ABSTRACT
Compared to small and medium-span bridges, long-span bridges have longer loading spaces and more complex extreme response value scenarios. It is shown that the phenomena of heavy vehicle aggregation and heavy vehicle queuing are important factors affecting the response extremes of long-span bridges both in congested and free flow traffic situations. Therefore, is necessary to study the correlation between heavy vehicle weights for extreme response value scenarios in long-span bridges. Based on previous studies, this paper analyzes and demonstrates in detail the necessity to account for the correlation between vehicle weights when considering extreme response value scenarios, and proposes a methodology for its modeling. It is concluded that a correlation length of 100 meters is recommended, and that for the most extreme response scenarios involving long-span bridges, it is necessary to re-evaluate the correlation between GVWs.
