ABSTRACT
A b s t r a c t Experience gained i n the use of load t e s t i n g to a s s e s s the i n - s i t u performance of three d i f f e r e n t types of bridge decks i s presented i n t h i s paper. As these t e s t s have been c a r r i e d out on a medium span s t e e l - c o n c r e t e composite system, a number of short span precast concrete composite decks and a long span s t e e l box g i r d e r bridge widely d i f f e r i n g measurement techniques have been u t i l i s e d . The techniques range from the r e l a t i v e l y simple, some 20 years ago, to extremely s o p h i s t i c a t e d methods which take advantage of recent developments i n computer technology. B r i e f d e t a i l s of the monitoring systems are presented along with t y p i c a l t e s t r e s u l t s which have been found to give a valuable i n s i g h t into the behaviour of these s t r u c t u r e s . I t i s concluded that i n - s i t u t e s t i n g w i l l be much more widely used i n the fu ture . Keywords: Bridge Decks, Composite, Concrete, Displacements, I n - s i t u , Loading, Monitoring, S t e e l , S t r a i n s , T e s t i n g .
