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yellow pavement stripe on black background		 AASHTO Innovative Highway Technologies Concrete Assessment and Rehabilitation

SHRP PRODUCT 2016
Method for Evaluating Membrane Integrity
John Wenzlick

Source: AASHTO
444 N. Capitol Street
Suite 225
Washington, D.C. 20001
Expert: Moavin Islam
Concorr, Inc.
44633 Guilford Drive
Suite 101
Ashburn, VA 20147-6001
Champion: John Wenzlick
Missouri Department of Transportation
P. O. Box 270
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Product Summary
The deck membrane effectiveness method uses an ultrasonic pulse velocity tester to give an indication of the integrity of preformed membranes installed on concrete bridge decks. Because of problems with the performance and maintenance of the asphaltic concrete overlays membrane systems under them the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) no longer designs membranes on bridges and is replacing them with dense concrete overlays as funding and conditions indicate.

The test method is described in ASTM format and presented in Report S-330 (SHRP-S/FR-91-110), Vol. 8; Procedure Manual, Appendix C. An ultrasonic pulse is sent out from one transducer and picked up by another transducer 3 1/2" away. The transit time (or pulse velocity) is figured, if the pulse passes through a flaw, it is slowed down.

The condition ratings set up by the method is an arbitrary numerical scale of 0 to 10; 0 indicates a deteriorated membrane with no bond to either the asphaltic layer or to the concrete deck, while 10 indicates a sound membrane with a good bonding to both. A rating below 3 indicates an ineffective membrane. The membrane rating is calculated from a linear equation using the pulse transit time. The procedure in the test method is specifically designed only for measuring bridge deck membranes.

Several different types of membranes were tested in three states (15 bridges total) with the pulse velocity meter in the field. Separate linear equations were written for each state. A general equation was arrived at by combinig the data from all fifteen bridges. The limited tests done by MoDOT in the field showed a large range of variability using this equation, well out of the 0-10 rating range set up. See Table 22.

MoDOT tried to come up with a better fit line to the data we recorded in the field but could not. It is their opinion that an accurate rating would have to be found from testing each different membrane system in the lab as stated in this study. To obtain an accurate linear equation yielding a 1-10 rating it is possible each type of membrane, different hot mix asphalt used over it (for each state) and perhaps different aggregates in the mixes might effect the accuracy. With all these variables, it is more effort than the benefit would be.

Conclusion
Although the pulsed velocity method showed more promise than ground penetrating radar and infrared technology, on Missouri's older installations MoDOT could not repeat the results obtained in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. In their 1997 survey of the states only 2 of 19 had used it, and 10 of 19 were not interested. See Table 23. MoDOT believe the proposed test method was too simplistic and the rating is an arbitrary number.

Table 22. Deck Membrane Effectiveness Using V-Meter
(Membrane Rating = -7.39 + 0.668 V-Meter)

Bridge No.: A3599SBL Route: US 63/US 54 County: Callaway
Date: 09/02/99 Inspectors: JDW, CWS, JM Calibration: 6553

Position Station/Line No.   V-Meter Reading
us		   Position   Membrane Rating
             
5/1   41.2   D.L./O.W.P.   20.1
5/2   23.6   D.L./CTR.   8.4
5/3   48.9   D.L./CTR.   25.3
5/4   40.7   D.L./I.W.P.   19.8
5/6   45.2   P.L./O.W.P.   22.8
10/3     crack D.L./CTR.    
10/6   31.6   P.L./O.W.P.   13.7
15/1   43   D.L./O.W.P.   21.3
15/2   44.8   D.L./CTR.   22.5
15/3   41   D.L./CTR.   20.0
15/6   43.9   P.L./O.W.P.   21.9
20/1   42.3   D.L./O.W.P.   20.9
20/2   22.3 crack D.L./CTR.   7.5
20/3   22.8   D.L./CTR.   7.8
20/4   22.4   D.L./I.W.P.   7.6
20/6   42.3   P.L./O.W.P.   20.9

Notes:
Sta. 5/3 - Started at 106us, drifted to 48.9us
Sta. 20/3 & 20/4 - good trace, cutting tops off signal

Abbreviations: D.L. - Driving Lane
P.L. - Passing Lane
I.W.P. - Inside wheel path
O.W.P. - Outside wheel path
CTR. - Center of lane

Figure 23. Results of Survey of DOT Use of Product 2016

U.S. map showing DOT use of Product 2016

Table 23. Results of Survey of DOT Use of Product 2016

Alabama-Hawaii
  Product Evaluation Product Use  
State P
L
A
N
N
E
D		 O
N
-
G
O
I
N
G		 C
O
M
P
L
E
T
E		 I
N
-
U
S
E		 R
E
J
E
C
T
E
D		 N
O

I
N
T
E
R
E
S
T		 Comments (attach extra pages as needed) Contact Person Phone Number
AL                  
AK                  
AZ                  
AR           X   Lynn Austin 501-569-2192
CA                  
CO           X      
CT                  
DE                  
DC                  
FL                  
GA           X      
HI                  

Idaho-Minnesota
  Product Evaluation Product Use  
State P
L
A
N
N
E
D		 O
N
-
G
O
I
N
G		 C
O
M
P
L
E
T
E		 I
N
-
U
S
E		 R
E
J
E
C
T
E
D		 N
O

I
N
T
E
R
E
S
T		 Comments (attach extra pages as needed) Contact Person Phone Number
ID                  
IL   X           Gary Kowalski 217-785-2914
IN       X          
IA           X      
KS X             D. Meggers 785-296-7410
KY                  
LA                  
ME X                
MD X             R. Cullen 410-321-3416
MA                  
MI                  
MN           X   P. Rowecamp 612-582-1149

Mississippi-Nova Scotia, Canada
  Product Evaluation Product Use  
State P
L
A
N
N
E
D		 O
N
-
G
O
I
N
G		 C
O
M
P
L
E
T
E		 I
N
-
U
S
E		 R
E
J
E
C
T
E
D		 N
O

I
N
T
E
R
E
S
T		 Comments (attach extra pages as needed) Contact Person Phone Number
MS                  
MO   X     X     J.D. Wenzlick 573-751-1039
MT           X      
NE                  
NV               R. K. Moore 702-888-7520
NH                  
NJ                  
NM           X      
NY X             F. Naret 518-485-1386
NC                  
ND                  
Nova Scotia,
Canada		                  

Ohio-Wyoming
  Product Evaluation Product Use  
State P
L
A
N
N
E
D		 O
N
-
G
O
I
N
G		 C
O
M
P
L
E
T
E		 I
N
-
U
S
E		 R
E
J
E
C
T
E
D		 N
O

I
N
T
E
R
E
S
T		 Comments (attach extra pages as needed) Contact Person Phone Number
OH                  
OK                  
OR           X      
PA                  
PR                  
RI                  
SC                  
SD                  
TN                  
TX     X         Randy Cox 512-416-2189
UT                  
VT                  
VA           X      
WA     X     X   D.M. Jones 360-709-5440
WV       X          
WI                  
WY                  

Continue to Product 2019

See also the web site for the AASHTO Technology Implementation Group