BRIDGE ANALYSIS STUDY FOR THE MILITARY HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTER SYSTEM, PHASE II AND PHASE III. A PASSABILITY EVALUATION OF THE MILITARY'S HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTER SYSTEM OVER THE NATION'S HIGHWAY BRIDGES

Even though rail is the preferred movement mode for the Army's M1 Series Battle Tank, it is important to understand the feasibility of using public highways to move this tank on the Army's M1070/M1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter System (HETS) in the event of a national emergency. Currently, because of the HETS excessive axle and gross vehicle weight when loaded, it is rarely permitted to move by the States due to its assumed negative impact on bridges. Accordingly, through a consultant, a study was initiated to determine by analytic evaluations and field testing the actual effect that the loaded HETS has on bridges. The consultants were also requested to develop a computer program that would compute the HETS bridge rating using data elements in the National Bridge Inventory. This study was completed by New Mexico State University (NMSU) as a follow-up to an earlier cursory study (Phase I). This study concluded that the actual HETS-induced bridge stresses were less than might be anticipated using current evaluation techniques. This was primarily because the HETS trailer has four dual tires per axle with a width of 12 ft in contrast to the normal design vehicle with two dual tires per axle and a width of 8 ft. The unique HETS design spreads the load over more bridge structural members. This study (Phases II and III), through detailed analysis and field testing, confirmed that HETS-induced bridge stresses were less than normal design procedures would predict. The findings of this study also concluded that: the loaded HETS should be able to cross the majority of the U.S. "main route" bridges without causing damage; the NMSU computer program provides a good indicator of HETS "passability"; and impact due to speed is inconsequential.

• Corporate Authors:

  New Mexico State University, Las Cruces

  Department of Civil Engineering, P.O. Box 30001
  Las Cruces, NM  United States  88003-8001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Department of Defense

  Military Traffic Management Command Transportation Engineering Agency
  Newport News, VA  United States  23606-4537
• Authors:
  • Minor, John
  • Woodward, Clinton
• Publication Date: 2001-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Computer programs; Field tests; Gross vehicle weight; Highway bridges; Load limits; Military vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge rating; Heavy Equipment Transporter System
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00806348
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Report
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 7 2001 12:00AM