DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY

MANUAL
FOR
LOAD RATING OF BRIDGES

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SECOND EDITION
2009
 Preface

PREFACE

Manual for Load Rating of Bridges, 2009

The Bridge Management System (BMS) was developed by the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) through the World Bank – Assisted, Road Information and
Management Support System (RIMSS-CO7). Alongside of DPWH also prepared the Bridge
Inspection Manual in 2004. The DPWH has continuously exert efforts to improve the BMS,
hence asked the technical assistant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
and revised the BMS - Bridge Inspection Manual in 2007 with the help of the DPWH Technical
Working Group.

The revised BMS – Bridge Inspection Manual (BMS – BIM 2007), focused mainly on the
detailed procedures in the conduct of bridge condition survey and bridge condition criteria.
Moreover, the manual provides a clearer definition on how to assess the condition of bridges
based on the defects or damages by outlining more specific measurement guidelines of the
defects on bridge elements. A bridge condition rating card is also introduced with the manual.
With the revision of the BMS-BIM 2007, the number of Bridge Inception Types is reduced from
seven to five inspection types to avoid overlapping activities and simplify the required actions.

On the other hand, the second edition of the Manual for the Load Rating of Bridges (MLRB 2nd
ED., 2009) considers the changes in the BMS-BIM 2007. Taking into account the five bridge
inspection types and the bridge condition inspection criteria.

This Manual, MLRB 2nd Ed., 2009 includes the Computer-based Program on Load Rating, is
part of the DPWH Technical Cooperation Project for the Improvement of the Quality
Management for Highway and Bridge Construction and Maintenance. The revised edition
comprises of In-depth Inspection for Load Ratings, Load Rating Examples and Computer-
based Program on Load Rating.

This new edition will make the load rating procedures easier for the field engineers in
calculating the allowable load of trucks carrying cargoes that could pass on our national
bridges. This will ensure not only the public safety but also for the preservation of our bridge
structures.

ii Manual for Load Rating of Bridges, 2nd Ed.

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 Acknowledgment

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

To the MLRB 2009

Revision of this Manual including the Computer-based Program on Load Ratings is sponsored
by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the supervision of Mr. Hideo
Nagao, JICA Bridge Expert with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
Technical Cooperation Project for the Improvement of Quality Management for Highways and
Bridge Construction and Maintenance.

MANUAL PREPARATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS

MLRB 2ND Edition, March 2009

Mr.Hideo Nagao Bridge Expert,

Japan International Cooperation Agency

Mr. Adriano Doroy Chief Bridge Division,

Bureau of Design, DPWH

Mr. Rufino D. Valiente Bridge Engineer,

Bureau of Design, DPWH

Mr. Hiroshi Honda Bridge Expert,

Japan Bridge & Structure Institute, Inc.

Ms. Rebecca T. Garsuta BMS Overall Coordinator/JICA-TCP,

Deputy Project Manager

Ms. Mary Ann T. Bautista OIC-Project Assessment Section,

BMS Manager, DPD, Planning Service

Mr. Emmanuel A. Adriano BMS Team Member/JICA-TCP, Counterpart

Manual for Load Rating of Bridges, 2nd Ed. iii

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 Acknowledgment

ABBREVIATIONS

ASM Allowable Stress Method

AASHTO American Association of State Highways Transportation Officials
BIM Bridge Inspection Manual
BMS Bridge Management System
BOD Bureau of Design
BRS Bureau of Research and Standards
CBPLR Computer-Based Program on Load Rating of Bridges
DEO District Engineering Office
DPWH Department of Public Works & Highways
GVW Gross Vehicle Weight
JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency
KEI Katahira Engineering Incorporated
LFM Load Factor Method
LRFM Load and Resistant Factor Method
LR Load Rating
MCEB Manual for Condition Evaluation Bridges
MLRB Manual for Load Rating of Bridges
PCBG Prestressed Concrete Box Girder
PCDG Prestressed Concrete Deck Girder
PCG Prestressed Concrete Girder
PWRI Public Works Research Institute
RA Republic Act
RC Reinforce Concrete
RCBG Reinforce Concrete Box Girder
RCDG Reinforce Concrete Deck Girder
RCFS Reinforce Concrete Flat Slab
RCS Reinforce Concrete Slab
RF Rating Factor
RO Regional Office
SIG (NCS) Steel I-Girders with Non- Composite Concrete Slab
SIG (CCS) Steel I-Girder with Composite Concrete Slab
SBG Steel Box Girder
SDG Steel Deck Girder
SDT Steel Deck Truss
STT Steel Through Truss

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Foreword........................................................................................................................ i
Preface........................................................................................................................... ii
Acknowledgment......................................................................................................... iii
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ iv
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... v

