Design of Bridges

BRIDGE LOADS FOR DESIGN

Lecture No. 3

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Loads for Bridge Design as per BS 5400-2: 1978

KEY WORDS

• Number of notional lanes,

• Dead loading,
• Live loads (HA loading, HB loading, HA and HB
loading, Pedestrian load, wind load,
• Load combinations and
• Load factors.

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Loads for Bridge Design
Dead load; which comprises of:
Self weights of bridge elements
The densities of the materials used are as follows:-
Concrete: 24kN/m3
Steel:78.5kN/m3
Timber: 4-8 kN/m3
Hollow bricks: 15kN/m3
Solid bricks22kN/m3
Natural stones or rock: 20-28kN/m3
Railways ballast: 19 kN/m3

Imposed dead load, such as;

Wearing surface,
Railway tracks,
Guardrails,
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Vertically imposed loads such as:
Impact
Weight of vehicles, etc.

Transverse imposed loads such as:

Skidding,
Centrifugal forces in curves
Wind loads

Longitudinal imposed loads such as:-

Braking forces,
Acceleration forces

Constraining imposed loads such as:-

Due to temperature changes
Shrinkage
Creep
Pier settlements
Friction forces in the bearings
Collision forces
Earthquake loads 4
 Highway Bridge Live Loads (Sec. 6)
Standard highway loading consists of HA and HB
loading.

HA loading is a formula representing normal traffic,

HB loading is an abnormal vehicle unit loading.
Both HA and HB loadings include impact.

Loads to be considered (Cl.6.1.1)

The structure and its components shall be designed
to resist the MORE SEVERE effects of either:
-design HA loading or,
-design HA loading combined with designed HB
loading
Highway Bridge Live Loads
HA loading: is the basic imposed load comprising of
• A uniformly distributed load
• A knife-edge load
HA loading includes a 25% allowance for impact
The intensity of which depends upon the loaded length
No dispersal of load beneath contact area
Knife-edge load is positioned to have the most severe effect,
Alternatively a single 100 kN load with  340mm or 300mm x
300 mm square contact area
.

Table: 2: Notional lanes for design purposes according to the carriageway width
Carriage < 4.6 4.6-7.5 7.6-11.4 11.4-15.2 15.2-19.0
Width W(m)
No.of W/3 2 3 4 5
Notional
Lanes
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HA Loading

Figure 1: HA Loading
HA Loading
The (BD 37/01) Design Manual for Roads and Bridges says that Type
HA loading is the normal design loading for Great Britain and
adequately covers the effects of all permitted normal vehicles other
than those used for abnormal indivisible loads. Normal vehicles are
governed by the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations
1998, referred to as the AW Vehicles and cover vehicles up to 44
tonne gross vehicle weight. Loads from these AW vehicles are
represented by a uniformly distributed load and a knife edge load.
The loading has been enhanced to cover:
i) impact load (caused when wheels 'bounce' i.e. when stricking
potholes).
ii) overloading
iii) Lateral bunching (more than one vehicle occupying the width of a
lane).
The magnitude of the uniformly distributed load is dependent on the
loaded length as determined from the influence line for the member
under consideration. For simply supported decks this usually relates
to the span of the deck. 8
 Table 3: HA Loading
Loaded length L (m) < 30m 30m - 379m > 379m
Uniform Load 30 151 L-0.475 9
(kN/m/Lane)
Knife edge load (kN/Lane) 120

Note: KEL

For KEL UDL

Loading
-critical position
for shear is near
the support
-citical position UDL KEL
for moment is at
mid span of the
loaded length 9
Figure 2: HA Loading
HA Loading
100 kN

340

Figure 3: Alternative to HA KEL loading

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HB Loading
The (BD 37/0) Design Manual for Roads and Bridges in UK
says that Type HB loading requirements derive from the
nature of exceptional industrial loads (e.g. electrical
transformers, generators, pressure vessels, machine
presses, etc.) likely to use the roads in the area.
The vehicle load is represented by a four axled vehicle with
four wheels equally spaced on each axle. The load on each
axle is defined by a number of units which is dependant on
the class of road. Motorways and trunk roads require 45
units, Principal roads require 37.5 units and other public
roads require 30 units. Each unit is equivalent to 10kN.

