{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,19]],"date-time":"2026-01-19T11:09:46Z","timestamp":1768820986913,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,28]],"date-time":"2020-04-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1588032000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003725","name":"National Research Foundation of Korea","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2016R1A6A1A03012812"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2016R1A6A1A03012812"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003725","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Korea Expressway Corporation Research Institute","award":["1231231"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1231231"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The main objectives of this study are to investigate the variations of the dielectric constant of concrete on Korean expressways by using a 1 GHz air-coupled Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system and to develop a practical approach to the condition assessment of concrete bridge decks with asphalt overlay on Korean expressways by dielectric constant measurements. A total of 684 GPR investigations of 601 actual concrete bridge decks, which are in service between 2 and 43 years, were carried out during the period between 1999 and 2013. Statistical analysis revealed that the dielectric constant of asphalt-covered concrete bridge decks reduced with service age and this trend continued until service age of over 40 years. As a result, this study provides a practical dielectric constant curve that could be used for condition evaluation of top concrete in asphalt-covered bridge decks with consideration of concrete age. Based on regression analyses of the GPR field survey data and experiences through the field survey, a double cut-off dielectric constant criterion was proposed for condition assessment of asphalt-covered concrete bridge decks on Korean expressways. In addition, a GPR field survey was performed at an actual bridge on the Yeongdong expressway in Korea to test the proposed GPR signal interpretation method. The field survey results provide fundamental data to better understand the variation of the dielectric constant of concrete in actual bridges with asphalt overlay and to develop a practical approach to condition assessment of asphalt-covered concrete bridge decks on Korean expressways by dielectric constant measurements using air-coupled GPR.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s20092497","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,28]],"date-time":"2020-04-28T10:30:58Z","timestamp":1588069858000},"page":"2497","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["A Practical Approach to Condition Assessment of Asphalt-Covered Concrete Bridge Decks on Korean Expressways by Dielectric Constant Measurements Using Air-Coupled GPR"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6067-6078","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ji-Young","family":"Rhee","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Korea Expressway Corporation, Hwaseong 18489, Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ko-Eun","family":"Park","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Korea Expressway Corporation, Hwaseong 18489, Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kang-Hyun","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Korea Expressway Corporation, Hwaseong 18489, Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7743-4881","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Seong-Hoon","family":"Kee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Architectural Engineering, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Ministry of Construction and Transport (MOCT) (2004). Concrete Standard Specification: Durability (42000-58821-9907)."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) (2015). Investigation of Aging of Bridges and Preparation of Efficiency for Unit Work (2nd Year), Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC)."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"ASTM (2008). Standard Test Method for Evaluating Asphalt-Covered Concrete Bridge Decks Using Ground Penetrating Radar, ASTM International."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"763","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2005.06.005","article-title":"Measuring layer thicknesses with GPR\u2014Theory to practice","volume":"19","author":"Lahouar","year":"2005","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ndteint.2016.06.004","article-title":"Understanding depth-amplitude effects in assessment of GPR data from concrete bridge decks","volume":"83","author":"Dinh","year":"2016","journal-title":"NDT E Int."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1007\/s41315-017-0027-5","article-title":"RABIT: Implementation, performance validation and integration with other robotic platforms for improved management of bridge decks","volume":"1","author":"Gucunski","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Intell. Robot. Appl."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"94","article-title":"Bridge deck condition surveys using radar: Case studies of 28 New England decks","volume":"1304","author":"Maser","year":"1991","journal-title":"Transp. Res. Rec.: J. Transp. Res. Board."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jappgeo.2015.01.011","article-title":"Data acquisition and processing parameters for concrete bridge deck condition assessment using ground-coupled ground penetrating radar: Some considerations","volume":"114","author":"Varnavina","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Appl. Geophys."