Paradigm Shift in Road Bridge Design for Traffic Loads

On the Introduction of Civil Traffic Load Instead of Military Loads

Abstract

Initially, the design load requirements for road bridges were determined by military transport needs. The steam-tractor load, which appeared in the first Hungarian bridge code, reflected the civilian needs of the time. From 1950 onwards, the design was based on the 60-tonne tank as a military vehicle. To this day, the military requirements still apply in the bridge regulations. The new draft of the Hungarian bridge code now being prepared includes a Eurocode-based civil load requirement. Therefore, the proposed loads should be checked from a military point of view before the publication of the new design code of the road bridges.