Structure safety assessment under heavy traffic based on weigh in motion and simulation analysis

This article presents a new method for structure assessment based on weigh-in-motion data and simulation analysis. The focus is particularly on the simply supported hollow slab bridges and extra-heavy truck (gross truck weight ≥ 80 t) from the right tail of weigh-in-motion data. The dynamic models of truck types are refined, and the coupling relationship between truck and multi-girder bridge are determined. A self-developed bridge–truck analysis system is established by separate iteration and is used in the simulation analysis of extra-heavy truck load cases. The truck load effect is first analyzed by a comparison with code values. The load rating index is introduced for the structure safety assessment; meanwhile, the key parameters, for example, the dynamic amplification factor, are optimized. The results show that the maximum load effect level of extra-heavy truck is obviously higher than the design vehicle load effect, and the average level is approximate to or a little higher than the latter. The disp...