Bridge Loading

Refer IRC 6-2014

While designing the bridges the following loads and forces should be
considered where applicable.
1. Dead load
2. Live load
3. Dynamic load
4. Longitudinal forces
a. Longitudinal forces by the tractive effort of vehicles
b. Longitudinal forces by braking of vehicles
c. Longitudinal forces due to frictional resistance of expansion bearings
5. Wind load
6. Centrifugal forces of vehicle due to curvature of bridge
7. Horizontal forces due to water currents
8. Buoyancy
9. Force exerted by earth pressure
10. Load induced by temperature variation effect
11. Load induced by creep, shrinkage and other secondary effect
12. Erection load
13. Loads induced by earthquake
 Pedestrian load
IRC Bridge
Live Load Vehicular load

Class A load
Class B load
Normal load • Wheeled load
Represents normal
vehicular traffic • Tracked load
Class AA load
Abnormal load • Single, Two and Seven
Represents industrial or Axel wheeled load
military vehicular traffic
Class 70R load • Tracked load
Class A/B Loading
20 1.1 3.2 1.2 4.3 3 3 3 20 C/C distance of axle (m)
Total length of a train = 18.8m

CLASS A LOADING (KN)

27 27 114 114 68 68 68 68 Total load = 554 KN

16 16 68 68 41 41 41 41
CLASS B LOADING (KN)

1.8 m
f g

B
1.1m Cross section
3.2m
Carriageway
G F
Width
1.2m
Uniformly increasing
5.3 to 6.1m 150 mm
from 0.4 to 1.2.m
W
Above 6.1m 1.2 m 150 mm
Plan
 Class 70R Loading
Class 70R tracked vehicle

Total Weight 700 KN

90m 90m
4.57m
7.92m

Cross-section of Class 70R tracked vehicle

Carriage way Minimum
width value of C
0.84m (m) (mm)
0.84m
≥5.3m 1200
C

1.22m
350KN 350KN
2.06m
 Class 70R Loading Cross-section of Class 70R two
axel wheeled load 400KN
70R seven axel wheeled load 1000 KN
C

80 120 120 170 170 170 170 KN

1.22m

2.79 m

2.79 m Plan

 Value of C is same as of 70R

tracked loading
 Min. distance between wheeled
3.96 1.52 2.13 1.37 3.05 1.37 loads of Class70R is 30 m

Plan
Wheel Arrangement of 70R Wheeled Load

Minimum Wheel Spacing and Tyre Size of Heaviest Axle

2.79 m
0.86 m

0.61 m

0.41 m
‘L’ Type

Contact area of tyre may be obtained from

2.79 m the corresponding tyre load, tyre pressure
0.38 m and tyre tread width. Tyre tread width may
be taken as overall tyre width minus 25 mm
0.61 m
up to tyre 225mm and 50 mm for tyres over
0.41 m 225 mm width.
‘M’ Type
Maximum tyre pressure = 5.273 Kg/cm2

2.79 m

0.23 m 0.25 m

0.51 m

0.51 m
‘N’ Type
Class AA Loading
[Refer Annex]
Cross-section of Class AA
wheeled load 400KN

C
Total Weight 700 KN

90m
3.6 m 37.5 62.5 62.5 37.5 KN
7.2m

Cross-section of Class AA tracked 0.3m

vehicle 0.15m
0.85m 0.85m 1.2m
C
Minimum
Carriage way 0.6m 1m 0.6m
value of C
1.2m width (m)
(mm)
350KN 350KN
2.05m
Multi lane bridge
Plan
≥5.3m 1200
• 70R loading is adopted on all roads on which
permanent bridges are constructed. Bridges designed
for 70R loading should be checked for Class A loading.
• Class AA loading is adopted on specified location on
which permanent bridges are constructed. Bridges
designed for Class AA loading should be checked for
Class A loading.
• Class A loading is adopted on all roads on which
permanent bridges are constructed. Bridges designed
for Class A loading should be checked for Class AA/70R
loading.
• Class B loading is adopted on specified location on
which temporary bridges are constructed.
Carriage No of
Live loads
Way (m) lane
<5.3 1 Class A loading for 2.3m width and for remaining width 500 Kg/m2
≥5.3
2 One lane of Class70R/AA loading or two lanes of Class A loading
<9.6
≥9.6 One lane of Class 70R/AA for every two lanes with Class A loading
3
<13.1 for remaining lanes or three lanes of Class A loading
≥13.1
4
<16.6
≥16.6 One lane of Class 70R/AA for every two lanes with Class A loading
<20.1 5 for remaining lanes or one lane of class A for each lane

≥20.1
<23.6 6
Combination of live loads

Class A
1.8 m
0.4m
5 KN / m2 For Single Lane Bridge

0.15m 0.5m
2.3 m

Class A Class A

For Two Lanes Bridge

0.4 m 1.8 m 1.7 m 1.8 m

Class 70R (W/T)

1.2m
For Two Lanes Bridge

Class A Class 70R (W/T)

