Title: On the use of bridge weigh-in-motion for overweight truck enforcement

Authors: Jim Richardson; Steven Jones; Alan Brown; Eugene O'Brien; Donya Hajializadeh

Addresses: Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0205, USA ' Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0205, USA ' Mannings (Asia) Consultants Ltd., Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong ' School of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, University College Dublin, Newstead, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland ' School of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, University College Dublin, Newstead, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Abstract: Bridge weigh-in-motion (B-WIM) is a method by which the axle weights of a vehicle travelling at full highway speed can be determined using a bridge instrumented with sensors. This paper looks at the history of B-WIM, beginning with early work on weigh-in-motion (WIM) technologies in the 1960s leading to its invention by Fred Moses and George Goble in the USA in the mid 1970s. Research initiatives in Australia and Europe have focused on improving B-WIM accuracy. The moving force identification (MFI) method models the dynamic fluctuation of axle forces on the bridge and holds particular promise. B-WIM accuracy depends on bridge site conditions as well as the particular data processing algorithm. The accuracy classifications of several B-WIM installations reported in the literature are summarised in this paper. Current accuracy levels are sufficient for selecting vehicles to be weighed using static scales, but insufficient for direct enforcement.

Keywords: B-WIM; bridge weigh-in-motion; truck weight enforcement; heavy vehicle systems; WIM accuracy classification; overweight trucks; axle weights; moving force identification; MFI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2014.061632

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2014 Vol.21 No.2, pp.83 - 104

Published online: 25 Oct 2014 *

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