Parapet Strength and Contribution to Live-Load Response for Superload Passages

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of parapets on the live-load response of slab-on-girder steel bridges subjected to superload vehicles and the effects of these loads on the parapets. A superload is a special permit truck that exceeds the predefined weight limitation. The presence of parapets can result in reduced girder distribution factors (GDFs) for critical girders, and this reserve strength can be considered for passage of a superload truck. This reduction is investigated, as well as the effects of discontinuous parapets and the capacity of parapets. Two steel bridges with significantly different geometric proportions were analyzed to evaluate the sensitivity of the structure to the effects of parapets. It was found that the GDFs can be decreased by as much as 30%, depending on the stiffness of the girders and the transverse truck position if the parapets are included in the analysis. The axial forces and bending moments resisted by the parapets were compared with the capacity of the parapets. The parapets and their connection with the deck were found to have adequate strength to accommodate the demand imposed by the superload trucks included in the study. For the discontinuous parapets, the open joint was determined to be acting like a notch, which increases the bottom flange stresses in the positive moment region and the tensile deck stresses in the negative moment region.