Missouri S&T Scholar's Mine Research RepositoryMissouri S&T Research
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Load Testing of RC Structures - A Case of Study
Load testing may be used as a tool in deciding on either the continued use of an existing structure or the need for its repair. Typically the load test does not provide an indication of the ultimate strength of the structure; rather, the goal is to show a safe margin of satisfactory performance beyond full building code-required service loads. This research program is meant to develop a set of guidelines to assist engineers to perform a load test. The first phase of this work consisted of the definition of a procedure, divided into several steps, that has to be followed in order to determine: type of load test, type of applied load (distributed or concentrated), magnitude and eventual position of the proof load, and position of the sensors. This preparatory work is necessary in order to correctly design the load test and, consequently, in order to decide the proper kind of instrumentation to use at the site. The second phase consisted of performing a load test, observing the suggestions defined in phase one, of a one way slab located at the University Centre West, a building that was scheduled for demolition, at the University of Missouri-Rolla campus.