Chapter 4: Fatigue loads due to traffic

2.3 The λ-coefficient method

Besides the usual damage computations based on Palmgren-Miner rule, EN 1991-2
also foresees a conventional simplified fatigue assessment method, said λ-coefficient method,
based on λ damage equivalent factors, which are dependent on the material.
The method, derived originally for railway bridges, is based for road bridges on
fatigue model n. 3 (fatigue vehicle) and it is aimed to bring back fatigue verifications to
conventional resistance checks, comparing a conventional equivalent stress range, ∆σeq,
depending on appropriate λ-coefficients, with the detail category [3], [4].
The equivalent stress range ∆σeq is given by
∆σ eq = λ1 ⋅ λ 2 ⋅ λ3 ⋅ λ 4 ⋅ ϕ fat ⋅ ∆σ p = λ ⋅ ϕ fat ⋅ ∆σ p , (1)

where

- ∆σ p = σ p , max − σ p , min is the maximum stress range induced by fatigue model n. 3;

- λ1 is a coefficient depending on the shape and on the base length of the influence
surface, i.e. on the number of secondary cycles in the stress history;
- λ2 is a coefficient allowing to pass from reference traffic, used in fatigue model
calibration, to expected traffic;
- λ3 depends on the design life of the bridge;
- λ4 takes into account vehicle interactions amongst lorries simultaneously crossing
the bridge;
- ϕfat is the equivalent dynamic magnification factor for fatigue verifications.

λ1, represented in graphical or tabular form, is calculated in the calibration phase,

comparing the damage due to the fatigue vehicle with the damage produced by a single stress
cycle having the maximum stress range ∆σp.
If m is the slope of S-N curve, it is
1
 ∑ ni ⋅ ∆σ im m
λ1 =  i  . (2)
 ∆σ mp 
 
λ2 depends on the annual lorry flow and on traffic composition.
In general, said N1 and Qm1 the flow and the equivalent weight of the actual traffic,

∑n ⋅Q i i
m

Qm1 = m i
, (3)
∑n i
i

and N0 and Q0 the flow and the equivalent vehicle weight of the reference traffic, it results
1
Q  N m
λ2 = k ⋅ m1 ⋅  1  . (4)
Q0  N0 
In equation (4) k represents a conversion parameter, given by
Def Q0
k= ⋅ , (5)
Dv Qm1

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