Verification of Texas Superheavy Load Criteria for Bridges

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Project title: Evaluation of superheavy load criteria for bridges
• Creators:
  Bourland, Mark C. ; Chang, Byungik ; Jao, Mien
• Corporate Creators:
  Lamar University
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Bridges Bridges--Live Loads--Texas Girders Live Loads Loads
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/TX-12/0-6438-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• Edition:
  Technical report; Sept. 2010¿Aug. 2011.
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Abstract:
  This report evaluates TxDOT criteria for the superheavy loads that trigger bridge analyses to determine whether the criteria adequately protects Texas bridges. Researchers used solid modeling calibrated with a bridge test of a 3-span continuous steel girder unit of SH 159. The bridge testing measured girder end rotations with tilt loggers and load position using a sub-foot accuracy GPS. Solid modeling was done with ANSYS 12. The calibrated model was used to conduct a parametric study. Axle distribution factors of 0.28 and 0.45 were experimentally determined for interior and exterior girders respectively. Results of the parametric study showed that the Texas superheavy load criteria are valid for this bridge type. A study of service life extension showed that operational stress level loads applied as little as 5 percent of time to a particular structure will have a significant effect on the lifetime of the structure, and that the number of fatigue load-cycles per truck cannot be assumed to be one. A graphical version of the bridge review trigger (load-length curve with existing allowances and restrictions) might serve TxDOT and heavy-haul carriers better than does the gross vehicle weight triggers. Data collected long term of load frequency and load level from a relevant bridge would help TxDOT determine what effects stress level variations have on the life of Texas bridges.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  Project 0-6438
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0b58f9b1fd18d9cda61d4cbc17f3587b9d76651af6d620b4c0eadc8bf8e0adf48fa9cfe406f21016edcec775ef7aa4eb931b291120aca9ed84d900ef4ed6a39b
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/23855/dot_23855_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 48.35 MB ]