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 HB Loading
HB loading is used for bridges which are on public highways where
they may be subjected to abnormal loads that are greater than
those arising from HA loading

- A 16 wheel vehicle is specified

- Load/wheel is 2.5 j kN, where j is the number of HB units
- The HB loading can be from 25 HB to 45 HB units
E.g. 25 units x 2.5 x 16 wheels = 1000 kN or 100 tons vehicle
45 units x 2.5 x 16 wheels = 1800 kN or 180 tons vehicle

The actual units to be used for a particular bridge are usually

specified by the authority concerned in the respective country
- HB loading also includes a 25% allowance for impact
- The length of the vehicle is varied for the severest effect by
dimensions shown in Figure 3.

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HB Loading

Figure 4: HB Vehicle
HB Loading
0.25
1.00
1.00
1.00
0.25

0.2 1.80 6, 11, 16, 21, 26 m 1.80 0.2

Figure 5: HB Vehicle
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Combination of HA and HB Loading

Loaded length for intensity of HA UDL

25 m 25 m

Full HA No Load HB Vehicle No Load Full HA

Notional
Full HA

Lanes
Central reserve: No load for global analysis
1/3 HA
1/3 HA

Figure 6: A combination of HA and HB loading: HB within one notional lane

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 Combination of HA and HB Loading

Loaded length for intensity of HA UDL

25 m 25 m

1/3 HA 1/3 HA
No Load HB Vehicle No Load

Notional
Full HA Full HA

Lanes
Central reserve: No load for global analysis
1/3 HA
1/3 HA

Figure 7: A combination of HA and HB loading; HB occupying two notional lanes

Figs 4 and 5 give an overview of both HA and HB loading

Lane loads are interchangeable for severest effect

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Reduced loads for secondary roads
Simple, one lane bridges in rural areas may be designed using the
reduced vertical load as shown in Figure 6.
0.15

54.5 kN 13.5 kN
0.35

1.80 m
54.5 kN 13.5 kN
4.25m
2-Rear wheels + 2 - Front wheels = Total Load: 136 kN
Figure 8: Reduced vertical loads for secondary roads.

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Pedestrian and Cycle Track Bridges

The imposed load on pedestrian and cycle track bridges is

uniformly distributed and depends upon the loaded lengths as
follows:

If L  30m then P = 5 kN/m2

If 30 < L < 379m then P = 25.2 (L) -0.475 kN/m2

If L > 379m then P = 1.5 kN/m2

In the case of footpaths on road bridges which are not protected

from highway traffic by any effective barrier, any four wheels of 25
units of HB loading acting alone in any unfavourable position
should be considered.

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Transverse loads arise when a vehicle moves in a curve.
The forces considered above all act vertically according to the law of
gravity. When a vehicle moves at a speed of not less than 80 km/hr
in a curve, a centrifugal force, Fc, acting in the transverse section of
the bridge and directed away from the curve center results. The
resultant force is defined by the expression:
m .v 2
Fc 
R
where m = mass of vehicle in Tons
v = speed of vehicle in m/s
R = radius of curve in m.
BS 5400 Part 2 gives a nominal centrifugal load defined by:
30000
Fc  kN
R  150
where R is the same as above
The force Fc can be applied as a single load or subdivided into 1/3Fc
and 2/3Fc then placed at 5.0m c/c longitudinally in combination with
a vertical load of 300kN.
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Accidental load due to skidding
On straight and curved bridges, a single point load in one single lane in
the direction of the highway shall be considered in which the nominal
load is 250 kN

Longitudinal load due to braking and traction

-The nominal load for HA shall be 8 kN/m of loaded length plus
200 kN but < 700 kN applied to an area of one notional lane x
loaded length.
- The nominal load for HB shall be 25% total nominal HB load
applied between the 8 wheels of two axles of the vehicle 1.8 m apart.

Loads due to Temperature Variations

The coefficient of thermal expansion shall be taken as 12 x 10-6 for
structural steel and concrete, but if limestone aggregates are used then
a value of 7 x 10-6 can be used. Expansion joints can be determined
using these coefficients.

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Accidental wheel loads: This loading applies to local effects and shall
not be taken into account in determining global effects on the deck.

