Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Publication
    Statistical computation for extreme bridge traffic load effects
    (Civil-Comp, 2006-09-12) ;
    The maintenance of highway infrastructure constitutes a major expenditure in many countries. This cost can be reduced significantly by minimizing the repair or replacement of highway bridges. In the assessment of existing bridges, the strength estimate tends to be more accurate than that of traffic loading, due to the more variable nature of loading. Recent advances in the statistical analysis of highway bridge traffic loading have resulted in more accurate forecasts of the actual loading to which a bridge is subject. While these advances require extensive numerical computation, they can significantly improve the accuracy of the calculation. This paper outlines the recent advances and describes the associated computational aspects in detail
      497
  • Publication
    Headway modelling for traffic load assessment of short to medium span bridges
    (Institution of Structural Engineers, 2005-08-16) ;
    Site-specific assessment of the loading to which existing bridges are subject has considerable potential for saving on rehabilitation and replacement costs of the bridge stock. Monte Carlo simulations, with traffic measurements from site, are used to estimate the characteristic values for load effects. In this paper, it is shown that the critical loading events from which the characteristic effects are derived, are strongly dependent on the assumptions used for the headways of successive trucks. A new approach which uses measured headway statistical distributions is developed and is shown to be a reasonable balance between conservative assumptions and less realistic scenarios. The sensitivity of characteristic load effects to conventional headway assumptions is shown to be significant.
      2350
  • Publication
    Determination of bridge lifetime dynamic amplification factor using finite element analysis of critical loading scenarios
    The development of accurate codes for the design of bridges and the evaluation of existing structures requires adequate assessment of heavy traffic loading and also the dynamic interaction that may occur as this traffic traverses the structure. Current approaches generally first calculate characteristic static load effect and then apply an amplification factor to allow for dynamics. This neglects the significantly-reduced probability of both high static loading and high dynamic amplification occurring simultaneously. This paper presents an assessment procedure whereby only critical loading events are considered to allow for an efficient and accurate determination of independent values for characteristic (lifetime-maximum) static and total (including dynamic interaction) load effects. Initially the critical static loading scenarios for a chosen bridge are determined from Monte Carlo simulation using weigh-in-motion data. The development of a database of 3-dimensional finite element bridge and truck models allows for the analysis of these various combinations of vehicular loading patterns. The identified critical loading scenarios are modelled and analysed individually to obtain the critical total load effect. It is then possible to obtain a correlation between critical static load effect and corresponding total load effect and to extrapolate to find a site-specific dynamic amplification factor.
      1945Scopus© Citations 45
  • Publication
    The use of predictive likelihood to estimate the distribution of extreme bridge traffic load effect
    To assess the safety of an existing bridge, the loads to which it may be subject in its lifetime are required. Statistical analysis is used to extrapolate a sample of load effect values from the simulation period to the required design period. Complex statistical methods are often used and the end result is usually a single value of characteristic load effect. Such a deterministic result is at odds with the underlying stochastic nature of the problem. In this paper, predictive likelihood is shown to be a method by which the distribution of the lifetime extreme load effect may be determined. An estimate of the distributions of lifetime maximum load effect facilitates the reliability approach to bridge assessment. Results are presented for some cases of bridge loading, compared to a return period approach and significant differences identified. The implications for the assessment of existing bridges are discussed.
    Scopus© Citations 34  1036
  • Publication
    Assessment dynamic ratio for traffic loading on highway bridges
    The determination of characteristic bridge load effect is a complex problem. Usually, statistical extrapolation of simulated static load effects is used to derive a lifetime characteristic static load effect. However, when a vehicle crosses a bridge, dynamic interaction occurs which often causes a greater total load effect. This total load effect is related to the static load effect through a dynamic amplification factor (DAF). Specifications often recommend a conservative level for DAF, based on bridge length, number of lanes, and type of load effect only. Therefore significant improvements in the accuracy of this calculation are possible if a DAF, specific to the considered bridge, is applied. In this paper, the authors develop a novel method that considers site-specific bridge and traffic load conditions and allows for the reduced probability of both high static loading and high dynamic interaction occurring simultaneously. This approach utilises multivariate extreme value theory, in conjunction with static simulations and finite element vehicle-bridge dynamic interaction models. It is found that the dynamic allowance for the sample bridge and traffic considered, is significantly less than recommended by bridge codes. This finding can have significant implications for the assessment of existing bridge stock.
    Scopus© Citations 29  723
  • Publication
    Critical Loading Events for the Assessment of Medium-Span Bridges
    This paper describes the simulation of free-flowing traffic across bridges to predict the characteristic values for bridge load effects such as bending moment and shear force. The results of these simulations are then used to demonstrate that, in predicting the characteristic extreme load effects to which a bridge may be subjected, it is not sufficient to solely model one- or two-truck presence events. It is shown that loading events involving three or more trucks may need be included in the model for short to medium spans. The critical loading events for a particular load effect are strongly dependent on the span and the shape of the influence line.
      457