6/20/2012

EXPERIMENTAL WORKS
or
Testing

Suprapto Siswosukarto
Civil Engineering and Environmental Department
Gadjah Mada University

Aspects to consider
• Careful planning
• Aims of testing should be clearly established
(exp.: defining all parameter involved)
• Select available testing method
• Extent and location of the tests
• The way results of test are handled

Establishing hypothesis might help to define parameters

involved, testing set up, procedures, collect relevant
references and handle the test results.

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Test method
• Researchers should aware:
– Range of test method available
– Limitation of each method
– Accuracies
– Available equipments
– Available budget
– Available time

• Simple test method will subject to complex

influences due to simplifications

Purposes of Testing
Depending the resulting test data to be put.
• Research testing
– The development general information applicable to a
wide range of similar circumstances (development
standard materials, structural elements, etc.)
– The resulting test data being empirised or
generalized to reflect conservative design procedures.

• Performance testing
– To provide answers for very specific non-general
problems.
– To develop confidence in the ability of a structure to
perform, or to understand and define the mechanism
of a specific structural behavior.

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Reasons of research testing

• Development new material characteristics
• Development new design and method of
construction
• Understanding the differences of design and
application
• Proof of appropriateness of code on specific
aspect
• Relevancies of code towards the improvement
on science and technologies.
• Etc.

Reasons of performance testing

• Deteriorated structures
• Substandard structures
• Unique design
• Change in occupancy
• Proof of performance

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Deteriorated structures
• Excessive structural distress can cause a
reduction in primary load path causing
secondary load path to participate more
effectively in the safe transfer of forces.
• Deterioration usually complicates the ability to
analyze the capacity of a structure with
certainty.
• Aspects influence structural deterioration:
environmental aspects, excessive load, ages,
cracks, etc.

Deteriorated concrete bridge structure

due to steel corrosion

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Oil platform built in harsh and aggressive

environment will experience structure deterioration
over time that impaired structural stability.

Steel deterioration due to corrosion from

aggressive environment

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Sub--Standard structures
Sub
• To predict accurate behavior of structures in
circumstances where analysis is uncertain due to
a questionable, or unknown, quality of
construction or design.
• This condition is usually due to either
construction, design, or materials, and is
frequently referred to as workmanship test.
• Example: test on probable structural deficiencies
in a composite steel framing system that assume
appropriate behavior of steel studs on composite
actions.

Structural cracks appeared in the newly

constructed precast-bridge

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The appearance of surface cracks that form on relatively thin

layer of cement paste does not affect structural integrity

We have to be able to see its distinctions...!

Unique design
• Certain novels design where untested
deviation from standard accepted
practice are employed can result in the
need to test the concept.
• This requirement is frequently imposed by
the responsible authorities, designers,
owners, manufacturers.

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Unique design from

non-standard structure

Do you think they will be a long-term durability problems?

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Change in occupancy
• An existing structure to be remodeled or
upgraded where the new occupancy requires an
increase in loading above the original intended.
• The construction involves older empirical design
concept, or drawings describing the structures
are missing, hence analysis become impossible.
• Need for evaluation of safe capacity of structure
for the intended future loads.

Change in occupancy need of testing of its intended new load

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Proof of performance
• Needed where significant repairs are
necessary, due to a deficiency in
construction, design, or some natural
cause.
• The adequacy of the completed repair is
demonstrated with the use of testing.
• It is still not common in Indonesia, this
might be due the need of a great deal sum
of money...!! .... May be...

Testing Categories
• Static
– The most common and widely applied in practice
– Wide variety of test methods are available
– Strength, strain and deformation

• Dynamic
– To test the dynamic performance of structure or its elements
– To study the dynamic response of a structure due to the imposed of
cyclic loading.
– Natural frequency and amplitude

• Fatigue
– To study the behavior of structure or its elements under sustained load
and/or repeated load.
– Creep and fracture characteristic

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Dynamic test on building to define the acceleration and

deflection of concrete slab imposed by dynamic movement

Setting up of accelerator
Control area from which
and LVDT
measurements were
monitored

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Oil platform suffers cyclic load generated by sea waves

Sea waves repeatedly crashed over the steel columns

created cyclic load acting on structure

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Konstruksi
Bambu

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EXISTING

RETROFITED

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MIKISHI LAB – HYOGO

PREFECTURE JAPAN

Note ....
• Performance testing of structure usually
need the involvement of multy
disciplinary professional engineers of
various expertises.
• Performance testing sometime involve
laboratory approaches for solutions, hence
need of laboratory works.
• We will deal more with research testing
that involve laboratory works.

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