ABSTRACT
Where member strength cannot be adequately determined from the results of in-situ materials tests, load testing may be necessary. The expense and disruption of this operation may be offset by the psychological benefits of a positive demonstration of structural capacity which may be more convincing to clients than detailed calculations. In most cases where load tests are used, the main purpose will be proof of structural adequacy, and so tests will be concentrated on suspect or critical locations. Static tests are most common but where variable loading dominates, dynamic testing may be necessary. Load testing may be divided into two main categories:
(i) In-situ testing, generally non-destructive (ii) Tests on members removed from a structure, which will generally be
destructive.
