CAIT anticipates completion of an innovative, full scale load testing laboratory for evaluation of new and advanced materials and devices. This instrument will allow, for the first time, the scientific study of deterioration processes on full-scale bridges. While the merits of the equipment are well documented, until recently there has been little discussion pertaining to the development of experimental protocols, instrumentation and specimen design. With the dawn of accelerated structural testing within the horizon, it is imperative for the development of these key elements be initiated and completed. The objectives of this research is threefold:

1. develop experimental protocols for conducting accelerated structural testing in the new laboratory,

2. design an initial instrumentation plan to validate the laboratory’s performance metrics, and

3. establish baseline acceleration time factors.