Title:
Beam Experiments on Acceptance Criteria for Bridge Load Tests
Author(s):
Eva O. L. Lantsoght, Yuguang Yang, Cor van der Veen, Ane de Boer, and Dick A. Hordijk
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
114
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
1031-1041
Keywords:
acceptance criteria; beam test; bending; load test; loading protocol; proof loading; reinforced concrete slab; shear; slab bridge
DOI:
10.14359/51689786
Date:
7/1/2017
Abstract:
Loading protocols and acceptance criteria are available in the literature for load tests on buildings. For bridges, proof load tests are interesting when crucial information about the structure is missing, or when the uncertainties about the structural response are large. The acceptance criteria can then be applied to evaluate if further loading is acceptable, or could lead to permanent damage to the structure. To develop loading protocols and acceptance criteria for proof loading of reinforced concrete bridges, beam experiments were analyzed. In these experiments, different loading speeds, constant load level times, numbers of loading cycles, and required number of load levels were evaluated. The result of these experiments is the development of a standard loading protocol for the proof loading of reinforced concrete bridges. Based on these limited test results, recommendations for acceptance criteria are also proposed.