Download or read book Evaluating Ultimate Bridge Capacity Through Destructive Testing of Decommissioned Bridges written by Justin Henry Ross and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The objective of the research discussed herein is to provide insight into the plastic behavior of multi-girder bridges by evaluating the load redistributed to other girders when one girder begins to yield. The insight gained from the very limited number of previous destructive tests is now being applied to the planning of the destructive test of Bridge 7R. Using a refined set of testing procedures, this destructive test will provide information on the ultimate capacity and plastic behavior of the bridge system. Through the use of a diagnostic field test of the current structure, coupled with a detailed finite element analysis, accurate predictions regarding the ultimate capacity and distribution effects of the structure have been evaluated. Based on the analyses, protocols for the destructive test have been developed. The testing of the bridge will require over 3 million pounds of load to successfully plastify the entire cross section. This is equivalent to 41 HS-20 design trucks. The test is expected to yield very valuable information about the system behavior of bridges. The information gained will be used to aid in the future design, construction, and rating of our nation's bridge infrastructure.