Administration of abnormal vehicles

Assessing the effects of abnormal vehicles on bridge structures

Administration of abnormal vehicles
We classified a Green Motorway Network for Ireland, i.e. a network for which typical abnormal vehicles, up to 100 tonnes, could expect to receive a permit.
Team Profile Photo_Joe Kelly

Joe Kelly

Director
Client
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)
Completed
2014
Location
Ireland

Summary

Roughan & O’Donovan Innovative Solutions (ROD-IS) was commissioned by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to develop software tools to assess the effects of abnormal vehicles on bridge structures. 

Background

In Ireland, vehicles that do not comply with the weight or dimension limits specified in the regulations must apply for a permit before they are legally allowed to travel on the roads.

Solution

ROD-IS designed a user-friendly software tool to enable engineering staff in local authorities and law enforcement agencies to administer and manage the issuing of permits for abnormal vehicles on Ireland's major inter-urban (MIU) network.

Whilst consideration must be given to the bridges located along the journey path of all abnormal vehicles, specialist knowledge of bridge analysis algorithms and optimisation procedures is not a requirement for using the tool.

Challenge

The project involved extensive data and statistical analysis, including:

  • Complex statistical analysis of UK Weigh-in-Motion records
  • Detailed analysis of the Eirspan database of bridges in Ireland
  • Comprehensive statistical analysis of Irish abnormal vehicle permit records

Services provided:

  • Weigh in Motion
  • Traffic load modelling