This book provides a detailed summary of bridge loads from an international perspective. The authors cover all aspects from the methodology behind the calculation of bridge loads and the complex interactions between loads and bridges, to economic considerations. A wide range of bridge loads are covered, including highway vehicle loads, pedestrian l

This book provides a detailed summary of bridge loads from an international perspective. The authors cover all aspects from the methodology behind the calculation of bridge loads and the complex interactions between loads and bridges, to economic considerations. A wide range of bridge loads are covered, including highway vehicle loads, pedestrian l

There is considerable uncertainty about what level of traffic loading bridges should be designed for. Codes specify notional load models, generally to represent extreme levels of normal traffic, but these are often crude and have inconsistent levels of safety for different load effects. Over the past few decades, increasing quantities of reliable truck weight data has become available and it is now possible to calculate appropriate levels of bridge traffic loading, both for specific bridges and for a road network. Bridge Traffic Loading brings together experts from all over the world to deliver not just the state-of-the-art of vertical loading, but also to provide recommendations of best-practice for all the major challenges in the field – short-span, single and multi-lane bridge loading, dynamic allowance and long-span bridges. It reviews issues that continue to be debated, such as which statistical distribution is most appropriate, whether free-flowing or congested traffic governs and dealing with future traffic growth. Specialist consultants and bridge owners should find this invaluable, as will regulators.

- Bridge type, behaviour and appearance David Bennett, David Bennett Associates · History of bridge development · Bridge form · Behaviour - Loads and load distribution Mike Ryall, University of Surrey · Brief history of loading specifications · Current code specification · Load distribution concepts · Influence lines - Analysis Professor R Narayanan, Consulting Engineer · Simple beam analysis · Distribution co-efficients · Grillage method · Finite elements · Box girder analysis: steel and concrete · Dynamics - Design of reinforced concrete bridges Dr Paul Jackson, Gifford and Partners · Right slab · Skew slab · Beam and slab · Box - Design of prestressed concrete bridges Nigel Hewson, Hyder Consulting · Pretensioned beams · Beam and slab · Pseduo slab · Post tensioned concrete beams · Box girders - Design of steel bridges Gerry Parke and John Harding, University of Surrey · Plate girders · Box girders · Orthotropic plates · Trusses - Design of composite bridges David Collings, Robert Benaim and Associates · Steel beam and concrete · Steel box and concrete · Timber and concrete - Design of arch bridges Professor Clive Melbourne, University of Salford · Analysis · Masonry · Concrete · Steel · Timber - Seismic analysis of design Professor Elnashai, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine · Modes of failure in previous earthquakes · Conceptual design issues · Brief review of seismic design codes - Cable stayed bridges - Daniel Farquhar, Mott Macdonald · Analysis · Design · Construction - Suspension bridges Vardaman Jones and John Howells, High Point Rendel · Analysis · Design · Construction - Moving bridges Charles Birnstiel, Consulting engineer · History · Types · Special problems - Substructures Peter Lindsell, Peter Lindsell and Associates · Abutments · Piers - Other structural elements Robert Broome et al, WS Atkins · Parapets · Bearings · Expansion joints - Protection Mike Mulheren, University of Surrey · Drainage · Waterproofing · Protective coating/systems for concrete · Painting system for steel · Weathering steel · Scour protection · Impact protection - Management systems and strategies Perrie Vassie, Transport Research Laboratory · Inspection · Assessment · Testing · Rate of deterioration · Optimal maintenance programme · Prioritisation · Whole life costing · Risk analysis - Inspection, monitoring, and assessment Charles Abdunur, Laboratoire Central Des Ponts et Chaussées · Main causes of deterioration · Investigation methods · Structural evaluation tests · Stages of structural assessment · Preparing for recalculation - Repair and Strengthening John Darby, Consulting Engineer · Repair of concrete structures · Metal structures · Masonry structures · Replacement of structures

Bridge authorities in the UK are currently facing a large programme of bridge assessment and strengthening. This has been caused, in part, by the necessity of ensuring that the European Union deadline for allowing 40-tonne lorries on to UK roads can be met. Many bridges have failed theoretical assessments and some bridge owners, frustrated by the fact that many failed structures are apparently in good condition and showing no signs of distress, have resorted to load testing their bridges to try to provide additional information. A National Steering Committee for the Load Testing of Bridges was set up to examine the role of bridge load testing as a tool for assisting the assessment process. The National Steering Committee consists of representatives from all major bridge owners including the Highways Agency, the County Surveyors Society, the London Bridges Engineering Group, Railtrack and the British Waterways Board. It also includes representatives from consulting engineers and universities and has the support of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The overall objective of the National Steering Committee was to produce authoritative guidance on load-testing techniques; which could be used by the practising engineer to determine capacities of existing bridges/structures that are safe, prudent and minimize levels of restriction to the transport infrastructure. In June 1995 the committee appointed Rendel Palmer & Tritton in association with Peter Lindsell & Associates and supported by Professors Bakht, Clark and Harding as consultants to carry out a preliminary study of all the available information on bridge load testing. They were to recommend a detailed methodology which would form the basis of a brief to consultants appointed to produce authoritative guidelines for the load testing of bridges. Their report concluded that there is a place for load testing in the evaluation of bridges and other structures and that load testing is a valid tool for bridge managers. They also concluded that there was enough information and experience available to permit safe and effective guidelines to be written. As a result of the preliminary study the National Steering Committee decided to divide the second stage work and restrict the scope of this document to guidelines for supplementary load testing. Work on proof and proving load testing is being carried out by others under the auspices of the Highways Agency. The guidelines contained in this document were not drafted in a prescriptive form, but seek to provide advice on the appropriate use of supplementary load testing as an aid to assessment by calculation. The guidelines have been written to enable engineers to determine: when it is appropriate to consider the use of supplementary load testing; the level of risk, both public safety and economic, associated with load testing; how to plan and carry out a load test including the level of expertise necessary, the appropriate loading methods and the type and quantity of instrumentation required. In addition, the document is intended to be a source of information on load testing, measuring equipment and specialist techniques that engineers can use for reference.

First Published in 1999: The Bridge Engineering Handbook is a unique, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art reference work and resource book covering the major areas of bridge engineering with the theme "bridge to the 21st century." This third volume includes sections covering construction and maintenance, special topics, and worldwide practice.