A systematic approach was proposed to assess vehicle accident risk over sea-crossing bridges under strong winds. The annual frequency of an accident was evaluated as a risk index using the information on daily traffic volumes, the ratio of high-sided vehicles, and the long-term distribution of the speed and direction of the wind at the bridge site. The approach considered the effect that deck shapes and road alignments exert on vehicle stability. The risk index was estimated by accounting for the entire road sections of the examined bridge, including approach spans. The proposed method successfully identified the vulnerable positions along the bridge and the vehicle types. The application on a sea-crossing bridge demonstrated the usefulness of the proposed risk-assessment approach in determining a preferable mitigation strategy with less traffic intervention or minimized windscreen installation by quantitative comparisons between risk indices of several possible measures.

This study is an examination into the feasibility of a quasi-static approach to evaluating the reaction forces that impact tires. This information could lend valuable insight into efforts to limit overturning and side-slip accidents of vehicles exposed to strong side winds. The performance of the quasi-static approach was evaluated by comparing the calculated tire forces with those created using TruckSim, which is a dynamic vehicle analysis software. Governing equations were formulated for two types of vehicles that are susceptible to the force of wind, vans, and trailers, by considering a force equilibrium, a compatibility condition, and several assumptions. The quasi-static approach for trailers is a novel expansion of the conventional approach to a two-axle vehicle. Proposed enhancements to the quasi-static approach reflect the additional rolling moment of a trailer. The curvature and the cant of a curved road were accounted for via centrifugal forces. Both uniform and turbulent wind conditions were considered in questioning the feasibility of this novel approach.