Modifiziertes Verkehrslastmodell für kommunale Brückenbauwerke

Adjusted traffic load model for bridges in urban areas

The traffic load model of the new German national annex to the Eurocode 1 Part 2 ensures a prudent design for new bridges, considering even a prognosticated increase in gross vehicle weight and exceptionally heavy vehicles requiring individual permit. Therefore this model covers for example the construction of wide-span highway bridges with two to three lanes and high traffic density. As a direct consequence of this unified approach however, urban bridges with typically small spans and low traffic show rather high reliabilities. Hence the Civil Engineering Office of the city of Stuttgart initiated a research project to investigate the level of safety provided by the new traffic load model in case of specific types of small-span bridges, commonly present in urban areas. Based on these results recommendations are made in order to adjust the traffic load model for small bridges fulfilling certain criteria. This enables economic design of these structures, while still meeting the requirements on reliability defined in the Eurocodes.