Transverse load-spread of a voided bridge deck: Comparison between a grillage model and an orthotropic plate model

Orthotropic bridges can be modelled using a grillage model and an orthotropic plate model. The grillage model has some benefits (i.e.: shorter calculation time and easier to apply pre-stressing) compared to the orthotropic plate model. However, during the Blankenburgverbinding project Ballast Nedam experienced that the transverse load-spread of...