Load rating of bridges - current practices and issues

The most common approach to assess the safety of a bridge is load rating. Load rating of bridges is an important task that needs more attention and to be exercised with care. A prior knowledge base is highly essential in performing such a forbidden task. In this paper load rating practices carried out globally is reviewed with special emphasis on fatigue effect. The behaviour of members and materials under fatigue loading, various models proposed to simulate fatigue loading are highlighted.