Abstract
Load-posted bridges have potential effects on traffic, commerce, and emergency egress due to detours in routes between origins and destinations. Posted bridges can also be problematic for state departments of transportation from a management standpoint because they may call for more frequent maintenance, monitoring, and inspection. For these reasons, it is beneficial for states to minimize the number of load-posted bridges. This study investigates a continuous steel plate girder bridge superstructure and proposes a methodology for exploring the refined load rating of this bridge type in a safe manner through refined modeling and load testing. Load test results were used to examine live load distribution factors, and finite-element models were developed to refine load ratings. It was determined that the refined load-rating factors for the bridge are significantly higher than the currently posted limits, and therefore, the posting could be removed. The methodology presented in this paper can potentially be used to increase the load-rating factors for similar continuous steel girder bridges.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
