 
Dr. ir. Eva Lantsoght
9/27/2018
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 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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 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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 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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 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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 ACI SP-323 (co-editor)
 Frontiers Built Environment –
Bridge Engineering article
collection (guest associate
editor)
 Book: Load Testing of Bridges
(editor) – Structures and
Infrastructures series (2019)
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 At opening of new
bridge
 Reassure traveling
public
 Engineer stands under
bridge
 Proof load testing
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 Since 1950s: better
computational
methods
 Diagnostic load testing:
SLS
 Now: evaluation of
existing structures
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 Proof load testing of existing
bridges
 Mostly RC slab bridges
 Shear-critical
 Safety philosophy
 Safe execution?
 Theoretical work
 Pilot proof load tests
 Collapse tests
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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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Diagnostic load testing Proof load testing
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Barcza ridge, Poland (Olaszek et
al., 2012)
Delaware (Jones, 2011)

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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 Safety philosophy
 Stop criteria:
o Further loading not permitted
o Failure near
o Irreversible damage near
MSc Thesis W. Vos
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 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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 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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 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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 Practical recommendations for proof load testing
 Flexure + shear
 Stop criteria?
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 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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 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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 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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 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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 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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 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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 (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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Contact:
Eva Lantsoght
elantsoght@usfq.edu.ec // E.O.L.Lantsoght@tudelft.nl
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