National Highways has launched a new “Moonshot” call, inviting innovators to address longstanding challenges in bridge inspection, with a specific focus on improving the detection and analysis of internal cracking in reinforced concrete structures.
The initiative, part of its Structures Moonshot programme, is aimed at advancing non-destructive testing (NDT) capabilities to better understand crack formation and propagation in half joint bridges—identified as a critical vulnerability in ageing infrastructure.
At the centre of the programme is a full-scale bridge section sourced from the decommissioned A14 Huntingdon Railway Viaduct. This structure will serve as a real-world testing platform, enabling researchers to apply and validate advanced inspection techniques prior to its dismantling, which will reveal the “ground truth” for comparison.
The initiative seeks to address key limitations in existing inspection approaches. While surface inspections and conventional NDT methods provide partial insights, challenges remain in accurately identifying and mapping internal cracks, determining their depth and orientation, and achieving consistent, repeatable results across full bridge sections.
National Highways is encouraging participation from a wide range of disciplines, including materials science, robotics, geophysics, sensing technologies, and data analytics. The programme is open to solutions capable of detecting cracks both near the surface and deep within structures, including from difficult access points such as the soffit, with a clear emphasis on applicability in real-world reinforced concrete environments.
Selected participants may be invited to undertake funded trials, gaining access to the bridge sample and collaborating with industry experts. The programme provides a rare opportunity to directly compare inspection data with physical evidence, supporting robust validation of emerging NDT technologies.
Through this initiative, National Highways aims to identify promising techniques that could significantly enhance the assessment of half joint bridges across its network, contributing to improved reliability and safety in infrastructure inspection practices.
