Validation of proof loading methods
With a basis in collapse testing and stop criteria crack evaluation
Jacob Wittrup Schmidt (Aalborg University)
Christian Overgaard Overgaard Christensen (Aalborg University)
Kenneth Dahl Schiøttz Damsgaard (Aalborg University)
Eva O.L. Lantsoght (Universidad San Francisco de Quito, TU Delft - Concrete Structures)
Yuguang Yang (TU Delft - Concrete Structures)
Per Goltermann (Technical University of Denmark (DTU))
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
Safe proof loading of concrete bridges requires reliable stop criteria. Such criteria must ensure sufficient margin to the ultimate resistance and may be based on observations from advanced testing. In particular, the identification of thresholds related to pre-stressed and non-shearreinforced slab structures is currently ongoing with an addition of specific focus on potentially brittle failure modes of such structures. This paper presents representative examples of identifying stop criteria and target load thresholds using a combination of laboratory- and in-situ testing. Responses from recently tested structures and structural elements will be presented to enable discussion and perspectivation. The presented test results show measurable warning with sufficient margin from crack initiation to stop criterion. It was additionally seen that the target load often may be the governing threshold when proof load testing.
Files
File under embargo until 01-03-2026