Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study - Bridge Structure Comparative Analysis Technical Report

Printable Version [PDF 11.0 MB]
You may need the Adobe® Reader® to view the PDFs on this page
Contact Information: FreightFeedback@dot.gov

June 2015

---

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Chapter 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Introduction
  • 1.2 Structural Analysis Methodology
• Chapter 2. Crash Analysis
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Bridge Inventory Used In the Structural Analysis
  • 2.3 Load Rating Results For All Bridges
  • 2.4 Posting Analysis
  • 2.5 Load Effects Based on Span Lengths
  • 2.6 Summary Findings: Load Effects by Span Length and Scenario
• Chapter 3. Analysis of Safety Vehicle Stability and Control
• Chapter 4. Inspection And Violation Analysis
  • 4.1 Observations
• Chapter 5. Scenario Analysis
  • 5.1 Fatigue-related Effects
  • 5.2 Bridge Deck Deterioration, Service Life, and Preventative Maintenance
• Appendix A. Revised Desk Scan Report
• Appendix B. Bridge Project Plan/Schedule
• Appendix C. Load Ratings and Analysis

List of Figures

• Figure 1. Distribution of All Bridges by Bridge Type
• Figure 2. Distribution of Interstate Bridges by Bridge Type
• Figure 3. Distribution of other Bridges on the NHS by Bridge Type
• Figure 4. Distribution of All Bridges by Span Length
• Figure 5. Distribution of Interstate Bridges by Span Length
• Figure 6. Distribution of Other Bridges on the NHS by Span Length
• Figure 7. Distribution of All Bridges by Built Year
• Figure 8. Distribution of Interstate Bridges by Built Year
• Figure 9. Distribution of Other Bridges on the NHS by Built Year
• Figure 10. Comparison of Average Flexural Rating Factors for Different Truck Types
• Figure 11. Comparison of Average Shear Rating Factors for Different Truck Types
• Figure 12. Comparison of Number of Bridges that Require Posting Due to Flexure for Different Truck Types
• Figure 13. Comparison of Number of Bridges that Require Posting Due to Shear for Different Truck Types
• Figure 14. Comparison of Flexural Rating Factors for All Bridges (Compared with 3-S2)
• Figure 15. Comparison of Flexural Rating Factors for All Bridges (Compared with 2-S1-2)
• Figure 16. Comparison of Shear Rating Factors for All Bridges (Compared with 3-S2)
• Figure 17. Comparison of Shear Rating Factors for All Bridges (Compared with 2-S1-2)
• Figure 18. Cumulative Distribution of Flexural Rating Factors of All Bridges (3-S2, Scenarios 1-3)
• Figure 19. Cumulative Distribution of Flexural Rating Factors of All Bridges (2-S1-2, Scenarios 4-6)
• Figure 20. Cumulative Distribution of Shear Rating Factors of All Bridges (3-S2, Scenarios 1-3)
• Figure 21. Cumulative Distribution of Shear Rating Factors of All Bridges (2-S1-2, Scenarios 4-6)
• Figure 22. Distribution of Normalized Flexural Rating Factors for All Bridges (3-S2, Scenario 1, 2 and 3)
• Figure 23. Distribution of Normalized Flexural Rating Factors for All Bridges (2-S1-2, Scenario 4, 5 and 6)
• Figure 24. Distribution of Normalized Shear Rating Factors for All Bridges (3-S2, Scenario 1, 2 and 3)
• Figure 25. Distribution of Normalized Shear Rating Factors for All Bridges (2-S1-2, Scenario 4, 5 and 6)
• Figure 26. Normalized Flexural Load Effects for Simple Spans (3-S2, Scenario 1, 2 and 3)
• Figure 27. Normalized Flexural Load Effects for Simple Spans (2-S1-2, Scenario 4, 5 and 6)
• Figure 28. Normalized Shear Load Effects for Simple Spans (3-S2, Scenario 1, 2 and 3)
• Figure 29. Normalized Shear Load Effects for Simple Spans (2-S1-2, Scenario 4, 5 and 6)
• Figure 30. Normalized Flexural Load Effects for Continuous Spans (3-S2, Scenario 1, 2 and 3)
• Figure 31. Normalized Flexural Load Effects for Continuous Spans (2-S1-2, Scenario 4, 5 and 6)
• Figure 32. Region of Concern for Fatigue in Highway Bridges
• Figure 33. Control Vehicles and Alternative Truck Configurations in Each of the Six Scenarios
• Figure 34. STAA 53’ (max) Semitrailer Single Control Vehicle
• Figure 35. STAA 28’ Double Control Vehicle
• Figure 36. Photo of Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (I-84) Eastbound

