Structural Bridge Design ASSHTO

November 2013
Example Manual
AASHTO

ii

Legal Notices

Autodesk
Structural Bridge Design 2014

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iii

Table of Contents

v. Introduction

1. Setup and Configuration

2. Section Definition

3. Section Analysis

4. Beam Definition

5. Beam Design

6. Analysis - Model Definition

7. Analysis - Load Definition & Solution

8. Transfer of Data

9. Specialist Analysis Techniques

iv

v

Introduction

This manual is intended to act as a general guide to the solution of typical examples that
are applicable to Autodesk
Structural Bridge Design 2014. There are nine sections,

each containing a number of workshop examples that the user can work through using
the program by following the described procedures. Most workshops are simple and
intended for relatively new users to the system but there are also some more detailed
examples providing an insight into some of the more advanced capabilities of the
software.
The document is provided as a pdf file which can be accessed through the help menu in
the software and is generally displayed through a pdf reader such as Adobe
Reader
.
The main contents page gives the headings of the main sections. These are hyperlinked
in the document so clicking on a title will take the user directly to the appropriate
section. The first page of each section shows the contents for that section, listing the
workshops included. This is also a hyperlinked page.
Files
Some of the examples require data files to be loaded or opened. All these files can be
found in a compressed zip file located in the .\Examples\Version 6\US Data Files folder
of the software installation. To use these files you must copy the US Examples.zip file to
a suitable folder on your local hard drive and extract the files to this location.
At the end of some examples the user is asked to save a data file which may be used in
a subsequent example. To prevent the overwriting of the supplied files different file
names have been used. These files can optionally be used as input instead of the
supplied data files if required.
Projects
An example of setting up a project is given in section 1 and this project template is
saved. All other examples assume that this project is used throughout, giving default
materials, units, titles etc. If you carry out example 1 in section 1 then the Version 6
Examples project will always be available in the list of projects when starting new
problems. If this is not the case or you wish to work on an example without setting up
your own examples project template then this can be loaded from the supplied file
Version 6 Examples .spj when in the Project Templates form.
Semantics
The procedure for each example is given as a series of step by step instructions, making
reference to data form names, field names, user input, menu items etc. To enhance the
readability of these instructions some basic rules have been followed when preparing
these instructions.
vi

1. Text in Bold with a vertical bar separating words indicates a menu item (eg Options |
Project Templates...)
2. Form names,data field labels and drop down lists are indicated as colored italic text
such as Define Beam Loading
3. Text in double quotation marks generally indicates a button found on a data form or
user input (e.g. ...click on the OK button)
Other Useful Information
Having Auto Redraw switched on will mean that the graphics displayed in the graphics
window will be updated automatically as you progress your work.
1-1

1. Setup and Configuration

Contents
1.1. Project Setup ............................................................................................................. 1-3
1.2. Templates for Multiple Design Codes ........................................................................ 1-9

1-2

1-3

1.1. Project Setup
Subjects Covered:
Design Code; Company Identity; Project Template Titles; Project Template Units; Project
Template Materials; Preferences; Material Properties
Outline
Autodesk
Structural Bridge Design 2014 may be used numerous times within a project
and certain data will be common to all jobs within this project. In fact some data will be
common to all projects. Much of this data can be set up as a default by defining project
templates and completing company information which will stored in the system registry
for each user.
In this example we set up the default company information and create two project
templates. One called Version 6 Examples with all the necessary titles, units and
materials and another with no settings for title and materials but with default units.
Procedure
1. Start the program.
2. Use the menu item Options|Design Code to select AASHTO LRFD 6
3. Open the Set Company Identity form by using the menu item Options|Company
Identity.

4. Enter your Organization Name and your Office address
1-4

5. Click on the Load button to select a bitmap to display as a logo in the heading
of any output that is produced by the program. Browse to the examples folder and
select the Autodesk logo. Alternatively use your own logo bitmap.
6. Click on OK and confirm that the changes should be saved
7. Open the Preferences form using the menu item Options|Preferences and check
that the settings on the form are as shown below:

8. On the Graphics tab of the Preferences form, tick the box for Reverse direction of
plotted Bending Moments, so that BM diagrams are plotted with sagging moments
(Positive) below the beam and switch on Auto Redraw so that graphics displays
are automatically updated. Note that the colors used for the chart data series can
be defined by the user on this tab.
9. Click on OK to close this form.
10. Open the Project Templates form using the menu item Options|Project
Templates. Create a new template by clicking the + button. This brings up a
secondary data form which should be set to Default settings before clicking on
OK. Rename the project template to Version 6 Examples US by highlighting
the generated name in the Project Template field and re-typing it.

1-5

11. Use the same name in the Job Title field and set the Job Number to 1.
Note that there are 2 buttons on the units tab called Reset to default SI units and
Reset to default Customary U.S. units. The user can click on these buttons to set
the units used on the project template to SI or Customary U.S. units. When the
project template is imported then all of the units in that example will be the same
as the units defined in that project template. The units can also be changed
between SI units and Customary U.S. units by selecting the menu item
Options|Edit Units to open the Edit Units form and clicking on the Reset Current
Units button. Please note that for the purposes of this example manual we will be
using SI units, so click on the Reset to default SI units. Select the Units tab.
Change the units for velocity to m/s and ensure that units for acceleration are set
to m/s
2
.
12. Select the Materials tab. Create a concrete material by clicking on the dropdown
list in the first row of the Type column and select Concrete Parabola-
Rectangle. By default this concrete has a compressive strength of 39.9896MPa.
Change the compressive strength to 31.875MPa. Note that the values for Modulus
of Elasticity and Modulus of Rupture are automatically altered by the program.
These values could be used by the user, however for the purposes of this example
manual we are going to overwrite some of the default values calculated by the
program.
Change the value of Density to 23.544. Now change the value of Modulus of
Rupture to -3.55685. Finally, change the value of Ec to 28.5437 and change
the value of Long Term Modulus of Elasticity to 14.2719. Change the Property
Name to a more suitable description if it is not automatically changed by the
program. The form will be as shown below.

Click on the OK button to close the Define Property Details form for this material.
13. Click in the Type column in the second row to create a second Concrete
Parabola-Rectangle material. The default compressive strength is 39.9896MPa.
1-6

Change the compressive strength to 40MPa. Change the value of Density to
23.544. Now change the value of Modulus of Rupture to -3.98447. Finally,
change the value of Ec to 31.9754 and change the value of Long Term Modulus
of Elasticity to 15.9877. The form will be as shown below.

Click on OK on the Define Property Details form.
14. Click in the Type column in the third row to create a second Reinforcing Steel
material. The default compressive strength is 413.685MPa.
Change the Yield Strength to 420Mpa and change the Modulus of Elasticity to a
value of 200.

15. Click in the Type column in the third row to create a fourth Prestressing Steel
material. The default compressive strength is 1861.58MPa.
Change the Tensile Strength to 1860 and change the Modulus of Elasticity to a
value of 197.
1-7

16. Click in the Type column in the fifth row to create a fifth Structural Steel material.
The default compressive strength is 344.738MPa.
Change the Tensile Strength to 345, change the Modulus of Elasticity to a value
of 200 and change the Density to a value of 77.0085.

17. Click on the Export Template button and save the file as My Version 6
Examples US.spj.

18. Click on the OK button of the Project Templates form.
1-8

19. Close the program.
Summary
The data created in this example will be used as default values when any new job is
started. Of course this data may be changed at any time to reflect local requirements
without affecting the project settings. For example, 31.875MPa and 40MPa will be
default concrete strengths when using this project template. However, we could alter the
values in the Define Property Details form if a concrete material of say, a 60MPa
compressive strength was required.

1-9

1.2. Templates for Multiple Design Codes
Subjects Covered:
Default materials for different design codes; Templates from existing templates; Saving
templates.
Outline
Autodesk Structural Bridge Design 2014 may be used for projects that require design
checks to more than one design standard. It is convenient to set up a project template
that contains material data relating to design parameters pertaining to specific codes of
practice. In this way, when a structure, beam or section is defined using one design
code, and then the design code changes, the appropriate materials are automatically re-
assigned.
In this example we use the project template created in example 1.1, called Version 6
Examples, to provide the defaults for a new project template called Multiple Codes.
This contains materials relating to AASHTO only. We then add additional materials for
British design codes and others. It is important to have the same number of materials for
each design code and they must be in the same order. Finally we export this template to
an external file so that it can be loaded by other users checking our work, or as a backup.
Procedure
1. Start the program.
2. Use the menu item Options|Design Code to select AASHTO LRFD6
3. Click on OK on the information form.
4. Open the Project Template form using the menu item Options|Project
Templates. and make sure the current template is set to Version 6 Examples -
US. Create a new template by clicking the + button. This brings up a
secondary data form which should be set to A Copy of Version 6 Examples - US
before clicking on OK. Rename the project template to Version 6 Examples -
Multiple Codes - US by highlighting the generated name in the Project Template
field and re-typing it. Also, change the Job Title to Multiple Codes - US in the Job
Title field.

1-10

5. Use the same name in the Job Title field and set the Job Number to 1.2.
6. Select the Materials tab and make sure the Design Code field in this form is set
to British Standards then create a concrete material by clicking on the dropdown
list in the first row of the type column and select Concrete BS5400. By
default this concrete has a characteristic cube strength, f
cu
, of 40 N/mm
2
(40MPa).
Ensure that this is the case. Click on the OK button to accept this material.

7. Create a second concrete material the same as the first but change the
characteristic strength to 50N/mm
2
. Click on OK to accept.
8. Create a BS5400 reinforcement material using the default values. Click on OK
to accept.

9. Create a Prestressing Steel material for BS5400, again using the default values.
Click on OK to accept.
10. Create a Structural Steel material using the default values. Click on OK to
accept.
11. Click on the Design Code drop down menu and select Eurocode from the list.
1-11

12. Create a concrete material by clicking on the dropdown list in the first row of the
type column and select Concrete Parabola Rectangle. By default this concrete
has a rect/parabolic stress strain relationship. Set the cube strength, fck,cube to
40MPa. Ensure that the Design Code Section button is set to EN 1992-2 and
then click on the OK button to accept this material.
13. Create a second concrete material the same as the first but set the characteristic
cube strength to 50MPa. Click on OK to accept.
14. Create a (horizontal) reinforcing material using the default values. Click on OK to
accept.
15. Create a (horizontal) Prestressing Steel material, again using the default values.
Click on OK to accept.
accept.
17. Click on the Design Code drop down menu and select Australian and New
Zealand Standards from the list.
18. Create a concrete material and change the Characteristic Strength to
31.875N/mm
2
. Click on OK to accept. Create another concrete property and
change the Characteristic Strength to 40N/mm
2
. Click on OK to accept.
19. Create a Reinforcement material using the default values. Click on OK to
accept.
20. Create a Prestress Strand material using the default values. Click on OK to
accept.
accept.
22. To save this project template for use by other users click on the Export
Template... button and save as a file called Multiple Codes US.spj in a suitable
location.
23. Click on the OK button of the project templates form.
Summary
The data created in this example is just an illustration of how project templates can be
used for multi-code projects. It also shows how project templates can be saved and
used by other users. This is particularly important when our work is being checked by
others as they may not have the same projects set up. This does not cause a problem
1-12

as all data is local to the data file but warning messages will be displayed warning that
the assigned project template could not be found.

