DESIGN LOADS IN THE NAASRA BRIDGE CODE

The National Association of Australian State Road Authorities is revising its bridge design code and adopting the limit states design philosophy. Design procedures will be similar to existing methods but the design constraints will be more explicitly described and bridges will be checked for a number of serviceability and ultimate limit states. This paper describes the method adopted for defining the loads for each limit state, and the method of combination. It is hoped that the logic will be clear and aid in reducing gross errors in design. The drafting committee invites constructive criticism of these proposals (Author/TRRL)