Structural Diagnostic & Engineering Services

Ultra Technologies in collabration with olson Engineering inc, USA, offers consulting services for a wide variety of infrastructure evaluation. We test, evaluate, image, measure, and scan almost any type of structure or infrastructure element.Olson Engineering are of the very few companies whose main business in Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of civil structures & infrastructure. This focus helps us in identifying, researching and applying better methods of NDE and analysis. Our Non Destructive Evaluation techniques are analogous to medical ultrasound used on people, but we apply them to buildings, bridges, dams and all types of civil infrastructure and even to characterize the earth itself. NDE benefits projects through improved diagnosis of structural material conditions with minimal or no damage, lower cost, reduced risk for the public, owner, contractor, engineer and architect in a shorter time compared to conventional solutions.

Infrastructure is deteriorating from age, environmental assault and frequently, heavier use than intended. The need for test methods that can determine unseen defects, damage or deterioration, and that can check the quality of repairs, without further damage to the structure, is crucial. Non destructive Evaluation (NDE) methods have advanced to the point of imaging the internal characteristics of construction materials such as concrete, wood, masonry, stone, steel and asphalt. These techniques do not require invasive procedures like coring or drilling. The use of NDE is not limited to aging structures. Quality assurance of new construction with NDE also provides the ability to verify the quality of support structures prior to superstructures being placed.

Ultra Technologies in association with their overseas technical experts Bridge Diagnostics Inc., USA, uses a well-established set of both the field tests as well as analytical procedures and focuses on delivering bridge test results that are useful to the bridge owner. Our basic approach is very similar to that used in both standard highway and railroad bridge design codes, with only exception being that instead of relying on estimated distribution factors and assumed structural behaviors, we use actual field data to develop an accurate analytical model of the structure for developing the rating factors. Since this model has been actively “calibrated” with field data, it represents the live load distribution behavior such as end-restraints that simply cannot be accurately assumed.

This approach is best-suited for structures that have a low load rating based on the standard methods and on structures that appear damaged. In addition to our live-load bridge testing and bridge rating services we assemble and help install long-term monitoring systems for tracking bridge behavior over time. Most of these systems use sensors that are based on Vibrating Wire (VW) technology and track parameters such as crack growth, strains, and rotations. These systems can be placed in the field for years at a time and can be accessed remotely via cellular or land telephone lines. They can also be configured with an alarm mode which will automatically contact a PC if something detrimental is detected by the system.

We also offer comprehensive solutions for Geotechnical Engineering problems ranging from remedial measures for failing slopes to advanced numerical analysis based solutions for design of powerhouse caverns. We use geotechnical specific softwares like FLAC, PLAXIS, SHAKE, SLOPE/W, and QUAKE/W to name a few. Dynamic analysis for liquefaction assessment and remediation, site specific design spectra are our strength and complement our NDE services.