UNDERWATER INSPECTION OF

BRIDGES ILLUSTRATED WITH

CASE STUDY
BY
Shri.K.Simon, Dy.CE/C/SCR
Shri Mohd. Bakhsh, Dy.CE/W/WR
Shri .A.Raj Kumar, DEN/SR

WHY UNDER-WATER INSPECTION?

TO ENSURE SAFE CONDITION
OF SUB-STRUCTURE DURING
THE COURSE OF ITS LIFE.

TO DETECT ANY DISTRESSED

CONDITION OF SUB-STRUCTURE
OUT LIVED OR PRE-MATURE
TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE
MISHAP DUE TO STRUCTURE
FAILURE BY TIMELY ACTION

WHERE UNDER-WATER INSPECTION IS ESSENTIAL?

IT IS REQUIRED TO CHECK THE SUBSTRUCTURE OF ALL
BRIDGES OVER PERENNIAL RIVERS &BACKWATERS.
ON BRIDGES WHERE SUBSTRUCTURE CANNOT BE
INSPECTED DUE TO SUBMERGING UNDER WATER
WHAT SHALL BE INSPECTED IN UW INSPECTION?
CAVITY IN MASONRY /CONCRETE
JOINTS IN MASONRY /CONCRETE

LOOSE/ MISSING STONE/BRICKS IN MASONRY

WEATHERING OF MASONRY
EXPOSURE OF REINFORCEMENT

WHAT SHALL BE INSPECTED IN UW INSPECTION?

(CONTD)

RUST STAINING, CRACKING, SPALLING,

ABRASION, DISINTEGRATION IN CONCRETE
STRUCTURES
BULGING IN SUB STRUCTURE
STEEL WORKS
--CI PIPES
-- STEEL CAISSONS
-- SCREW PILES
CORRECT LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF
DEFECTS IS IMPORTANT

Anerobic Bacterial Growth

Scaling of concrete

Spalling of concrete

Disintegration of concrete

Deep Cavitation

WHO WILL DO UNDER-WATER INSPECTION?

ONLY WELL TRAINED PERSONNEL

PRACTICAL PROBLEM IS THAT IN MAJORITY OF THE
CASES ONLY EXPERT DIVERS ARE USED BUT THEY
WILL NOT HAVE ANY EXPERTISE IN CIVIL/ BRIDGE ENGG.
WHAT IS LAID DOWN IN OUR CODES ON THIS TOPIC?
CODES INCLUDING IRBM98 IS SILENT ABOUT THIS ASPECT
AFTER TRAGIC KADALUNDI ACCIDENT, BASED ON CCRS
RECOMMENDATIONS, RDSO HAS BROUGHT OUT BS-40
GUIDE LINES FOR UNDERWATER INSPECTION OF BRIDGES
DURING THE YEAR 2001.
CES CIRCULAR No.3/2002 OF Srly PRESCRIBED 2 YEARS FERQUENCY

WHEN TO CONDUCT UNDERWATER INSPECTION?

BS-40 SUGGESTS DURING THE PERIOD OF LOW WATER
OR LOW POLLUTION LEVELS OR GOOD VISIBILITY (UNDER)
20% OF UNDERWATER UNITS FOR EACH BRIDGE
SELECTED RANDOMLY SHOULD BE INSPECTED. THE
RANDOM INSPECTION SHOULD BE MADE IN SUCH A
WAY THAT ENTIRE STRUCTURE IS COVERED IN 5 YEARS

METHODS OF PERFORMING UNDER-WATER

INSPECTION
1.WADING INSPECTION BASIC, REGULAR METHID OF
INSPECTION PROBING/SOUNDING ROD
2.SCUBA -SELF CONTAINED UNDERWATER BREATHING APPRATUS
3. SURFACE SUPPLIED AIR DIVING OR MIXED GAS DIVING
4.DEEP SEA DIVING NOT USED FOR BRIDGE INSPECTION
SCUBA DIVING
SCUBA DIVER IS PROVIDED WITH PORTABLE AIR SUPPLY
& IS CONNECTED TO SURFACE THROUGH AN UMBILICAL
CABLE
MIN.EQUIPMENT ARE SCUBA, LIFE PRESERVER,WEIGHT
BELT, KNIFE,FACE MASK AND SWIM FINS

. CONTD SCUBA DIVING)

