WEIGH-IN-MOTION APPLIED TO BRIDGE EVALUATION. FINAL REPORT

The Weigh-In-Motion technology has been extended to the evaluation and rating of existing bridges. Software and hardware in the Ohio DOT bridge WIM system were modified for continuous operation to obtain truck axle and gross weight, and headways in two lanes plus bridge response data. Five sites in N. Ohio were studied including four State and one County bridge. The selected sites included a bridge with a posting limit and bridges where permits had been restricted or unusually high permits were allowed. The sites were all steel stringer bridges with only one bridge being of composite construction. The field results indicated a considerable number of overweight trucks. Bridge response, however, showed lower stresses than predicted by conventional methods due to the presence of additional composite action, higher section modulus, and smaller girder distributions and impact values than allowed by code. Three bridge sites were instrumented by Case personnel and two by ODOT. The bridge evaluations performed by project personnel making use of the field measurements for girder distribution and impact showed much higher rating values than predicted by conventional rating (e.g., BARS) methods. The WIM system was used to more effectively rate bridges by providing more realistic data for the rating process. Reliability methods were also presented which showed that safety levels for the sites studies were high for the truck traffic now being carried. Only strength capacity was studied, however, and due to the increased number of permits being issued further evaluations based on fatigue life should be performed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Case Western Reserve University

  Department of Civil Engineering, 10900 Euclid Avenue
  Cleveland, OH  United States  44106-7201

  Ohio Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 889
  Columbus, OH  United States  43215

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Moses, F
  • Ghoan, M
  • Gobieski, J
• Publication Date: 1985-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 163 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Bearing capacity; Bridges; Highway bridges; Load tests; Stresses; Trucks; Weigh in motion
• Old TRIS Terms: Truck effects (Bridges)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457037
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/OH-85/012
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1987 12:00AM