Highway Bridge Rating by Nondestructive Proof-Load Testing for Consistent Safety

摘要

Because of the limitations of the analytical approach to rating bridges in thecurrent AASHTO specifications, proof-load testing is often a desirable alternative rating method. The study reported here examined the feasibility of a proof-load testing program for New York, addressing both economic and technical aspects. Such a program with clearly defined application areas is found to be cost-effective. Two technical objectives are identified, based on review of current practice elsewhere: (1) prescription of the target proof load, and (2) development of a detailed procedure manual to guide typical proof-load tests. These tasks were completed and the results (including a draft text of the manual) are presented in this report.