ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a review of the vessel collision analysis and design codes used in the United States for highway bridges. It describes major bridge accidents, collapses in the US and the background and development of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide Specification and Commentary for Vessel Collision Design of Highway Bridges and vessel collision provisions of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. The AASHTO Guide Specification established design provisions for bridges crossing navigable waterways to minimise their susceptibility to damage from vessel collisions. The Guide Specification contains three alternative analysis methods for determining the design vessel for each bridge component in the structure in accordance with standard risk acceptance criteria. These are: semi-deterministic procedure; detailed risk analysis procedure; and cost-effectiveness of risk reduction procedure. Vessel aberrancy is usually a result of pilot error, adverse environmental conditions, or mechanical failure.
