Truck weight limits for simply supported RC beam bridges considering #br#
correction factors of resistances and static load test levels
Li Songhui Li Can Nie Ruifeng Zhang Xiantang
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Civil Engineering Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Shandong University of
Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
Abstract：To determine the truck weight limits for simply supported RC beam bridges, an analytical method was presented for bridges with consideration of various resistances and static load test levels. Firstly, the live to dead load ratios were taken as the fundamental parameters in establishing the relationship between the lower limits of resistance and proof loads, and the left truncated distribution of resistance was introduced to develop an analytical model for determining truck weight limits for simply supported RC beam bridges. Then the ultimate design equation for RC beams was used as the basis for determining the truck weight limits. For each possible live to dead load ratio adopted by RC beam bridges, the truck weight limit factors were calculated corresponding to various correction factors of resistance and static load test levels for bridges designed with safety class Ⅰ. Finally, the ratios of load effects caused by design vehicles to those caused by typical trucks were analyzed, and truck weight limits of 5-axle truck were determined for bridges designed with safety class Ⅰ. The results show that the correction factor and static load test level have obvious influences on truck weight limits of bridges. For bridges designed with the same live to dead ratio, the allowable truck weight limits for tested bridges increase with the correction factors of resistance and static load test levels. The research results can be referred to for determining the truck weight limits for static load tested highway bridges.
