The statistical analyze for axle load of steel highway bridge and its environmental assessment

Based on the survey of the vehicle flow, vehicle model, total gravity and axle load of the Jiangyin Yangt ze River Highway Bridge within a month, a large amount of data are obtained. Then the fatigue-loaded vehicle model and load frequency spectrum and axle-loads distribution is derived. The load frequency spectrum composed of fourteen types of daily transport vehicles is obtained based on the survey of the traffic conditions. This observed load frequency spectrum is simplified into a practical one composed of six types of model vehicles based on the principle of equivalent fatigue damage. The latter can be used for fatigue assessment of other highway bridges on which the components of daily vehicle traffic are similar to those presented in this study. The results show that a comprehensive survey of the load frequency spectrum across China is necessary for fatigue research of the steel highway bridge. And the survey also indicates that the overload of the steel highway bridge brings a negative effect on the environmental protection.