Bridge Load Limit

[yanmars]

Could you have him carry a lighter/partial load or a smaller truck?

 

[BrokenTrack]

The real problem is with the I beams used. There was quite a bit of talk about the other components of the bridge, but it does not really matter. They are sitting on (4) 10 inch I beams only 3/8 thick. The thickness is not so much of a concern, as much as their depth. 10 inches is not that strong.

But the real, real, real issue is: you have a trucker that will not cross it, and I doubt that would change if you had built it out of 20 inch deep I beams. So, you really need a new truck driver.

Or, have him dump on this side of the bridge, and use your tractor and bucket to ferry it over the bridge, as long as the distance is not that far.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Would only have to dump some of it. Be easier and less costly to just haul smaller loads I suspect. Or find another supplier.

 

[Deere Dude]

Depending on how far away the quarry is I would consider a 5 yd truck. Smaller truck and smaller load multiple times.

 

[Egon]

For your situation either make a bypass on the creek bed or get some stamped plans.

The bridge looks good at first glance and may be quite strong but looking more closely every aspect of it starting with the footings would negate getting proper approval from any authority. I would doubt a professional would even try to determine an acceptable load for the bridge. Relying Only on beam tables for design strength is a far cry from how the bridge design works.

 

[Egon]

For your situation either make a bypass on the creek bed or get some stamped plans.

The bridge looks good at first glance and may be quite strong but looking more closely every aspect of it starting with the footings would negate getting proper approval from any authority. I would doubt a professional would even try to determine an acceptable load for the bridge. Relying Only on beam tables for design strength is a far cry from how bridge design works.

 

[fried1765]

For your situation either make a bypass on the creek bed or get some stamped plans.

The bridge looks good at first glance and may be quite strong but looking more closely every aspect of it starting with the footings would negate getting proper approval from any authority. I would doubt a professional would even try to determine an acceptable load for the bridge. Relying Only on beam tables for design strength is a far cry from how the bridge design works.

^^^^^^EXACTLY why I stated ..ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT...in my post #15.
I asked one of my old Civil engineering college roommates about this too. He is a retired state DOT Registered Professional Engineer (still does bridge const. consulting).
He said: Not only NO, but HE11 no!

 

[BrokenTrack]

^^^^^^EXACTLY why I stated ..ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT...in my post #15.
I asked one of my old Civil engineering college roommates about this too. He is a retired state DOT Registered Professional Engineer (still does bridge const. consulting).
He said: Not only NO, but HE11 no!

But to be fair, I would expect that. They design bridges for a safety factor of two or more.

He would cringe if he saw some of the bridges we have hauled 100,000 pound loads of logs over, but as I said in my first post, it is not often you have a bridge so long that the whole truck is on the bridge at once.

Here is a fun fact though: Maine had the first weight limits for trucks.

 

[mwb]

Google a software tool called "Beam Boy". This is a very simple to use engineering tool that will calculate stress and deflection for you. Download BeamBoy 2.

Garbage in = garbage out so you need to be careful of your assumptions. This SW has selectable beams (just pick the one you are using) or you can spec out your own (more complicated).

 

[Egon]

As has been mentioned there are quite a few more factors involved than a set tables.