Dynamic increment for shear force due to heavy vehicles crossing a highway bridge

Most of the current research on dynamic amplification factors caused by traffic flow on a bridge has focused on bending moment effects. Although bending stresses often govern the requirements of the bridge section, sufficient shear capacity must be provided too. Shear stresses near the support are strongly influenced by damaged expansion joints and/or differential settlements between the bridge deck and the approach road. The latter is taken into account in this theoretical investigation to evaluate the dynamics associated with the shear load effect caused by heavy trucks and how it relates to the length of the bridge span.