Published: 2024-03-25

Method of determination of the service load capacity of existing railway bridges and viaduct called “RYM-SZYNA”

Janusz Rymsza

Abstract

Determination of service load capacity of existing railway bridges and viaducts in Poland is based on the design requirements given in the current design standard. This is incorrect, both in technical and economic terms. Such approach results from the fact that the minister responsible for transportation issued a regulation that imposes usage of service loads comprising solely of vertical loads when analyzing existing bridge structures; rules for determination of other variable loads, e.g. braking forces, are not given in the regulation. The article presents principles for determination of all the necessary loads and actions – both permanent and variable. They have been adopted based on the standard that was introduced in Poland in 1985. Requirements of this standard have already proved adequate in decades of engineering design practice. Using the principles given in this article, one may determine the service load capacity of an existing railway structure, taking into account not only the vertical load specified in the regulation of the minister, but also all the necessary loads and actions included in the Polish standard.

Keywords:

brick vaulted bridges, existing railway bridges and viaducts, safety factors, service load capacity, side impacts of rolling stock.

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Citation rules

Rymsza, J. (2024). Method of determination of the service load capacity of existing railway bridges and viaduct called “RYM-SZYNA”. Roads and Bridges - Drogi I Mosty, 23(1), 5–28. https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.024.001

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