2-1

2. Section Definition

Contents
2.1. Simple Edge Section .................................................................................................. 2-3
2.2. Voided Slab ................................................................................................................ 2-7
2.3. Reinforced Concrete Column ................................................................................... 2-11
2.4. Plate Girder .............................................................................................................. 2-15
2.5. Encased Steel Column............................................................................................. 2-19
2.6. Composite Section ................................................................................................... 2-23
2.7. Pre-stressed section ................................................................................................ 2-27

2-2

2-3

2.1. Simple Edge Section
Subjects Covered:
Titles; Material property changes; Section Definition; Parametric Shapes; Define shapes;
Inserting points; Arcs
Outline
The shape below is created by using a parametric L section and then modify by
inserting points, changing vertex coordinates and changing segments to arcs. Grade 31
concrete is assigned to the section

Procedure
1. Start the program and ensure that the current Project Template: is set to Version
6 Examples - US using the Options|Projects Templates menu item.
2. Begin a new section using the menu item File|New Section.
3. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Grillage Edge Section with a
sub-title of Example 2.1. Also add your initials to the Calculated by data item.
Click on OK to close the titles form.
4. Open the Define Material Properties data form using the menu item Data|Define
Material Properties... Delete the structural steel (Redundant Property) and
2-4

prestress properties (Prestress Strand) by clicking twice in the Name field and
then using the delete key. Click on OK to close the form.
5. Open the Define Section form using the menu item Data| Define Section...
6. In the first row of the Library column select Parametric Shape from the dropdown
list. This will display a secondary form (with graphic) showing a rectangular shape.
Use the dropdown list to change the shape from rectangle to L and set the
width to 1000mm, the height to 750mm, the thickness of horizontal to 200mm
and thickness of vertical to 250mm.
7. Click on OK to close this secondary form.

8. Using the dropdown list, change the Parametric Shape to Define Shape. This
will display a secondary form and a graphic showing all the vertices and
coordinates.
9. Click on the second point in the vertices (Y) list and notice that the circle around
the point at the bottom right of the L has turned red. This is the current point.
Select the + button to insert a point midway along the bottom edge of the L.
10. Now click on the fifth point in the vertices list and use the + button to add a point
midway along the top of the bottom flange.
11. Now click on the eighth point in the vertices list and use the + button to add a
point midway along the top edge of the vertical.
12. Change the coordinates in the table to the following;
2-5

13. Double click on the Arc tick box for the point (as shown) at the centre of the top of
the vertical to create the curve on the top. Change the Name field to Edge
Section.
14. Click on OK to close the Define Element Shape form and then select the C31
grade material from the dropdown list of properties in the Define Section form.

15. Click on OK to close the Define Section form.
16. Used the menu item File|Save as to save the section with a file name My US
Example 2_1.sam.
Summary
Section shapes can be created in a number of ways. There are many predefined
parametric shapes and standard beams stored in the program library, which can be used
unaltered. These can be converted to a general defined shape and modified.
This example shows how to do this and how to assign a particular material to a section
component.
2-6

2-7

2.2. Voided Slab
Subjects Covered:
Creating Voids, Continuous faces, Reinforcing faces, Manipulation of hook points
Outline
A hole can be created in a section by defining a second component, entirely contained
within the first component and assigning it a void property. If a section is part of a
larger section then the torsion property calculations need to know this, so the continuous
faces must be identified. Reinforcement can be defined relative to a face with a specific
diameter, spacing and cover. The section below can be created to illustrate all these
aspects.

Procedure
6 Examples using the Options|Projects Templates menu item.
2. Begin a new section using the menu item File|New Section....
3. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Voided Slab Section with a
4. Open the Define Material Properties form using the menu item Data|Define
Material Properties... Delete the structural steel (Redundant property) and
prestress properties (Prestressing Steel) by clicking twice in the Name field and
2-8

then using the delete key. Click on OK to close the Define Material Properties
form.

5. Open the Section Definition data form using the menu item Data| Define
Section...
Use the dropdown list to select Rectangle (if it is not selected automatically) and
set the width to 1200mm and depth to 900mm. Click on OK to close this
secondary form.
7. Assign Grade C31 concrete to this component by using the drop down selection of
the Property field.
8. Click on the two vertical edges (once) and the solid lines change to dashed lines.
This signifies that these are continuous faces.

9. Create a second parametric component using the drop down list in the field and
change the shape to Circle (in the Shape Reference field) with a diameter of
550mm. Close this form using the OK button.

Click twice and press
the delete key to delete
this entry
Click once
to make
dashed
2-9

10. Change the Hook point number for both components to 0.
11. Change the X Coord and Y Coord of both components to 0.

12. Leave the Property of the second component as Void as this will form the hole
and then close the Define Section form using the OK button.
13. Open the Define Bars... form from the Data|Define Bars... menu item.
14. Change the Generate option to Reinforce Faces and change Position By to
Exact Spacing with a spacing of 100mm.
15. Set the Bar diameter to 43.7mm and then click on the bottom face of the
rectangle in the graphics window to display a data form allowing the definition of
the reinforcement cover. Set this cover to 50mm and then close the form using
OK.

2-10

16. Note that the reinforcement material property is automatically selected (but could
be changed if a second reinforcement property is defined).
17. Close the Define Bars and Tendons form using OK.
18. Save the data file using the File|Save as... menu item as My US Example
2_2.sam.
Summary
Voided slab sections are often used to represent the longitudinal stiffness of a grillage
beams. It is important that the torsion properties are calculated correctly and that if
Cracked section properties are required then the reinforcement is correctly defined.

2-11

2.3. Reinforced Concrete Column
Subjects Covered:
Reinforcement to two covers; Snapping to reinforcement; editing reinforcement cover
and size
Outline
A simple reinforced concrete section is required to represent a section of a column as
shown below. Initially 25.2mm bars are placed in the positions shown below. This is
done by placing a bar in each corner, with the appropriate cover, and then using these
bars as snap points drawing a number of bars between them. This creates duplicate
bars in the corners but these are automatically deleted when the form is closed.

It is then realised that 29.9mm bars should have been used instead. The bars are edited
to change the diameter but then the cover needs adjusting back to 46mm.

Procedure
3. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as RC Column Section with a
2-12

4. Open the materials data form using the menu item Data|Define Material
Properties... Delete the structural steel and prestress properties by clicking twice
in the name field and then using the delete key. Click on OK to close the Define
Material Properties form.
5. Open the Define Section form using the menu item Data| Define Section...
Use the dropdown list to select Rectangle and set the width to 500mm and
depth to 400mm. Click on OK to close this secondary form.
7. Assign Grade C31 concrete to this component by using the drop down selection of
the Property field. Click OK to close the Define Section form.
8. Open the Define Bars... form from the Data|Define Bars... menu item.
9. Change the Generate option to 1 bar by 2 covers and change Diameter to
25.2mm.

10. Click on one of the corners of the rectangle in the graphics window to display a
data form allowing the definition of the reinforcement cover. Set this cover to
46mm on both faces and then close the form using OK.
2-13

11. Repeat step 9 for the other three corners noting that the cover is automatically set
to the last defined.
12. Change the Generate option to Draw Bars and set Position By to Number. Set
the No. of bars to 4 and leave the Diameter as 25.2mm.
13. In the graphics window toolbar, set the snap option to Bar/tendon then click on
the bottom left hand bar in the graphics window followed by the bottom right hand
bar. This will create an extra 4 bars, 2 of which will be superimposed on the
corner bars.

14. Repeat this with the two top corner bars.
15. Change the No. of bars to 3 and draw in the bars along the remaining two
vertical edges in the same way.
First click
Second
click
Snap
mode
2-14

16. Close the Define Bars and Tendons form using the OK button and a message
should be displayed saying Superimposed bars have been deleted.
17. Re-open the Define Bars and Tendons form using the menu item Data|Define
Bars...
18. Click on the Edit bars.. button and then draw a window around all bars in the
graphics window by clicking once in one corner and then clicking again in the
opposite corner of the rectangular section. The bars should turn red and a
secondary Edit Reinforcement form should be displayed. Change the Edit Option
to Change bar diameter and set the Bar Diameter to 29.9mm. Close the Edit
Reinforcement form using the OK button and the bars are updated.

19. The cover to these bars has then been reduced to 43.65mm so we need to move
the bars to re-establish 46mm cover. This can also be done using the Edit
Bars... button but can only be done one face at a time. Click on Edit Bars... and
then window round the topmost row of bars. Change the Edit Option to Reset
Cover in the Edit Reinforcement data form and set the cover to 46mm before
closing the form with the OK button. The cover to these bars has now been
adjusted.
20. This can be repeated for the bottom row of bars and each side row, remembering
to click on the Edit Bars... button each time before selecting the appropriate bars.
Close the Define Bars & Tendons form using the OK button.
21. The data can then be saved, using the menu item File|Save as..., to a file called
My US Example 2_3.sam.
Summary
This is a simple example that illustrates the creation of a reinforced section which is then
needed to be modified. This is a process that can happen frequently in a real design
cycle. For this simple section it would probably be just as simple to delete the bars and
re-specify them but for more complex sections this may be time consuming.
2-15

2.4. Plate Girder
Subjects Covered:
Multiple components; joining components; copying components; rotating components;
using Shove to locate components accurately; User defined library shapes.
Outline
The shape below is created by using a parametric I section and then adding four
parametric Angle shapes as the cleats. Standard structural steel properties are applied
to all components. The section is edited using the join facility to combine the
components into one defined shape.

Procedure
2-16

3. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Cleated Plate Girder Section
with a sub-title of Example 2.4. Also add your initials to the Calculated by data
item. Click on OK to close the Titles form.
Section...
Use the dropdown list to change the shape from Rectangle to I and set the
width of both flanges to 500mm, the overall height to 900mm, the thickness of
top & bottom flanges to 40mm and the thickness of the web to 20mm. Click on
OK to close this secondary form.
6. Resize the graphics window to a reasonable size by clicking on the corner of the
window and with the mouse button held down, drag to the new position. Zoom the
graphics so that the shape fits the new screen size by clicking on the fit view
button in the toolbar of the graphics window.

7. In the second row of the Library column select Parametric Shape from the
dropdown list. Use the dropdown list to change the shape from rectangle to L
and set the width and height to 75mm and the thicknesses of both horizontal and
vertical to 12mm. Click on OK to close this secondary form.
8. The angle will appear in red with a circle shown at the reference point. Click once
on this little circle, releasing the mouse button, and drag the shape to a new
location beneath the top flange and to the right of the web, as show below. Place
the angle at this location by clicking the left mouse button again.

Shove Left
Copy
Rotate
Fit View
2-17

9. Use the rotate edit button to orientate the angle with the arms pointing to the
right and vertically down (This could be achieved by entering the angle in the
correct column in the table).
10. Now use the Shove Up and Shove Left edit buttons to locate the angle in its
final position.
11. Now use the Copy icon in the graphics toolbar to create a second angle
component and repeat 8, 9 and 10 to place it in the top left internal corner.
12. This can be repeated twice more to place angles into the bottom internal corners.
13. At the moment, all components have a material property void, so apply the
Steel property to all components.
14. Although this section can be left as five separate components it may sometimes
be desirable to join these components into one shape. This is done by selecting
one of the angle components and then using the Join edit toolbar button to
combine it with the component touching or overlapping with it. This is then
repeated with the other three angles to give the one define shape component.
(The user may find that clicking just once on the Join button simultaneously joins
all of the components together).

