Studies on Multi-Body Heavy Vehicle–Bridge Interaction

Highway bridges face growing demands from heavier, more complex trucks that are often overlooked in current design codes. These vehicles generate vibrations that combine with large static loads, making their effects critical. Existing methods for vehicle–bridge interaction have shortcomings. Numerical approaches are challenging for modelling arbitrary vehicle types. Many studies do not consider enough influencing factors. Computation times are high for realistic analysis. Theoretical approaches remain limited. This research develops advanced and efficient methods that overcome these gaps. The results improve prediction of bridge behaviour and support safer, more sustainable transport infrastructure worldwide.