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Edition:Final Report May 1998 to August 1999
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Abstract:Approximately 1,180 South Dakota bridges on the state and Interstate system were analyzed for approximately 200 non-standard truck configurations. A “standard” truck is defined as a vehicle that, if it is a single unit, contains no more than three axles, or, if a semi-trailer unit, contains no more than five axles. Typical standard trucks include the following configurations H, HS, 3S2, T3 or 3-3. All other truck configurations are considered non-standard. The allowable weight of each truck configuration using the current Bridge Gross Weight formula was compared with the analysis. It was found that the current Bridge Gross Weight formula allowed long trucks with a large number of axles to overload a significant number of bridges. Therefore, a modified Bridge Gross Weight formula is proposed. This modified formula has several advantages over the current formula. The number of bridges overloaded is more constant with the number of axles and the overall length of the vehicle. A procedure was developed that would allow an agency to select the constant, C4, based on agency policy for the amount and percent of overloads allowed. The modified Bridge Gross Weight formula reduces the allowable gross weight for non-standard trucks with a large number of axles and high overall length so the capacity of South Dakota’s bridges is exceeded to a lesser extent than would otherwise be allowed. It increases the gross weight of vehicles with low number of axles and shorter overall length. In addition, the degree of overloading bridges is more uniform and less severe with the modified Bridge Gross Weight formula than with the original one. A procedure was developed to allow the agency to estimate the additional bridge life expected using the modified Bridge Gross Weight formula.
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