Bridge Load Tests in Poland Today and Tomorrow – The Standard and the New Ways in Measuring and Research to Ensure Transport Safety

Abstract The standard assumption, some results and final conclusions of authors’ research on bridge testing are presented in the paper. The results concern more than two thousands bridge superstructures that have been already tested on site. The stiffness of the bridges as well as their behavior under load tests are described. The following values: superstructure displacement, strain and subsidence of supports have been analyzed by the static load tests. Moreover, the identification of dynamic amplification factor, natural frequency, mode shapes and damping have been analyzed by dynamic bridge testing. The paper focusses on the dynamic method of control the suspension system forces. Based on registration and analysis of free vibration of a suspender, the authors present quick, non-destructive and reliable test as the contemporary method to improve safety of arch and suspension bridge superstructures.