Field Load Test on Full‐Scale Reinforced Concrete Frame

Abstract

An ultimate load test is conducted on two main beams of a 28‐year‐old building. The interaction effects of floor slabs with the adjacent structural members are investigated using the finite element method. The test arrangement results in an upward point‐load at midspan for one beam and a downward distributed load around the central one‐third span for the other. At the maximum loading, the first beam under the point‐load fails in a shear mode when the shear force reaches 120% of its ultimate capacity. The second beam under the distributed load does not fail, due to the slab‐beam interaction effect, which distributes some load to the adjacent structural members and consequently reduces the shear force carried by the beam to about 98% of its ultimate capacity. Structural capacities determined experimentally are compared with those calculated based on the in situ material strengths resulting from nondestructive tests. The comparisons show that the ultimate strength of structural members of an existing building can be accurately obtained when the in situ material properties are used.