Material Technologies (Matech) has announced that its patented Electrochemical Fatigue Sensor crack detection system is now available for commercial application. EFS uses active sensors, electrochemical/mechanical interaction and a crack detection algorithm to find growing cracks in steel.

Matech president Robert Bernstein said that EFS is designed to improve the accuracy and reliability of bridge inspections, helping owners determine whether a structure needs immediate rehabilitation and replacement.

The company said that laboratory tests demonstrate that the EFS technique is capable of detecting growing cracks as small as 10 microns that could lead to fatigue failures. On actual bridges under typical bridge loads, fatigue cracks of 15 microns are detectable. Early studies with state transportation departments indicate that the cost of EFS-based crack inspection is approximately the same cost as traditional inspection.