As a follow-up to the 1976 OECD study on bridge inspection, the report presents a state-of-the-art review on the "evaluation of the load carrying capacity of existing road bridges". It reviews vehicle and traffic characteristics with the aim of examining actual bridge loading patterns, and discusses the growing problem of exceptional heavy vehicles. A comparative analysis of national bridge codes and standards is made and external loading and environmental factors are considered insofar as they affect load carrying capacity. A special chapter is devoted to methods of assessing bridge conditions. The report then describes the present state-of-the-art regarding bridge rating systems, as well as the results of a comparative calculation, using different national schemes. It ends with a list of conclusions and recommendations for the attention of road transport and bridge authorities, and a discussion of research needs in this area of increasing economic and technological importance.(a) this report is published in French under the title: "evaluation de la capacite portante des ouvrages d'art".
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