Traffic load model for road bridges in the urban road network

Traffic load models like in the Eurocode and other design standards are mostly calibrated using traffic load measurements at heavily loaded highway locations. Therefore application of these models to existing bridges in the urban road network often leads to unnecessary strengthening. Direct measurement data for this road network are currently...

Validation of a crack growth model using observed cracks in a bridge

Fatigue life or crack growth predictions that use information from crack inspections have been applied to offshore structures and, in recent years, also to steel bridges. Apart from inspection data, a probabilistic crack growth model and knowledge of the distributions and correlations of the variables are required for such predictions. The...

Traffic load model based on weigh in motion measurements

The assessment of the structural safety of existing bridges and viaducts becomes increasingly important in many countries. Within the actions applied to the bridges, the traffic load is, in general, the most significant variable action to be considered when the ultimate limit states are under investigation. Over the last years a considerable...

Safety assessment of existing concrete slab bridges for shear capacity

Evaluating and upgrading concrete slab bridges is an important issue. A large part of the existing infrastructure has been built about 50 years ago and the design life has been reached or will be reached in the near future. Also traffic loads have increased significantly over the last 50 years. These structures need to be reassessed in order to...

Safety philosophy for existing structures and partial factors for traffic loads on bridges

Evaluating and upgrading existing structures becomes more and more important. For a large part of the existing infrastructure and buildings the design life has been reached or will be reached in the near future. These structures need to be reassessed in order to find out whether the safety requirements are met. Not only for new structures but...