Stop Criteria for Flexure for Proof Load Testing of Reinforced Concrete Structures

Existing bridges with large uncertainties can be assessed with a proof load test. In a proof load test, a load representative of the factored live load is applied to the bridge at the critical position. If the bridge can carry this load without distress, the proof load test shows experimentally that the bridge fulfills the requirements of the...

Full-size field test of prestressed concrete T-beam bridge

In the Netherlands, approximately 150 prestressed T-beam bridges with cast-in-between decks and mainly built in the sixties are still in service. Upon assessment, the prestressed beams often do not fulfil the design codes requirements, whereas upon inspection, they show no signs of distress. For the assessment, additional load transfer...

Towards standardisation of proof load testing: pilot test on viaduct Zijlweg

Proof load tests of bridges can be very useful for structures with a lack of information, or for structures of which the effect of material degradation is difficult to assess. Contrary to diagnostic load testing, proof load testing is not well-defined in current standards in terms of required load and analysis of measurements. The risk...

Beam Experiments on Acceptance Criteria for Bridge Load Tests

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...

Required proof load magnitude for probabilistic field assessment of viaduct De Beek

Proof load testing is part of the engineering practice, and can be particularly useful for the rating of existing bridges. This paper addresses how reliability-based concepts can be used in combination with proof load testing, and discusses how this approach differs from the current practice for proof load testing. Whereas the calculation...

State-of-the-art on load testing of concrete bridges

Load testing of bridges is a practice that is as old as their construction. In the past, load testing gave the traveling public a feeling that a newly opened bridge is safe. Nowadays, the bridge stock in many countries is aging, and load testing is used for the assessment of existing bridges. This paper aims at giving an overview of the current...

Development of recommendations for proof load testing of reinforced concrete slab bridges

As the bridge stock in the Netherlands and Europe is ageing, various methods to analyze existing bridges are being studied. Proof load testing of bridges is an option to experimentally demonstrate that a given bridge can carry the prescribed live loads. Based on extensive research on proof load testing of reinforced concrete slab bridges carried...

Proof load testing of the viaduct De Beek

Proof load testing can be a suitable method to show that a bridge can carry the required loads from the code without distress. This paper addresses the preparation, execution, and analysis of a proof load test on a four-span reinforced concrete solid slab bridge, viaduct de Beek. The bridge has one lane in each direction, but was restricted to a...

Pilot Proof-Load Test on Viaduct De Beek: Case Study

For existing bridges, proof-load testing can be a suitable assessment method. This paper addresses the evaluation of a posted reinforced concrete slab bridge over a highway through proof-load testing, detailing the preparation, execution, and analysis of the test. As the target proof-load and the required measurements for proof-load testing...

Probabilistic prediction of the failure mode of the Ruytenschildt Bridge

In the Netherlands, the shear capacity of a large number of existing reinforced concrete solid slab bridges is subject to discussion, as initial assessments indicated that their capacity was insufficient. In certain cases, the deterministic value of the moment capacity is larger than the deterministic value of the shear capacity. However, when...

The shear capacity of reinforced concrete members with plain bars

Assessment of the capacity of the existing infrastructures has become more relevant in the recent years. With regard to the concrete bridges, the shear capacity of a large amount of existing concrete slab bridges reinforced with plain (smooth) bars are of concern. However, it was argued that the shear formula that is currently adapted in the...

Acoustic emission measurement in the proof loading of an existing bridge affected by ASR

Proof loading has been considered as an effective approach in the assessment of existing concrete bridges. This paper presents a study of acoustic emission measurement in a proof loading of an ASR affected concrete slab bridge (Zijlweg bridge). Because of the uncertainty on the mechanical properties of the ASR affected concrete. The attenuation...

Investigation of v min based on experimental research

This paper presents an experimental research program aiming at assessing the current code provisions of vmin. A large test series was carried out, by varying the reinforcement ratio and loading conditions, the minimum average shear stress that can cause shear failure of a specimen with different depth, concrete strength is determined. The three...

Acoustic emission study on 50 years old reinforced concrete beams under bending and shear tests

This paper presents the Acoustic Emission (AE) measurement of several tests carried out on reinforced concrete beams sawn from a 50 years old concrete bridge – Ruytenschildt bridge. The purpose of these tests is to provide additional information to the already executed in-situ load testing on the bridge. In addition to the AE measurement...

Collapse test and moment capacity of the Ruytenschildt reinforced concrete slab bridge

A large number of existing reinforced concrete solid slab bridges in the Netherlands are found to be insufficient for shear upon assessment. However, research has shown additional sources of capacity in slab bridges, increasing their total capacity and possibly changing their failure mode. Previous testing was limited to half-scale slab...

Ruytenschildt Bridge: Field and laboratory testing

A large number of existing reinforced concrete solid slab bridges in the Netherlands are found to be insufficient for shear upon assessment. However, research has shown additional sources of capacity in slab bridges, increasing their total capacity. Previous testing was limited to half-scale slab specimens cast in the laboratory. To study the...