MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSPORTATION. ESTIMATING LOAD IMPACTS ON HIGHWAY STRUCTURES USING THE NATIONAL BRIDGE INVENTORY DATABASE

This is a descripton of a computerized routine called LOAD that uses the National Bridge Inventory database prepared annually by each state. The routine allows each bridge on a specific route or a state bridge network to be evaluated for non-standared vehicle operation. LOAD can perform live load bending moment calculations, allowing comparisons between the effects of the rating vehicle and the non-standard vehicles. LOAD, which is designed to serve as a database and statistical analysis software package subroutine, reports the impacts of the rating and non-standared vehicles in terms of bending moments. The resulting bending moments are then used exogeneously to determine bridge deficiencies and associated costs. The details are described of the use of the routine. The routine has been used to report the costs, bridge deck areas, and the associated average daily traffic of bridges rendered deficient by the operation of various longer combination vehicles.