2. Introduction to event
Current activities related to load
testing
Overview of load testing
research TU Delft
Recommendations
o Preparation of proof load tests
o Execution of proof load tests
Summary and conclusions
Slab shear experiments, TU Delft
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5. Presentations from Chancellor Grant 2016 at IALCCE 2018
o Kevin Benitez: Development of a stop criterion for load tests based
on the critical shear displacement theory
o Eva Lantsoght: Proposed stop criteria for proof load testing of
concrete bridges and verification
o Jose Eduardo Paredes: Nonlinear finite element analysis of beam
experiments for stop criteria
o Andres Rodriguez: Verification of flexural stop criteria for proof load
tests on concrete bridges based on beam experiments
Presentation describing current practice in Ecuador at
IALCCE 2018
o Bridge diagnostic load testing in Ecuador – case studies J. Bonifaz,
S. Zaruma, A. Robalino & T.A. Sánchez
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6. General introduction on load testing
Presentation from Chancellor Grant 2016
o Kevin Benitez: Development of a stop criterion for load tests based
on the critical shear displacement theory
Presentations describing current practice in Ecuador
o Santiago Camino: Proof loading of the new administration building
of Yachay University
o Andres Robalino: Bridge diagnostic load testing in Ecuador – case
studies
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7. New load testing standards under development
o Germany
o USA – e-circular load testing bridges (committee chair)
o USA – ACI 437 for buildings (committee member)
o USA – ACI 342 for bridges (broader scope, chapter lead for chapter
load testing)
o Netherlands: further research
o fib – bulletin existing structures (corresponding author) + towards
new Model Code
Conferences with MS and SS: ACI 2017, IABMAS 2018;
IALCCE 2016 + 2018, BEI 2019, fib 2017…
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13. Bridges from 60s and 70s
The Hague in 1959
Increased live loads
common heavy and long truck (600 kN)
End of service life + larger loads
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16. Diagnostic load testing
Calibration of FEM
Strain gages over girder
height
Low load levels (SLS)
Rating with updated FEM
Or: prior to opening
(presentation Andres R.)
Proof load testing
Directly demonstrate that
bridge fulfils criteria
Higher load levels
Larger involved risk
Follow measurements
Stop criteria
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17. Safety philosophy
Stop criteria:
o Further loading not permitted
o Failure near
o Irreversible damage near
MSc Thesis W. Vos
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18. Apply predetermined load
to bridge
o Information lacking
o Damage due to ASR, …
Proof load testing
o Immediate approval of
bridge
o Recalculate updated β
o RC slab bridges
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19. DAfStB Richtlinie
Stop criteria
o Concrete strain
o Steel strain
o Crack width and residual
crack width (new & existing
cracks)
o Residual deflection
For flexure
Structures with large existing
cracking?
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20. North America:
o Buildings: ACI 437.2M-13
o Bridges: Manual of Bridge
Rating Through Load Testing
(1998)
ACI 437.2M-13 stop criteria:
o Residual deflection
o Permanency ratio
o Deviation from Linearity Index
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22. Proof load tests:
o Heidijk 2007
o Medemblik 2009
o Vlijmen-Oost 2013
o Halvemaans Bridge 2014
o Ruytenschildt Bridge 2014
o Viaduct in the Zijlweg 2015
o Viaduct De Beek 2015
o Vecht Bridge 2016 Load test to failure of Ruytenschildt Bridge, summer 2014
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23. Field inspection
o Dimensions
o Same lay-out as plans?
o Material properties
o Damage maps
o Site restrictions
Prior assessment
o Live load: EN 1991-2:2003
o RBK load levels
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24. Critical position
o Bending moment: largest
moment
o Shear: 2.5d from Support
Required proof load
o Same shear or bending
moment as with load
combination
o Value → considered safety
level
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25. Cyclic loading scheme
o Acoustic emission measurements
o Check linearity and reproducibility of measurements
o Check residual deformations
Stop criteria
o Evaluated during tests
o Research in progress
o Criteria for shear failure need to be developed
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27. Beams from Ruytenschildt Bridge
o Cyclic loading protocol
o Tests: Failure in shear and flexure
Beams cast in lab
o plain reinforcement
o cyclic loading
o shear and flexural failure
Beams RSB01 after failure (Yang, 2015)
Yang, Y. (2015). "Experimental Studies on the Structural Behaviours of Beams from Ruytenschildt Bridge,"
Stevin Report 25.5-15-09, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 76 pp.
Beams RSB02B after failure (Yang, 2015)
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28. Load testing: international interest
History: prior to opening
Now: existing bridges
Best practices
o Identify goals
o Preparation
o Inspection
o Monitoring
o Cyclic loading
Viaduct Zijlweg, tested in summer 2015
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29. (Former) colleagues at TU Delft: Albert Bosman, Sebastiaan
Ensink, Dick Hordijk, Rutger Koekkoek, Marco Roosen, Cor
van der Veen, Patrick van Hemert, Yuguang Yang
Students at TU Delft: Arthur Ennoudi, Rik Tersteeg, Werner
Vos
Rijkswaterstaat: Ane de Boer, Sonja Fennis, Marius
Naaktgeboren, Herbert van der Ham
Contractors: de Boer en de Groot, Witteveen+Bos (Frank
Linthorst, Danny den Boef)
Load execution: Mammoet: Otto Illing, Chris Huissen
Funding: Noord Holland, Friesland, Rijkswaterstaat,
Chancellor Grants USFQ
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