In this paper the results of load testing of several new road bridges constructed in Bosnia and
Herzegovina are presented. Load testing of new road bridges with spans larger than 15m, prior to
setting them into operation, is obligatory according to regulations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Load testing, according to regulations, consists of static and dynamic tests, and is performed
according to instructions given in the regulations.
The test results then have to be compared with the results obtained by the theoretical design
model, which is also given in this paper

Rahimić, Đani

Epoka University

22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.Load Testing Results of new Road BridgesIn Bosnia and HerzegovinaĐani Rahimić 11Civil Engineering Faculty,“Džemal Bijedić” University, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaABSTRACTIn this paper the results of load testing of several new road bridges constructed in Bosnia andHerzegovina are presented. Load testing of new road bridges with spans larger than 15m, prior tosetting them into operation, is obligatory according to regulations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Load testing, according to regulations, consists of static and dynamic tests, and is performedaccording to instructions given in the regulations.The test results then have to be compared with the results obtained by the theoretical designmodel, which is also given in this paper.INTRODUCTIONAs mentioned above, all road bridges with spans larger than 15m, need to be tested aftercompletion in order to check their behaviour by comparing tests results with the results obtainedby the design model for the same test load.The results of tests conducted on six new bridges constructed on motorway, corridor Vc, inBosnia and Herzegovina, are given in this paper.The purpose of this overview is to compare the obtained test results from the different bridges,designed by different designers and constructed by the different contractors, in order toinvestigate the quality of new bridges that are now being built in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Also, some problems regarding bridge testing are stated in this paper.The bridge is considered to be suitable for use if following demands are fulfilled:22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.- measured deflections are less than calculated ones- permanent deflections are less than 15-25% of the maximum deflection, depending onthe bridge type- dynamic amplification factor is in the range predicted in the design- natural period of the bridge is in the range of the theoretical valueIn order to obtain above results, both static and dynamic tests needs to be performed on thebridge, using test load with efficiency between 50% and 100% with respect to the design loadmultiplied with the dynamic coefficientAll results given in this paper are obtained in 2012 and 2013 by the Civil Engineering andMechanical Faculty of “Dzemal Bijedic” University from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina [2],[3].TESTING PROCEDUREThe procedure for testing of bridges with test load is given in Yugoslavian standard from 1984[1], which is still active in Bosnia and Herzegovina.This standard also gives information about the type of test load and the rules for analysis of theresults, both for road and railroad bridges.In general, for all new bridges, standard prescribes normal, short-term static and dynamic testload, which is applied on completely finished bridge structure, according to the prepared testprogram. Test program gives information about the location and the value of the test load, aswell as the locations for measuring and calculation of expected deflections and deformations.For road bridges test load normally consists out of two to four trucks loaded according to thepreliminary calculations and the efficiency demands given in the standard. Prior to the test everyaxle of the vehicles is weighted and the distances between the axles are measured.As mentioned above testing is divided into static and dynamic tests, in which the followingmeasurements are conducted:- Measurements of deflections in all spans before, during and after the test load in orderto obtain maximum and accumulated deflection of the structure for the static test load.- Measurements of deflection and natural period of the bridge for dynamic test load inthe shortest span.Dynamic test load is produced by driving one truck over an 5cm obstacle placed in the22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.center of the shortest span which produces an impact on the structure and the dynamic deflection.The truck continues to go across the bridge creating a vibration of the structure from which thenatural period of the structure is determined after the truck left the bridge.Measured dynamic deflection is divided with the static deflection obtained from the same truckto calculate the dynamic amplification factor.All measured values are then compared with the calculated ones using the same test load and thestructural properties of the bridge.BRIDGEs descriptionGeneral information about the tested bridges is given in Table 1.Table 3 Tested bridges informationBridge Type Spans (m) Width (m)1 Prestressed 20+2x25+3x22.5+2x27+20 12,162 Prestressed 20+25+25+20 12,403 Prestressed 20+25+25+20 12,404 Prestressed 20+25+25+20 9,905 Reinforcedconcrete16+20+20+16 9,206 Composite 25+4x30+25 9,35Spans of all bridges are slabs except for composite bridge, were I beam girders were used.Bridges 2 and 3 are identical twin bridges on motorway, while others are crossing overmotorway.TEST RESULTSIn order to obtain test results for listed bridges, different test load was applied, as given in Table2.22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.Table 2 Test loadBridge No. ofAxlesNo. oftrucksTruckweight (kN)Efficiency(%)1 4 4 370 652 4 4 330 703 4 4 330 704 4 2 490 725 4 2 490 906 3 4 260 52The same test load was applied for bridges 2 and 3, as well for bridges 4 and 5, because thesebridges were tested at the same time. Looking at the efficiency of the test load it is clear that it isalmost impossible to achieve test load equal to the design load, because of the limitation of theaxle load in regular trucks, as well as the distances between the axles.Measurements for the static test load was conducted using a high precision geodetic levelingmethod with 0.1mm accuracy, and for the dynamic test, measurements were conducted using aaccelerometers and displacement sensor both connected to Spider 8 amplifier device. Also straingauges were used in some cases, although it is not obligatory according to standard.Maximum measured and calculated deflections due to static load are