EVALUATION OF HIGHWAY BRIDGES

THE RESULTS ARE PRESENTED OF A STUDY OF METHODS FOR EVALUATING THE LOAD-CARRYING CAPACITY OF EXISTING HIGHWAY BRIDGES. IN ESSENCE, THE PROBLEM IS TO FIND A RATIONAL METHOD FOR RATING BRIDGES SUCH THAT THE MAXIMUM AVAILABLE STRENGTH CAN BE SAFELY UTILIZED. METHODS FOR RATING STRUCTURES ARE FUNDAMENTALY DIFFERENT FROM DESIGN METHODS IN THAT DESIGN MUST PROVIDE FOR MANY CONTINGENCIES, FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF USE, WHEREAS A RATING CAN BE MADE UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AND REVIEWED PERIODICALLY. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY ARE PESENTED IN THREE PARTS: (A) AN INTRODUCTORY DISCUSSION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED, (B) A REVIEW OF PRACTICES IN RATING BRIDGES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND (C) A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH ARE USED AS A BASIS FOR A PROPOSED SPECIFICATION. THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THE USE OF DIFFERENT FACTORS OF SAFETY FOR DEAD AND LIVE LOADINGS, AND THE USE OF ACTUAL VEHICLE TYPES AS THE BASIS FOR POSTINGS. THESE TWO POINTS PERMIT RATINGS TO BE MADE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PRESERVE A MORE OR LESS TRULY UNIFORM MARGIN OF SAFETY IN ALL CASES. /AUTHOR/

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrbproceedings/36/36-014.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 36, pp 146-174, 11 FIG, 1 TAB, APP. 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.
• Authors:
  • Wright, D T
• Publication Date: 1957

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board, Washington, D.C., January 7-11, 1957
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Proceedings
  • Volume: 36
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearing tests; Bridges; Highway bridges; Highway capacity; Ratings; Regulation; Size and weight regulations; Vehicle weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge capacity
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Law;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00209472
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 22 1972 12:00AM