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jappgeo.2013.04.009","article-title":"Applications of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in bridge deck monitoring and assessment","volume":"97","author":"Alani","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Appl. Geophys."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Saarenketo, T. (2006). Electrical Properties of Road Materials and Subgrade Soils and the Use of Ground Penetrating Radar in Traffic Infrastructure Surveys, Department of Geosciences at University of Oulu."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2014.05.004","article-title":"A semi-automatic processing and visualisation tool for ground-penetrating radar pavement thickness data","volume":"45","author":"Solla","year":"2014","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Pajewski, L., Benedetto, A., Loizos, A., Slob, E.C., and Tosti, F. (2015, January 12\u201317). COST Action TU1208 \u201cCivil Engineering Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar\u201d ongoing Research Activities and Mid-term Results. Proceedings of the EGU General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Suh, J., Lee, I., and Rhee, J. (1998). Condition Evaluation of Concrete Bridge Decks, in 98-67-65, K.H. Corporation, Highway Research Center."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Suh, J., Rhee, J., and Lee, I. (2000, January 4\u20139). Condition Evaluation of Concrete Bridge Decks by using GPR. Proceedings of the 10th Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia Conference (REAAA), Tokyo, Japan."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"1345","article-title":"Dielectric and Electrical Properties of Ordinary Portland Cement and Slag Cement in the Early Hydration Period","volume":"31","author":"Zhang","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Mater. Sci. Eng. A"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1016\/S0926-9851(98)00009-3","article-title":"Dielectric Permittivity of Concrete between 50 MHz and 1 GHz and GPR Measurements for Building Materials Evaluation","volume":"40","author":"Robert","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Appl. Geophys."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"262","article-title":"Electromagnetic Properties of Concrete at Microwave Frequency Range","volume":"95","author":"Rhim","year":"1998","journal-title":"ACI Mater. J."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"115","article-title":"Measurement of Electromagnetic Properties of Concrete for Nondestructive Testing","volume":"12","author":"Rhim","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Korea Concr. Inst."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"687","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconres.2009.05.004","article-title":"Characterization of Concrete Properties from Dielectric Properties Using Ground Penetrating Radar","volume":"39","author":"Lai","year":"2009","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Res."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1186\/s40069-018-0239-6","article-title":"Seasonal Variation and Age-related Changes in the Relative Permittivity of Concrete Bridge Decks on Korea Expressways","volume":"12","author":"Rhee","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Concr. Struct. Mater."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Balanis, C.A. (1989). Wave Propagation and Polarization. Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics, John Wiley & Sons. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Maser, K., Scullion, T., and Briggs, B. (1991). Use of Radar Technology for Pavement Layer Evaluation."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Rhee, J., Shim, J., Do, J., Kim, I., and Kim, H. (2018). Advances in Evaluating Asphalt-Covered Concrete Bridge Decks Using Ground Penetrating Radar, Expressway & Transportation Research Institute. KEC EXTRI-2018-54-534.9607."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (GSSI) (2009). RADAN Version 6.6, GSSI. Available online: http:\/\/www.geophysical.com."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Available online: http:\/\/www.kma.go.kr."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"ASTM D 6432-11 (2011). Standard Guide for Using the Surface Ground Penetrating Radar Method for Subsurface Investigation, ASTM International."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Ang, A.H.-S., and Tang, W.H. (2007). Probability Concepts in Engineering: Emphasis on Applications to Civil and Environmental Engineering (v. 1), Wiley. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"613","DOI":"10.1007\/s12205-017-1894-x","article-title":"An Investigation of the Deterioration Characteristics of Concrete Bridge Decks with Asphalt Concrete in Korea","volume":"22","author":"Rhee","year":"2018","journal-title":"KSCE J. Civil Eng."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"(2020, April 27). Golden Software, LLC. Available online: https:\/\/www.goldensoftware.com\/."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/20\/9\/2497\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,13]],"date-time":"2025-10-13T13:51:31Z","timestamp":1760363491000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/20\/9\/2497"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,28]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,5]]}},"alternative-id":["s20092497"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s20092497","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,28]]}}}