DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ANDHRA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

VISAKHAPATNAM-530003

Visakhapatnam,
Dt. 11-04-2022
ISO 9001-2015 Certified

Client : East Coast Railway, Waltair Division.

Project : Construction of Major Bridge No.25. (1x18.30m). (Composite Girder) in between Stations of
Dumuriput to Damanjodi on KR Line doubling of Waltair Division, East Coast Railway
Agency: M/s ARSS-SCPL (JV), Visakhapatnam
***

The load test data of the Major Bridge Bridge No. 25 (Composite Girder) (1x18.3m) in between Stations of
Dumuriput to Damanjodi on KR Line doubling of Waltair Division, East Coast Railway submitted by the
agency is analyzed as per IRC special Publication 51 to assess the load capacity of the bridge and to check the
deflection under the test load. It is reported by the testing agency that the test is conducted during 17th to 21st
January 2022, in presence of Sri S. Satyanarayana and D. Satyanarayana, representatives of East Coast
Railway, Waltair Division. It is reported that no cracks are present in the test span before conducting the test.
The span of the bridge is 18.3m and the test load is 387.119 t. The load is applied on the carriage way of the
bridge with the help of a kentledge platform loaded with pre-weighted units (RCC Sleepers each of 300kg).
The loads are placed eccentrically on the carriage way of the bridge. Loading and unloading of the bridge in
done in increments of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Each load increment is maintained for a period of 5 hours or
until the deflections are stabilized, whichever is earlier. The deflections are measured using 10 dial gauges of
least count 0.01 mm clamped to the posts firmly embedded into the ground. Dial gauges are spaced at 3m.

Prior to load test, Dial gauge readings are recorded for 24 hours to measure deflection of bridge slab under
varying temperatures so as to use the data in applying corrections to deflections measured during loading and
unloading. The corrected dial gauges readings after applying temperature corrections are used in determination
of actual deflections under the applied loads. The deflections of Bridge slab during loading and unloading
stages are presented in Table 1 and Table 2.
 Table 1.Final settlement (in mm) of the bridge during loading stage
(after applying temperature correction)

Percentage of RD1 RD2 RD3 RD4 RD5 LD1 LD2W LD3 LD4 LD5
SLD WKR 1783 N SLD WHH HH SE WFG SSE.DG
test load (%)
186 369 74 4882 218 905 632 4638 379 001
100 1.88 8.93 13.81 9.48 2.76 2.42 9.02 12.33 8.69 2.40
75 0.92 6.54 9.69 6.65 2.11 1.84 6.78 9.73 6.82 1.68
50 0.76 3.17 6.21 3.62 1.11 1.16 2.96 6.76 3.69 1.08
25 0.32 1.09 2.08 1.28 0.26 0.27 1.13 2.36 1.35 0.25
0 0.07 0.16 0.25 0.15 0.14 0.08 0.12 0.20 0.19 0.16

Table 2. Final settlement (in mm) of the bridge during unloading

(after applying temperature correction)

Percentage of RD1 RD2 RD3 RD4 RD5 LD1 LD2W LD3 LD4 LD5
SLD WKR 1783 N SLD WHH HH SE WFG SSE.DG
test load (%)
186 369 74 4882 218 905 632 4638 379 001
0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
25 0.23 0.19 0.33 0.34 0.28 0.20 0.29 0.37 0.36 0.23
50 0.87 5.67 7.05 5.74 1.03 1.71 5.33 6.50 5.50 1.16
75 1.33 6.73 11.43 6.81 2.09 2.05 7.46 10.56 6.66 1.83
100 1.88 8.93 13.81 9.48 2.76 2.42 9.02 12.33 8.69 2.40

Based on the deflections of bridge span at 100% loading and unloading at different test stations, the elastic
deflections and hence, the percentages of elastic recovery of deflections are determined. The details of
percentage recovery of deflection at the test locations are presented in Table 3.
 Table 3. Percentage Recovery of Deflection at test Locations / stations

Test Station RD1 RD2 RD3 RD4 RD5 LD1 LD2W LD3 LD4 LD5
SLD wkr 1783 N SLD WHH HH SE WFG SSE.DG
186 369 74 4882 218 905 632 4638 379 001
Initial Value on Dial
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Gauge (R1)
Final value of loading
1.88 8.93 13.81 9.48 2.76 2.42 9.02 12.33 8.69 2.40
stage of test load (R3)
Final value of unloading
0.07 0.16 0.25 0.15 0.14 0.08 0.12 0.20 0.19 0.16
stage of test load (R5)
Total Deflection
1.88 8.93 13.81 9.48 2.76 2.42 9.02 12.33 8.69 2.40
(R3-R1)
Total recovery after
removal of test load 1.81 8.77 13.56 9.33 2.62 2.34 8.90 12.13 8.50 2.24
(R3-R5)
Percentage of recovery of
deflection after removal
of test load 96.2 98.2 98.1 98.4 94.9 96.7 98.6 98.3 97.8 93.3
(R3−R5)
( )*100
(R3−R1)

As per IS 456-2000, the maximum permissible deflection of RCC members in flexure is L/350 or 20mm,
whichever is smaller.

The maximum permissible deflection for the tested bridge span of 18.3m = 18300/350 = 52mm >20mm.
Hence, maximum permissible settlement shall be taken as 20mm.

The observed maximum deflection of test span is 13.81mm and is less than 20mm. Further, the
percentage recovery of deflection is in the range of 93.3% to 98.6%, which is more than the minimum
percentage recovery of 75% for composite bridges specified in IRC SP 51, the bridge is safe from
cracking. It is also reported that no cracks developed in the test span of the bridge after conduction of the
load test. Hence, the bridge is safe for supporting the intended loading.

Recommendation: The major Bridge No. 25 (Composite Girder) (1x18.3m) structural capacity is
adequate to support the intended loads based on load test response as it indicated elastic response with
high recovery ratios (>93%) under the applied loads and experienced maximum settlement of 13.81mm
only as against permissible settlement of 20mm.

(C.N.V. Satyanarayana Reddy)

Consultant