Results to date indicate that UIT may be a cost-effective method to extend the life of steel bridges with certain types of fatigue-prone weld details. UIT has been effective in reducing the likelihood of crack initiation for pre-existing fatigue-prone weld details in the bridge tested. The use of weld repairs on cracks in conjunction with UIT shows promise as a means of extending the life of steel bridges with certain types of cracks, particularly those often found beneath stiffeners and diaphragms. To date, there have been no failures in treated repair welds. However, additional tonnage is required to determine the long-term effectiveness of repair welds followed by UIT application.
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