IS SUITED WHEN MANY DIVES OF SHORT DURATION
ARE NEEDED & MOBILITY IS THE PRIME CONSIDERATION
MERITS ARE RAPID DEPLOYMENT, PORTABILITY, MIN.
SUPPORT AND EXCELLENT MOBILITY
DEMERITS ARE DEPTH LIMITATION, MIN.AIR SUPPLY
LACK OF VOICE COMMUNICATION FROM SURFACE
MAX. SUSTAINED TIME AND DEPTH IS ONE HOUR @18 M
DIVING TEAM SHOULD HAVE 3 MEN & BOAT IS REQUIRED

SURFACE SUPPLIED AIR DIVING

AIR IS SUPPLIED TO THE DIVER THROUGH
UMBILICIL HOSES, CONNECTED TO THE SURFACE
AIR COMPRESSOR TANK
COMMUNICATION CABLE, LIFE LINE,
PNEUMATIC FATHOMETER ARE ATTACHED TO
THE DIVER
SUITED FOR IN ADVERSE CONDITION HIGH
STREAM VELOCITY, POLLUTED/TURBID WATER
AND LONG DURATION/DETAILED INSPECTION
UNLIMITED AIR SUPPLY
SUSTAINED TIME 60 MINUTES AT 18m DEPTH

 IS 10291-1982 LAID DOWN

QUALIFICATION OF DIVERS AND SUPERVISORS
SAFEGUARDS FOR THEIR WORKING
SAFEGUARDS FOR THEIR WORKING
MINIMUM AGE 18 YEARS
FITNESS BY DOCTOR IN LAST SIX MONTHS
FITNESS TESTED FOR WORK AT REQUIRED DEPTH
OR EQUIVALENT PRESSURE IN COMPRESSION
CHAMBER
KNOWLEDGE OF DIVING SIGNALS
TRAINED FOR WORK IN NO VISIBILITY
CONDITIONS AND 0.6M DEPTH OF MUD AND
CONDUCT SEARCH ETC.

. CONTD SCUBA DIVING & SAFE GUARDS FOR DIVERS)

GOOD PHISIQUE,CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING STRAIN

FREE FROM CARDIAC PROBLEM
FREE FROM MID EAR PROBLEM ETC
NOT ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL AND EXCESS SMOKING
MORE THAN 45 YEARS NOT BE EMPLOYED FOR DEEP
DIVING
SELECT AGE >30YEARS FOR TRAINING
DIVERS DRESS,HELMET,COMPRESSED AIR AND
ACCESSORIES
STANDARD EQUIPMENTS

TOOLS REQUIRED

VIDEO CAMERAS /CLOSE CIRCUIT TV CAMERAS AND TV

MONITOR
TELEMETRY LINK TO OPERATE CAMERA
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH AMPLIFIER AND LOUD
SPEAKERS ETC
UNDERWATER LAMP/HEAD LAMP

TYPES OF INSPECTION AND INTENSITY

LEVELS
LEVEL I-VISUAL,TACTILE INSPECTION(ROUTINE
INSPECTION)
LEVEL II-DETAILED INSPECTION WITH PARTIAL CLEANING
LEVEL III-HIGHLY DETAILED INSPECTION WITH NDT
LEVEL I-INSPECTION
GENERAL VISUAL ROUTINE INSPECTION
COVERED OVER EXTERIOR SURFACE
PROBING OVER SUBSTRUCTURE AND STREAMBED
TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR LEVEL II/III INSPECTION

TYPES OF INSPECTION (Contd..)

LEVEL II INSPECTION
TO BE CONDUCTED BASED ON REPORT OF LEVEL I
INSPECTION
NEEDS CLEANING OF STRUCTURAL ELEMENT
DETAILED INVESTIGATION OF SELECTED COMPONENTS
ATLEAST 20% OF ALL UNDERWATER ELEMENTS TO BE
COVERED
SIMPLE INSTRUMENTS CALIPPERSE AND SCALE TO
IDENTIFY EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF DAMAGE

TYPES OF INSPECTION (Contd..)

