On 30-Jan-12 23:40, Robert Bonomi wrote:
In article ,
Stephen Sprunk wrote:
On 30-Jan-12 17:37, Robert Bonomi wrote:
*HOWEVER*, tanks are *heavy* -- substantially surpassing the legal load
limits on most highways. An "M1A1", alone, NOT INCLUDING the weight of
the transporter vehicle, is close to double the legal weight limit on most
highways.

Load limits are specified per axle or tandem, and tank transporters have
_lots_ of axles to spread the tank's weight out.

Some are, some are *not*.

'More axles' doesn't make any difference to a bridge span. grin.

However, load limits are calculated based on a series of axles/tandems
at least 96 inches apart. How much do you want to bet that's how far
apart the five non-tandem axles on a modern tank transporter are?

Still, a loaded transporter still exceeds the per-axle/tandem load
limit, but not by a very large margin. If you restrict a convoy to
travel in single file and split two lanes, which would be a requirement
anyway due to being overwidth, a span would have _less_ loading than is
possible with normal trucks in those two lanes. And that's just static
loading; once you figure in dynamic loading, the lower speed probably
means even that isn't strictly necessary.

S

--
Stephen Sprunk "God does not play dice." --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723 "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking