Fatigue is an important consideration in the design of bridges, especially those made of steel. Cycles resulting from the passage of a truck over a bridge depend essentially on bridge type, detail location, span length and vehicles axles configuration. Moreover, as bridges form the keystone of transport networks, their safe operation with minimal maintenance closures is paramount for efficient operation. Yearly increases in the volume of heavy traffic mean a higher number of fatigue damaging load cycles, which leads to taking appropriate measures and finding sustainable solutions, with reduced environmental, economic and social impacts.
展开▼