List of Tables

• Table ES1. Truck Configurations and Weight Scenarios Analyzed in the 2014 CTSW Study
• Table ES2. Projected Number of Bridges with Posting Issues for the Entire NHS Inventory
• Table ES3. Projected One-time Bridge Costs for Each Alternative Truck Configuration Scenario ($ billions)
• Table 1. Breakdown of the Bridges in the Sample Database
• Table 2. Projected Number of Posted Bridges for the Entire NHS Inventory
• Table 3. Breakdown of the Bridges on the NHS
• Table 4. Breakdown of the Bridges in the Sample Database
• Table 5. Breakdown of the Sample Database by State
• Table 6. Distribution of the Bridges by Span Length
• Table 7. Distribution of the Bridges by Year Built
• Table 8. Flexural Rating Result Statistics (GFB and Truss Bridges Not Included)
• Table 9. Shear Rating Result Statistics (GFB and Truss Bridges Not Included)
• Table 10. Normalized Flexural Load Rating Results
• Table 11. Normalized Shear Load Rating Results
• Table 12. Projected Number of Posted Bridges for the Entire NHS Inventory
• Table 13. Bridges with RF < 1.0 Sorted by Bridge Type
• Table 14. Posting Projections
• Table 15. Bridges with RF < 1.0 Sorted by Span Length
• Table 16. Bridges with RF < 1.0 Sorted by Year Built
• Table 17. Positive Moment Load Effects for Simple Spans
• Table 18. Shear Load Effects for Simple Spans
• Table 19. Negative Moment Load Effects for Continuous Spans
• Table 20. Normalized Positive Moment Load Effects for Simple Spans
• Table 21. Normalized Shear Load Effects for Simple Spans
• Table 22. Normalized Negative Moment Load Effects for Continuous Spans
• Table 23. Cost of One Time Bridge Rehabilitations, per Bridge
• Table 24. Projected Total Rehabilitation Costs for Interstate Bridges
• Table 25. Projected Total Rehabilitation Costs for Other Bridges on the NHS
• Table 26. Projected Δcosts for Interstate Bridges and Other Bridges on the NHS
• Table 27. Scenario 1-6 Summary
• Table 28. Table Bridge #1 Results
• Table 29. Bridge #2 Results
• Table 30. Bridge #3 Results
• Table 31. Bridge #4 Results
• Table 32. Deck Repair, Rehabilitation and Replacement Unit Costs

List of Acronyms

Acronym	Definition
AASHO	American Association of State Highway Officials
AASHTO	Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
ABrR	AASHTOWare Bridge Rating®
ABS	anti-lock braking system
AC	asphalt concrete
ADT	average daily traffic
AADTT	annual average daily truck traffic
ADTT	average daily truck traffic
AF	axle factors
AGM	average gross mass
ALF	axle load factors
ARA	Applied Research Associates
ASLRRA	American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
ASR	allowable stress rating
BTS	Bureau of Transportation Statistics
CAFT	constant-amplitude fatigue threshold
CARB	California Air Resources Board
CBO	Congressional Budget Office
CMV	commercial motor vehicle
CRCP	Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement
CRF	Code of Federal Regulations
CTSLW	Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study
CTSW	Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits
CVSA	Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
DA	data agreement
DOT	Department of Transportation
EDFs	equivalent damage factors
ESALs	equivalent single axle loads
ESAR	equivalent single-axle radius
ESWL	equivalent single-wheel load
FAF	Freight Analysis Framework
FEA	finite element analysis
FHWA	Federal Highway Administration
FMIS	Financial Management Information System
FMVSS	Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
FRA	Federal Railroad Administration
GCW	gross combined weight
GEF	Group Equivalency Factor
GVW	gross vehicle weight
HCA	highway cost allocation
HCAS	Federal Highway Cost Allocation Study
HERS	Highway Economic Requirements Systems
HMA	hot mix asphalt
HPMS	Highway Performance Monitoring System
HV	High-volume
HIS	Interstate Highway System
ITIC	Intermodal Transportation and Inventory Cost Model
IRI	International Roughness Index
IS	Interstate System
ISTEA	Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
JPCP	jointed plain concrete pavement
LCC	life cycle cost
LCV	longer combination vehicles
LEF	load equivalence factors
LFR	load factor rating
LRFD	load and resistance factor design
LRFR	load resistance factor rating
LTBP	Long-Term Bridge Performance Program
LTL	less than truckload
LTPP	Long-Term Pavement Performance
LV	Low-volume
MARAD	Maritime Administration
MATLAB	Matrix Laboratory
MCMIS	Motor Carrier Management Information System
MDDs	multidepth deflectometers
MEPDG	Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide
MV	Medium-volume
NAPCOM	National Pavement Cost Model
NAS	National Academy of Sciences
NATS	National Truck Stop Survey
NBI	National Bridge Inventory
NBMD	National Bridge Management Database
NCHRP	National Cooperative Highway Research Program
NDA	non-disclosure agreement
NESCCAF	Northeast States Center for a Clean Air Future
NHS	National Highway System
NHTSA	National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NN	National Network
NREL	National Renewable Energy Lab
NSIs	normalized sensitivity indices
OMB	Office of Management and Budget
OGW	operating gross weight
ORNL	Oak Ridge National Laboratories
OOS	out-of-service
OS/OW	oversize/overweight
PBBT	Performance Based Brake Tests
PAS	Pavement Analysis Software
PBS	Performance-based standards
PCC	Portland Cement Concrete
PCE	passenger car equivalents
PCU	passenger car units
POG	Policy Oversight Group
PSI	Pounds per square inch
RC	reinforced concrete
RF	rating factor
SISSI	Superpave Instrumented Stress-Strain Investigation
SPS	Special Pavement Sections
STAA	Surface Transportation Authorization Act
STB	Surface Transportation Board
STCC	Standard Transportation Commodity Code
SwRI	Southwest Research Institute
TF	truck factor
TMG	Traffic Monitoring Guidelines
TOC	Technical Oversight Committee
TRB	Transportation Research Board
TSW	truck size and weight
TTCGS	truck traffic classification groups
USC	United States Code
USDOT	US Department of Transportation
VMT	vehicle miles traveled
VIUS	Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey
VSC	vehicle stability and control
WHVC	World Harmonized Vehicle Cycle
WIM	weigh-in-motion
WIMPI	Weigh-in-Motion Pavement Investigation

next