Large Truck Impacts on the Highway Infrastructure: The Bridge Dimension

by Jos? Weissmann, Univ of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States,
Rob Harrison, Univ of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Infrastructure: Planning and Management

Abstract:

Recent U.S. studies have explored the productivity gains of longer combination vehicles (LCV's) and their impacts on highway infrastructure. The area least explored is LCV operations and bridge impacts. This paper reports on current research into modelling LCV impacts on the U.S. interstate highway system. The study uses the Federal Highway Administration's National Bridge Inventory database which permits both a state and national evaluation to be determined. Three main LCV's are examined; triple 28-foot combinations, double 48-foot combinations, and the 9 axle double configuration recently recommended in a Transportation Research Board Special Report on new trucks for greater productivity and less road wear. The results permit an enhanced cost benefit evaluation of LCV operations and both methodology and results are of use to those evaluating future large truck operations.

Subject Headings: Highway bridges | Trucks | Maintenance and operation | Bridge-vehicle interaction | Bridge tests | Bridge management | Infrastructure

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search