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1

1.1 Purpose of the Manual .............................................................. 1
1.2 Scope of the Manual .................................................................. 1
1.3 The DPWH BMS - Bridge Inspection Manual ............................ 2
1.4 Load Carrying Capacity of Bridges .......................................... 6
1.5 Load Rating Considerations ...................................................... 7
1.6 Load Rating Procedure .............................................................. 8

Chapter 2 ENGINEERING AND IN-DEPTH INSPECTION FOR LOAD RATING ........ 11

2.1 Introduction ................................................................................. 11
2.2 Considerations for In-Depth Inspection ..................................... 11
2.3 Procedure for In-Depth Inspection............................................. 12
2.4 Causes of Defects and Damages in Bridge Structures .......... 14
2.5 Visual Inspection ......................................................................... 22
2.6 Damage-Prone Members .......................................................... 23
2.7 Damage Rating and Condition States ...................................... 23

Chapter 3 LOAD RATING ......................................................................................... 25

3.1 Load Rating Principles ................................................................ 25
3.2 Load Rating Method .................................................................. 26
3.3 Load Rating Levels ..................................................................... 30
3.4 Loadings ....................................................................................... 31
3.5 Material Properties and Nominal Resistance or Capacity (R) 35
3.6 Rating Bridge Decks .................................................................... 40
3.7 Rating Reinforced Concrete Girder Bridges ........................... 41
3.8 Rating Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges ........................... 43
3.9 Rating Steel Bridges .................................................................... 44
3.10 Rating Truss Bridges ..................................................................... 45
3.11 Rating Bridges Without Plans ..................................................... 47
3.12 Load Posting ................................................................................ 48
3.13 Reporting and Documentation ................................................ 51

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Page

Chapter 4 LOAD RATING EXAMPLES ...................................................................... 57

4.1 General ........................................................................................ 57
4.2 Example 1: Reinforced Concrete FLAT Slab Bridge ............... 58
4.2.1 Example 1-1: Simple ........................................................... 58
4.2.2 Example 1-2: Continuous .................................................. 60
4.3 Example 2: Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder Bridge ........... 62
4.3.1 Example 2-1: Simple ........................................................... 62
4.3.2 Example 2-2: Continuous .................................................. 64
4.4 Example 3: Pre-stressed Concrete Deck Girder Bridge ........... 66
4.4.1 Example 3-1: Simple ........................................................... 66
4.4.2 Example 3-2: Continuous .................................................. 68
4.5 Example 4: Steel I - Girder Bridge ............................................ 70
4.5.1 Example 4-1: Simple ........................................................... 70
4.5.2 Example 4-2: Continuous .................................................. 72
4.6 Example 5: Reinforced Concrete Deck Slab ........................... 74

Chapter 5 COMPUTER-BASED PROGRAM ON LOAD RATING .............................. 77

5.1 Purpose of the Computer-based Program ............................. 77
5.2 Scope of the Computer-based Program ................................ 77
5.3 Procedure of the Computer-based Program ......................... 78

Appendix I Damage-Prone Members ................................................................. 81

Bridge Inspection Points by Structure Type ...................................... 83
Bridge Inspection Points by Damage Type ..................................... 99

Appendix II Load Rating Examples......................................................................... 111

Example 1: Reinforced Concrete FLAT Slab Bridge ....................... 115

Example 1-1: Simple ....................................................................... 116
Computer based calculation ........................................... 116
Manual calculation ............................................................ 127
Example 1-2: Continuous ............................................................... 134
Computer based calculation ........................................... 134
Manual calculation ............................................................ 145

Example 2: Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder Bridge .................. 155

Example 2-1: Simple ....................................................................... 156
Computer based calculation ........................................... 156
Manual calculation ............................................................ 167
Example 2-2: Continuous ............................................................... 176

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Computer based calculation ........................................... 176

Manual calculation ............................................................ 187

Example 3: Pre-stressed Concrete Deck Girder Bridge ................ 199

Example 3-1: Simple ................................................................. 200
Computer based calculation ........................................ 200
Manual calculation ......................................................... 212
Example 3-2: Continuous ........................................................ 222
Computer based calculation ........................................ 222
Manual calculation ......................................................... 234

Example 4: Steel I - Girder Bridge ................................................. 249

Example 4-1: Simple ................................................................. 250
Computer based calculation ........................................ 250
Manual calculation ......................................................... 257
Example 4-2: Continuous ........................................................ 264
Computer based calculation ........................................ 264
Manual calculation ......................................................... 271

Example 5: Reinforced Concrete Deck Slab .............................. 279

Computer based calculation ........................................ 280
Manual calculation ......................................................... 286

Appendix III Rating Calculation Aids ..................................................................... 293

Appendix IV Load Posting Sign ............................................................................... 317

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