Citation

Slastan J, Melcer J. Proc. Int. Tech. Conf. Enhanced Safety Vehicles 1992; 1992: 146-151.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, In public domain, Publisher National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper describes the load tests carried out on a nine span prestressed concrete highway bridge before it was opened to the public. The objective of the test was to measure the behaviour of the bridge piers and two adjacent spans during traffic loading. A static test was used to measure the behaviour of the bridge piers. Six lorries were used, each weighing about 22 tonnes. The results showed that the structure behaves as a nine span continuous beam supported by eight rotational springs restraints, each formed from a pair of concrete pier walls. Calculations of mid span bridge deflections were made using the reversed model. Dynamic tests were carried out to identify some of the dynamic characteristics of the pier walls, foundations slabs, and adjacent bridge parts, and to verify any interaction between the various components. Two trucks each weighing 22 tonnes were driven side by side over the bridge, and the displacements thus caused were measured. The natural frequencies of the bridge were calculated using a finite element method. Dynamic coefficients were determined from the bridge response induced by simultaneous runs of two vehicles running one behind the other over the 6th bridge midspan. These results were used to produce a more accurate mathematical model of the bridge.