Computer simulation for dynamic wheel loads of heavy vehicles

The characteristics of dynamic wheel loads of heavy vehicles running on bridge and rigid<br />surface are investigated by using three-dimensional analytical model. The simulated dynamic wheel loads<br />of vehicles are compared with the experimental results carried out by Road-Vehicles Research Institute of<br />Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) to verify the validity of the analytical<br />model. Also another comparison of the analytical result with the experimental one for Umeda Entrance<br />Bridge of Hanshin Expressway in Osaka, Japan, is presented in this study. The agreement between the<br />analytical and experimental results is satisfactory and encouraging the use of the analytical model in<br />practice. Parametric study shows that the dynamic increment factor (DIF) of the bridge and RMS values<br />of dynamic wheel loads are fluctuated according to vehicle speeds and vehicle types as well as roadway<br />roughness conditions. Moreover, there exist strong dominant frequency resemblance between bounce<br />motion of vehicle and bridge response as well as those relations between RMS values of dynamic wheel<br />loads and dynamic increment factor (DIF) of bridges.