SIMPLIFIED BRIDGE LOAD RATING METHODOLOGY USING THE NATIONAL BRIDGE INVENTORY FILE. FINAL REPORT

The purpose of this research was to develop a computerized system to determine the adequacy of a bridge or group of bridges to carry specified overload vehicles. The system utilizes two levels of analysis. The Level 1 analysis is the basic rating system for the Arizona Department of Transportation. This analysis computes the overload capacity with a limited amount of data. A Level 2 evaluation, which conducts a more detailed evaluation, uses an enhanced National Bridge Inventory File (NBIF) database, Standard Plans, or a more detailed analysis similar to Brass. A Special Level 2 analysis was also developed to analyze continuous slab bridges by utilizing data from standard slab plans. Detailed case studies were conducted on twenty-five typical Arizona bridges to verify the methodology used in the Level 1 procedure and to correlate the bridge plans with data in the NBIF. The Level 1 procedure gives ratings which are within 10% of the Level 2 procedure for bridges which satisfy the level one assumptions. Similarly, the Special Level 2 analysis for reinforced concrete continuous bridges gives ratings within 10% of the Level 2 analysis. The NBIF compared well with general bridge plans and is applicable to Level 1 analysis for "typical bridges". The research results are reported in three documents: (1) Final Report; (2) Volume I: Users Manual; and (3) Volume II: Program Listing.

• Corporate Authors:

  Imbsen & Associates, Incorporated

  3213 Ramos Circle
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95827

  Arizona Department of Transportation

  206 South 17th Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ  United States  85007

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Imbsen, R A
  • Schomber, R A
• Publication Date: 1987-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 74 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Case studies; Highway capacity; Inventory; Oversize loads; Ratings
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge capacity; Overloads
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: National bridge inventory file
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Freight Transportation; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00489623
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-AZ88-207
• Contract Numbers: PL-1(31) Item 207
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1989 12:00AM