Engineering Commons^™

Development Of Load Rating Procedures For Railroad Flatcars For Use As Highway Bridges Based On Experimental And Numerical Studies - Phase Iii Final Report, Kadir Can Sener, Teresa L. Washeleski, Robert Connor

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Technical Reports

This report presents the result of finite element analysis of laboratory testing of a railroad flatcar bridge in which several parameters were varied including the spacing between flatcars, load position, and member relative stiffness. The results were used to improve previously proposed load rating guidelines developed for railroad flatcar bridges constructed with composite concrete decks.

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 …

Development Of Guidelines For The Rating, Inspection, And Acquisition Of Railroad Flatcars For Use As Highway Bridges On Low-Volume Roads, Jason T. Provines, Robert Connor

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Technical Reports

Due to budget constraints, many state and county highway agencies are often forced to develop innovative and economical rehabilitation strategies for deteriorated bridges. One such option is to use a retired railroad flatcar for a bridge superstructure. Railroad flatcars can be found in many lengths, making them versatile options for replacing bridges of a range of span lengths up to about 90 feet. Railroad flatcars are also completely modular and lightweight, allowing for quick construction. Within Indiana, as well as other states, several of these bridge structures have been in service for many years.

Although their performance has been satisfactory, …