Programming Module for Making Report in Bridge Loading Test

Abstract

Bridge load testing is generally used to evaluate the bridge's actual load capacity when the bridge has just been finished, repaired or retrofitted. Before carrying out the test, it is necessary to calculate the stress and displacement of observation points on specific sections of the bridge. During this process, the accuracy of the calculation and the convenience of the report output are of great importance. However, the existing software, which requires experts to deal with the huge task of preparing data and picking up results, is not so easy to handle. Moreover, sometimes even experienced experts cannot easily determine the exact positions of critical cross-sections in the bridge model. These problems may lead to an inaccurate result and, thus, more troublesome work. Considering the fact that new Load Testing Specifications for Highway Bridges (LTSHB) is about to be published in China, the authors have developed the software Bridge Loading Test analysis system (BLT) in order to provide experts with a better understanding of the new specifications and enable them to conduct bridge load testing more conveniently. This paper introduces the key module of BLT compiled with VB.net, which is easy and convenient to use.