Increasing the live load on pre-stressed concrete bridges : structural design and cost benefit analysis

Abstract

This report studies the design and cost of two types of bridges before and after live load magnification. Previous studies on bridge failures highlight the impact of crucial loads imposed on its structure that result into high maintenance, costs or even reconstruction. One solution to this problem is to increase the live load design parameter. In our specific case, an increase of the live load by 50% can prevent chaotic situations and minimize rehabilitation cost. Following the Pre-stressed Concrete Institute (PCI) design code, new design standards were taken into account using the aid of Leap Bride Enterprise for the design. The bridges could carry larger loads for a longer time periods. Moreover, a cost/benefit analysis of these new approaches has been clarified. The difference between new and original design standard vary in the loading capacity on the structure as well as the expenses. As expected, increasing the live load by 50% is cost and design effective to a bridge structure in certain cases.