LOAD SPECTRA FOR GIRDER BRIDGES

Measurement results of static truck loads and the corresponding response of the girders under normal traffic on six girder bridges located on Interstate highways, state highways, U.S. highways, and surface streets are presented. Truck data are available from highway weigh station logs and citation files and also through the use of weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology. Stationary scales are biased and do not accurately reflect the distribution of truck axle weights and gross vehicle weight caused by avoidance of scales by illegally loaded trucks. Citation data are helpful in understanding the nature and extent of overloaded trucks but cannot present the entire spectra of normal traffic. WIM measurements of trucks can be taken discretely during normal traffic, resulting in unbiased data for a statistically accurate sample of truck traffic traveling a particular highway. The results show that truck loads are strongly site specific. There is a negative correlation between law enforcement effort and occurrence of overloaded trucks. Overloaded trucks are observed on roads not controlled by truck weigh stations. A comparison of the weigh station data, truck citation data, and WIM measurements obtained in this study confirms this observation. Additionally, load spectra for each girder are strongly component specific as demonstrated by this study. This information is useful to focus inspection efforts.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/conf/1995/cp7/cp7v1-034.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309061091
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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• Authors:
  • LAMAN, J A
• Conference:
  • Fourth International Bridge Engineering Conference
  • Location: San Francisco, California
  • Date: 1995-8-28 to 1995-8-30
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 314-323
• Monograph Title: FOURTH INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ENGINEERING CONFERENCE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AUGUST 28-30, 1995. CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS, 2 VOLUMES
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Conference Proceedings
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 1073-1652

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Conferences; Girder bridges; Inspection; Live loads; Oversize loads; Static loads; Weigh in motion
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge inspection; Overloads
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00711700
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309061091
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 5 1995 12:00AM