ABSTRACT
Arch bridges are amongst the oldest types of bridges used by engineers. Some of the arch bridges built during the Roman Empire are still standing today. Arches have been commonly used in both highway and railroad bridges. Prior to the indus trial revolution, arch bridges were built using stone s or bricks. Then, steel and concrete arch bridges became more commonly used. The codes and guidelines used for designing these bridges are outdated and m ay not be compatible with the current design standards and m oving load conditions. Many of these arch bridges have been in servic e for several decades and have experienced significant deterioration. Therefore, it is ess ential to perform load rating for these bridges to a ssess their load carrying capacity and evaluate the need for strengthening and repair work. This paper demonstrates the load rating of a major stone arch railroad bridge in the Northeast Corridor of the USA.
