LOAD RATING HIGHWAY BRIDGES In accordance with Load and Resistance Factor Rating Method First Edition The first comprehensive text introducing the background theory along with the practical procedure of load rating highway bridges with the state-of-the-art Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) method. With its simplicity and complete contents on this subject, this is an indispensable text for both students and practicing engineers. The safety of bridges is essential to the traveling public. To ensure that bridges in our highway system function safely and serve properly, engineers need to inspect and assess the live load carrying capacity of the bridges. Based on the results of inspection and evaluation, decisions are made on load restriction, repair, retrofit or replacement. Load rating, one of the critical tasks in this decision-making process, uses either an analytical method or non-destructive load testing to determine the live load carrying capacity of a bridge. This is a book solely concentrated on bridge load rating by using analytical load rating methods, with a focus on the LRFR method. The primary purpose of this book is to provide the basic concept of load rating highway bridges in terms of the LRFR method. The target readers are practicing engineers who want to acquire fundamental knowledge of the LRFR method. Bearing that in mind, the author attempts to strike a balance between theory and how-to. Engineers who are conducting or will perform load ratings of bridges can use this text as a reference in supplement to the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation (MBE). This book can also serve as a textbook or supplemental material for a senior level undergraduate or graduate course in bridge design and load rating. This text is divided into three major sections. The first section contains a brief introduction to bridge load rating (Chapter 1) and fundamentals of structural failure and structural reliability theory (Chapter 2). After completing this section, re

A succinct, real-world approach to complete bridge system design and evaluation Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) and Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) are design and evaluation methods that have replaced or offered alternatives to other traditional methods as the new standards for designing and load-rating U.S. highway bridges. Bridge Design and Evaluation covers complete bridge systems (substructure and superstructure) in one succinct, manageable package. It presents real-world bridge examples demonstrating both their design and evaluation using LRFD and LRFR. Designed for a 3- to 4-credit undergraduate or graduate-level course, it presents the fundamentals of the topic without expanding needlessly into advanced or specialized topics. Important features include: Exclusive focus on LRFD and LRFR Hundreds of photographs and figures of real bridges to connect the theoretical with the practical Design and evaluation examples from real bridges including actual bridge plans and drawings and design methodologies Numerous exercise problems Specific design for a 3- to 4-credit course at the undergraduate or graduate level The only bridge engineering textbook to cover the important topics of bridge evaluation and rating Bridge Design and Evaluation is the most up-to-date and inclusive introduction available for students in civil engineering specializing in structural and transportation engineering.

The purpose of this project is to validate the draft New York State Department of Transportation LRFR Engineering Instruction developed to provide guidance on application of the LRFR methodology as specified in the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation to the evaluation of bridges in New York State through the testing of Level II and Level I ratings to support LRFR implementation. This report documents the Level I ratings of 23 complex bridges and culverts using 2D and 3D finite element (FE) analysis methods. Ratings and load posting evaluations were determined based on both EI 05-034 and the Draft LRFR EI to compare the results of the Load Factor Rating (LFR) and LRFR methodologies. The impact of LRFR ratings on load postings and R-postings for NYS bridges is evaluated. The report provides guidance in load rating and posting requirements of AASHTO Specialized Hauling Vehicles (SHVs) for both LFR and LRFR methodologies, proposes updates to the LFR based EI 05-034 “Load Rating/Posting Guidelines for State Owned Highway Bridges,” documents suggested “Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) Blue Pages,” describes an approach to derive LRFR Condition Factors using AASHTO element inspection data, and documents recommended revisions to the draft LRFR EI. In addition, a statewide bridge inventory screening for SHV and the FAST Act Emergency Vehicles (EV) is performed and the results are presented.