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InTrans

Institute for Transportation

InTrans|Research|In-Progress

Impact of Legalized 25-Kip Axle Loads for Self-Propelled Implements of Husbandry on Iowa Bridges

Project Details
STATUS

In-Progress

PROJECT NUMBER

21-781, TR-798, SPR-RE22(009)-8H-00

START DATE

11/01/21

END DATE

04/30/24

FOCUS AREAS

Infrastructure

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, BEC
SPONSORS

Iowa Department of Transportation
Iowa Highway Research Board

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Justin Dahlberg

Director, BEC

Co-Principal Investigator
Brent Phares

Bridge Research Engineer, BEC

About the research

Recent legislation in the State of Iowa has increased the allowable axle weight of certain implements of husbandry to 25 kips. This change poses a particular concern to those who oversee and manage the construction and preservation of bridge structures. Based upon initial estimates, it is expected that the resulting structural response of bridges will exceed that which would be otherwise seen from current legal loads. This project aims to identify the load response of Iowa bridges to the increased live load limit and develop recommendations for load factors, live load distribution factors, and impact factors for Iowa bridges. Additionally, an Iowa-specific notional vehicle to be used for load rating bridges for recently legislated 25 kip axle vehicles will be developed and proposed.

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