Dynamic load allowance: a synthesis of the state of the art

The dynamic interaction between heavy vehicles and bridges is a key consideration for bridge loading. Over many decades, engineers have sought to understand the phenomenon and determine suitable design rules to ensure safe designs. However, with the aging of vast networks of highway infrastructure in many countries, there is a need to avoid overly-conservative assessment of existing bridges. In such cases the traditional worst-case scenario approach is better replaced by a probabilistic approach. But this approach is difficult given the subject matter and wide range of variables in the problem.