15. Open up the Define shape form by clicking on define shape and re-selecting it
from the drop down list. Change the name to 500 by 900 plate girder then click
on the Add button to add it to a library file. This will open a file browser form
which will allow you to choose an existing library file, if it exists, or to create a new
one. We will create a new one by entering a library file name of My
Useful_Sections.lib and then clicking on the save button.
16. Close the Define Element Shape data form using the OK button.
17. Click on OK to close the Define Section form.
Join
Rotate
Shove
2-18

18. Use the menu item File|Save as... to save the section with a file name My US
Example 2_4.sam.
Summary
Sections can be built by combining many different simple components to create more
complicated shapes. For composite sections where the components have different
material properties then the components will remain as individual entities but if the
material is the same they may be joined to form a single shape. This will allow the
section to be stored as a single user defined library section.
The edit toolbar on the graphics window provides many tools for manipulating
components of a section.

2-19

2.5. Encased Steel Column
Subjects Covered:
Enclosing one section in another, adjusting material properties; Universal Columns;
Import shape from Autocad; Copying components
Outline
An oval shaped concrete column casing, with major axis 800mm and minor axis 600mm
is cast concentrically around a steel W14 x 132 lb Column as shown below. The
concrete is to have a cylinder strength of 25 and the structural steel has a yield strength
of 345N/mm
2
and elastic modulus 200kN/mm
2
.
The oval outline has previously been created in Autocad and saved in a dxf file. This can
be imported into Autodesk
Structural Bridge Design 2014 before adding the standard

steel shape. This shape is added twice, once with void properties (to create a hole in the
concrete) and a second time with steel properties.

Procedure
3. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Encased steel section with a
2-20

4. Open the Define Material Properties form using the menu item Data| Define
Material Properties... and then open the Property Details for the grade 31
concrete by clicking on it in the table.
Re-input the value of Density as 23.544. Change the Characteristic Strength to
25N/mm
2
and click on OK on the message that appears. Change the Modulus
of Rupture to -3.15. Now change the Ec value to 25.2787 and change the value
of Modulus of Elasticity to 12.6394. Change the Property Name to a more
suitable description if it is not automatically changed by the program. The form
should be as shown below.

Click the OK button on both the Define Property Details and Define Properties
form to close the forms and ensure that any changes are saved.
Section.... In the first row of the Library column select Import Shapes from the
dropdown list which will open a file browser. Navigate to the file called US
Example 2_5 Elipse.dxf and open it. Click the Next button on the Import
Shapes form which has appeared on the screen. This will display the general
define shape in the graphics window and show the coordinates in the data form.
Enter a Name for this component as Encased Concrete in the Define Element
Shape form and close it with the OK button.
6. Assign a material property from the Property column drop down list as the
25N/mm
2
concrete.
7. In the second row of the Library column select Steel Sections from the dropdown
list which will open a secondary form in which American Sections are chosen
and a W Shape is selected from the choice of Steel Section Range. The serial
size is set to W14 with a weight of 132 lb. Close the Define Section Details
form with the OK button.
2-21

8. For both the section components change the hook point to number 0 and set the
coordinates to (0,0). Zoom the image in the graphics window to fit the screen
using the Fit View toolbar button.
9. If the steel section is not already set, then set the focus on the steel section by
clicking on it (it will turn red). Use the Copy toolbar button to create a second
instance of this shape . Set
the Property of this second shape to be that of Steel and again set the Hook point
to 0 and the coordinates to (0,0).

10. Close the Define Section form using the OK button and then use the menu item
File|Save as... to save the section with a file name My US Example 2_5.sam.
Summary
This method is the easiest way of enclosing one shape within another as the Merge
facility used in example 2.7 only works when boundaries overlap with each other. This
process can be repeated several times to create sections such as a concrete tube
enclosed between two concentric steel tubes of different radii.
A second method, which may be necessary in some circumstances, is to create the
encasing component as a single component, without a void component, by applying a
split between the external and internal surfaces (look at the parametric shape of an
annulus as an example). Alternatively the encasement can be made up of a number of
separate components, touching at the boundaries (e.g. a box section made up from two
rectangular webs and two rectangular flanges), although this would not represent the
torsion properties correctly.
2-22

2-23

2.6. Composite Section
Subjects Covered:
Multiple components with different materials; Standard steel library shapes; Reinforce
faces; Hook Points
Outline
A composite steel girder and concrete slab is shown below. The slab is 200mm thick
and the effective width is 1500mm. Reinforcement is placed in the bottom of the slab
using 12 no. 25.2mm diam. Bars, equally spaced with 50mm cover to the bottom face.
The steel girder is a standard steel section classified as W36 x 260 lb. Grade 31
concrete is used for the slab and the standard steel and reinforcement materials are
applied respectively. The slab is part of a wider continuous slab.

Procedure
3. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Composite steel/concrete
Section with a sub-title of Example 2.6. Also add your initials to the Calculated
by data item. Click on OK to close the titles form.
Section...
2-24

Set the width to be 1500mm and the depth to 200mm, and then click on OK to
close this secondary form. The slab is to be positioned so that the midpoint of the
bottom face is to be at the origin. This is done by changing the Hook Point to be -
1 and then setting the coordinates to (0,0).
6. The two short edges of the slab are identified as continuous faces by clicking once
on each (they turn to dashed lines) and the material for the slab is set to grade 31
concrete by using the drop down list in the Property column.
7. In the second row of the Library column select Steel Sections from the dropdown
list. Use the dropdown list to ensure that the Steel Sections Library is set to
American Sections AISC and the Steel section range to W Shapes. Then
select the Serial size as W36 and the weight to 260lb. Select Steel from the
Property dropdown menu. Close the form by clicking on the OK button.
8. To locate the top of the flange at the centre of the underside of the slab, change
the Hook Point of the steel section to -5 and set the coordinates to (0,0). The
material of the steel beam should be set to the structural steel property.

9. Close the Define Section form by clicking on the OK button.
10. Open the Define Bars form using the menu bar item Data|Define Bars. Set the
Generate field to Reinforce face(s), set the number of bars to 12, set the bar
diameter to be 25.2mm and then click on the bottom edge of the slab, which will
open a secondary data form.
2-25

11. In this form set the cover to be 50mm and the number of faces to be 1 and then
click on OK to draw the bars.

12. Close the Define Bars and Tendons data form using the OK button.
13. Use the menu item File|Save as to save the section with a file name My US
Example 2_6.sam.
Click on
Bottom
Face
2-26

Summary
Sections can be built by combining many different simple components to create more
complicated shapes. Special libraries have been built containing the major shapes for
steel sections which can be used to build up the section. This covers UK, American,
Australian, European and Japanese standard sections.
2-27

2.7. Pre-stressed section
Subjects Covered:
Precast concrete beams; Tendon definition and placement; Section outline from text file;
Initial Prestress forces; Arcs; Merging; Hook points;
Outline
It is required to generate a section of a precast edge beam comprising of a standard YE3
precast beam (Grade 40 concrete) and an insitu slab and edge detail (Grade 31
concrete) as shown below. The section is created using 3 components, 1) a standard
precast section from a built in library, 2) a parametric rectangular section for the slab and
3) a general defined shape with specific coordinates for the edge detail. These sections
will overlap so they must be merged to eliminate the duplicated material.

Two rows of tendons are placed in the bottom of the beam (11 in the bottom row and 14
in the second) together with two tendons in the top. The bottom row is placed 60mm
from the bottom face of the beam with the end tendons 100mm from the vertical faces.
The second row is placed 110mm from the bottom face of the beam with the edge
tendons 60mm from the vertical faces. The top two tendons are placed 800mm from the
bottom face and 72mm from the edge faces.

X Y
1 -100 1350
2 -350 1350
3 -400 1100
4 -550 850
5 -554 753
6 -450 690
7 -100 690
8 -100 1350

2-28

Procedure
6 Examples using the Options|Projects Templates menu item.
3. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Prestressed Section with a
Material Properties... Delete the structural steel by clicking twice in the name
field and then using the delete key. Open the data form for the prestress material
and set the characteristic strength to 1776N/mm
2
.

5. Change the Property Name to a more suitable description. Click the OK button
on both the Define Property Details and the Define Material Properties form to
close both forms and ensure that any changes are saved.
Section...
7. In the first row of the Library column select Concrete Beams from the dropdown
list. This will display a secondary form (with graphic showing a standard bridge
beam). Set the Concrete Sections Library field to British Sections. Use the
dropdown list Concrete beam range to select a YE beam and set the Shape no.
to YE3. Click on OK to close this secondary form.
2-29

8. Assign Grade 40 concrete to this component by using the drop down selection of
the Property field.
9. In the second row of the Define Section form create a second component by
picking Parametric Shape from the dropdown list. Set the width to 600mm and
the depth to 160mm. Assign Grade 31 concrete to this component.
10. Now manipulate the positions of the components so that the origin is at the
midpoint of the bottom face of the beam. This is done by setting the hook point of
the concrete beam section to -1 and setting the coordinates to (0,0). The insitu
slab can be positioned by also setting the hook point to -1 and the coordinates to
(200,870) (allowing 20mm for permanent formwork above the rebate).

11. The two components overlap, so, to cut out the insitu slab around the beam,
select the slab in the list of components and, in the graphics window toolbar, click
on the Merge button.
12. The insitu edge detail now needs to be defined. Create a third component, using
the dropdown list in the Library column, as a define shape. The coordinates, as
defined in the table above, can be entered by either typing the coordinates directly
into the shape coordinates table (using the + button to add a row), or by entering
the coordinates into a text file such as notepad, copying them to the clipboard
Merge
2-30

(Control/C) and then using the right mouse button menu option in the coordinate
table, pasting them in. Set the section name to Edge Detail.
13. A more accurate shape can be given by fitting arcs where appropriate. Tick the
arc box in rows 3 & 5 and click on OK to close the Define Shape form. A form
appears telling you that the sections intersect. Click the OK button on this form.

14. Assign Grade 31 concrete to this component.
15. Again the two components overlap, so, to cut out the edge detail around the
beam, select the Edge Detail in the list of components and, in the graphics
window toolbar, click on the Merge button. Click on the OK button to close the
Define Section form. Click No on the Confirm form.
16. To define the tendons select the menu item Data|Define Bars.
17. Select 1 tendon by 2 covers from the dropdown list in the Generate field and set
the area of strand to 181mm
2
(the area of a 15.2mm diameter strand). In the
graphics window click on the left vertical face of the precast beam (becomes bold)
and then on the bottom face which displays a secondary form. Set the Cover to
face 1 to 100mm and Cover to face 2 to 60mm. Click OK on the Locate
Tendons form. Notice that the force in the tendon is 241kN (but this could be
changed as necessary). Repeat this for the bottom right corner of the beam.
Repeat on the bottom right corner with covers to face 1 and 2 60mm and
110mm respectively and then again on the bottom left.

Face 1
Face 2
2-31

18. Select Draw tendons from the dropdown list in the Generate field and change the
snap option in the graphics window toolbar to Bar/Tendon. Set Position By to
Number and No. of tendons to 11. Now click on the bottom left hand tendon in
the graphics window and then again on the bottom right (generating 11 extra
tendons with superimposed tendons in the corners). Repeat this for the second
row but setting the No. of tendons to 14.

