristics of irradiation devices. The result was compared to transient heat conduction analysis. Then, specimens having artificial voids prepared for active infrared thermography using a xenon arc lamp were subjected to a laboratory test. A field test for actual viaduct to prove the effectiveness confirmed that active infrared thermography can detect concrete exfoliation accurately.

Copyright (c) 2005 Railway Technical Research Institute