0.5m

0.15m 1.2m
For Three Lanes Bridge
0.4 m 1.8 m
Combination of live loads

Class A Class A Class A

0.5m 0.5m 0.5m

For Three Lanes Bridge
0.15m 1.2m 1.2m

1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m

0.4 m

Class A Class A Class 70R (W/T)

0.5m 0.5m For Four Lanes Bridge

0.15m 1.2m 1.2m

1.8 m 1.8 m
0.4 m

Class A Class A Class A Class A

0.5m 0.5m 0.5m 0.5m

For Four Lanes Bridge
0.15m 1.2m 1.2m 1.2m

1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m

0.4 m

Class 70R (W/T) Class 70R (W/T)

1.2m 1.2m
For Four Lanes Bridge
Pedestrian Load
Length of bridge ≤7.5 m ; Intensity of load = 4 or 5 KN/m2
>7.5m; Intensity of load ≤ 4 KN/m2
P = P’ – (40L – 300)/9 for up to 30 m span
P = (P’ – 260 + 4800/L) × (16.5 – W)/15 for greater than 30 m span

P’ = 4 or 5 KN/m2
P – Intensity of load
W – Width of foot way
L – Span of bridge
Live load information required for
analysis of bridge deck

• Type of load
• Number of axle of vehicle
• Magnitude of load on each axle
• Spacing of axle
• Contact area of wheel /track
• Spacing of vehicle in transverse and longitudinal direction
• Maximum lane load
• Reduction of live load in excess of two lanes
• Arrangement of wheel in case of 70R wheeled and train loading
• Combination of live loads
Impact Load Moving live load with its dynamic effect.
Dynamic effect of live load is calculated by the impact factor.
Impact load = static value of live load × Impact factor

For class A and B loading

• Impact factor fraction for RCC bridge = 4.5/(6+L)
• Impact factor fraction for Steel bridge = 9/(13.5+L)

For Class AA and Class 70R loading for span less than 9 m
• For tracked vehicles: 25% for span up to 5m linearly reducing to 10% for spans of 9 m
• For wheeled vehicles: 25%

For tracked vehicles for spans of 9 m or above

• 10% up to a span of 40 m and in accordance with the curve in the code for spans greater than 40
m of RCC Bridge
• 10% for all span of Steel Bridge
For wheeled vehicles for spans of 9 m or above
• 25% for spans up to 12 m and in accordance with the curve in the code for spans greater the
12 m RCC Bridge
• 25% for spans up to 23 m and in accordance with the curve in the code for spans greater the
23 m Steel Bridge
IF in % Impact Factor
55

50
A and B ( Steel bridge )

A and B ( Concrete bridge )

25
Class AA/70R tracked ( Concrete bridge )
Class AA/70R tracked ( steel bridge )

10

Class AA/70R wheeled ( Concrete bridge )

0
0 5 10 20 25 45 Span of bridge, m
 LONGITUDINAL FORCES
1. Externally applied longitudinal forces
• Tractive effort caused through acceleration of driving wheels
• Braking effort due to application of brakes to the wheels
• Frictional resistance offered by free bearings due to change of
temperature, shrinkage and creep

Force due to braking effort

Braking effort is invariably greater than the tractive effort so taken as a design longitudinal
force. It is computed as follows.

• For single or two lane bridge, braking loads taken as 20%of the first
train load and 10% of the loads of succeeding trains.

• For multilane bridge, braking load is taken as in (a) for the first two
lanes and 5% of the loads on the other lanes.

• The force due to braking effort shall be assumed to act 1.2m above
the roadway.
 Forces due to frictional resistance offered by bearing

I. Simply supported deck on

unyielding support

Span without bearing

Fh/2 or µW Fh/2 or µW

Span with fixed

and free bearing
µW Fh - µW

Span with
elastomeric bearings
Fh /2+ sδ Fh /2+ sδ
 II. Simply Supported/ Continuous
deck on flexible support

1 2 3

µW CL Sn + Fh X Sn /∑S CL Sn + Fh X Sn /∑S

2. Self induced longitudinal forces

Forces induced by Creep, Shrinkage or Effect of Temperature
Variation
 WIND LOAD
Wind load = Wind load on the structure
+ Wind load on the live load
FT = PZ × A × G × CD

FL = 0.25 FT for beam type bridge

= 0.5 FT for truss type bridge

FT - Wind load in transverse direction

FL - Wind load in longitudinal direction of bridge
PZ - Design wind pressure
A - Exposed area of structure / live load to wind
G - Gust factor ; G = 2 for 150 m span
CD - Drag coefficient CD ≥ 1.3 depending upon b/d ratio and type of superstructure

Wind load on live load = Length of live load × 3m × FT

In the case of live load G is taken equal to 1.2m and point of application of wind load is 1.5 m.

