Verulam

This paper examines the reasons for, and the practical aspects of, load testing concrete structures, in particular floors and roofs, and the problems that have been encountered when testing in the field. It briefly discusses other types of structure, and comments on the recommended loadings. D.S. Jones and C.W. Oliver

'Only a few of you, my brothers, should be teachers, bearing in mind that those of us who teach can expect a stricter judgement.' Professor A.J. Harris

In the United Kingdom most highway bridges go to tender with a fully detailed design, bill of quantities, and specification. Alternative designs are permitted but, with the limited tender periods and the complications of the independent structural check recommended by the Merrison Committee and required by the Department, these are rarely offered by tenderers. However, some contractors have advocated the adoption of continental contractural methods. Design and build tendering was adopted for the Kessock Bridge only because tender prices-firstly for foundations and secondly for the whole bridge-greatly exceeded the estimates.