19. The top two tendons are created by using 1 tendon by 2 covers option and
selecting the vertical and bottom edges with covers of 72mm and 800mm for
both corners.
20. Close the Define Bars and Tendons form using the OK button. An information
message is displayed informing that superimposed tendons have been
automatically removed.
21. Use the menu data item File|Save As to save the data file as My US Example
2_7.sam.
Summary
This section is now ready for section property calculations and stress analysis. The
example shows the buildup of components, using merge, arc, and hook point facilities as
well as illustrating the use of standard library shapes. The edge detail illustrates the
ability to cut and paste geometry from a spread sheet or text file. Inserting tendons
demonstrated that a tendon could be placed with respect to two faces (which dont have
to be contiguous). The default tendon force is calculated from the characteristic strength,
the initial percentage and the tendon area, although this will generally be adjusted to take
care of losses.

2-32

3-1

3. Section Analysis

Contents
3.1. General Section Properties ..................................................................................... 3-3
3.2. Torsion & Shear Section Properties ...................................................................... 3-11
3.3. Differential Temperature ....................................................................................... 3-17
3.4. Strength Limit State Capacity and stresses of an RC Section .............................. 3-23
3.5. Crack Width & Stress Calcs of an RC Section ...................................................... 3-33
3.6. General Stress Strain Analysis .............................................................................. 3-39
3.7. Stresses at transfer of a prestress section ............................................................ 3-45
3.8. Interaction Curves for Columns ............................................................................. 3-51

3-2

3-3

3.1. General Section Properties
Subjects Covered:
Gross section properties; Transformed section properties; Net Transformed section
properties; Full plastic moments; Moving the section origin; Reinforcement bar
translation.; Results viewer; PDF results viewer
Outline
The calculation of section properties for three of the sections defined in section 2 will be
considered as follows:

Example 2.6

Calculate
Section properties of the gross section (neglecting
any difference between material properties).
Section Properties of the transformed section
(transformed to grade 31 concrete).
Transformed bending Inertia Ixx about an axis
200mm below the bottom of the slab (the global
centroid axis of the complete bridge deck cross
section).

Example 2.2

Calculate
Net transformed Ixx (cracked section properties)
transformed to grade 31 concrete.

Example 2.4

Calculate
Full plastic moment of the section in accordance with
AASHTO.
3-4

Procedure
1. Start the program and use the menu item File |Open to open the file US Example
2_6.sam created in example 2.6.
2. Use the menu item Data Titles to open the Titles form. Change the Sub-title to
Example 3.1a and the Job Number to 3.1a. Click on OK to close the Titles
form.
3. Ensure that Analysis Type is set to Section Properties by using the menu item
Data |Analysis Type then use the menu Calculate |Analyze to open the
Calculate Section Properties form.
Gross Section Properties
4. Click on the Section properties for drop down and select Gross Section from the
list. This will display the results shown below.

5. Click on the Results button to see the detailed results as a text file. This can be
saved as a Rich Text Format (rtf) file if required
6. Click on the PDF View tab at the bottom of the results viewer to display the
results with the graphics in the form of a PDF document. This can then be saved
as a PDF file if required. Page numbering, User defined titles and margins can be
configured using the Preferences button at the top of the viewer.
3-5

7. Close the results viewer using the green EXIT Button at the top.
Transformed Section Properties
8. Click on the Section properties for drop down and select Transformed section.
This will display the results shown below.

9. Click on the Results button to see the detailed results.
10. Close the results viewer.
3-6

11. Click on OK to close the Calculate Section Properties form.
Section Properties about a specified axis
For properties about a specific axis we need to define the origin of the section at
the level of the required axis. One set of properties calculated are about the global
axes.
12. Use the Data |Define Section... menu to open the Define Section form.
13. In the first row, change the Y coordinate to 200.
14. In the second row, change the Y coordinate to 200.

15. Click OK to close the Define Section form.
16. Use the Data |Define bars menu to open the Define Bars and Tendons form.
17. Click on the Edit bars... button.
18. Click once on the graphics window to the bottom left of the section, then move the
mouse until the selection box contains all the bars. Click again to select the bars
which will be highlighted in red. The Edit Reinforcement form will open.

19. Click on the Edit Option drop down menu and select X-Y Translation.
3-7

20. Change the value in the Translation dimensions y field to 200.
21. Click on OK to move the tendons and close the Edit Reinforcement form.
22. Click on OK to close the Define Bars and Tendons form.
23. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu to open the Calculate Section Properties form.
24. Click on the Section properties for drop down and select Transformed section.
This will display the results shown below.

25. Click on the Results button to see the detailed results and scroll down the page
until the table for Transformed Section area & Properties about global axes (through x=0,y=0): is
shown
3-8

27. Click on OK to close the Calculate Section Properties form.
28. Use the File |Save As... menu to open the Save As form.
29. Change the filename to My US Example3_1a.sam And click on the Save
button.
Net Transformed Section Properties
30. Use the menu item File |Open to open the file US Example 2_2.sam created in
example 2.2.
31. Use the menu item Data |Titles to open the Titles form. Change the Sub-title to
Example 3.1b and the Job Number to 3.1b. Click on OK to close the Titles
form.
32. Select the menu item Data |Analysis type |Section Properties.
33. Use the menu Calculate |Analyze to open the Calculate Section Properties form.
34. Click on the Section properties for drop down and select Transformed Section
35. Click on the Transformed to drop down list and select MP1: C31 Es 28.5. This
will display the results shown below:

3-9

36. Click OK to close the Calculate Section Properties form.
38. Change the filename to My US Example 3_1b.sam And click on the Save
button.

Plastic Section Properties
example 2.4
40. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Sub-title to Example 3.1c and the
Job Number to 3.1c. Click on OK to close the Titles form.
41. Select the menu item Data |Analysis type |Section Properties. Use the
Calculate |Analyze menu to open the Calculate Section Properties form.
42. Click on the Section properties for: drop down and select Plastic section. Also
set the Transformed to: field to the Structural Steel material. The form will now
display the results shown below.

43. Click on the Results button to see the detailed results for the Plastic Modulus of
the Section.
The bottom of the results file is shown below:
3-10

This indicates that the Plastic Moment is 7978kNm.
44. Close the results viewer and the Calculate Section Properties form by clicking the
OK button on the Calculate Section Properties form.
46. Change the filename to My US Example 3_1c.sam And click on the Save
button.
Summary
The calculation of section properties is very easy, but very powerful as gross,
transformed and cracked section properties can be obtained. The choice of which
property to use will depend on the type of analysis to be performed using these
properties.

Reinforced concrete sections for Ultimate Limit State calculations will generally use gross
properties whereas Composite steel and Prestressed concrete sections will normally be
transformed. Net transformed properties (cracked) are most useful when considering the
deflections of a reinforced concrete structure.

Fully Plastic Moments and Modulus of a steel section are useful as input to a plastic
hinge analysis of a structure and would be applied as Member Limits to a the program
structural analysis.

3-11

3.2. Torsion & Shear Section Properties
Subjects Covered:
Torsion Constant; Shear Area; Shear Centre;
Outline
It is required to calculate torsion and shear section properties for three of the sections
defined in section 2 as follows:

Calculate
The torsion constant for this voided slab section (taking
50% of the beam value as it is to be used in a grillage)
The torsion constant as above but ignore the
continuous edges
(Use a torsion grid of 20 by 20)

Calculate
The transformed torsion constant for this encased
column (transformed to concrete units)
(Use a torsion grid of 100 by 50 for the
concrete and 100 by 200 for the steel column)

Calculate
The shear areas in both x and y direction
The shear centre coordinates
(Use a grid of 100 by 100)
Poissons Ratio = 0.3

3-12

Procedure
1. Start the program and use the menu item File|Open to open the file US Example
2_2.sam created in example 2.2.
Voided Slab
2. Use the menu item Data|Titles to open the Titles form. Change the Sub-title to
Example 3.2a and the Job Number to 3.2a. Click on OK to close the Titles
form.
3. Use the menu Data|AnalysisType to set the analysis type to Torsion and shear.
4. Use the menu item Calculate|Analyze to open the Calculate Torsion and Shear
form.
5. Click in the Divisions in X direction field and enter a value of 20. Click in the Y
direction field and enter a value of 20.
6. Click on the Display results for drop down menu and select Torsion Stress
Function from the list. Click on the Analyse button.

7. Click on the Results button to display the Results Viewer. Note that 50% of C =
1.3069E11mm
4
. Close the viewer.
8. Click the OK button to close the Calculate Torsion And Shear form.
9. Use the menu item Data|Define section to open the Define Section form.
10. On the first row of the table, click in the Library column and select Parametric
Shape from the drop down list. This will open the Define Section Details form.
Click on the OK button to automatically change the section to a discontinuous
section.
3-13

11. Click on the OK button to close the Define Section form.
12. Use the Calculate|Analyze menu to open the Calculate Torsion And Shear form.
Click on the Analyse button. Click on the Results button to display the Results
Viewer.
Note that 50% of C = 0.66865E11mm
4

13. Click on the OK button to close the Calculate Torsion And Shear form.
14. Use the File |Save As... menu to open the Save File form.
15. Change the filename to My US Example 3_2a.sam and click on the Save
button to save the data file.
Elliptically Encased Steel Column
16. Use the menu item File |Open to open the file US Example 2_5.sam created
following the steps in example 2.5.
17. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Sub-title to Example 3.2b and the
Job Number to 3.2b. Click on the OK button to close the Titles form.
18. Use the Data |Analysis Type menu item to set the analysis type to Torsion and
Shear.
19. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu to open the Calculate Torsion And Shear form.
21. Click on the Analyze button.
Note that the value of C in Concrete units is 1.899E10mm
4
.
3-14

22. Click in the Y direction field and enter a value of 200. Click in the Element to be
analysed field and enter a value of 3 (this is the steel column).
23. Click on the Analyze button. Note that the value of C in Steel units is
5.17E6mm
4
. To convert this to concrete units we multiply by the modular ratio of
the elastic modulus = 200/25 = 8
Therefore C of steel section in concrete units is 4.14E7
The combined C is the sum of the two components = 1.9E10
This is a lower bound value as it is assumed that in torsion, the two
components are not acting compositely and warping is not constrained.
24. Click on the OK button to close the Calculate Torsion and Shear form.
26. Change the filename to My US Example 3_2b.sam and click on the Save
Shear Centre & Area of RC Edge Section
27. Use the menu item File |Open to open the file US Example 2_1.sam created
following the steps in example 2.1.
28. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Sub-title to Example 3.2c and the
Job Number to 3.2c. Click on the OK button to close the Titles form.
29. Use the menu Data |Analysis Type to set the analysis type to Torsion and
shear.
3-15

30. Use the menu item Calculate |Analyze, to open the Calculate Torsion and Shear
form.
32. Click on the Display results for drop down menu and select Shear Stress
Function from the list. Click on the Analyze button.

