Destructive Load Testing of Transversely Stressed Deck Unit Bridges

As part of the NACOE research project ‘Deck unit bridge deck analysis under live load’, a comprehensive load testing program has been conducted in Queensland to investigate the behaviour of transversely stressed precast prestressed concrete deck unit bridges. The project seeks to address the disparities between theoretical assessments and actual performance of deck unit bridges and provide input for developing consistent guidelines for analysis to ensure that rating and assessment results of existing bridges are accurate. In order to achieve this, responses of in-service bridges and ultimate strength/capacity of deck units need to be determined and/or confirmed through load testing.