Bridge Inspection Manual Chapter 7: Vehicles Part 3: Load Rating

BRIDGE INSPECTION MANUAL
Chapter 7: Vehicles
PART 3: LOAD RATING
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 7
VEHICLES ............................................................................................ 2
SECTION 7.1
LEGAL LOADS.............................................................................................................. 2
SECTION 7.2
STANDARD AASHTO VEHICLES ................................................................................ 3
SECTION 7.3
SPECIAL ROUTE VEHICLES....................................................................................... 7
SECTION 7.4
SCHOOL BUSES ........................................................................................................ 13
Table of Figures
Figure 3:7-1: AASHTO H-20 and HS-20 Loads ............................................................................................ 4
Figure 3:7-2: AASHTO HS-25 and Alternate Military Loads ......................................................................... 5
Figure 3:7-3: AASHTO Fatigue and HL-93 Loads ........................................................................................ 6
Figure 3:7-4: Toll Road Truck Loads ............................................................................................................ 8
Figure 3:7-5: Michigan Train Truck Loads .................................................................................................... 9
Figure 3:7-6: Indiana Extra-Heavy-Duty Highway System ......................................................................... 10
Figure 3:7-7: 11-, 13-, and 14-Axel Superload Vehicles ............................................................................. 11
Figure 3:7-8: 19-Axel Superload Vehicles .................................................................................................. 12
Figure 3:7-9: School Buses ......................................................................................................................... 13
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
CHAPTER 7
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Legal Loads
VEHICLES
With the Federal Highway Administrations (FHWAs) adoption of the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design Specifications, the
FHWA has issued a clarification of policy regarding the appropriate methodology and loads to be used in
reporting operating and inventory rating data. It is necessary to accommodate and support Load and
Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR), while continuing to accept Allowable Stress (AS) and Load Factor (LF)
for the large inventory of in-service bridges that have been designed by a method other than Load and
Resistance Factor Design (LRFD). It is not the intent of FHWA to mandate re-rating existing, valid bridge
load ratings by LRFR.
Load ratings are to be reported to the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) annually. For bridges designed
using LRFD using HL-93 loading, load ratings are to be computed and reported in tons and must indicate
the rating method used. Ratings shall be based on LRFR methods using HL-93 vehicular live load
consisting of the design truck or design tandem and the design lane load.
For bridges designed using Allowable Stress Design (ASD) or Load Factor Design (LFD), load ratings are
to be computed and reported in tons and must indicate the rating method used. Rating factors shall be
based on LRFR methods using HL-93 loading or LFR methods based on the HS-20 vehicle. Bridges
designed using LFD, and being rehabilitated, should be load-rated for the AASHTO LFD design vehicles.
Load ratings and respective locations should be entered into the Central Database for the following
vehicles: H-20 Inventory (Truck and Lane); HS-20 Inventory & Operating (Truck and Lane);
HS-25 Operating; Fatigue Truck Operating; and HL-93 Operating.
SECTION 7.1
LEGAL LOADS
Load limits restrict how much weight can be carried on an axle, a single tire, a pair of tires, and on the
vehicle or vehicle combination in total. Load limits are necessary for protecting bridges from structural
weakening or fatigue, preventing unsafe conditions, and the early replacement of bridges.
Vehicles meeting Indiana Code Article 20, Size and Weight Restrictions, are considered legal loads and
should be able to use any highway or bridge within the state (see Appendix A). Some routes, and many
bridges, must be posted to protect them from possible damage. A posted bridge may restrict a legal load
from use. At this time, a bridge with a load capacity of H-20 is considered to best represent the state's
load limit for the evaluation of the need for load posting.
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
SECTION 7.2
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Standard AASHTO Vehicles
STANDARD AASHTO VEHICLES
The following standard AASHTO vehicles are used in load rating structures:
H20-44 Truck/Lane
HS20-44 Truck/Lane
HS25 Truck/Lane
Fatigue Truck
HL-93 Design Truck
HL-93 Design Tandem
HL-93 Design Truck Pair
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Figure 3:7-1: AASHTO H-20 and HS-20 Loads
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Figure 3:7-2: AASHTO HS-25 and Alternate Military Loads
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Figure 3:7-3: AASHTO Fatigue and HL-93 Loads
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
SECTION 7.3
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Special Route Vehicles
SPECIAL ROUTE VEHICLES
Special Route Vehicles are identified in the Indiana Code and can change annually depending on state
legislature.
The Alternate Military Loading should be applied for any route falling on the National Highway
System (NHS) (http://www.in.gov/indot/3029.htm) with a design date prior to December 31, 2005.
In addition to the legal loads, the Indiana Toll Road live load (Heavy Duty Highway) should apply
to each state highway bridge located within 15 miles of an Indiana Toll Road entrance or exit. A
single truck with the design lane load should be used in each design lane. Factors for multiple
presence and dynamic load allowance should be the same as those used for regular design
trucks.
In addition to the legal loads, the Michigan Truck Train live load (Extra-Heavy-Duty Highway)
should apply to each bridge located on the Indiana Extra Heavy Duty Highway system. A single
truck with design lane load should be limited to one design lane located to cause extreme force
effects, while the other design lanes are occupied by regular design loads. Factors for multiple
presence and dynamic load allowance should be the same as those used for regular design
trucks.
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Figure 3:7-4: Toll Road Truck Loads
June 2010
Page 3-7-8

PART 3: LOAD RATING
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Figure 3:7-5: Michigan Train Truck Loads
June 2010
Page 3-7-9

PART 3: LOAD RATING
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Figure 3:7-6: Indiana Extra-Heavy-Duty Highway System
June 2010
Page 3-7-10

PART 3: LOAD RATING
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Figure 3:7-7: 11-, 13-, and 14-Axel Superload Vehicles
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
Chapter 7: Vehicles
Figure 3:7-8: 19-Axel Superload Vehicles
June 2010
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PART 3: LOAD RATING
SECTION 7.4
Chapter 7: Vehicles
School Buses
SCHOOL BUSES
It is recommended that a notice be sent by the county to the school districts advising them of the location
of all bridges with a 12-ton or less weight limit. This notice should be sent annually, or whenever a
bridges posting status changes.
Figure 3:7-9: School Buses
June 2010
Page 3-7-13

Bridge Inspection Manual Chapter 7: Vehicles Part 3: Load Rating

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Bridge Inspection Manual Chapter 7: Vehicles Part 3: Load Rating

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BRIDGE INSPECTION MANUAL

PART 3: LOAD RATING

STANDARD AASHTO VEHICLES ................................................................................ 3

SPECIAL ROUTE VEHICLES....................................................................................... 7

SCHOOL BUSES ........................................................................................................ 13