Note that the shear centre is given on the analysis form at coordinates (209, 207)
and is shown by a symbol on the graphic display.
The shear area calculated, 63139mm
2
, is that associated with a shear force
applied parallel to the y (vertical) axis.
The shear stress distribution due to a vertical force of 1kN can be shown
graphically by changing Display results for: to Shear stress YZ (for vertical shear
stresses) or Shear Stress XZ (for horizontal shear stresses) and clicking the
Analyse button.
Close the Calculate Torsion And Shear data form with the OK button
To calculate the shear area in the X (Horizontal) direction, the section must be
rotated around by 90 degrees. This is simply done by opening up the Define
Section form using the menu Data | Define Section.... and entering 90 degrees
in the Rotation column of the single component. The Hook point coordinates
should also be set to (250, 0) so that the origin is in the same relative place.
Close the Define Section form with the OK button.
33. Open up the Analysis form again, set Display results for: to Shear Stress
Function and click on the Analyse button.
3-16

Note that the shear centre is given as (207, -209) which is the same as before
except rotated by 90 degrees.
The shear area is, 92476mm
2
, and is that associated with a shear force applied
parallel to the horizontal axis in the original section orientation.
Click on the OK button to close the Calculate Torsion and Shear form.
Use the File|Save As... menu to open the Save File form.
Change the filename to My US Example 3_2c.sam and click on the Save
Summary
The first example shows the effect on the torsion constant of including the specification of
continuous edges. This almost doubles the value. The 50% value would be used in a
grillage analysis because the transverse members would also have a torsion stiffness so
the total torsion stiffness is split between longitudinal and transverse members (hence
50%).
The second example illustrates how to deal with sections made up from multiple
components having different material properties. (If they were of the same material we
could have just joined them). The program cannot deal with composite sections directly
in one pass but if we make a few assumptions, many sections can be analysed by
considering both sections separately and using a modular ratio to combine them into one
torsion constant transformed to one of the materials.
The third example illustrates how to obtain shear stress distribution in a section with the
shear centre coordinates and shear areas.
3-17

3.3. Differential Temperature
Subjects Covered:
AASHTO Temperature Profile; Restraining Moments; Primary differential temperature
stresses; User defined profile.
Outline

The composite section shown above has been defined and saved in example 2.6 with a
slight modification to include a 200mm by 200mm upstand on the left hand edge
constructed with grade 31 concrete. The previously defined continuous face on this edge
is made non-continuous. A standard temperature gradient, according to clause 3.12.3 of
AASHTO, is applied to the section but it requires modifying it to take account of the
upstand, as shown above. It is assumed that the temperature in the upstand will be
constant and at the same value as that at the top of the slab. The effect of the
reinforcement is to be included in the calculations.
It is required to determine:
The overall restraining moments and axial forces for both positive and
negative cases.
The unrestrained (self equilibrating) primary stresses at the top and bottom
of each of the three components for both positive and negative cases.
3-18

Procedure
1. Start the program and click on the menu item File |Open... to open the file US
Example 2_6.sam created in section 2.6 of this guide.
2. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Sub-title to Example 3.3 -
Differential Temperature and the Job Number to 3.3. Click on OK to close the
Titles form.
3. Open the Define Section form using the menu item Data | Define Section...
Add Upstand Edge Detail
4. In the third row of the Library column select Parametric Shape from the
dropdown list. This will display a secondary form (with graphic) showing a
rectangular shape. Set the width and depth to 200mm then click on OK to close
the form. The edge detail is positioned by setting Hook point 1 coordinates to (-
750,200).
5. The material for the edge detail is set to grade 31 concrete using the drop down
list in the Property column.
6. The left hand edge of the slab is made non-continuous by clicking on the slab
component in the table, to get focus, then clicking on the left hand edge of the
slab. This will change it from a dashed to a solid line. Click on OK to close the
Define Section form.
7. Use the menu item Data |Analysis Type to set the analysis type to Temperature
Gradient.
Apply Temperature Profile
8. Select the menu item Data |Define Loads |Temperature |AASHTO LRFD
3.12.3...
Apply Temperature Profile
9. Click on the Superstructure drop down and select Steel. Click on OK to close
the AASHTO 3.12.3 Temperature Gradient form.

3-19

This shows a profile as defined in clause 3.12.3 of AASHTO but the program
assumes the top of the section is the top of the upstand. We therefore need to
lower this profile so the top of it is aligned to the top of the slab. We also need to
add a constant temperature portion from the top of the slab to the top of the
upstand.
10. Select the menu item Data |Define Loads |Temperature |Defined Profile... This
allows the temperature profile to be modified.
11. In the Positive Temperature Diff and Reverse Temperature Diff columns, change
the height and temperature values to those shown below. It is easiest to start at
the bottom of the list and work your way up.

Click on OK to close the Define Temperature Gradient Profile form.
12. Select the menu item Calculate |Analyze and the program will automatically
calculate the Relaxing moments and Axial loads, showing them on the displayed
3-20

form. Untick the Ignore reinforcement? check box to include the effect of
reinforcement in the calculations.

13. Click on the Results button to see all the results including the self equilibrating
stresses.

14. Close the results viewer and click on OK on the Calculate Temperature Stresses
form to close it.
15. Select the File |Save As... option and change the filename to My US Example
3_3.sam then click on the Save button to save the updated section file.
3-21

Summary
This example shows how to define a user specific temperature profile on a composite
steel/concrete section.

If a beam, made up from this section and temperature profile, was fully constrained along
its length then the following forces and moments would be induced along the span:
Temp rise Temp fall
M Sagging F Comp M Sagging F Tension
-122kNm -1295kN 61kNm 647kN

The self equilibrating Primary Stresses at the top and bottom of each component can be
seen in the results shown above.

3-22

3-23

3.4. Strength Limit State Capacity and stresses of an RC Section
Subjects Covered:
Reinforce faces; 1 bar by 2 covers; Nominal Load; Gamma factors; Biaxial bending; ULS
Shear design
Outline
Ultimate limit state section capacities, for moments and axial force, are to be calculated
for two of the sections defined in section 2 as follows:

This precast section has 7no. 25.2mm bars in the bottom
faces with 50mm cover. The end bars have 50mm cover
to the vertical faces. Additionally, 2no. 16mm bars are
placed in the top of the upstand with 50mm cover to both
faces.
The precast beam is lifted at its ends through the centroid
of the section which generates a nominal Mx bending
moment of 218kNm due to its self weight (Yp = 1.25 DLA
factor=1.33). Check that the Mx ULS capacity of the
section exceeds this. What is the angle of the neutral
axis?
The precast beam is stitched to a continuous insitu slab
which forces the neutral axis to be horizontal. What is the
Mx ULS capacity now?
By keeping the neutral axis horizontal there is an out of
balance My moment which is resisted by a transverse
membrane force in the slab. What is the value of this
force if the beam is 10m long?
Save this section for use in other examples.

This column has a nominal concentric axial load of
1000kN together with a nominal My moment of 100kNm.
What is the maximum additional nominal Mx moment that
can be applied at ULS. (Yp = 1.75 DLA factor=1.33)
The design moments and forces at ULS are
Mx = 350kNm
Axial = 1320kN
Shear along y = 180kN
What links of 10mm diameter are required? At what value
of shear force will it be necessary to have additional
links?
3-24

Procedure
2_1.sam created in section 2.1 of this manual.
Section 1
2. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Section Title to Grillage Edge
Section with Reinforcement, the Sub-title to Example 3.4a and the Job Number
to 3.4a. Click on OK to close the Titles form.
3. Change the analysis type to Bending, Axial and Shear using the Data |Analysis
Type |Bending, Axial and Shear menu item.
Define Reinforcement
4. Open the Define Bars and Tendons form using the menu item Data |Define
Bars...

5. Click on the Generate drop down menu and select Reinforce Face(s) from the
list.
6. Click in the No. Of bars field and enter a value of 7.
7. Click in the Diameter field and enter a value of 25.2mm.
8. Click on the sloping bottom face of the section on the graphics window. The face
will be highlighted in black and the Reinforcement along face(s) form will open.
3-25

9. Click in the No. of faces field and enter a value of 2 (the default cover of 50mm is
assumed) then click OK.
10. Click on the Generate drop down menu and select 1 bar by 2 covers from the
list.
11. Click in the Diameter field and enter a value of 16mm.
12. Click on the left hand vertical and the top curved faces of the section on the
graphics window. Both faces will be highlighted in black and the Locate bar by 2
covers form will open.
13. Enter values of 50mm in both the Cover to face 1 and Cover to face 2 fields then
click OK.
14. Repeat 12 and 13 for the top right hand corner.
15. Click on OK to close the Define Bars and Tendons form.
Define Applied Forces
16. Open the Define loads form using the Data | Define Loads
|Applied Forces... menu item.
17. Click on the Insert record button to add a load case.

18. Click on the other Insert record button near the bottom of the form to add a row
to the table at the bottom of the form. On the first row of the table, click in the Type
column and select X Moment from the drop down list.
19. Enter a value of 218kNm in the Nominal Load column.
20. Enter a value of 1.25 in the Strength Gamma column.
21. Enter a value of 1.33 in the Strength DLA factor column.

3-26

22. Click on OK to close the Define loads form.
Calculate Capacity
23. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu to open the Bending, Axial and Shear form.
Ensure that the Analysis type field is set to Strength Limit State.
The program displays the following confirm message. For this example click the
No button on this message:

24. Click on the Loadcase drop down menu and select Loadcase: 1 from the list.
Click No on the Confirm messages that appear.
25. Click on the Resistance drop down menu and select X Moment Positive from
the list. Click No on the Confirm message that appears.
26. Click on the Neutral Axis angle drop down menu and select Free from the list.
Click No on the Confirm form that appears.
27. The limiting additional load is 33.67kNm. The neutral angle axis is 36.4154.
3-27

28. Click on the Neutral Axis angle drop down menu and select Fixed horizontal from
the list. The Value given for Resistance... confirm message will appear again.
Click on the No button.
29. The limiting additional load is now 321.349kNm.
30. The associated My moment is -548.97kNm but this bending will be restrained by
the membrane action in the adjoining slab. If the beam is 10m long and we
assume a uniformly distributed membrane force acting in the interface between
the edge beam and slab it will be 8* My/L
2
= 43.9kN/m and will be compressive.
31. Click on the OK button to close the Bending, Axial and Shear form.
32. Use the File |Save As menu to open the Save File form.
Section 2
section 2.3 of this manual.
35. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Sub-title to Example 3.5b and the
Job Number to 3.5b. Click on OK to close the Titles form.
36. Change the analysis type to Bending, Axial and Shear using the Data |Analysis
Type |Bending, Axial Shear menu item.
Define Applied Forces
37. Open the Define loads form using the Data |Define Loads |Applied Forces...
menu item.
3-28

38. Click on the Insert record button to add a load case. Then click twice on the
other Insert record button near the bottom of the form twice to add 2 rows to the
table at the bottom of the form. On the first row of the table, click in the Type
column and select Axial from the drop down list. In the Nominal Load field and
enter a value of 1000kN.
39. On the second row of the table on the Define loads form, click in the Type column
and select Y Moment from the drop down list. Enter a value of 100kNm in the
Nominal Load column.
40. For all rows in the table, enter values of 1 in the Service Gamma column and
1.75 in the Strength Gamma column. All of the DLA factors should be set to a
value of 1.33.

