Flexural load-carrying capacity and dynamic effects of RC beam due to running vibration load

Cracks and damage frequently occur in RC slabs of highway bridges due to the characteristics of the road surface, difference in the level of expansion joints, and other dynamic effects of running vehicles. In this research, the effect of running loads on the flexural load-carrying capacity of RC beams and the dynamic effects of running loads are experimentally evaluated. The conclusions are as follows: (1) A constant running load reduces the flexural load-carrying capacity of the RC beam by 10% compared to the case of a static load. (2) Both strain and deflection of reinforcement for a 10%-running vibration load and a 20%-running vibration load increase by 17%-19% and 33%-35%, respectively, compared to a constant running load. (3) The impact coefficients for a 10%-running vibration load and a 20%-running vibration load are 0.239 and 0.374, respectively, indicating values which are higher than the amplitude of the load applied on the beam.