The content and objective of this doctoral thesis is to present and describe selected approaches and methods applied in experimental activities within the field of civil engineering and structural testing, both in the context of short-term structural tests and the long-term monitoring of structural behavior. The theoretical introduction covers the essence and necessity of experiments in the construction industry, tracing their historical development to their current form. It provides a comprehensive summary of individual test types and their applications, alongside a description of the evolution of measuring devices and systems, including an explanation of their fundamental principles. Furthermore, the theoretical section details the principles of experimentation concerning design, preparation, execution, evaluation, and the presentation of results. Significant attention is also given to domestic and international standards and regulations governing load tests in the civil engineering.
The subsequent practical part of the thesis is dedicated to specific case studies demonstrating the use of a wide spectrum of experiments in engineering practice. The experimental section includes several specific cases involving in-situ testing aswell as laboratory tests. Specifically, it addresses a comprehensive assessment process of a historical arch bridge, which involved the design and preparation of a structural load test, followed by a detailed non-linear numerical analysis intended to simulate the performed experiment.
Another significant chapter concerning existing bridge structures investigates the feasibility of using heavy-load vehicle passages over road bridges. Based on a series of measurements conducted over a longer period, this chapter explores the possibilities of determining the current condition of several bridges. This procedure illustrates how such measurements can serve as an efficient and economically viable option for bridge monitoring and the potential detection of changes in structural behavior. Additionally, this chapter compares the results of standard static load tests with data obtained during the passage of an oversized load on the same structure.
Regarding laboratory experiments, the following chapter presents the application of a relatively new measurement method based on Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and its contribution to experimental practice in civil engineering. The benefits, usability, accuracy, and limiting factors of this method are evaluated through a series of simple load tests.
The final chapter describes the use of a non-destructive method for the preliminary assessment of elements intended for subsequent destructive load testing. Specifically, this involved applying simple experimental modal analysis to reinforced concrete beams and comparing the results with those obtained from conventional load tests conducted until the ultimate load capacity was reached.
The set of experiments presented in this thesis aims to illustrate the diversity of activities associated with the experimental verification of structures and components, highlighting potential combinations of various methods to obtain a greater volume of valuable data on structural behavior. The thesis also explores the expanded use of new methods and their combinations, which can lead to a more efficient assessment process for structures and structural elements, with an emphasis on the quality and scope of the results.