Report of Current Studies Performed on Normal Load Model of EC1

ABSTRACT

This report gives results of some new studies performed to validate the european road traffic load model proposed by the Eurocode EC1. Weight in motion has developed greatly in the last ten years and confidence in the accuracy of recorded data has increased significantly. Traffic data recently obtained from a number of representative European sites are used to re-calibrate the codified main load model of the European bridge loading code, Eurocode 1 Part 3. A wide range of real and virtual bridge forms were chosen for the study. Simulations were performed using free-flowing and jammed traffic. Load effects generated were determined and statistical extrapolations were performed, where appropriate, to determine characteristic values for the load effects. Some of the assumptions used in the derivation of the original loading model were re-assessed.

KEYWORDS:

• Eurocode
• traffic loads
• load effect
• bridges
• design code
• extrapolation