Heaviest load ever tested on bridge reveals structural strength and reliability.
The researchers conducted a load test on a prestressed concrete cantilever box girder bridge to check its structural strength. They applied a record-breaking load of 375 tonnes to one span of the bridge to ensure its safety. This test was the heaviest ever done for a bridge acceptance test worldwide. The researchers used a simple method to measure the bridge's deflections and pier rotations caused by the load. They also accounted for temperature effects in their measurements.