Title:
Live Load on Concrete Bridge Decks
Author(s):
Sylwia Stawska, Jacek Chmielewski, Andrzej S. Nowak
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
352
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
116-134
Keywords:
bridge, decks, extrapolation, live load, statistical parameters, weigh-in-motion
DOI:
10.14359/51734860
Date:
5/31/2022
Abstract:
To ensure the safety of bridge decks under vehicular traffic, there is a need for calibration of live load factors that envelope transverse traffic-induced load spectra. The study objective is to develop statistical parameters of live load for bridge deck design. Development of live load model required WIM data processing, transverse live load effects calculations, extrapolations analysis, distribution fitting, and computation of statistical parameters: bias factor and coefficient of variation. Maximum expected values of live load depend on the considered time period and traffic volume. The procedure is demonstrated on California example for various bridge configurations, traffic volumes, and return periods. The calculated statistical parameters include bias factor, which is the ratio of mean-to-nominal, and the coefficient of variation, which is the ratio of standard deviation and the mean. Computed bias factors vary between 1.18-1.35, and the coefficient of variation is 11-12%. The results can serve as a basis for verification of the live load factors for concrete decks in a reliability-based calibration. To ensure the safety of bridge decks under vehicular traffic, there is a need for calibration of live load factors that envelope transverse traffic-induced load spectra.