They do this to measure load vs deflection and check agreement with models, not to get anywhere close to yield. It's a low end proof check, drive trucks on, measure deflections, drive trucks off, confirm reset of deflection;

The margin on actual load to a permanent set is likely 2-3x what those trucks are carrying. And the margin to actual failure from just this quasi static loading and no external environmental loads (wind)... even more so.

Unless there was some catastrophic fuck up in construction process or calculations, this is completely safe.

Calvin's dad was right!

https://www.reddit.com/r/calvinandhobbes/comments/u3dqja/how...

They look so relaxed that a few of them have their feet kicked up on the dash.

I hope the engineering team were riding in the trucks.

To punish them for building a cool bridge or?

If you see it as a punishment to be the first to cross the bridge that you designed, then you should probably be increasing the factor of safety in your calculations and the number of site checks you conduct.

It's only a punishment if the bridge falls down. But if someone is making truck drivers drive heavy trucks out onto a bridge to "test" if it will stand up under the load it only seems fair to me that the engineers who designed and built it take the risk alongside them.

I'm positive those trucks are self driven. There is no need for draconian measures you hoped for. Spaceship engineers aren't forced to go into space.

If crossing the bridge you built is as dangerous as going into space, you've clearly done something wrong.

Well, it's a good way to check their confidence level of their work

Key stone?