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Bridge Design Loads

Donn Digamon, P.E.

GDOT Bridge Design Group Leader
#####

Types of Design Loads

• Permanent
• Transient

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Permanent Loads
• Dead Loads: Non-composite (DC1) and Composite (DC2 and
DW)
• Construction Loads

Permanent Loads
• Non-composite Dead Loads : Girder

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Permanent Loads
• Non-composite Dead Loads : Bracing

Permanent Loads
• Non-composite Dead Loads: Metal Deck Forms

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Permanent Loads
• Non-composite Dead Loads : Bridge deck pour

Deck Placement Considerations

• Place Positive Moment Regions first
• Place Negative Moment Regions last

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Permanent Loads
• Composite Dead Loads : Utilities

Permanent Loads
• Composite Dead Loads: Barriers, fences, median, overlays

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Permanent Loads
• Construction Loads: Form work, work platforms, screed

Cross-section

12 ft girder spacing
9-½″ deck thickness (9″ structural thickness)
3-½″ deck haunch; future wearing surface = 25 psf;
Barriers are 520 lb/ft each
Overhangs: 3.5 ft / 12 ft = 0.29

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Dead Load DC1 Computation

• From SBDH Example 1
• Compute total DC1 and divide by 4 girders

Dead Load DC2 and DW Computation

• From SBDH Example 1
• Compute DC2 and DW and divide by 4 girders
• Note DW is between barrier toes

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Transient Loads
• Vehicular Live Load: HL 93

Source: Kulicki, John & Mertz, Dennis. Evolution of Vehicular Live Load Models During the Interstate Design Era and Beyond. July 11, 2006

Live Load Distribution Factor Computation

• From SBDH Example 1 - Focus on Exterior Girder

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Live Load Distribution Factor Computation

• Bending Moment – One Lane Loaded

Live Load Distribution Factor Computation

• Bending Moment – Two or More Lanes Loaded

Note, 0.807 lanes is Interior Girder LLDF

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Live Load Distribution Factor Computation

• Bending Moment – Rigid Body Rotation about centerline

Live Load Distribution Factor Computation

• Bending Moment – Rigid Body Rotation about centerline

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Live Load Distribution Factor Computation

• Bending Moment – Rigid Body Rotation about centerline

Transient Loads
• Vehicular Live Load: Fatigue

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Transient Loads
• Pedestrian Loads
• 75 psf mixed vehicular/pedestrian
bridge
• 90 psf pedestrian only bridge

Transient Loads
• Wind Loads: Applied to structure and to live load

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Temperature Loads
• Material expansion and contraction

Load Combinations

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Load Combinations
• Strength Limit State:

• Service Limit State:

• Fatigue Limit State:

Assessment Question
List at three types of loads
that are considered in the
design of bridge steel
girders.

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