Vehicle Model for Highway Bridge Impact
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 7
Abstract
This paper suggests a simple vehicle model that may be used to estimate impact in highway bridges. In this model each axle load consists of a constant load together with a sinusoidally varying dynamic component with a frequency equal to the natural frequency of the bridge. For maximum impact the dynamic load components must be in phase with respect to time. Maximum bending moments in a simple girder are determined by the span, the static axle loads, the relative magnitude of the dynamic load component, and a bridge factor defined as the number of dynamic load maxima applied by an axle during its passage over the bridge. It is shown that for many bridges, the first natural frequency is simply related to the span and that the bridge factor is about 6. Impact values are predicted for a range of spans with a dynamic load component equal to 10% of the static load. A companion paper uses field studies to review this percentage.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Callum, P. J. (1985). “Damping of a composite girder,” thesis presented to the University of Queensland, at Queensland, Australia, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering Science.
2.
Cantieni, R. (1984). “Dynamic load testing of highway bridges.” Proc., International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering.
3.
Chan, T. H. T. (1988). “Highway bridge impact,” thesis presented to the University of Queensland, at Queensland, Australia, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
4.
Chan, T. H. T., and O'Connor, C. (1990). “Wheel loads from highway bridge strains: Field studies.” J. Struct. Engrg., 116(7), 1751–1771.
5.
Csagoly, P. F., and Dorton, R. A. (1977). The development of the Ontario bridge code. Ontario Ministry of Transp. and Communications, Ontario, Toronto, Canada.
6.
Draft bridge design specification (in limit state format). (1987). National Association of Australian State Road Authorities, Sydney, Australia.
7.
Fleming, J. F., and Romualdi, J. P. (1961). “Dynamic response of highway bridges.” J. Struct. Div., ASCE, 87(7), 31–61.
8.
Fryba, L. (1972). “Vibrations of solids and structures under moving loads. Research Institute of Transport, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
9.
Gabel, B. J. (1982). “Minimum cost design of slab on prestressed concrete girder bridge superstructures,” thesis presented to the University of Queensland, at Queensland, Australia, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering.
10.
Gaunt, J. T., et al., (1977). “Highway bridge vibration studies.” Transp. Res. Rec., 645, 15–20.
11.
Gupta, R. K., and Traill‐Nash, R. W. (1980). “Bridge dynamic loading due to road surface irregularities and braking of vehicle.” Earthquake Eng. Struct. Dyn., 8, 83–96.
12.
Gupta, R. K., and Traill‐Nash, R. W. (1980). “Vehicle braking on highway bridges.” Proc., ASCE, 106(4), 641–648.
13.
Hutchinson, G., and Al‐Hussaini, A. (1986). “Interaction of load speed and mass on the dynamic response of damped beams.” Proc., International Association for Bridges and Structural Engineering.
14.
Hutton, S. G., and Cheung, Y. K. (1979). “Dynamic response of single span bridges.” Earthquake Eng. Struct. Dyn., 7(6), 543–553.
15.
Inglis, C. E. (1934). A mathematical treatise on vibration in railway bridges. The University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
16.
Kunjamboo, K. K. F., and O'Connor, C. (1984). “Truck suspension models.” J. Transp. Engrg., 109(5), 706–720.
17.
Laker, I. B. (1978). “The dynamic response of a single wheel suspension to computer generated road profiles.” Supplementary Report 360, Transport and Road Res. Lab., Crowthorne Berkshire, United Kingdom.
18.
Looney, C. T. G. (1944). “Impact on railway bridges.” Bulletin Series No. 352, Engrg. Experiment Station, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, Ill., 42(19).
19.
Looney, C. T. G. (1958). “High speed computer applied to bridge impact.” J. Struct. Div., ASCE, 84(5), 1–41.
20.
Mulcahy, N. L., Pulmano, V. A., and Traill‐Nash, R. W. (1980). “Effects of vehicle braking on the dynamic loading of bridges.” Report No. R‐191, Civ. Engrg. Studies, School of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of New South Wales, Australia.
21.
O'Connor, C., and Chan, T. H. T. (1988). “Dynamic wheel loads from bridge strains.” J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 114(8), 1703–1723.
22.
O'Connor, C., and Chan, T. H. T. (1988). “Wheel loads from bridge strains: Laboratory studies.” J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 114(8), 1724–1740.
23.
O'Connor, C., and Pritchard, R. W. (1985). “Impact studies on a small composite girder bridge.” Struct. Engrg. J., ASCE, 111(3), 641–653.
24.
Ontario highway bridge design code. (1979). Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Ontario, Canada.
25.
Ontario highway bridge design code, Vol. II. (1979). Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Ontario, Canada.
26.
Page, J. (1974). “A review of dynamic loading caused by vehicle suspensions.” Supplementary Report 82UC, Transport and Road Res. Lab., Crowthorne Berkshire, United Kingdom.
27.
Page, J. (1976). “Dynamic wheel load measurements on motorway bridges.” Report No. 722, Transport and Road Res. Lab., Crowthorne Berkshire, United Kingdom.
28.
Phillips, M. H., and Carr, A. J. (1984). “Impact factors and stress histograms for bridges.” Road Res. Unit Bulletin 73, Bridge Design and Res. Seminar, Road Research Unit, National Road Board, Wellington, New Zealand.
29.
Schilling, C. G. (1982). “Impact factors for fatigue design.” J. Struct. Div., ASCE, 108(9), 2034–2044.
30.
Shepherd, R., and Aves, R. J. (1973). “Impact factors for simple concrete bridges.” Proc., Institution of Civil Engineers, Part 2, 55, 191–210.
31.
Standard specifications for highway bridges. (1977). 12th Ed., Washington, D.C.
32.
Stokes, G. G. (1849). “Discussion of a differential equation relating to the breaking of railway bridges.” Trans., Cambridge Philosophic Society, 8, 707.
33.
Sweatman, P. (1983). “A study of dynamic wheel forces in axle group suspensions of heavy vehicles.” Special Report SR No. 27, Australian Road Res. Board, Melbourne, Australia.
34.
Walker, W. H. (1968). “Model studies of the dynamic response of a multi‐girder highway bridge.” Engrg. Experimental Station Bulletin 495, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, Ill.
35.
Willis, R. (1849). “Appendix, report of the commission appointed to inquire into the application of iron to railway structures, appendix B. Stationary Office, London, United Kingdom.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 116 • Issue 7 • July 1990
Pages: 1772 - 1793
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jul 1, 1990
Published in print: Jul 1990
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.