Abstract

The introduction of limit states design philosophy and the ever growing demand for higher permissible loads for overload vehicles or special permit vehicles necessitates a thorough investigation of the behaviour and live load distribution characteristics of bridges beyond the working stress range. Evaluation of the live load moment capacity at ultimate utilizing elastic load distribution factors is neither realistic nor logical, as the distribution factors should reflect the ultimate structural/load responses including nonlinear behaviour, load redistribution due to yielding, etc.The purpose of this paper is to study load distribution characteristics of a slab-on-girder bridge model at ultimate loads and to develop load distribution factors for the ultimate limit state which include load redistribution, nonlinear behaviour, and other effects. Key words: load distribution factor, ultimate limit state, load redistribution, nonlinear behaviour, slab-on-girder bridge, OHBD truck.

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