Statistical Analysis of Extreme Live Load Effects on Indonesian Bridges

This study investigates the live load effects on simply supported beam bridges by considering important factors such as vehicle weight, speed, axle spacing, and following distance. The analysis utilizes data from the Pawiro Baru Bridge weigh-in-motion (B-WIM) system, located in the Northcoast of Central Java National Road, Indonesia. The site of the B-WIM system is characterized by high numbers of heavy vehicles and high traffic volume. Data collected over one year is employed to analyze the live load characteristics and assess their impact on bridge structures. Finite element models are developed for four types of simply supported beam bridges with spans ranging from 25 to 40 meters, and moving load analysis is conducted to simulate traffic loading conditions. By employing statistical methods of extremes, the maximum value distribution of live load for a bridge's projected 75-year lifetime is determined. The results indicate that the mean value of the live load for the simply supported beam bridges, based on B-WIM measurements of actual traffic flow, is lower than the nominal design live load specified by the SNI 1725 2016 Bridge Loading code. However, the standard deviations and distribution data obtained from the study offer valuable insights for the reliability-based evaluation of standard-designed simply supported beam bridges in Indonesia. This research contributes to enhancing the understanding of live load effects on Indonesian bridges, particularly in the context of simply supported beam bridges. By incorporating B-WIM measurements and statistics of extremes, accurate assessments of live load characteristics are made possible