Structural Assessment of Existing Underground Passageway: A Case Study

Abstract

There is a recognized need for assessing the safety and integrity of aged Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures which have an age of 50 years and beyond. This study set out to preliminary assess the condition of one of important underground passageways in Kuwait City and to propose different repair methods based on structural deficiencies. Major qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches under this study include inspecting the surface for significant critical areas, testing of concrete strength in situ using Schmidt Hammer and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity instruments, and detecting localized hidden defects with Infrared thermography camera. Analysis of non-destructive testing on concrete revealed that the overall quality ranged from excellent to good. The principal findings indicated that the major threats to the structural safety of the passageway are the deterioration of expansion joints, leakage, corrosion of steel reinforcement, and cracking.