Services · Civil and Infrastructure Testing
Bridge Inspection
Maharashtra Public Works Department runs a long-standing robotic NDT programme with TCR, and the BMC programme from March 2026 covers 400+ bridges using submersible ROV, drone, and conventional NDT across piers, abutments, and girder soffits.
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Overview
TCR Engineering, a NABL ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory (NABLT0726MH18640) in Navi Mumbai, has inspected 500+ bridges across India. Inspection teams combine drone imaging, submersible ROV surveys and field NDT, including UPV, cover meter, rebound hammer and half-cell potential mapping, under IRC SP 35, SP 18 and SP 40 guidelines.
How TCR Inspects Bridges
TCR has inspected 500+ bridges across India, combining drone imaging, submersible ROV surveys, and field non-destructive testing into a single condition assessment. The anchor client is the Maharashtra Public Works Department, under a long-running robotic NDT programme.
A separate BMC March 2026 AI-assisted robotic underwater inspection programme covers 400+ bridges as a distinct workflow with submersible ROV, drone, and conventional NDT. The methods deployed on a bridge are set out below.
| Method | Application |
|---|---|
| Drone | High-pier visual capture; girder soffit imaging |
| Submersible ROV | Sub-water pier and abutment, intake and forebay |
| UPV per IS 13311 Part 1 | Concrete homogeneity |
| Cover meter | Clear-cover verification |
| Schmidt rebound hammer | Surface hardness correlation |
| Half-cell potential per ASTM C876 | Corrosion likelihood mapping |
Governing Standards
Bridge inspection and the associated concrete NDT and strand testing are governed by the designations below.
| Method | What it measures | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity | Concrete homogeneity | IS 13311 Part 1 |
| Rebound hammer | Surface hardness correlation | IS 13311 Part 2 |
| Half-cell potential | Corrosion likelihood mapping | ASTM C876 |
| Bridge inspection and rehabilitation | Inspection and rehabilitation guidelines | IRC SP 35, IRC SP 18, IRC SP 40 |
| Bridge design reference | Design specification | BS 5400, AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications |
| Manhole and gully top fatigue | Municipal cover fatigue up to 900 mm | BS EN 124-5 |
| High-tensile strand | Tensile, stress-relaxation, 2 million-cycle fatigue at 70 percent yield | IS 14268, ASTM A416, BS 5896, ISO 10138, ISO 15630-3 |
High-Tensile Strand for Bridge Cables
High-tensile strand for prestressed bridge and high-speed-rail cable systems is tested per IS 14268, ASTM A416, BS 5896, ISO 10138, and ISO 15630-3, covering tensile strength, stress-relaxation, and 2 million-cycle fatigue at 70 percent of the actual yield.
- Standards: IS 14268, ASTM A416, BS 5896, ISO 10138 and ISO 15630-3.
- Properties measured: tensile strength, stress relaxation, and 2 million-cycle fatigue at 70 percent of the actual yield.
- Programmes served: prestressed bridge cable systems and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail.
This strand-testing capability serves prestressed bridge cable systems and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail programme.
Related insights
1 published insight on this site bears directly on Bridge Inspection. It is below; the full index carries all 38 Civil & Structural Testing insights.
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Fatigue Testing of Composite Gully & Manhole tops
TCR tests load-bearing capacity, impact resistance, chemical resistance, and fatigue durability per BS EN 124
Read all 38 Civil & Structural Testing insights →All insights →
Frequently asked questions
How many bridges has TCR inspected?
500+ bridges across India, plus a separate BMC March 2026 robotic underwater programme covering 400+ bridges.
What methods are used in a bridge inspection?
Drone imaging, submersible ROV surveys, UPV per IS 13311 Part 1, cover meter, Schmidt rebound hammer, and half-cell potential per ASTM C876.
Which guidelines govern bridge inspection?
IRC SP 35, IRC SP 18, and IRC SP 40 for inspection and rehabilitation, with BS 5400 and AASHTO LRFD as design references.
Does TCR test bridge cable strand?
Yes. High-tensile strand is tested per IS 14268, ASTM A416, BS 5896, ISO 10138, and ISO 15630-3, including 2 million-cycle fatigue at 70 percent of the actual yield.