Fatigue reliability assessment of steel bridge details integrating weigh-in-motion data and probabilistic finite element analysis

An advanced traffic load model is developed based on weigh-in-motion data. This model takes into account the uncertainties associated with the number of axles, axle weights, axle spacing and transversal position of vehicles. Combined with the traffic load model, a probabilistic finite element analysis approach is proposed to evaluate the time-dependent fatigue reliability levels of steel bridge details. The calculated results are in agreement with those obtained from monitored data. The proposed methodology can be used as a tool accompanying a monitoring program to obtain the fatigue reliability levels associated with the fatigue sensitive bridge details that are not monitored.

► We propose an approach to evaluate the fatigue reliabilities of steel bridge details.
► A probabilistic traffic model is developed based on weigh-in-motion data.
► Probabilistic finite element analyses are made to obtain the fatigue reliabilities.
► The calculated results match well with those obtained from monitored stress data.