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ObjectivesAs wheel loading on the vehicle decks of ro-ro ships may introduce difficulties for structural analysis due to the uncertainty of their quantities, ranges, and positions, it is necessary to study the equivalence and simplification of such loads. MethodsUsing a multi-span beam model as an idealized vehicle deck secondary member, wheel loading is simulated by distributed load and concentrated force respectively, and several structural responses are compared and analyzed. Furthermore, an analysis is made of the change in structural response after multiple wheel loadings have been simultaneously transformed into concentrated force. ResultsThe calculation results suggest that for vehicle decks with an ordinary arrangement, such equivalence and simplification tends to be safer and will not bring significant changes to the structural response. ConclusionsBased on the above conclusions, a reasonable equivalent multi-wheel loading method is provided for engineering application, thus contributing to the design simplification and strength verification of vehicle decks.