40 kN 50 kN 30 kN

40 kN 50 kN 30 kN

Figure 9: Accidental wheel loads

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Pier impact (Technical Memorandum BE 1/77):
• 225 kN normal to carriageway with 75 kN parallel to
carriageway at guardrail fixing level or 750mm above
carriageway where there is no fixing,

• Plus 150 kN normal to carriageway with 150 kN parallel to

carriageway between 1.0m and 3.0m above carriageway level.

Collision loads on supports of bridges over highways (BS 5400:

Part 1):
• 150 kN normal to carriageway with 50 kN parallel to
carriageway at guardrail fixing level or 750 above carriageway
where there is no fixing,

• Plus 100 kN normal to carriageway with 100kN parallel to

carriageway between 1.000 and 3.000 above carriageway.

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Load combinations
Three principal and two secondary combinations of loads are
specified in BS 5400: Part 2:1978:

Principal combinations
Combination 1: permanent + imposed loads

Combination 2: permanent + imposed + wind loads

Combination 3: permanent + imposed + constraining loads

Secondary Combinations
Combination 4: permanent + collision loads

Combination 5: permanent + friction loads at bearings

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 Partial Safety Factors to be Taken for Each Load
Combination
Table 4: Loads to be taken in each combination with appropriate L
Load Limit L to be considered in
Clause state combinations
number 1 2 3 4 5
5.1 Dead Steel ULS* 1.05 1,05 1.05 1,05 1.05
SLS 1.00 1,00 1.00 1,00 1.00
Concrete ULS* 1,15 1,15 1,15 1,15 1,15
SLS 1.00 1,00 1.00 1,00 1.00
5.2 Superimposed dead ULS* 1,75 1.75 1,75 1,75 1.75
SLS 1.20 1,20 1,20 1,20 1,20
5.1.2.2 & Reduced load factor ULS 1.00 1,00 1,00 1,00 1,00
52.2.2 for dead and SLS “ “ “ “ “
superimposed dead
load where this has a
more severe total effect 24
5.2 Wind:
During erection ULS 1,10

SLS 1,00

With dead plus superimposed ULS 1,40

dead load only and for members SLS 1,00
primarily resisting wind loads
With dead plus superimposed ULS 1,10
dead plus other appropriate SLS 1,00
combination 2 loads
Relieving effect of Wind ULS 1,00

SLS 1,00

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5.3 Temperature Restraint due to UL 1,30
range S 1,00
SL
S
Frictional bearing UL 1,30
restraint S 1,00
SL
S
Effect of temperature UL 1,00
difference S 0,80
SL
S
5.6 Differential settlement UL To be assessed and
S agreed between the
SL engineer and
S appropriate authority

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5.8 Earth Retained fill and/or ULS 1,50 1,50 1,50 1,50 1,50
pressure live load surcharge
SLS 1,00 1,00 1,00 1,00 1,00

Relieving effect ULS 1,00 1,00 1,00 1,00 1,00

5.9 Erection: temporary loads ULS 1,15 1,15

6.2 Live loading:

HA alone ULS 1,50 1,25 1,25

SLS 1,20 1,10 1,00

HA with HB or HB ULS 1,30 1,00 1,10

alone
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6.5 Centrifugal load and associated primary ULS 1,50
live load SLS 1,00

6.6 Longitudinal HA and associated ULS 1,25

load: primary live load SLS 1,00

HB and associated ULS 1,10

primary live load SLS 1,00

6.7 Accidental skidding load and associated ULS 1,25

primary live load SLS 1,00

6.8 Vehicle collision load with bridge parapets ULS 1,25

and associated primary live load SLS 1,00

6.9 Vehicle collision load with bridge supports** ULS 1,25

SLS 1,00
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7 Foot/cycle track ULS 1,50 1,25 1,25 1,25
bridges: live load and
parapet load SLS 1,00 1,00 1,00 1,00

8 Railway bridges: type ULS 1,40 1,20 1,20

RU and RL primary and
secondary live SLS 1,10 1,00 1,00

*L shall be increased to at least 1.10 and 1.20 for steel and concrete
respectively to compensate for inaccuracies when dead loads are not
accurately assessed
L may be reduced to 1.2 and 1.0 for the ULS and SLS respectively
subject to approval of the appropriate authority
** This is the only secondary live load to be considered for foot/cycle
track bridges

