TECHNICAL PAPERS
Oct 1, 1991

North American and British Long‐Span Bridge Loads

Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 117, Issue 10

Abstract

For many years, major bridges have been built without the designers having any specific basis for the traffic loads used in the design. Traffic loads are compared between codes in the United Kingdom, which has the longest span in the world, and in the United States, which has the second and third longest. Recent studies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have resulted in major changes to recommended long‐span bridge‐design loads. These, too, are compared. Multiple‐lane loading and impact are also discussed. The current British loading is similar to, but heavier than, the loading recommended by the ASCE Committee on Loads and Forces on Bridges.

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References

1.
AASHTO Standard specifications for highway bridges. (1983). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C.
2.
BS 153, specifications for steel highway bridges, part 3A loads. (1954). British Standards Institution, London, England.
3.
BS 5400, steel, concrete and composite bridges, part 2, specification for loads. (1978). British Standards Institution, London, England.
4.
Buckland, P. G., ed. (1981). “Recommended design loads for bridges.” J. Struct. Div., ASCE.
5.
Buckland, P. G., McBryde, J. P., Navin, F. P. D., and Zidek, J. V. (1978). “Traffic loading of long span bridges.” Trans. Res. Rec., 665 (2).
6.
Buckland, P. G., Navin, F. P. R., Zidek, J. V., and McBryde, J. P. (1980). “Proposed vehicle loading of long span bridge.” J. Struct. Div., ASCE.
7.
Buckland, P. G., and Sexsmith, R. G. (1981). “A comparison of design loads for highway bridges.” Can. J. Civ. Eng., 8 (2).
8.
CAN3‐S6‐M78, Design of highway bridges, (1978). Canadian Standards Association, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada.
9.
CAN/CSA‐S6‐88, Design of highway bridges. (1988). Canadian Standards Association, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada.
10.
Departmental standard BD 37/88, loads for highway bridges. (1989). Department of Transport Highways and Traffic, South Ruislip, Middlesex, England.
11.
Flint and Neill. (1986). Interim design standard: Long span bridge loading. Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Department of Transportation, Crowthorne, Berks, England.
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Harman, D. J., and Davenport, A. G. (1979). “A statistical approach to traffic loading on highway bridges.” Can. J. Civ. Eng., 6 (4).
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Ontario highway bridge design code. (1983). Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Structural Engineering
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 117Issue 10October 1991
Pages: 2972 - 2987

History

Published online: Oct 1, 1991
Published in print: Oct 1991

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Authors

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Peter G. Buckland, Member, ASCE
Prin., Buckland and Taylor Ltd., 1591 Bowser Avenue, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7P 2Y4

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