ACI SP-323:2018 PDF Download

ACI SP-323:2018 is a standard that focuses on the evaluation of concrete bridge behavior through load testing. The standard recognizes the historical practice of load testing as a means to ensure the safety of newly constructed bridges. However, it emphasizes that load testing is now primarily used for existing structures as either diagnostic or proof tests. Diagnostic load testing is done to verify design assumptions, particularly for atypical bridge materials, designs, or geometries. It can also help improve analysis assumptions for existing bridges such as composite action between girders and deck or the contribution of nonstructural members to stiffness. On the other hand, proof load testing is used to demonstrate a structure's capacity to carry a given load when doubts exist about material degradation or when there is insufficient data for an analytical assessment.

The standard provides a table of contents which includes several papers or chapters written by various authors that explore different aspects of load testing for concrete bridges. The topics covered include the assessment of slab bridges through proof loading in the Netherlands, load testing of highly skewed concrete bridges, rating of concrete road bridges with static proof load tests, bridge load testing and monitoring for super-heavy permit loads, and the rating of prestressed concrete adjacent beam bridges without plans. Other topics include bridge load testing in Germany, diagnostic load testing of concrete bridges, assessment and loading to failure of three Swedish RC bridges, high magnitude loading of concrete bridges, torsional effects on load tests to quantify shear distribution in prestressed concrete girder bridges, diagnostic test for load rating of a prestressed SCC bridge, and extending the life of aged, reinforced concrete arch bridges through load testing and monitoring.