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Title: Testing and Inspection Techniques for Offshore and Marine Structures

Author(s): Mohammad S. Khan

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 337

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 58-77

Keywords: condition assessment, evaluation, inspection, marine, NDE, offshore, structural evaluation, underwater, testing

DOI: 10.14359/51724547

Date: 1/23/2020

Abstract:
Offshore and marine structures present special testing and inspection challenges due to their difficult accessibility and lack of visibility below water. Some of the testing and inspection personnel need to be divers, and some of the testing and inspection techniques become impractical in submerged conditions even with a diver. Thus, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques that can be applied from above water, coupled with limited underwater inspections, offer the most practical solution for the testing and inspection of offshore and marine structures. This paper reviews and analyzes various above-water and underwater techniques that can be used for offshore and marine structures. Above-water techniques include visual inspections, chloride ion analysis, carbonation depth measurement, half-cell potential measurement, corrosion rate measurement, strength testing, and petrographic analysis. Whereas, the underwater techniques include diver-assisted visual inspections, real-time video imaging, modified versions of some of the above-water techniques, sonic-echo, impulse response, ultrasonic guided waves (UGW), and limited semi-destructive testing. Advantages and limitations of various techniques have been discussed. Finally, areas of future research have been identified, which can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, cost, and safety of testing and inspection techniques used in offshore and marine structures.