Engineers Notebook: Checking Capacities of Eccentrically Loaded Columns on an Existing Bridge

This article focuses on the structural analysis of eccentrically loaded columns. A simple and novel graphical technique for determining the load-carrying capacity of the columns is presented. Specific attention is given to both the operating and inventory ratings of the columns. These ratings are then calculated for the as-built condition of the bridge and the as-inspected condition of the bridge.