Structures Inspection Flashcards
7 cards from real CTQP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Structures Inspection flashcards as text
In CTQP structures inspection, a 'critical finding' requires the inspector to:
Answer: Notify the responsible authority immediately and restrict or close the bridge if warranted
Critical findings pose immediate safety risk and require prompt notification and possible load restriction or bridge closure, not deferred action.
Which AASHTO element condition state best describes a concrete column with moderate cracking, minor spalling, and no exposed rebar?
Answer: Condition State 2
Condition State 2 represents minor to moderate defects that do not yet expose or jeopardize primary reinforcement.
When inspecting a timber pile bent, which defect is considered most structurally significant?
Answer: Section loss at the mud line due to decay
Decay at the mud line (the waterline/soil interface) causes the greatest section loss at the most critically loaded point, directly reducing load capacity.
An inspector measures a bridge deck with a chain drag and hears a hollow sound over a 4 ft × 6 ft area. The most probable cause is:
Answer: Delamination between the concrete and the rebar plane
A hollow sound from chain drag indicates delamination, a horizontal separation plane typically forming just above the top rebar mat due to rebar corrosion or thermal cycling.
Under FHWA coding, a bridge component rated '4' on the NBI condition scale is described as:
Answer: Poor condition — advanced deterioration of primary structural elements
NBI rating 4 (Poor) indicates advanced deterioration or section loss in primary structural elements but the bridge remains in service with possible load posting.
During inspection of a steel truss bridge, the inspector finds a lacing bar on a built-up compression chord is completely severed. The correct action is to:
Answer: Treat it as a critical finding and notify the bridge owner immediately
A severed lacing bar on a compression member compromises the effective slenderness ratio and is a critical structural defect requiring immediate notification.
Which condition is the primary indicator that a pot bearing has lost its elastomeric fluid (silicone) and requires replacement?
Answer: Fluid extrusion visible around the piston rim seal
Fluid exuding around the piston rim seal indicates seal failure and loss of the confined elastomeric fluid that provides the bearing's rotational capacity.