LEVEL III INSPECTION

HIGHLY DETAILED INSPECTION OF A CRITICAL
STRUCTURE OF STRUCTURAL ELEMENT
INCLUDES EXTENSIVE CLEANING, DETAILED
MEASUREMENTS
SELECTED NDT/PARTIALLY DISTRUCTIVE
TESTING SUCH AS ULTRASONIC, SAMPLE
CORING, IN-SITU HARDNESS TESTING Etc..
REQUIRES MORE EXPERINCE AND TRAINING

UNDERWATER INSPECTION PROCEDURE

INTIAL INSPECTION REQUIRES CAREFUL PLANNING
PRIOR SITE SURVEY FOR SELECTION OF INSPECTION
METHODS, TYPE AND INTENSITY LEVEL, EQUIPEMENT
REQUIRED
REVIEW OF AVAILABLE RECORDS AND PAST HISTORY
AVAILABILITY OF TOOLS AND PLANTS
ABILITY/QUALIFICATION OF DIVING TEAM
SCOUR INVESTIGATION
INSPECTION OF SUB STRUCTURE

UNDERWATER INSPECTION PROCEDURE

(Contd..)

UNDERWATER NDT INSPECTION

SOUNDING/SENSING DEVICE- FOR CHECKING
SCOUR IN THE STREAM BED
REBOUND HAMMER- SURFACE HARDNESS
TESTER TO OBTAIN GENERAL CONDITION OF
CONCRETE
MAGNETIC REBAR LOCATION- TO DETERMINE
THE LOCATION AND ORIENTATION OFREBAR
ULTRASONIC SYSTEM FOR CONCRETE- TO
CHECK UNIFORMITY OF CONCRETE FROM ONE
LOCATION TO THE OTHER

UNDERWATER NDT INSPECTION

(Contd..)
ULTRASONIC THICKNESS METRES TO MEASURE
THE THICKNESS OF THE STEEL
UW MAGNETIC PARTICLE TESTING TO DETECT
SURFACE CRACKS
RADIOGRAPHY TO DETECT INTERNAL
DEFECTS/FLAWS

PROCEDURE OF UNDER-WATER INSPECTION BY DIVERS

LIST &CHECK THE WORKING OF ALL TOOLS &EQUIPMENT
BOATS & LIFE PRESERVERS AS REQUIRED
CAMERAS
INSPECTION DOCUMENTS, PAPER,CLIP BOARD &PENCILS
CONCRETE OR STEEL TOOL KIT AS APPLICABLE
SOUNDING EQUIPMENT &MARKING PENCILS(FOR SCOUR)
SAFETY EQUIPMENT(ROPES, BUOYS&MANNED SAFETY BOAT)
PROCEDURE FOR CHECKING PIERS FORMED OF PILES
TWO DIVERS TO INSPECT SAME PILE.
IF VISIBILITY IS POOR, PUT LIGHT CLOSE AND INSPECT
DIFFERENT FACES AND TURN LATER TO UNINSPECTED SIDE
PROCEDURE FOR CONCRETE PIERS
INSPECT CONDITION OF CONCRETE. TAKE PHOTOS AS REQD
MEASURE DIMENSIONS OF SPALLS &RECORD LOCATION
INSPECT CRACKS AND MEASURE SIZE, LENGTH&LOCATION

DOCUMENTAION OF THE RESULTS OF U/W INSPECTION

RECORD THE RESULTS OF UNDER-WATER INSPECTION
IN THE PROFORMA PRESCIBED IN ANNEXURE-II,III&IV OF
BS-40 GUIDE LINES FOR U/W INSPECTION ISSUED BY RDSO
ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON RESULTS OF U/W INSPECTION
MINOR DEFECTS SUCH AS CRACKS
-AQUA RESINS FOR GROUTING REPLACING WATER
CRACK >6mm sand with grouting resins
SPECIAL GROUTING EQUIPMENTS
SPALLING OF CONCRETE
PREPARATION OF SURFACE BY WATER JET AT
HIGH PRESSURE
APPLYING THICK COAT OF EPOXY RESIN ON THE
PREPARED SURFACE FOR BONDING
EPOXY MORTAR

REPAIR TECHNIQUES
FOR CONCRETE PILES
JACKETING BY SHOTCRETE/GUNITE LAYER OF
75MM THICKNESS OR SO
SHOTCRETE RING IS PREPARED ABOVE LOW
WATER LEVEL AND LOWERED UPTO BOTTOM
ANNULAR SPACE IS SUBSEQUENTLY GROUTED
WITH MORTAR DISPLACING WATER
REPAIR BY UNDERWATER CONCRETING

TREMIE CONCRETE
BOTTOM OPENING SKIP BOX
BAGGED CONCRETE
GROUT INJECTION OF PREPLACED AGGREGATE

TREMIE CONCRETE

DESIGNED FOR LOW STREGTH UPTO M20

SLUMP 150-200mm
COHESIVE AND SHOULD NOT SEGREGATE
DURING TRANSPORT OR PLACEMENT
W/C RATIO =<0.5
CEMENT CONTENT HIGH 400 KG/CUM
PLASTICISERS FOR WORKABILITY
TREMIE PIPE DIA 20MM AGRT-150MM

