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Impact and Feasibility Study of Solutions for Doubling Heavy Vehicles

项目名称：	Impact and Feasibility Study of Solutions for Doubling Heavy Vehicles
摘要：	The useful service life of a bridge deck and girder is a function of a number of several variables: load magnitudes, number of load cycles, and decision as to when it should be renewed (by overlay or replacement). Many of the details used in older steel bridge girders are particularly prone to fatigue failures directly related to truck weight. Repetitive loading may cause fatigue cracking in these steel members and limit the service life of a bridge. Truck-weight frequency distributions by vehicle type (i.e., truck weight histograms) are needed to estimate the effects on remaining life and the costs caused by changes in legal and permit truck weights. Changing truck weights can affect the truck weight histograms. Because carrying higher payloads can reduce the operating costs of truck operators, the possibility of a growing share of freight (e.g., shifting from rail to truck) will be considered in estimating the future truck weight distribution and truck traffic. The first objective of the research is to quantify the effect of meeting increasing freight demands with heavier trucks to reduce the growth in the number of trucks on the road. Specifically, the effect of heavier trucks on bridge infrastructure will be quantified with regard (to) the force effects experienced by the bridges and the effects on the durability and longevity of bridges. The second objective is to compare the effect of heavier trucks with the doubling in the number of heavy vehicles under the present legal weight restrictions. The primary goal of both tasks is to determine if allowing an increase in truck weight provides better or worse bridge durability and longevity when compared to increasing the number of trucks to meet freight demands. Finally, specific configurations of heavy trucks, such as additional axles or long-combinations, will also be investigated to minimize the effect of a weight increase and reduce the impact to bridges.
状态：	Completed
资金：	200254.00
资助组织：	Florida International University<==>Florida Department of Transportation<==>Alabama Department of Transportation<==>Research and Innovative Technology Administration
执行机构：	University of Alabama, Birmingham<==>University of Central Florida, Orlando<==>Florida International University
开始时间：	20120501
实际结束时间：	20140830
主题领域：	Bridges and other structures；Freight Transportation；Highways；Vehicles and Equipment