Latest News

2010 NDT Training Course Schedule is available now!

WINS acquires state-of-the-art equipment for enhanced Guided Wave Inspection Services for Pipelines and Bridge Cables, November 2009.

WINS delivers Acoustic Emission Level III Training Course in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 5-9, 2009

WINS is awarded contract with U.S. Department of Energy for developing inspection technology for health monitoring of coal power plant components, August 2009

WINS presents a paper at NYC Bridge Conference titled "Structural health monitoring using wireless acoustic emission sensor network" in August, 2009

WINS is awarded contract with NSF for developing inspection technology for Steel Piles, July 2009

WINS presents  "Acoustic emission input to inspection-based bridge maintenance" at the International Conference on Fracture & Fatigue in July, 2009

WINS is awarded Market Access Grant from Pennsylvania IBD to launch Joint Venture in India, May 2009

Bridge Structural Health Monitoring using Acoustic Emission
WINS offers acoustic emission (AE) based steel bridge structural health monitoring services. It may be deployed remotely for hours or months depending on the application.  For longer monitoring periods, the client can login through a secure on-line connection to observe real-time inspection results. Sensors are rapidly deployed on target structures. Bridge configurations most often monitored include: 

  • Hanger connections
  • Link pin connection
  • Copes and stringers
  • Stiffener to weld connections

The vast majority of steel bridges currently in use are:

  • well beyond their original design life,
  • loaded significantly above their original design values,
  • experiencing premature structural problems from component fatigue.

Safely extending the life while maximizing load ratings of such railway bridges, and maintaining ongoing, uninterrupted traffic operations, are great economic benefits to the bridge owner. Achieving such goals depends to a large extent on developing and maintaining an effective bridge inspection program.


Active, or growing, flaws in safety critical structures emit acoustic emission (AE) under load while dormant flaws do not emit AE.   The active flaws are ranked according to activity and intensity and a Fatigue Crack Index (FCI) - between the range of 1 and 5 - is generated. An FCI 0 recommends maintaining normal maintenance practices.  An FCI 5 recommends immediate operations control and maintenance assessment.




Economic Impact of Continuous AE Monitoring

In a case study of a 1000-foot long open deck bridge built in 1910 with roughly 33 million gross tons of annual traffic, which is approximately 115% increase since its construction, cracks were observed at the bottom of intermediate stiffeners where they connect to the transverse brace frames. The replacement of these spans, estimated at approximately $10 M appeared to be the inevitable recourse. AE monitoring carried out by WINS assessed the crack activity levels of critical areas. It was possible to delay replacement and adopt a manageable risk strategy to maintain existing and projected levels of safe train operations.

Our American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) certified inspectors have complementary training in fall protection, highway safety, railway safety, and confined space safety.  With over 300 bridges tested to date, we have a proven track record for high quality nondestructive testing services and safety.