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Design Internal Actions
Load Cases:
Case 1: Maximum mid span moment
Case 2: Maximum end span moment
Case 3: Maximum over support moment
Case 4: Maximum shear force at piers
Case 5: Maximum shear force at abutments

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 HA & HB Loading Examples

Examle 1: Determine design HA and HB loadiing for a simply supported

bridge deck having carriageway width = 7.3m and loaded length = 30m

Reference Calculations
Carriageway = 7.3m wide
Deck span = 30m (centre to centre of bearings for a simply
supported single span)
Design for a metre width of deck :
Cl 3.2.9.3.1. Number of notional lanes
Number of notional lanes = 2
Notional lane width (bL) = 7.3/2 = 3.65m
Cl 6.2.1. Norminal HA UDL
Table 13 Loaded length = 30m
W = 28.3 kN/m (per notional lane)
Reference Calculations
Cl 6.2.2. Knife Edge Load (KEL)
KEL = 120 kN (per notional lane)
Cl 6.4.1. Distribution of HA Loading (L =30m)
For a metre width of deck :
HA UDL = 28.3/3.65 = 7.75 kN/m
HA KEL = 120/3.65 = 32.88 kN

Cl 6.2.7 YfL = 1.50 (Ultimate limit state - combination 1)

Design HA loading for a metre width of deck :

W = 1.5 x 7.75 = 11.63 kN/m
KEL = 1.5 x 32.88 = 49.32 kN
Reference Calculations
Clause 6.3 Type HB Loading
Assume the road over the bridge is not a Principal Road
then we need to check for 30 units type HB loading
Cl 6.3.1 Nominal load per axle
= 30units x 2.5kN = 75kN per wheel
= 75 x 4 = 300kN per axle
and = 300x 4 = 1200kN for the whole vehicle
Cl 6.3.4 γfL = 1.30 (Ultimate limit state - combination 1)

Design load per wheel = 75 x 1.3 = 97.5kN

Design load per axle = 97.4 x4 = 390kN
Design load per wheel = 390 x 4 = 1,560kNkN
 Example 2: Determine design HA and HB loadiing for a simply supported
bridge deck having carriageway width = 6.0m and loaded length = 34m

Reference Calculations
Carriageway = 6m wide
Deck span = 34m (centre to centre of bearings for a simply
supported single span)
Design for a metre width of deck :
Cl 3.2.9.3.1. Number of notional lanes
Number of notional lanes = 2
Notional lane width (bL) = 6.0/2 = 3.0m
Cl 6.2.1. Norminal HA UDL
Table 13 Loaded length = 34m >30m
W = 151(1/L)0.475 kN/m (per notional lane)
W = 28.3 kN/m (per notional lane)
 Reference Calculations
Cl 6.2.2. Knife Edge Load (KEL)
KEL = 120 kN (per notional lane)
Cl 6.4.1. Distribution of HA Loading
α2 = 0.0137[bL(40-L)+3.65(L-20)] (since L >30m)

α2 = 0.0137[3.0(40-34.0)+3.65(34.0-20)] = 0.947

For a metre width of deck :

HA UDL = (31.6 x 0.947)/3.0 = 10.0kN/m
HA KEL = (120 x 0.947)/3.0 = 37.88 kN

Cl. 6.2.7 YfL = 1.50 (Ultimate limit state - combination 1)

Design HA loading for a metre width of deck :

W = 1.5 x 10 = 15kN/m
KEL = 1.5 x 37.88 = 56.82kN
Reference Calculations
Clause 6.3 Type HB Loading
Assume the road over the bridge is not a Principal Road
then we need to check for 30 units type HB loading
Cl 6.3.1 Nominal load per axle
= 30units x 2.5kN = 75kN per wheel
= 75 x 4 = 300kN per axle
and = 300x 4 = 1200kN for the whole vehicle
Cl 6.3.4 γfL = 1.30 (Ultimate limit state - combination 1)

Design load per wheel = 75 x 1.3 = 97.5kN

Design load per axle = 97.4 x4 = 390kN
Design load per vehicle = 390 x 4 = 1,560kNkN