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Laboratory Testing Of Railroad Flatcars For Use As Highway Bridges On Low-Volume Roads To Determine Ultimate Strength And Redundancy, Teresa L. Washeleski, Robert Connor, Jason B. Lloyd

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Technical Reports

Railroad flatcars (RRFCs) are a convenient option to replace existing deteriorating bridge structures on low-volume roads. They are typically used as the bridge superstructure by placing two or more flatcars side-by-side to achieve the desired bridge width. Utilizing RRFCs as a bridge allows for rapid construction and greater cost savings compared to traditional practices. These benefits make them an attractive solution for rural communities in Indiana, as well as other states.

Uncertainty remains about the response under higher loads than could be easily achieved in the field and the level of redundancy of railroad flatcar bridges. Using RRFCs as bridges …