Upgrading of Load Carrying Capacity for the Road Transport Network - Assessment of Dynamic Amplification of Traffic Loads for Existing Bridges

Research Project, 2024 – 2027

The aim of the project is to improve methods for reassessment of bridges in Sweden and Norway, and, in particular, to quantify the site-specific assessment dynamic ratio (ADR) of existing road bridges. To reach this aim, we will take advantage of already existing site-specific monitoring data, complemented with own high quality on-site measurements, and develop numerical modelling methods to take service-life and road profile degradation into account. The result from the project will be summarized in a guideline for more rigorous load-carrying capacity assessment of existing bridges. By implementing the methods developed in the project, it will be possible to show that many of the bridges can carry higher vehicle loads.
The project is being carried out as a doctoral project in close collaboration between Chalmers and NTNU.