Click No on the confirm form that appears. Ensure that the Analysis type field is
set to Strength Limit State. Click the No button on the confirm message if it
appears.
43. Click on the Loadcase drop down menu and select Loadcase: 1 from the list.
Click the No button on the confirm message.
44. Click on the Resistance drop down menu and select X Moment Positive from
the list. Click the No button on the confirm message.
45. The maximum additional Design Mx moment that can be applied is 276.43kNm.
The max nominal moment is therefore 276.43 x 1.25 = 345.54kNm
3-29

47. Open the Define loads form using the Data|Define Loads|Applied Forces menu
item.
48. Click on the Insert record button to add a load case and decline to copy the
active load case.
49. The Factored (Ultimate LS) design moment (as opposed to nominal moments) are
entered directly into the top part of the table. In the second row, in the Mx column
(under the Strength group) enter 350. Enter 1320 in the Ax column and enter
180 in the Vy column.

Click the No button on the message.
52. Click on the Resistance drop down menu and select *Not used* from the list.
Click the No button on the message.
53. Tick the Shear Stress Calcs check box and click No on the confirm form.
54. Click on the Results button to display the Results Viewer.
55. Scroll down the Results Viewer to find the Link arrangement. The link spacings of
11.3mm diameter bars that are required are 359.545 for 2 legs and 719.089mm
for 4 legs.
3-30

The output shows the maximum spacing is 230mm so we would use single links at
225mm spacing.
56. The links defined above are minimum reinforcement requirements. If the actual
shear force exceeds the value of .Vn_min=318.68kN (as shown on the Bending,
Axial and Shear form) then additional links will be required. The shear force must
always be below 1032.8kN no matter how much shear reinforcement is required.

58. Use the File|Save As... menu to open the Save File form.
59. Change the filename to My US Example 3_4b and click on the Save button to
save the data file.
Summary
This example illustrates four techniques
a. How to calculate section capacities of a non symmetrical section where
natural bending occurs about a principle axis.
3-31

b. How to restrain a section so that bending occurs about a given axis and the
resultant (out of balance) moments about a perpendicular axis can be
determined.
c. Consideration of biaxial bending combined with axial forces when applying
a given set of forces and moments to a section and being able to calculate
the allowable addition forces and moments.
d. How to design shear link requirements in a column.

3-32

3-33

3.5. Crack Width & Stress Calcs of an RC Section
Subjects Covered:
Service LS Limiting stresses; Defining Load Effects; AASHTO 5.7.3.4-1; Interpolation
between long and short term modulus; Maximum bar spacing to control cracking;
Maximum bar spacing to control cracking between specific bars.
Outline
The calculation of Service limit state stresses and maximum crack widths are to be
calculated for the edge section, with reinforcement defined in section 3, under two
load/design situations.

Design situation 1
The precast beam is lifted at its ends through the centroid of the section which
generates a nominal Mx bending moments of 218kNm due to the dynamic effect
on its self weight (DLA factor = 1.0 and it is a live load). Check that the concrete
and steel stresses do not exceed the Service LS limits
Check the maximum bar spacing to control crack widths for this design situation
(not normally a requirement for this design situation but shown for completeness)
Design situation 2
When the section is attached to the insitu slab the Neutral axis is forced to be
horizontal. The dead load nominal moment is 126kNm (DLA factor = 1.0) and the
live load moment is 254kNm (Service DLA factor = 1.0 it is assumed the load is
a pedestrian and/or design lane load). What are the concrete & reinforcement
stresses for this case if an interpolated elastic modulus is used?
What is the max bar spacing to control cracking for this case.
3-34

What is the max bar spacing to control cracking between the two left most bars in
the bottom face.
Procedure
3_4a.sam created in section 3.4 of this manual.
2. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Sub-title to Example 3.5 and the
Job Number to 3.5. Click on OK to close the Titles form.
3. Use the Data |Analysis Type menu to set the analysis type to Bending Axial and
Shear.
Design Situation 1
Define Load Effects
4. Use the Data |Define Loads |Applied Forces menu to open the Define loads
form.
5. Double-click in the Service DLA factor field and enter a value of 1.0. Click OK
to close the Define loads form.
Calculate Stresses
6. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu to open the Bending Axial and Shear form.
The program may produce a confirm message. For this example click on the Yes
button to close the message. Set the Analysis type field to Service Limit State.
7. Click on the Loadcase drop down and select Loadcase: 1 from the list.
8. Click on the Resistance drop down and select Not used from the list.
9. Click on the Neutral Axis angle drop down menu and select Free from the list.

3-35

10. Untick the Spacing limit for all bars tickbox (if it is already ticked) and click OK
on the Information form that appears. Click on the Results button. The tables of
Maximum and Minimum Strains show the concrete and steel stresses to be
18.82N/mm
2
and -219.19N/mm
2
respectively. This is less than the allowable
limits of 19.125N/mm
2
and -252N/mm
2

Control of Cracking by Distribution of Reinforcement
11. Tick the Spacing limit for all bars tickbox and note that the bars need to be
spaced at less than 232.4mm in order to control cracking. Click OK to close the
Bending, Axial and Shear form.
Design Situation 2
12. Use the Data|Define Loads|Applied Forces menu to open the Define loads form.
13. Click on the Insert record button below the top table to add a load case. A
Confirm form will open asking if you want to copy the active loadcase. Click on
No to create a new loadcase. Click twice on the Insert record button near the
bottom of the form to add 2 rows to the table at the bottom of the form.
14. On the first row of the table, click in the Type column and select X Moment from
the drop down list.
16. Enter a value of 1.0 in the Service DLA factor column.
17. Click on the Perm/Live drop down and select Perm from the list.
18. On the second row of the table, click in the Type column and select X Moment
from the drop down list.
20. Leave the Perm/Live drop down set to Live.
21. Enter a value of 1.0 in the Service DLA factor column.
3-36

22. Click on OK to close the Define Loads form.
Stress Checks
23. Use the Calculate| Analyze menu to open the Bending, Axial and Shear form.
24. An error message saying Section capacity exceeded overstress factors given in
stress analysis Results printout may appear. Click on the OK button.
25. Click on the Resistance drop down and select *Not used* from the list. Click OK
on the error message form.
26. Click on the Loadcase drop down and select Loadcase: 2 from the list. Click
OK on the error message form.
27. Click on the Neutral Axis angle drop down and select Fixed horizontal from the
list.
28. Click on the Set Parameters for drop down and select Service LS Calculations
from the list. This will open the Design Data for Serviceability Calculations form.
29. Confirm that the Elastic modulus used field is set to Interpolated and the
Exposure factor is set to Class 2. Click OK to close the form.
30. Untick the Spacing limit for all bars tick box and click OK on the Information form.
Click on the Results button to open the Results Viewer.
31. The concrete and reinforcement stresses are shown in the MAXIMUM and
MINIMUM Strains table. The concrete stress is 16.62N/mm
2
and the
reinforcement stress is -208.368N/mm
2
. Close the Results Viewer using the green
Exit button.
3-37

Crack Width Checks
32. Go to the Bending, Axial and Shear form and tick the Spacing limit for all bars tick
box. The maximum allowable bar spacing is 270mm.

33. It is also possible to find the crack width between specified bars. We want to find
out the crack width between the two outermost 25.2mm diameter bars at the left
hand side of the beam. To do this first untick the Spacing limit for all bars tickbox,
then click OK on the information form that appears and draw a box around the
two bars. The Results Viewer will automatically open to show the crack control
calculations for those bars. The maximum allowable spacing for crack control is
625.3mm.
3-38

34. Close the Results Viewer and click OK to close the Bending, Axial and Shear
form.
36. Change the filename to My US Example 3_5.sam and click on the Save button
to save the data file.
Summary
The first design situation considers the lifting of the beam where it will bend about the
principle axis. The value of the bending moment is greater than just the dead load
bending moment to take into account the dynamic effects of the lifting.

The max concrete stresses can be obtained from the graphics, but the steel stresses can
only be obtained from the results output.

The second design situation illustrates the calculation of stresses and spacing of
reinforcement to control cracking at Service LS when some of the load is long term
permanent load and the rest is instantaneous live load. The method used is an
interpolation between the long and short term modulus so the stresses calculated are
those that would occur at the end of the structure life. To check the stresses just after
construction, the long term modulus would need to be modified, so as to represent the
correct amount of creep, or the user can choose to use the short term modulus only.

3-39

3.6. General Stress Strain Analysis
Subjects Covered:
General stress strain materials
Outline
For the Steel/Concrete composite beam, defined in section 2, it is required to calculate
the section capacity for bending (sagging and hogging) about the horizontal axis and to
examine the stress distribution due to an axial tensile load of -4000kN and a sagging
bending moment of 4000kNm.

This is done using the General Stress Strain analysis type, but, before this can be
carried out the material properties need to be defined as general stress strain type
material with specific strain limits.

The concrete has the same configuration and strain limits as AASHTO concrete.

The structural steel is defined as elastic-plastic with a stress limit set to 345N/mm
2
and a
strain limit of 0.01. The yield strain is set to give an elastic modulus of 200N/mm
2
.

The reinforcement is set as an elastic-plastic with offset and the stress and strain limits
should be set as the same as AASHTO reinforcement but with a strain limit of 0.01.
3-40

Procedure
1. Open the program and open the data file US Example 2_6 saved in section 2.6,
using the File |Open menu item.
2. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Section Title to General Stress
Strain Analysis, the Sub-title to Example 3.6 and the Job Number to 3.6. Click
on OK to close the Titles form.
3. Using the Data |Analysis Type menu item select General Stress / Strain. Open
the Define Material Properties form using the Data |Define Material Properties
menu item. Add an additional material property in the next available row as a
Defined Stress-Strain type. This should open the Defined Property Details form.
4. Change the Minimum Yield Strength to 31.875 and choose Parabolic-
Rectangular from the dropdown in the Defined Stress-Strain Type field. This
opens a secondary form in which the Set Curve Default to field can be set to the
relevant code when designing to other codes of practice. Close this secondary
form and note that the Modulus of Elasticity-Short Term is automatically set to
17.4876. Now change value of Modulus of Elasticity-Short Term to 28.5. Set
the Property Name to be Defined grade 31 Concrete before closing the Define
Property Details form with the OK button.

5. Add another material in the next available row as a Defined Stress-Strain type.
Set the Minimum Yield Strength to 345N/mm
2
and the Defined Stress-Strain
Type to Elastic Plastic. Note the default strain at yield is +/- 0.001725 (giving an
elastic modulus of 200N/mm
2
). Click OK to accept these values and close the
secondary form. Ensure the Strain Limit is set to 0.01. Set the Property Name to
Defined Structural Steel before closing the Define Property Details form with the
OK button.
3-41

6. Add a third new material in the next available row as a Defined Stress-Strain
type. Set the Minimum Yield Strength to 420N/mm
2
and the Defined Stress-
Strain Type to Elastic-Plastic with offset. For reinforcement to AASHTO the
compressive full yield stress is reduced to 347 at a strain of 0.002. Enter this
information in the Define Stress-Strain Relation data sub form and then close this
sub form using the OK button. Note that when the sub form is closed the
Factored Strength automatically changes to a value of 347. Now set the Strain
Limit to 0.01 and the Property Name to Defined Reinforcement before closing
the Define Property Details form. Click OK on the Define Property Details form.

