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Pedestrian Bridge Wind Loads

Pedestrian Bridge Wind Loads

Pedestrian Bridge Wind Loads

(OP)
I am working on some repairs for a 300 foot long pedestrian bridge that is 50'-0" above the ground. I am tasked with designing a temporary wood platform to span across an 8'-0" section of the bridge deck that will be removed and replaced. I will be designing for 100psf live load, so I'm not too concerned about my gravity loads. I'm not sure how to calculate the vertical uplift that my platform needs to be designed to resist. I read in the AASHTO document that I have "Unless otherwise determined in Article 3.8.3, a vertical upward wind force of 0.020ksf times the width of the deck, including parapets and sidewalks, shall be considered to be a longitudinal line load."

What other references should I look at? I was expecting to need to design for more than 20psf.

Thanks!

EIT

RE: Pedestrian Bridge Wind Loads

Since you are designing a temporary work platform and not part of the bridge itself, I would lean toward ASCE7 rather than AASHTO (although it would be prudent to also check based on whatever you can find in AASHTO).

Depending on the arrangement and support conditions of the platform, it could be classified as an open structure.

RE: Pedestrian Bridge Wind Loads

On our local greenbelt hike/bike trails, we have some little pre-fab bridges that show load ratings for 5,000 lbs if I remember right. Which seems completely overkill until you realize that they can and do drive police cars and maintenance vehicles over them.

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