A comparison of design loads for highway bridges

Abstract

Load effects for four bridge design live load models are compared over a broad span range for three simple influence line shapes. The models are American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) HS20, Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code (OHBDC), Canadian National Standard CAN3-S6-M78 MS250, and one from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Comparisons are made on a number of grounds including maximum effect, simplicity, and accuracy. The span range 30–300 m is considered.