This project involved the structural design of a 10 m × 4.5 m heavy-duty concrete deck for a fully loaded underground mining truck with axle loads of up to 62 tonnes. Using a 3D model of the deck with the design vehicle in position, we developed the critical design load cases from the manufacturer’s axle data and designed the steel girders and reinforced concrete deck. Our checks covered bending, shear, deflection and support reactions under heavy wheel loads, including dynamic and off-centre loading, lateral restraint of the girders and uplift at the supports, with the design carried out to AS 4100, AS 3600 and AS/NZS 1170. The deck reinforcement was then selected to safely resist all of these forces, with the bar sizes and spacings chosen for the heaviest wheel loads. The result is a robust, buildable deck backed by clear calculations and drawings, giving the client confidence in its long-term performance under demanding mine site conditions.
