Cover Picture: Steel Construction 2/2016

Two frame structure tests were carried out in the Meyer‐Jens‐Halle laboratory of TU Munich to investigate the load bearing behavior and the rational anchorage length of the external reinforcement in abutments of a frame bridge. The specimen was laid on three supports and the symmetrical couple forces were applied to the ends of the cantilever beams in a horizontal direction. The loading system was placed on a rolling support that was movable in the transverse direction. Based on the force equilibrium principle, the cylinder loads on one side of the cantilever beam, the bearing reaction on the other side produces a symmetrical force, accordingly. Therefore, the symmetrical couple forces at the free end of both cantilever beams are realized by using only one cylinder (see pp. 122–131). (TU Munich)