Computer simulation for dynamic wheel loads of heavy vehicles

The characteristics of dynamic wheel loads of heavy vehicles running on bri dge and rigid surface are investigated by using three-dimensional analytica l model. The simulated dynamic wheel loads of vehicles are compared with th e experimental results carried out by Road-Vehicles Research Institute of N etherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) to verify the validity of the analytical model. Also another comparison of the analytica l result with the experimental one for Umeda Entrance Bridge of Hanshin Exp ressway in Osaka, Japan, is presented in this study. The agreement between the analytical and experimental results is satisfactory and encouraging the use of the analytical model in practice. Parametric study shows that the d ynamic increment factor (DIF) of the bridge and RMS values of dynamic wheel loads are fluctuated according to vehicle speeds and vehicle types as well as roadway roughness conditions. Moreover, there exist strong dominant fre quency resemblance between bounce motion of vehicle and bridge response as well as those relations between RMS values of dynamic wheel loads and dynam ic increment factor (DIF) of bridges.