Described method of wind load calculation is valid for bridges of

span upto150m and height of pier upto 100m
 HORIZONTAL FORCES
DUE TO WATER CURRENT
Horizontal forces due to water current =
Pressure of water current X Area of structure exposed to water

Pressure of water current P = 52 KV2 [kg/m2]

Where K- shape factor of the pier ( k= 0.5 -1.5)

V- velocity of the water current at the point, where
pressure intensity is to be calculated. [m/sec]

Intensity of pressure due to water current depends on

• Direction of current
• Velocity of water current
• Shape factor of the pier
• Maximum scouring depth

200 deviation of river course shall be considered in the calculation of the

pressure due to water current
FORCE EXERTED BY EARTH PRESSURE
Coulomb’s Theory
ì
PA=1/2KAγH2
PP
H δ
PA
0.42H PP=1/2KPγH2
 Seismic Force
Method of computation of Seismic Force
• Elastic Seismic Acceleration Method
In this method static analysis is made and seismic force is obtained for
acceleration corresponding to the fundamental mode of vibration.
• Elastic Response Spectrum Method
In this method dynamic analysis is made to first and higher modes of
vibration and forces are obtained for each mode by using of response
spectrum.

In elastic seismic acceleration method force due to

earthquake is calculated as follows.

Feq = Ah × (Dead load + Partial Live load)

where,
Ah = Z/2 × I/R × Sa/g
Bridges need not be checked for seismic effects

Bridges need special investigation for seismic effects

FORCE EXERTED BY
DYNAMIC EARTH PRESSURE
Mononobe Okabe Theory
ì (Modified Coulomb’s Theory)

PP
H δ
PA=1/2KAγH2
PA
0.6H PP=1/2KPγH2
FORCE EXERTED BY HYDRODYNAMIC PRESSURE
W- Weight of water bound in enveloping cylinder
F = C Ah W W = πR2H × Unit wt. of water
R – Radius of enveloping cylinder
H – Submerged height of pier

Ah- Horizontal acceleration coefficient H/R C

C – Hydrodynamic coefficient
1 0.39
R
2 0.58

3 0.68

4 0.73

Pier Pier
R Ground
Shaking
Enveloping
Enveloping cylinder
Ground
cylinder
Shaking
Load Combinations
in the Design of Bridge [WSDM]

Combination
of loads
I
II A
II B Increase in
permissible stress
III A 0 - 50 %
III B according to load
IV combination
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
Load Combination [WSDM]
Load Combinations
in the Design of Bridge [LSDM]
IRC 6 define four cases separately i.e. foundation, stability, limit state of
strength and limit state of serviceability to be considered in Limit State
Design Method. In each cases, there are further three combinations of loads
to be considered.

 Three combinations of limit state of strength and stability are

• Basic combination
• Seismic combination
• Accidental combination

 These combinations are given separately for serviceability check and

foundation design.

 Partial safety factors for loads for different combinations and for different
works are not similar. They are chosen as specified in code

 Refer IRC 6 – 2010, Table 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 for combination of loads
• HS loading
It consists of truck with semi-trailer or the corresponding lane
loading. Lane load consists of a uniform load per unit length of
traffic lane combined with a concentrated load (one concentrate
load for simply supported span and two concentrated load in case of
continuous span).
HS loading may be HS 20-44 and HS 15-44.

It consists of a two-axle truck or the corresponding lane load. Lane

load consists of a uniform load per unit length of traffic lane
combined with a single concentrated load (two concentrated load in
case of continuous span).
H loading may be H 20-44 and H 15-44.
AASHTO Truck Loading
Live Loading

8000 lbs 32000 lbs H 20-44 8000 lbs 32000 lbs 32000 lbs HS 20-44
6000 lbs 24000 lbs H 15-44 6000 lbs 24000 lbs 24000 lbs HS 15-44

6' 6'
14' 14' 14'-30’

Lane Loading
18000 lbs for bending moment H 20-44
26000 lbs for shear force
HS 20-44
640 lbs/ft

13500 lbs for bending moment

19500 lbs for shear force
HS 15-44
480 lbs/ft H 15-44
 Responses of bridge in different codal standard

Maximum bending moment (KN-m)

AASHTO BS
IRC loading
Span (HS20-44) HA HB
(M)
One Two
One lane Two lane One lane Two lane One lane Two lane lane lane
5 687 687 231 462 243 488 756 838
10 1548 1548 573 1146 694 1388 1863 2095
15 2725 2725 1073 2146 1336 2672 3331 3776
20 4198 4198 1552 3104 2175 4350 5654 6379
25 5680 5680 2022 4044 3156 6312 7862 8914
30 7058 7058 2481 4962 4151 8302 10085 11468
35 8412 8412 2935 5870 5184 10368 12315 14043
40 9739 9739 3379 6758 6340 12680 14550 16663
45 11059 11059 3863 7726 7501 15002 16788 19288
50 12496 12496 4597 9194 8656 17312 19029 21914
 Maximum Live Load Shear Force
for Two Lane Simply Supported Bridge (KN-M)

1800
1694
1600 1619
1509
1400

1200
IRC
1000 1020
AASHTO
800
750
BS
716 738
600 596

400

200

0
10m 20m 25m 30
 Maximum Live Load Bending Moment
for Two Lane Simply Supported Bridge (KN-M)

14000

12000
11468

10000
8914
8000 IRC
AASHTO
6379
6000 BS
4962
4000 4044
3104
2000 2095
1146
0
10m 20m 25m 30