shown in Table 3 for eachbridge.Table 3 Maximum deflectionsBridgeMeasureddeflection(mm)Calculatedvalue(mm)Permamentdeflection(mm)Ratio betweenpermanent andmaximum value1 5,87 6,72 0,95 16,18%2 4,90 5,02 0,40 8,16%3 5,00 5,02 0,90 18,00%4 2,90 3,73 0,50 17,24%22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.5 4,10 4,30 0,50 12,19%6 10,00 11,19 1,00 10,00%Based on the results given in Table 3, it is clear that the behavior of all bridges is the same likethe behavior predicted in the design, as well as that the value of accumulated deflection is lessthan allowed, which corresponds to the demands given in the standards.Also, it is important to say that all bridges have retain their initial stiffness during load testswhich is proven by taking the design stiffness into account when calculating test load deflectionswhich shows good correlation with the measured values.However, it is also important to mention that the determination of the permanent deflection afterthe completion of the test is very difficult for small spans due to low values of the deflectionsand measurement error of the geodetic devices. Therefore it is very useful to make controlmeasurements with different devices whenever it is possible, but especially on bridges withsmaller spans.One of the main purposes of dynamic testing is to determine dynamic amplification factor,which is calculated as a ratio between static and dynamic deflection. The values of static anddynamic deflection in time are given in following Figures 1 to 6. In this Figures deflection ismeasured in mm, and time is displayed in seconds.Figure 1 Static and dynamic deflection for bridge 122nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.Figure 2 Static and dynamic deflection for bridge 2Figure 3 Static and dynamic deflection for bridge 322nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.Figure 4 Static and dynamic deflection for bridge 4Figure 5 Static and dynamic deflection for bridge 5Figure 6 Static and dynamic deflection for bridge 6Each of these deflections was measured in the shortest span of the bridge, since the highestdynamic amplification factor is obtained there, according to the regulations.Dynamic amplification factor is obtained in the design using the following equation:22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.lkd  008,04,1 (1)Where l is the span of the bridge.Based on the measurement results showed in Figures 1 to 6 it is possible to calculate the dynamicamplification factor and to compare it with the value from the design, Table 4.Table 4 Dynamic amplification factorsBridgeStaticdeflection(mm)Dynamicdeflection(mm)DynamicamplificationfactorDesign valuekd1 0,701 0,86 1,227 1,242 0,90 1,05 1,16 1,243 0,95 1,15 1,21 1,244 1,07 1,16 1,08 1,245 1,30 1,43 1,10 1,276 2,036 2,32 1,139 1,16As seen in Table 4, dynamic amplification factors calculated from measured deflections are inthe range of amplification factors predicted in the design process.Beside the dynamic amplification factor, during dynamic test, the natural period of the bridge isalso determined, using accelerometer placed also in the shortest span of the bridge.Accelerometer is used to measure the bridge acceleration, during, and after the dynamic impactof the truck, which can be shown in the diagram, Figure 7.22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.Figure 7 Typical diagram of bridge accelerationNatural period of the bridge or fundamental vibration frequency of the bridge isdetermined by displaying the measured acceleration in frequency domain, Figure 8.Figure 8 Typical diagram of vibration frequenciesThese measured frequencies are then compared with the values obtained from the designmodel, Table 5.Table 5 Fundamental vibration frequenciesBridge Fundamentalvibrationf1 (Hz) f2 (Hz) f3 (Hz)22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.frequencies1measured 1,4 1,7 2,1calculated 0,85 1,11 1,22measured 1,36 2,07 2,52calculated 1,27 1,52 2,03measured 1,30 2,49 3,21calculated 1,27 1,52 2,04measured 1,7 2,0 2,3calculated 1,621 1,92 3,655measured 2,4 3,4 3,8calculated 2,09 4,25 4,626measured 2,6 2,9 3,4calculated 2,81 2,97 3,23Based on the results given in Table 5 it can be concluded that the measured values are in therange of the theoretical values obtained in the design model. However, theoretical valuescalculated using the design model, are depended on the soil stiffness which is very difficultto determine accurately. Therefore, it is important not to misjudge the measured values ofthe fundamental vibration frequencies due to potential errors in the values of the soilstiffness.CONCLUSIONResults for all bridges presented in this paper show that the bridges are suitable for use, sincethey meet the requirements given by the standards. However in same cases when the results arevery near the limit values, special consideration is necessary not to misjudge the results due tomeasurement errors or errors in the design model.22nd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, BCCCE, 23-25 May 2013, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania.This is mostly the case for bridges with smaller spans (between 15 and 20m) were the values ofdeflections are smaller and therefore the measurement errors, when given as percentages,become higher. In this cases some of the demands given in standards might not be fulfilled,which means that the bridge needs to be tested again or repaired if it failed the test again.In order to avoid these mistakes it is recommended, if possible, to make double measurementsusing more precise and reliable measuring devices such as displacement sensors mounted belowthe bridge using scaffolding. In most cases this is only possible in the end spans, which are alsothe shortest ones in most cases, so it is sufficient to make control measurements only in thosespans.Measurements of strains makes sense only in steel parts of the bridge, since the exact value ofmodulus of elasticity for concrete is often unknown and therefore it is impossible to accuratelycalculate the stress from strains measurements.REFERENCES[84] JUS U.M1.046 (1984) Testing of bridges with test load. Federal standardization institution,Regulation No. 50-14233/1, Yugoslav official paper No. 60/84[85] Rahimić, Đ. (2012) Reports on bridge testing on Sarajevo bypass. Civil EngineeringFaculty, “Dzemal Bijedic” University, Mostar[86] Rahimić, Đ. (2013) Reports on bridge testing on motorway, corridor Vc, section Bijača -Zvirići. Civil Engineering Faculty, “Dzemal Bijedic” University, Mostar

Load Testing Results of new Road Bridges In Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Load Testing Results of new Road Bridges In Bosnia and Herzegovina

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