​Advanced Bridge Diagnostics with SMS

Bridges are the backbone of the nation’s transportation system. Every day, millions of vehicles travel across structures designed decades ago, often carrying heavier loads and experiencing higher traffic volumes than their original engineers could have imagined. Traditional visual inspections remain important, but they cannot reveal hidden deterioration inside tendons, cables, welds, or fracture-critical members. That’s where Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) becomes essential.

 

Structural Monitoring Solutions (SMS) provides advanced NDE inspections as part of our mission to protect critical infrastructure. Our inspections are directed by a Lead Inspector who is ASNT Level III, PhD, and certified in Acoustic Emission (AE), Eddy Current (ET), Magnetic Particle (MT), Liquid Penetrant (PT), Ultrasonic Testing (UT), and Visual Testing (VT). These credentials represent the highest standard in the NDE profession and ensure that every SMS inspection is carried out with rigor, accuracy, and reliability.

 

What is Bridge NDE?

Non-Destructive Evaluation refers to techniques that detect, measure, and characterize structural deterioration without damaging the component being inspected. Instead of cutting samples or exposing tendons, NDE enables engineers to “see inside” bridge elements, providing insights that go far beyond what the eye can detect.

 

Bridge NDE is particularly valuable for:

• Post-tensioned and pre-stressed tendons are concealed in ducts.

• Suspension and cable-stayed bridge cables are under constant stress.

• Anchorage systems and sockets where loads are transferred.

• Fracture-critical steel members are prone to fatigue or cracking.

• Bridge decks and substructures where hidden deterioration may compromise safety.

 

For DOTs and bridge owners, NDE is the only way to confirm the integrity of these hidden or hard-to-access elements.

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SMS Expertise in NDE

At SMS, our focus has always been structural monitoring. For more than 30 years, our team has advanced fiber-optic sensing, acoustic monitoring, and rapid-deployment SHM systems for bridges across the U.S. Expanding into NDE was a natural step — allowing us to provide both continuous monitoring data and point-in-time diagnostics.

 

Every NDE inspection at SMS is led by a PhD-level ASNT Level III inspector certified across all major NDE disciplines. This means our clients benefit not only from advanced tools, but also from the judgment of one of the most highly credentialed professionals in the field.

Advanced NDE Techniques for Bridges

SMS offers a comprehensive range of bridge-focused NDE services. These include:​

Phased-Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT)

Multi-beam ultrasonic testing provides a volumetric scan of steel and welds, detecting cracks, inclusions, and defects with exceptional accuracy.

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Guided Wave Ultrasonic Testing (GWUT)

Ideal for long tendons and cables, GWUT can screen large spans from a single sensor location, identifying corrosion or broken wires that visual checks cannot reach.

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Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL)

MFL identifies internal wire breaks and section loss by measuring magnetic field changes. It is a proven method for tendons, wire ropes, and suspension cables.

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Acoustic Emission (AE) Testing

AE listens for high-frequency stress waves released when materials crack or deform. It is particularly effective for monitoring tendons and fracture-critical steel during stressing, load tests, or live traffic.

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Socket and Anchorage Testing

Anchorage zones are critical points of load transfer. SMS applies ultrasonic and magnetic particle techniques to verify the integrity of sockets and terminations.

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Why DOTs Need Bridge NDE

Visual inspections alone are not enough. The most common risks for DOTs come from hidden deterioration that progresses between inspection cycles. NDE inspections provide:

1. Early detection of hidden defects — corrosion, cracking, or wire breaks inside closed systems.

2. Actionable data for asset management — prioritize repairs based on real conditions, not assumptions.

3. Fewer unplanned closures — prevent emergency shutdowns by identifying risks before they become failures.

4. Integration with SHM — when paired with SMS’s RapidGuard™, DarkFiber™, and GeoFence™ systems, NDE adds depth to continuous monitoring.

5. Highest professional oversight — inspections led by a PhD, ASNT Level III, certified across AE, ET, MT, PT, UT, and VT.

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Lessons Learned from Past Bridge Failures

High-profile incidents across the U.S. have shown the limitations of inspection-only programs:

• In some cases, tendons failed within months of major inspection campaigns.

• In others, monitoring systems recorded data but did not provide clear, actionable warnings.

• Major engineering firms often recycle SHM “white papers” from state to state, offering generic consulting while lacking deep instrumentation experience.

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SMS was founded to solve these gaps. We specialize in bridge monitoring and NDE—not as an add-on service, but as our entire business.

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Applications of SMS Bridge NDE

Our services are tailored to the needs of state DOTs, toll authorities, and bridge owners. Typical applications include:

• Suspension Bridge Cables: GWUT and MFL for internal corrosion and broken wires.

• Post-Tensioned Bridges: AE and PAUT for early detection of tendon distress.

• Cable Anchorages: Socket and termination testing for fatigue cracks or stress damage.

• Fracture-Critical Steel: AE and UT for crack detection during live traffic or load testing.

• Bridge Decks: Supplemental methods such as impact-echo or ground-penetrating radar where applicable.

 

The SMS Advantage: AI-Ready Data + NDE

SMS is unique in combining continuous AI-ready SHM systems with expert NDE inspections. Our monitoring systems generate billions of data points every day, providing a living digital record of bridge performance. When coupled with targeted NDE inspections, DOTs can:

• Validate SHM data with subsurface evidence.

• Build predictive models of deterioration.

• Create defensible, data-driven maintenance strategies.

• Move from reactive to proactive bridge management.

 

Why Choose SMS for Bridge NDE

• Specialist focus: SHM and NDE are our only business.

• Proprietary systems: SMS manufactures RapidGuard™, DarkFiber™, and GeoFence™.

• Expert oversight: All inspections directed by a PhD, ASNT Level III inspector certified in AE, ET, MT, PT, UT, & VT.

• Proven results: Deployments across multiple U.S. DOTs, including critical tendon, cable, and fracture-critical monitoring projects.

• Made in Pennsylvania: SMS’s engineering and manufacturing office in Doylestown, PA anchors our commitment to U.S. bridge safety.

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Bridge safety requires more than surface inspections. SMS delivers both real-time monitoring and advanced NDE inspections, directed by one of the most highly credentialed inspectors in the profession. Together, these services provide DOTs with the highest confidence in structural performance—today and into the future.

 

🔹 Request a Bridge NDE Consultation - Call us at 609-433-8485