Institute for Transportation

The purpose of this report is to provide background information which explains the rationale undergirding the design procedures written by the author for the RTA and on behalf of the Joint Venture Partners. As such, this report serves as an expanded commentary on the design procedures, referencing the relevant research by the author and outcomes from testing at the University of Technology, Sydney. In particular, this document references the two main research reports previously written and published by the author, which provide much of the technical undergirding for the design of SLT plate bridge decks in Australia. It also makes particular freference to the relevant overseas codes of practice, highlighting both similarities and differences, as well as reasons as to why Australian practices differ from those overseas.