ABSTRACT
The assessment of bridge structures as part of ongoing bridge management
programmes often requires a knowledge of the in situ stresses in the deck and
superstructure. These consist of the serviceability stresses due to dead loads
and, in some cases, prestressing loads. They are also important if damage to
the structure has been identified which might indicate an overtsress such as
the shearing of a bolt or tearing of a weld in metal structures or cracking in
a concrete structure. It is also necessary to measure the in situ stress levels
prior to a supplementary load test (Chapter 5).
