Shear force distribution in steel bridge girders

Most engineers use empirical formulas stated in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) code to design various bridge projects. Recent research suggests that the distribution factors which result from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Load Resistance Factor Design (AASHTO LRFD) are overestimated or underestimated in various load cases when compared with finite element analysis. This paper will present a comparison between the shear live load distribution factors of a simple span concrete slab on steel girders bridge based on the current AASHTO LRFD equations and finite element analysis. The details of the bridge design example that will be used for this study will be discussed further in this paper.