Load distribution factors for quick design and assessment in typical Australian bridges

Abstract

The increase in freight productivity in Australia is pressuring Australian bridge infrastructure. Bridge assessment is crucial to ensure the safety of bridges to accommodate heavier vehicles. Load distribution factor (LDF) has been widely used for bridge design and evaluation in the preliminary stage, but it is not specified in the Australian standard code. This study aims to develop the LDFs for typical Australian bridges with the most adverse load effects of single- and two-lane loads. Later, the LDFs were compared with the LDF equations in the different standards, including National Association of Australian State Road Authorities (National Association of Australian State Road Authorities, 1976), American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials: Load and Resistance Factor Design (AASHTO (2017), Henry’s and modified Henry’s methods. It can be concluded that the AASHTO (2017) LDF equations provide very good correlations with typical Australian bridges. It is possible to use the AASHTO LRFD LDF equations for assessing and designing in Australian concrete I-girder and Super-T girder bridges. However, most AASHTO LFRD provides conservative results of LDFs compared with LDFs of Australian bridges. It is recommended that LDFs of Australian bridges should be developed for bridge design and assessment.