Validation of Scenario Modelling for Bridge Loading

Accurate estimates of characteristic bridge load effects are required for efficient design and assessment of bridges, and long-run traffic simulations are an effective method for estimating the effects. For multi-lane same-direction traffic, truck weights and locations on the bridge are correlated a...

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Main Authors: Eugene J. OBrien, Cathal Leahy, Bernard Enright, Colin C. Caprani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Riga Technical University Press 2016-09-01
Series:The Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bjrbe-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/3397
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author Eugene J. OBrien
Cathal Leahy
Bernard Enright
Colin C. Caprani
author_facet Eugene J. OBrien
Cathal Leahy
Bernard Enright
Colin C. Caprani
author_sort Eugene J. OBrien
collection DOAJ
description Accurate estimates of characteristic bridge load effects are required for efficient design and assessment of bridges, and long-run traffic simulations are an effective method for estimating the effects. For multi-lane same-direction traffic, truck weights and locations on the bridge are correlated and this affects the calculated load effects. Scenario Modelling is a recently developed method, which uses weigh-in-motion data to simulate multi-lane same-direction traffic while maintaining location and weight correlations. It has been unclear however, whether the method may produce unrealistic driver behaviour when extrapolating beyond the weigh-in-motion measuring period. As weigh-in-motion databases with more than about a year of data are not available, a microsimulation traffic model, which can simulate driver behaviour, is used here to assess the accuracy of extrapolating traffic effects using Scenario Modelling. The microsimulation is used to generate an extended reference dataset against which the results of Scenario Modelling are compared. It is found that the characteristic load effects obtained using Scenario Modelling compare well with the reference dataset. As a result, for the first time researchers and practitioners can model two-lane same-direction traffic loading on bridges while being confident that the approach is generating accurate estimates of characteristic load effects as well as effectively reproducing the complex traffic correlations involved.
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spelling doaj-art-8bfa5752c98944af97a68cf6717e9f6e2025-08-20T02:42:57ZengRiga Technical University PressThe Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering1822-427X1822-42882016-09-0111310.3846/bjrbe.2016.271847Validation of Scenario Modelling for Bridge LoadingEugene J. OBrien0Cathal Leahy1Bernard Enright2Colin C. Caprani3School of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandRoughan and O’Donovan Innovative Solutions, Arena Road, V8P6 Dublin D18, IrelandSchool of Civil Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton str., D01 K822 Dublin, IrelandDept of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaAccurate estimates of characteristic bridge load effects are required for efficient design and assessment of bridges, and long-run traffic simulations are an effective method for estimating the effects. For multi-lane same-direction traffic, truck weights and locations on the bridge are correlated and this affects the calculated load effects. Scenario Modelling is a recently developed method, which uses weigh-in-motion data to simulate multi-lane same-direction traffic while maintaining location and weight correlations. It has been unclear however, whether the method may produce unrealistic driver behaviour when extrapolating beyond the weigh-in-motion measuring period. As weigh-in-motion databases with more than about a year of data are not available, a microsimulation traffic model, which can simulate driver behaviour, is used here to assess the accuracy of extrapolating traffic effects using Scenario Modelling. The microsimulation is used to generate an extended reference dataset against which the results of Scenario Modelling are compared. It is found that the characteristic load effects obtained using Scenario Modelling compare well with the reference dataset. As a result, for the first time researchers and practitioners can model two-lane same-direction traffic loading on bridges while being confident that the approach is generating accurate estimates of characteristic load effects as well as effectively reproducing the complex traffic correlations involved.https://bjrbe-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/3397bridgeshighwayloadsscenario modellingtraffictrucks.
spellingShingle Eugene J. OBrien
Cathal Leahy
Bernard Enright
Colin C. Caprani
Validation of Scenario Modelling for Bridge Loading
The Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering
bridges
highway
loads
scenario modelling
traffic
trucks.
title Validation of Scenario Modelling for Bridge Loading
title_full Validation of Scenario Modelling for Bridge Loading
title_fullStr Validation of Scenario Modelling for Bridge Loading
title_full_unstemmed Validation of Scenario Modelling for Bridge Loading
title_short Validation of Scenario Modelling for Bridge Loading
title_sort validation of scenario modelling for bridge loading
topic bridges
highway
loads
scenario modelling
traffic
trucks.
url https://bjrbe-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/3397
work_keys_str_mv AT eugenejobrien validationofscenariomodellingforbridgeloading
AT cathalleahy validationofscenariomodellingforbridgeloading
AT bernardenright validationofscenariomodellingforbridgeloading
AT colinccaprani validationofscenariomodellingforbridgeloading