Investigation of the Dynamic Amplification Caused by Traffic Loading on Medium Span Bridges

The common approach used to quantify bridge critical load cases is to generalise the effect of dynamics. Site specific dynamic characteristics and the transverse distribution of dynamic amplification across the bridge section lacks consideration. In this paper, both issues are discussed using simulations of the passage of heavy traffic over an experimentally validated beam-and-slab bridge model. Stress variations across the bridge have been calculated for a number of scenarios involving different combinations of heavy trucks with varying velocities and directions. Results show a significant difference in transverse distribution of load effects and how certain longitudinal beams are more prone to dynamic excitation.