Employing strain gages to verify bridge stability under actual support conditions

The flexibility that reinforced concrete allows in the design of small bridges often leads to complex structures which must be modelled to determine optimum dimensions.

The flexibility that reinforced concrete allows in the design of small bridges often leads to complex structures which must be modelled to determine optimum dimensions. A modelling analysis is performed in which the simulation of actual bearing deformation under load is carried out with strain-gage-based test bearings. The model is unique in that it allows variation of bearing stiffness and simultaneous measurement of load and deformation.