Evaluation of the working capacity of components in extradosed bridge by load testing

Abstract

Reinforced and prestressed concrete bridges often require structural rehabilitation during their lifespan to address damage and maintain their integrity. Engineers and managers typically rely on completion documents, site investigations, and specialist analysis to evaluate the bearing capacity of extradosed concrete bridges under safe and reliable conditions. However, to see the behaviour of the structure more clearly, a measurement method involves conducting a structural load test, which is usually performed with them. The bridge load testing procedure with static and dynamic measurements is commonly used to evaluate bridge structures. Engineers can gain valuable insights into the bridge's performance under various loading conditions by measuring deformations, deflections, natural frequencies, and other relevant parameters. Additionally, actual reserves in the load-carrying capacity of the new bridge structure can be determined after test evaluation. Thus, this study presented a moving load test method for a rapid bridge capacity evaluation; however, load testing hardly reflects the actual bearing capacity or the remaining life of the bridge. This paper evaluates the reliability of this method in estimating the bearing capacity of an extradosed bridge in Vietnam.