Comparison of stresses analyses on the prestressed concrete bridge subjected to Thai trucks according to the Department of Highway’s Regulation and the AASHTO standard truck

Abstract

This paper presents a comparison of stresses on the prestressed concrete bridge subjected to truck loads according to new regulations announced by the department of highway and the AASHTO standard truck. In these regulations, various types of truck loads were allowed to use in bridge design while the AASHTO standard truck loads were widely used for the existing bridges. The three-span of prestressed concrete bridges were simulated and analyzed by the finite element method. These models were subjected to the loads according to new regulations announced by the department of highway and AASHTO standard truck. The bridge models have spans of 35 meters and the total length is 105 meters. The analyses were carried out to determine the stresses induced in the cross-section of a prestressed concrete bridge and then compared to the allowable stresses. The conclusions were made for each type of truck loads which can affect the serviceability of the bridge.