Evaluation of Impact Factors for Horizontally Curved Steel Box Bridges

Abstract

This paper presents the dynamic impact factors for horizontally curved steel box‐girder bridges. The dynamic impact is presented as a function of the span length and the first fundamental frequency. The results are discussed and compared with the impact provisions as applied in the previous AASHTO specifications and the Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code. It is concluded that the impact functions previously specified by AASHTO exhibit shortcomings and do not apply for a large percentage of designs. Consequently, an alternate set of impact factors for horizontally curved steel box‐girder bridges is developed.