Modified Best-Selection Method for Bridge Live-Load Model Development
Publication: ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering
Volume 8, Issue 3
Abstract
Due to the expanding availability of high-fidelity weigh-in-motion (WIM) data in recent years, various local agencies have modified bridge design and rating procedures to best reflect state-specific traffic loads. However, accurate procedures for load model revision are often accompanied by high computational cost and implementation complexity. To address this concern, a reliability-based approach is proposed for vehicular live-load model development that involves selecting an actual vehicle configuration from the WIM database to serve as the basis for the load model. The approach first determined the required live-load factor for each potential vehicle configuration such that all considered structures would meet a minimum level of reliability. Next, the set of potential models was screened by imposing a limit on the level of design or rating conservatism allowed for any individual structure. Finally, an optimal load model was selected from the remaining set based on a penalty point approach that accounted for the deviation of results for any single structure as well as the overall deviation across all structures. Relative to an ideal reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) solution, the proposed method requires low computational cost, is straightforward to implement, results in a realistic vehicle configuration for the live-load model, and provides reasonable accuracy. The method was found to be slightly superior to the existing best-selection approach for large databases, but significantly better for small databases.
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Data Availability Statement
Some models, or code to develop the Modified Best-Selection method are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Some or all data, models, or code used during the study were provided by a third party. Direct requests for these materials may be made to the provider as indicated in the Acknowledgements.
Acknowledgments
The weigh-in-motion data used in this study were provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation, whose support is greatly acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering
Volume 8 • Issue 3 • September 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 1, 2022
Accepted: Mar 13, 2022
Published online: May 17, 2022
Published in print: Sep 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Oct 17, 2022
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bridge design
- Business management
- Computing in civil engineering
- Databases
- Design (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Highway transportation
- Information Technology (IT)
- Infrastructure
- Live loads
- Load factors
- Management methods
- Model accuracy
- Models (by type)
- Optimization models
- Practice and Profession
- Ratings
- Static loads
- Statics (mechanics)
- Structural design
- Transportation engineering
- Vehicles
Authors
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