Live load factors for military traffic in bridge evaluation

Military vehicles are sometimes required to transit bridges owned and operated by civilian bridge authorities. Using available data regarding the gross vehicle weight associated axle loads of military traffic, live load factors, calibrated Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code, proposed for design evaluation. This paper recommends factors three categories vehicles: (i) wheeled-transport vehicles; (ii) wheeled-fighting (iii) tracked-fighting vehicles. The values derived interior girders simply supported slab-on-girder subjected a single lane traffic loading believed be generally applicable other structural elements types. Inherent differences between fighting vehicles, which heavily armoured, transport although armoured have high payloads, suggest that highway should evaluated separately using distinct factors.