Dynamic Impact Factors on Existing Long Span Truss Railroad Bridges

TRB's Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Safety Project 25: Dynamic Impact Factors on Existing Long Span Truss Railroad Bridges explores the effect of train speeds, specifically speeds higher than the current allowable operating speed limit, on dynamic impact factors for a bridge. The project develops an accurate finite element (FE) model of an existing long-span truss bridge and documents field testing of the subject bridge with actual trains of varying consists, axle loads, axle spacing, and traveling speeds.