40MM
200MM
BOTTOM OF PIPE 300-400 MM IMMERSED IN CONCRETE
MORE THAN 30 SQM AREA MORE THAN ONE PIPE
IF MORE THAN ONE LIFT DIVERS TO PREPARE
SURFACE BY REMOVING LAITANCE

CASE STUDY OF Br. No.1201 ON SRR-MAQ SECTION ON S.Rly

BRIDGE No.1201 AT Km.837/100-500 ON DOWN LINE
ON RIVER PYSAVALI WITH SPAN 3 x 30.48+ 18 x 15.24
SUPER STRUCTURE RIVETTED STEEL PLATE GIRDERS

1ST 3 SPANS ARE 100ON RIVETTED UNDERSLUNG GIRDERS

NEXT 18 SPANS ARE 40 RIVETTTED PLATE GIRDERS
BEARINGS- 1ST 3 SPANS ROCKER & ROLLER TYPE
REST ALL CENTRALLY ARTICULATED
SUB-STRUCTURE
PIERS 1,2,3, 5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19 & A1 AND A2 ON CR MASONRY
PIERS REST 4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18 AND 20 ARE MASS CONCRETE

FOUNDATION
WELL FOUNDATION WITH TWIN CIRCULAR MASONRY WELL
HISTORY OF THE BRIDGE
1.BRIDGE WAS BUILT IN 1906 AS 12 X 30.48 M UNDER SLUNG
RIVETTED PLATE STEEL GIRDER BRIDGE ON ROCKER AND
ROLLER BEARINGS, ON CRS MASONRY PIERS WITH STONE
MASONRY TWIN CIRCULAR WELLS
2. DURING 1960-1970, THOUGH CLEAR RECORDS ARE NOT
AVAILABLE, 9 SPANS FROM 4TH TO 12TH ARE DIVIDED AS
2 EACH MAKING BRIDGE AS 3x 30.48+18x 15.24 WITH 18
SPANS WITH RIVETTED PLATE GIRDERS BY
PROVIDING 9 ADDITIONAL MASS CONCRETE PIERS ON
CR MASONRY TWIN CIRCULAR WELL FOUNDATION
REASONS FOR SUCH CHANGE IS NOT DOCUMENTED

OBSERVATIONS PRIOR TO IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM ON Br1201

FREQUENT ATTENTION TO CROSS-LEVEL NEAR P4

(Right Rail low)
FREQUENT MIS-ALIGNMENT ON-TO ONE SIDE
NON-RETENTION OF RECTIFIED CROSS-LEVEL & ALIGNMENT
ACTION TAKEN ON THE OBSERVATIONS
INITIALLY FORTNIGHTLY THEN WEEKLY RECORDING OF
PARAMETERS DONE. ON GETTING PROGRESSIVE CHANGE
UNDER- WATER INSPECTION WAS ORDERED
ON 20.02.2002 DIVERS INSPECTED THE SUB-STRUCTURE
& REPORTED THAT RH WELL STEINING OF P4 HAS A CAVITY
1.25 x 0.75 x 0.50 SIZE ON EAST SIDE JUST BELOW WELL CAP

CONFIRMATION OF PROBLEM (IN MARCH-APRIL2002)

SUBSEQUENT TO THE REPORT BY DEPARTMENTAL DIVERS
EXPERT FROM CBE/O/MAS, SSE/BR &DIVER WAS CALLED
AND CAVITY AND ITS SIZE WAS GOT CONFIRMED.
PROGRAM FOR RECTIFICATION OF THE CAVITY
BASED ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM CBE (HQ), DIVISION HAS
CALLED TENDER FOR MICRO CONCRETING WORK UNDER
WATER AND FIXED UP AN AGENCY BY 12.03.2003
M/S DYANSOURE TREATMENT, MUMBAI IS THE AGENCY
MICRO CONCERETING WITH ANTI-WAHSABLE, ANTISHRINKABLE PROPERTY USING RENDEROC UW OF FOSROC
MAKE WAS ORDERED IN THE AGREEMENT ALONG WITH
VIDEOGRAPHY OF UNDER WATER WORK

