A research program has been underway since 1988 with a focus on evaluation of older existing riveted steel railway bridges built around the turn of the century. The objectives are as follows: (1) determine the magnitude and distribution of wheel loads under current operating conditions; (2) determine how these loads are carried by the various members of typical bridges; and (3) develop a model for predicting the remaining life of these bridges. The five steel bridges tested to date include three deck girders, one through girder and one through truss. An important feature of the project is the instrumentation system that was developed and is described herein. A summary of the results reveals larger-than-expected loads, smaller-than-expected member stresses and interesting vibrations of certain truss members.
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