The literature suggests design codes are moving towards unity, however at present there are a number of codes of practice that can be used in the process of bridge design. In order to compile a comparison between loading conditions set out in the two codes of concern, a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the logic behind the assembly of each code was essential. Anderson (2006) identified two approach methods of formulating live load models that simulate traffic loading on bridge structures. The approaches identified were:

 

1. The deterministic approach method, using engineering judgement to deal with the unknowns associated with the random nature of traffic loading; and

2. The probabilistic method, deriving and calibrating a live load model from actual traffic data. It is understood that from the methods identified, the TMH7 approach follows that of the deterministic approach, whereas the Eurocode follows that of a probabilistic method.

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Literature also suggested that due to the number of different methods of analysis, further research into methods of analysis was carried out in order to determine the most suitable method to conduct a detailed, representative and comprehensive comparison between the loading conditions set out in both codes.