TECHNICAL DETAILS OF MICRO-CONCRETING

RENDEROC UW(UW STANDS FOR UNDER WATER) OF
FOSROC MAKE IS A READY TO USE DRY POWDER, A
MIXTURE OF PROCESSED CEMENT WITH ADDITIVES AND
FINE AGGREGATES, WHICH IMPART IT CONTOLLED
EXPANSION,WATER REDUCTION AND NON-WASHABLE
PROPERTIES. THIS IS PACKED IN25 kg BAGS AND DOSAGE
PER YIELD IS 14.5 LITRES PER 25 KG AT W/P 0.22
MICRO CONCRETE IS EXPECTED TO GIVE A CRUSHING
STRENGTH OF 30 N/MM2 AFTER 7 DAYS
RENDEROC UW CAN BE USED IN ONE POUR FOR THICKNESS
UPTO 150 MM. FOR MORE, STONE AGGREGATE OF 2 TO 10 MM
GRADED SHALL BE USED AT 1:1 RATIO
5.5 LITRES OF WATER IS TO BE ADDED FOR 25 KG BAG OF
RENDEROC UW.& CONCRETE MIXER TO BE USED FOR MIX
RENDEROC PLUG IS THE PRODUCT USED TO SEAL JOINTS

AGENCYS INPUTS FOR MICRO CONCRETING

MANPOWER FROM CONTRACTORS SIDE
ONE CIVIL ENGINERING GRADUATE AS SITE ENGINEER
ONE DIVER MATE (EX-NAVY) FOR MONITORING DIVING
ONE EXPERT DIVER, 2 DIVERS & 1 ASST. DIVER
APART FROM ABOVE, 1 BOAT AND 12 MEN ENGAGED AS
AND WHEN NEEDED FOR CONCRETING LOCALLY
TOOLS & EQUIPMENT USED BY CONTRACTOR
AIR COMPRESSOR & DIESEL GENERATOR ALOGN WITH
3 DIVING EQUIPMENT
VIDEO CAMERA FOR USING UNDER WATER, RECORDER
WITH DISPLAY UNIT
MATERIALS USED FOR THE WORK
160 NO.S OF 25 KG RENDEROC UW BAGS, 20 NO.S OF PLUG
IN 5 KG BAGS, 200 No.S 25 KG 6MM AGGREGATE BAGS ETC

MODUS OPERANDI OF MICRO CONCRETING

PHASE-1-INITIAL INSPECTION AND VIDEO RECORDING
PHASE-2-CLEANING AND PREPARATION OF SURFACE
PHASE-3 ASSESSMENT OF QUANTITY
PHASE-4 SHUTTERING / FIXATION OF FORM WORK
PHASE 5 MICRO CONCRETING
SAND BAGS WERE USED TO SUPPORT SHUTTERING
MS ANGLES AND TIES WERE USED TO SUPPORT GI SHUTTER
JOINT BETWEEN SHUTTER SHEET AND STRUCTURE WAS
SEALED WITH RENDEROC PLUG
TREMIE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH PLASTIC HOSE PIPE
FOR POURING CONCRETE INTO CAVITY. COMPACTION WAS
DONE USING RODS. DIVERS ENSURED PROPER PLACEMENT
CONCRETING COMPLETED IN 3 DAYS

EXPERIENCES AND SUGGESTIONS

RENDEROC UW IS GOOD FOR UNDERWATER CONCRETING
DIVERS WERE GOOD IN DIVING JOB BUT THEY HAVE VERY
LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF CIVIL/BRIDGE ENGINEERING
SHUTTERING /POURING TECHNIQUES USED BY THE FIRM
ARE NOT VERY SATISFACTORY & TO BE UPGRADED
VIDEO RECORDING IS NOT ABLE TO THROW LIGHT FOR
THE PURPOE, IT IS INTENDED. LOCATIONS SHALL BE
GIVEN WITH METAL STRIP LIKE IDENTIFICATION MARKS
AN ACTUAL 7 DAY CRUSHING STRENGTH OF 44 M/MM2
WAS ACTUALLY ACHIEVED AGAINST ANTICIPATED 30 N
COST CAN BE BROUGHT DOWN WITH WIDE USE OF THESE
PRODUCTS.
PERFORMANCE TILL DATE IS SATISFACTORY.

CONCLUSIONS
SYSTEMATIC AND SCIENTIFIC UNDERWARTER
BRIDGE INSPECTION ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT
THE SIGNIFICINT DAMAGE ENCOUNTER TO THE
BRIDGE CAN BE AVOIDED BY CARRYING OUT
UNDERWATER INSPECTION IN TIME

Thank
Thank you
you