Load Capacity Rating of Railroad Bridges

[bpstruct]

Have a client that is inquiring about us performing a load capacity rating on some privately held railroad bridges. The bridges are comprised of different structural materials (some timber, some steel, some concrete) and vary in span. Haven't done much work with AREMA and wondering how involved these things are supposed to be. Just needing to get some fees put together. Is the AREMA Manual of Railway Engineering as involved as AASHTO? Has anyone out there done one of these load capacity ratings?

 

[kingnero]

I am not trying to be Captain Obvious, but are you sure no original documents can be found (original designer, (previous) owner (or other users) of the railroad, at the city, ...) ?

 

[traderjon]

AREMA is not difficult to follow, but it is different. Fatigue is one area more highly emphasized in AREMA. I had never done a heavy rail bridge before and was able to figure it out, but it did take awhile to go through the manual (there are four volumes, but you will be in only one most of the time). I always tell people that if I can do it, anybody can.

If you are using AASHTO LRFD, welcome back to ASD.

 

[wiktor]

The AREMA is similar to the old AASHTO ASD/LFD, so the rating will be not as complicated, and typically, all railway structures are structurally determinate. Assume the degree of difficulty at par with rating according to old AASHTO.

 

[bpstruct]

Thanks for the responses. Gives me some confidence. The FRA has required that ALL railroad bridges go through a bridge management program - inspection and load rating. There may be drawings but deterioration of structural elements has to be accounted for and a new load rating determined based on such inspections.

 

[dhengr]

Talk with the servicing RR or their predecessors to see if they have plans, they may have been the owners at one time. The plans would make for a better starting point. I understand that your rating, at this time, must include the current condition of the bridge and all its parts.