Developing Efficient State Load Rating Vehicles Using a Heuristic Approach
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 5
Abstract
States may allow vehicles to exceed US federal weight limits off the interstate system, but state-specific load rating vehicles are developed to ensure that bridges can carry such vehicles safely. However, if the load effects of state rating vehicles are not similar to those of the vehicles operating in the state, the load factors required for the safety of some bridges may be too large for others, resulting in unnecessary remediation that may include retrofitting, posting, or even closure. In this study, a quantifiable measure of load rating efficiency is used to analyze the load effects of rating and operating vehicles on a wide range of bridges. Using this measure of efficiency, a novel heuristic approach is used to identify nearly optimal rating loads that envelope the load effects of state operating vehicles, potentially reducing the need for remedial action. To illustrate, the approach is used to develop new rating loads proposed for the state of Indiana. This approach may be combined with further analyses to assess the potential economic impact of new rating vehicles.
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Acknowledgments
This study was partly supported by the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University as a State Planning and Research (SPR) Part-II study (Grant No. SPR-4310, refer to Kusiak et al. 2020). The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein, and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the sponsoring organizations. These contents do not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The authors thank members of the study advisory committee (Prince Baah, Jeremy Hunter, Jennifer Hart, Sean Hankins, Pete White, Tim Wells, Jose Ortiz, and Patrick Connor) for their valuable input and suggestions during the study. In addition, the authors thank Howell Li, Principal Research Analyst at JTRP, and Darcy Bullock, Director of JTRP, for sharing Indiana WIM data to facilitate this study. The authors do not have a financial or commercial interest in topics discussed in this article.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 29 • Issue 5 • May 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 13, 2023
Accepted: Nov 28, 2023
Published online: Feb 28, 2024
Published in print: May 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jul 28, 2024
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