7. This has now completed the new material property definition so close the Define
Material Properties form with the OK button.
8. Open the Project Templates form using the menu item Options |Project
Templates Click on the Create new Project
Template button. This will display the New Project
Template form, check the Copied current model
settings radio button and click on OK to close the
form.
9. Click in the Project Template field and type Version 6 Examples US 3.7. Click on
the Export Template button to open the Export the program Project Template

3-42

File form. Change the filename to Version 6 Examples US 3.7.spj and click on
the Save button to save the Project Template file. Click OK on the Project
Templates form.
10. Open the Define Section form using the menu item Data |Define Section... and
set the parametric shape to have the Defined Grade 31 Concrete property and
the Steel Sections to have the Defined-Structural Steel property. Close this form
with the OK button.

11. Open the Define Bars and Tendons form using the menu item Data |Define
Bars... and click on the Edit bars... button. Click in the graphics screen to place
a window around all the bars (they will turn red) and a secondary Edit
Reinforcement data form will be displayed. Change the Edit Option to Change
Property and set the Bar property to Defined Reinforcement. Close both forms
with the OK button.
12. Change the Analysis type to General Stress/Strain using the Data |Analysis
Type menu item.
13. Open the Define Loads data form using the Data |Define Loads |Applied
Forces menu item. Click on the Insert Record button (+) to create a new load
case. Then enter 4000 and -4000 in the MX and AX fields in the Strength
sections of the top table. Close the Define Loads data form using the OK button.

14. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu item to open the General Stress / Strain form.
Set the Loadcase to Loadcase 1 and Resistance to *Not used*. The maximum
and minimum stresses can be obtained from the results viewer by clicking on the
Results button. Produce a print preview of the combined text output and graphics
by using the Print Preview menu item which can be found at the top of the
3-43

Results Viewer (or under the More Buttons tab located immediately to the right of
the Save as... button on the Results Viewer form). Both the print Preview and
results viewer windows can be closed.

15. To obtain the sagging bending moment capacity set the Loadcase field to None
and the Resistance to X Moment Positive. The capacity will be shown as the
Limiting Additional Load on the General Stress /Strain form.

16. Close all the data forms and save this data file as My US Example 3_6.sam
using the File |Save As... menu item.
Summary
This example shows how any material with a known stress strain relationship can be
defined. These materials can then be assigned to components of a section and a
3-44

general strain compatibility analysis carried out to obtain limiting capacities or stresses
for a given set of loads.

3-45

3.7. Stresses at transfer of a prestress section
Subjects Covered:
Prestress Tendons; Relaxation loss; Elastic Loss; Interpolated/short term Modulus; User
Notes; Stress/Strain calculation Reports; Inverted Neutral Axis for Hogging.
Outline
The pre stressed section defined in Chapter 2 is opened and the slab and edge section
are removed from the section definition.

The section represents the mid span section of a 25m long beam which has been cast
and stressed and is about to be released from its mould. The concrete strength at this
stage is based on grade 31 concrete and the relaxation loss in the tendon force is
assumed to be 1.25%. The self weight moment is calculated based upon a weight
density of 23.544kN/m
3
and applied in the load table.

An SLS stress analysis is carried out assuming that the neutral axis remains horizontal,
and the elastic modulus is set to the short term modulus.

The stress results are the stresses in the concrete taking into account the losses in the
tendons due to the elastic deformation of the concrete. By temporarily setting the elastic
modulus of the concrete to a very high value (say 10000kN/mm
2
) the resulting stresses
are those without elastic deformation losses.

3-46

Procedure
2_7.sam created in Chapter 2 of this manual.
2. Use the menu item Data |Titles to change the Section Title to Prestressed
Section Analysis, the Sub-title to Example 3.7 and the Job Number to 3.7.
Click on OK to close the Titles form.
3. Open the Section Definition data form using the menu item Data |Define
Section... Delete the edge detail by clicking in the Library field of the third row and
using the delete key. Delete the slab section by clicking in the Library field of the
second row and using the delete key.
4. Assign Grade 31 concrete to concrete beam component by using the drop down
selection of the Property field. Click on the OK button to close the Define Section
form.
5. To find the cross-sectional area of the beam, use the Data |Analysis Type menu
to set the analysis type to Section Properties. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu
to open the Calculate Section Properties form.

6. The cross-sectional area is 0.522m
2
. The weight density is 23.544kN/m
3
and the
length of the beam is 25m, therefore an Mx bending moment of 960.1538kNm (i.e
0.52223.54425x25/8) must be applied to the beam.
7. Click on the OK button to close the Calculate Section Properties form.
8. Use the Data |Analysis Type menu to set the analysis type to Bending, Axial and
Shear.
3-47

9. Delete the Structural Steel Material using the Define Material Properties form if it is
till shown on this form.
10. Use the Data |Define Loads |Applied Forces menu to open the Define loads
form.
11. Click on the Insert record (+) button to add a load case. Click on the other Insert
record button near the bottom of the form to add a row to the table at the bottom
of the form. On the first row of the table, click in the Type column and select X
Moment from the drop down list. Enter a value of 960.1538kNm in the Nominal
Load column. Change the Service Gamma factor and Service DLA factor to 1 by
clicking in relevant fields and entering a value of 1.0. Set the Perm/Live field to
Perm.

12. Click on the OK button to close the Define Loads form.
13. The relaxation loss in the tendon force must be accounted for before analysing.
Open the Define Bars and Tendons form using the menu item Data | Define
Bars...
14. The tendon forces are 241kN and must be reduced by 1.25%. Click on the Edit
Tendons button. Window around the whole section in the graphics window to
select all of the tendons. This will open the Edit Reinforcement sub form. On the
sub form set the Edit Option field to Change force and enter a value of 238kN
in the Tendon Force field. Click OK on the sub form.
15. Click on the OK button to close the Define Bars and Tendons form.
16. It is useful to make a note of this in the User Notes form which can be opened up
using the menu item Data | Notes... Enter the following text Tendon forces have
been reduced from 241kN to 238kN to represent relaxation losses at transfer.
Then close the form with the OK button.
3-48

Click No on the Confirm form. Set the Analysis type field to Service Limit State.
18. Click on the OK button on the forms that appear. Click on the Back button to
return to the Bending, Axial and Shear form.
19. Click on the Neutral Axis angle drop down and select Set angle to from the list.
Click in the corresponding edit box and enter a value of 180. Note and click
OK on the error messages.
20. By default the elastic modulus used in the calculations will normally be
interpolated between the long and short term values and as the load is totally
Permanent the modulus will be equal to the long term value. According to one of
the messages that appeared, the short term elastic modulus is now being used.
We can confirm this by setting the Set Parameter for: field to Service LS
Calculations and in the displayed sub-form set Elastic Modulus used: to Short
Term if it is not already set to this. Close the sub-form with the OK button.

21. The iterations now converge.

3-49

23. The maximum stress in the tendons is -1193.9N/mm
2
. The minimum stress is -
1282.6N/mm
2
.
The full stress in the tendon should be the tendon force divided by the tendon area
= 238000/181 = 1314.9N/mm
2
. The difference in these values is due to elastic
deformation losses.
25. Use the Data |Define Material Properties menu to open the Define Material
Properties form. Open the data form for the Grade 31 concrete by clicking on the
Name field in the first row of the table. On the Define Property Details form, click in
the Modulus of Elasticity Ec field and enter a value of 10000kN/mm
2
. The program
will display a warning message saying Outside expected range. Click on the
OK button.
26. Click on OK on both the Define Property Details and the Define Material
Properties forms to close both forms and save the changes.

27. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu to open the Bending, Axial and Shear form. For
this example note, and click OK on, the error messages. Click on the Results
button to display the Results Viewer (click OK on the error message).
3-50

28. The maximum and minimum stresses without elastic deformation losses are now -
1314.5N/mm
2
and -1315.8N/mm
2
respectively.
29. Close the Results Viewer and click on the OK button to close the Bending, Axial
and Shear form.
30. Change the modulus of elasticity of the grade 31 concrete back to the original
value by opening the Define Material Properties form, clicking on the grade 31
concrete and then input a value of 28.5437 in the E
c
field. Close both material
forms with the OK button.
31. Use the File|Save As... menu to open the Save File form.
32. Change the filename to MY US Example 3_7.sam and click on the Save button
Summary
This example demonstrates the effect of including prestress tendons in a section.

The resultant stresses are due to the prestress force and the moments from the dead
weight of the beam. If it was required to see the stresses from the prestress only, then a
very small dead load could be applied.

It should be noted that although relaxation losses are included in the material form for
pre-stressing tendons, this data is not used as the section analysis is not fixed to a given
time. This is why the tendon forces were modified manually to set the relaxation loss to
1.25%.

The stress diagrams are always produced with compressive forces at the top. If a
hogging moment is applied to a section it automatically inverts the section. In the
prestress case the applied moment is sagging but the prestress provides higher
compressive stress at the bottom of the beam. This is why the neutral axis needed to be
inverted manually.

3-51

3.8. Interaction Curves for Columns
Subjects Covered:
Reinforced concrete column; General Stress/Strain Sections; Effective lengths;
slenderness moments
Outline
Using two sections defined in Chapter 2 of this manual, shown below, produce
bending/axial interaction curves for each, using 50 points on each curve, as follows:

Example 2.3
Using AASHTO Strength calculation
determine the design MY bending capacity of
the section.
Create Interaction curves for the section
assuming an effective length of 0.0 in both
directions. This assumes the section is a
beam and that no slenderness or tolerance
moments will be considered.
The curves should be for MX (hor) against
AXIAL (vert) for values of MY ranging from
0.0 to just below MY capacity in increments of
50kNm.
Examine the effect on the interaction curve
diagrams.

Example 2.5

Using General stress strain calculations and
materials determine the ultimate axial
capacity of the section.
Create an interaction curve of MX (hor)
against MY (vert) for axial ranging from 0.0 to
capacity so that there are 10 curves.

3-52

Procedure
RC Column
1. Start the program and use the File |Open menu item to open the file US Example
2_3.sam created in Chapter 2 of this manual. If an Information form appears
containing information about the project template, then click OK on this form.
2. Use the Data |Titles menu item to change the Section Title to Interaction Curves
for RC Column, the Sub-title to Example 3.8a and the Job Number to 3.8a.
Click on the OK button to close the Titles form.
3. Use the Data |Analysis Type menu item to set the analysis type to Bending,
Axial and Shear.
4. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu item to open the Bending, Axial and Shear
form. Set the Analysis type field to Strength Limit State. Click Yes if a confirm
form appears. Click on the Resistance drop down menu and select Y Moment
Positive from the list. Click Yes on the confirm form that appears.

5. The design MY bending capacity of the section is 478.957kNm.
6. Click the OK button to close the Bending, Axial and Shear form.
7. Use the menu item Calculate |Interaction Curves to open the Interaction
Curves form.
8. Click on the Required Curves y-axis drop down menu and select Axial from the
list. Click on the Required Curves x-axis drop down menu and select Mx from the
list.
3-53

9. On the Tab Increments panel, click on the From field and enter a value of 0kNm.
Click on the To field and enter a value of 250kNm. Click on the Increment field
and enter a value of 50kNm.
10. Click on the Add Tab by Increments button.
11. Click on the Points per Curve field and enter a value of 50.
12. Click on the My=0 tab of the Interaction Curves form. Click on the Analyze All
button. Click the OK button on any warning messages that appear.

