More on testing

In Chapter 4 a testing routine for tiebacks was recommended. This chapter considers in more detail the physical significance of these routine tests. The tests are usually reported as load/deformation curves, and in this chapter we will discuss the fact that different methods of making tiebacks have different characteristic load/deformation curves. Testing errors, particularly those caused by errors in reading the loads or deformations, also affect the reported results. A more detailed discussion of creep then follows. These tests are used to assure the reliability of every tieback incorporated in the project. Section 8.7 is devoted to preconstruction testing of tiebacks, which usually is performed at the direction of the project engineer. Section 8.8 ends with a discussion of long-term tests to verify tieback performance.