RAILWAY BRIDGES SUBJECTED TO TRAFFIC LOADS AND THEIR DESIGN FOR FATIGUE

The article summarises the most significant results of theoretical and experimental research on dynamic stress in railway bridges under traffic load. The statistical distribution of axle-loads is given together with the stress values measured on several railway bridges and some methods are suggested for representing them. From an analysis of the results obtained it has been possible to establish a spectrum of the stresses in railway bridges and to deduce methods for setting the dimensions of such bridges to take account of the load factor and of fatigue.