Testing of structures, members or components of structures is not required when designed in accordance with this standard. Testing may be accepted as an alternative to calculations or may become necessary in special circumstances.
Testing of a structural system, member or component may be required to assist the design in the following cases:
- a) When the calculation methods available are not adequate for the design of a particular structure, member or component, testing shall be undertaken in place of design by calculation or to supplement the design by calculation;
- b) Where rules or methods for design by calculation would lead to uneconomical design, experimental verification may be undertaken to avoid conservative design;
- c) When the design or construction is not entirely in accordance with sections of this standard, experimental verification is recommended;
- d) When confirmation is required on the consistency of production of material, components, members or structures originally designed by calculations or testing; and
- e) When the actual performance of an existing structure capacity is in question, testing shall be used to confirm it.
14.1.1
Testing of structural system, member or component shall be of the following categories:
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a) Proof testing — The application of test loads to a structure, sub-structure, member or connection to ascertain the structural characteristics of only that specific unit.
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b) Prototype testing — Testing of structures, sub-structures, members or connections is done to ascertain the structural characteristics of a class of such structures, sub-structures members or connection, which are nominally identical to the units tested.