TESTING TO ENHANCE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND APPRAISAL: AN OVERVIEW

The author reviews progress and developments and concludes that testing is a valuable but under-utilised tool for appraisal and design. The over-simplification of codes and analysis methods and the difficulties in applying them to unusual details incorporated in old and deteriorating structures can lead to gross errors in estimates of strength. In many areas, like post-tensioned concrete bridges, satisfactory testing procedures have yet to be developed. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 892007.