STUDY OF EFFECT OF NEW VEHICLE WEIGHT LAW ON STRUCTURES

THE EFFECT OF THE REVISION OF THE MARYLAND MOTOR VEHICLE WEIGHT LAW (1962-1963) ON BRIDGE STRUCTURES HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY CONSIDERING: THE ACTUAL VEHICLE LOADINGS ON PARTICULAR BRIDGES, THE ACTUAL INDUCED STRESSES, AND PROBABLE FATIGUE LIFE. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT THE NEW LAW HAS TENDED TO DECREASE THE LIFE OF THE VARIOUS BRIDGE STRUCTURES BY 1% TO 10% OF THE ESTIMATED LIFE PRIOR TO THE REVISION. HOWEVER, THE FINAL ESTIMATED FATIGUE LIFE CONSIDERING THE CODE REVISION IS CONSIDERABLE, THUS INDICATING NEGLIGIBLE FATIGUE DISTRESS FOR THE CRITERIA CONSIDERED. /AUTHOR/