14. Click on the other tabs on the Interaction Curves form and examine the graphics
displayed.

3-54

Sometimes parts of the interaction curves may be not be correct. To examine
where these unstable points are we can inspect the results file and determine
which part of the curve is usable. In this example, if we scroll down the Results
Viewer we see that none of the points have been annotated as being interpolated.
If points are annotated as being interpolated in other files then engineering
judgment will be required to ascertain whether those points should be used.
Points may be interpolated because when My tends towards its capacity the
solution becomes unstable at a number of points, especially at small values of Mx.
The shape of the curves may also indicate which areas of the curves are not
usable.

As noted above, in this example if we scroll down the results for the My tab curves
we can see that none of the results are annotated as being interpolated.
If any of the results were annotated as being interpolated, we could follow the
procedure outlined below. The solution would be that for small values of Mx and
high values of My we should consider a change in the axes and plot My against
Axial for a range of small Mx values.
15. Change the x axis to My (all the My tabs should disappear) and then create tabs
for Mx = 0 to 20 in increments of 1. (See steps 9 and 10).
16. Click on the Analyze All button to produce the curves. We can see from the
graphics that this has then produced relatively stable results in this region of the
3D interaction.
3-55

17. Click in the Mx = 0 tab and note the Critical value of Y on the Interaction Curve
form when X = 0. The value should be 5749.296kN.

18. Close the Results Viewer and click the OK button to close the Interaction Curves
form.
19. Use the File |Save As... menu item to open the Save File form.
Encased Column
21. Use the File |Open menu item to open the file US Example 2_5.sam created in
Chapter 2 of this manual.
22. Use the Data |Titles menu item to change the Section Title to Interaction Curves
for Encased Column, the Sub-title to Example 3.10b and the Job Number to
3.10b. Click on the OK button to close the Titles form.
23. Use the Data |Analysis Type menu item to set the analysis type to General
Stress/Strain.
24. Use the Options| Project Templates menu item to open the Project Templates
form. Click on the Import Template button and open the file Version 6
Examples 3.7.spj created in section 3.7 of this guide. Click the Yes button on
any Confirm forms that appear. Click on the OK button to close the Project
Templates form.
25. Use the Data |Define Material Properties menu item to open the Define Material
Properties form. Click on the Apply Template button. The Project Template
Materials form will appear, click on the Replace current ones radio button and
then click the OK button to close the form. Click on the OK button to close the
Define Material Properties form.
3-56

26. Use the Data |Define Section menu item to open the Define Section form.
27. Click in the Property field on the first row of the table and select Defined grade 31
Concrete from the drop down menu.
28. Click in the Property field on the second row of the table and select Defined
Structural Steel from the drop down menu.
The third row is the void section to make the hole in the concrete to take the steel.
29. Click on the OK button to close the Define Section form.
30. In order for the program to perform the calculations, some nominal reinforcing
bars must be included in the section. Use the Data |Define Bars menu item to
open the Define Bars and Tendons form.
31. Click on the Generate drop down menu and select Draw Bars from the list. Click
in the Diameter field and enter a value of 1mm. A warning message appears
saying this is a non-standard size. Click on OK to close this.
32. On the Define Bars and Tendons graphic display, click on the 4 grid points nearest
the edge of the concrete section that lie on the X or Y axis as shown below.

3-57

33. Click on the OK button to close the Define Bars and Tendons form.
34. Use the Calculate |Analyze menu item to open the General Stress/Strain form.
Ensure that the Analysis type field is set to General Stress/Strain. Click on the
Resistance drop down menu and select Axial from the list.

35. The ultimate axial capacity of the section is 14522.5kN.
36. Click the OK button to close the General Stress/Strain form.
37. Use the menu item Calculate |Interaction Curves to open the Interaction
Curves form.
38. Click on the Required Curves y-axis drop down menu and select My from the list.
Click on the Required Curves x-axis drop down menu and select Mx from the list.
3-58

39. On the Tab Increments panel, click on the From field and enter a value of 0kNm.
Click on the To field and enter a value of 13500kNm. Click on the Increment field
and enter a value of 1500kNm. Click on the Add Tab by Increments button.
40. Click on the Points per Curve field and enter a value of 50.
41. Click on the Analyze All button to produce the curves. (Click OK on any
messages produced).
42. Click on the OK button to close the Interaction Curves form.
44. Change the filename to My US Example 3_8b.sam and click on the Save
Summary
This example shows how multiple interaction curves can be created in one analysis and
that the interaction variables can be changed.

It also highlights that you need to be careful when interpreting the results, especially
when large slenderness moments exist due to the effective lengths of columns, as failure
to converge at some points may occur.

It was demonstrated that when the tabbed value approached the section capacity for that
component alone then the solution for the other two components becomes unstable. In
this case it is better to change the tabbed component to a different component and
investigate the interaction between the others.

The second example shows that by using general stress strain methods, interaction
curves can be drawn for any section, not just RC sections.

4-1

4. Beam Definition

Contents
4.1. Steel Composite Beam Definition .............................................................................. 4-3
4.2. Prestress Beam Definition (Simple) ........................................................................... 4-9
4.3. Prestress Beam Definition (Advanced) .................................................................... 4-15
4.4. Reinforced Concrete Beam Definition ...................................................................... 4-25

4-2

4-3

4.1. Steel Composite Beam Definition
Subjects Covered:
Steel composite beam; outer beam; rolled steel beam; concrete haunch; concrete edge;
edge cast with slab;
Outline
Create a simply supported composite steel/concrete beam 26m long with a uniform
section as shown below.

The steel beam is a standard steel beam W 36x260 and has standard default steel
material properties. The 200mm thick concrete slab is grade 31 concrete. The concrete
edge geometry has been pre-defined and is stored in a section library, which can be
imported. It is structural and it is cast separately from the slab. The edge will need
offsetting to place it in the correct position. Save the file as My US Example 4_1.sam
for use in a later example.

4-4

Procedure
6 Examples - US using the Options |Projects Templates menu item.
2. Begin a new section using the menu item File |New Beam.
3. Set the Beam type to Steel Composite using the Data |Beam Type menu item.
4. Use the menu item Data |Titles... to set the Section title as Composite
Steel/Concrete Beam - Simple with a sub-title of Example 4.1 and a Job
Number of 4.1. Also add your initials to the Calculated by data item. Click on
OK to close the titles form.
Define Beam
5. Use the Data |Define Beam menu item to open the Define Composite Beam
form. (Select Data | Define Material Properties and click on Apply Template if
this command is not available).
6. Click in the Span field and enter a value of 26m. Click on the Location is drop
down menu and select Outer beam from the list.
7. Click on the Define drop down menu and select Section from the list to open the
Composite Beam Section Definition form. Click in the Component drop down
menu on the first row of the table and select Rolled Steel Beam from the list. This
will open the Define Composite Beam Component form. Select American
Sections (AISC), click on the Steel section range drop down menu and select W
Shapes from the list. Select W36 and 260lb in the Serial size within range
fields. Click on the OK button to close the Define Composite Beam Component
form.

8. Click in the Component drop down menu on the second row of the table and
select Concrete Slab from the list. This will open the Define Composite Beam
Component form. Click in the width field and enter a value of 2000mm. Click in
the depth field and enter a value of 200mm. Click on the OK button to close the

4-5

Define Composite Beam Component form. Click in the Slab Details X offset field
and enter a value of 0.5m.

Add Haunch and Edge Detail
9. Click in the Component drop down menu on the third row of the table and select
Concrete Haunch from the list. This will open the Define Composite Beam
Component form. Click in the width at top field and enter a value of 600mm. Click
in the width at bottom field and enter a value of 420mm. Click in the depth field
and enter a value of 75mm. Click on the OK button to close the Define
Composite Beam Component form.

10. Click in the Component drop down menu on the fourth row of the table and select
Concrete Edge from the list. This will open the Define Edge Detail form.

4-6

11. Click on the Retrieve button and open the supplied file Edge Detail.lib. There is
only one shape in this library file so select it and click on the OK button. The
edge detail is not located correctly in the section but this can be done by setting
the offsets in the Composite Beam Section Definition form.
12. Close the Define Edge Detail form with the OK button.
13. Enter an X offset: of -0.5 and a Y offset: of 0.996.
14. Uncheck the Edge detail cast with slab? check box. Ensure that the concrete
material assigned to the 3 concrete components is the C31 material.

15. Click on the OK button to close the Composite Beam Section Definition form.
16. Click on the OK button to close the Define Composite Beam form.
18. Change the filename to My US Example 4_1.sam and click on the Save button

4-7

Summary
In this example we have defined a steel composite beam which includes a concrete
haunch and a concrete edge detail. The edge detail was imported from a user library file
but could easily have been generated by entering the coordinates of the shape vertices
directly into the table. Note that the materials for each section component were not
explicitly defined but default values were used as these were the correct values.
Different materials could have been selected here if they had been previously defined.

4-8

4-9

4.2. Prestress Beam Definition (Simple)
Subjects Covered:
Prestress beam; Define material properties; Define beam; Sizing prestress beam; Define
prestress beam section;
Outline
The section of a 21m long prestressed concrete beam and insitu concrete slab is shown
below.

The prestressed beam is a standard I-Girder beam the size of which is to be determined
and is cast using grade 40 concrete. The 200mm thick insitu slab is 2m wide and
constructed using grade 31 concrete. Standard wire pre-stressing strands are used;
each having an effective area of 98.71mm2 and a nominal diameter of 12.7 mm. The
tensile strength, fpu of each tendon is 1861MPa and they are initially stressed at 75%
with a low relaxation. Tendons are initially located in all default manufacturers locations
as shown above. Save the file as My US Example 4_3.sam for use in a later example.

4-10

Procedure
2. Begin a new beam using the menu item File |New Beam.
3. Use the menu item Data |Titles... to set the title as Prestress Beam - Simple with
a sub-title of Example 4.2. Also set the Job Number to 4.2 and add your initials
to the Calculated by data item. Click on OK to close the Titles form.
4. Select Data |Beam Type to set the beam type as Pre-tensioned Prestressed.
Modify Materials Loaded from the Template
5. Next we will change the material properties loaded from the template.
Click on the Data |Define Material Properties... menu to open the Define Material
Properties form. Click on the Apply Template button if the materials are not
shown on the form. Double-click in the Name column on row 5 (Structural Steel
material) then press the Delete key on your keyboard to delete the redundant
material property. (Click on Apply Template if no materials are shown).
Click in the Name column on row 4 to open the prestress material properties.
Change the Tensile Strength, fpu to 1861MPa, the Initial Prestress Force to
75%, and the Relaxation Type to Low Relaxation. (The material Property Name
could be changed to a more suitable description).

Click OK on both forms to save the new material properties.
6. The next step is to define the geometry of the beam.
Click on the Data|Define Beam... menu item to open the Pre-tensioned Beam
Definition form. In the Beam length field, enter a value of 21m. Make sure Cross
section is is set to Uniform and Location is is set to Interior beam.

4-11

Suggest Section Size
7. Next we will get the program to suggest a sizing for the beam cross section.
Click on the Suggest size of drop down and select I-Girder from the list of
options. This will open the Pre-tensioned Beam Initial Sizing form.

Click on the Select from: dropdown menu and select I-III. The graph, read in
conjunction with the Select from: dropdown menu will show that either I-Girder I-
II or I-III is the best initial size for the cross section. Click OK to select this size.
Define Slab
8. The next step is to define the slab.
Click on the Define drop down and select Section from the list of options. This
will open the Pre-tensioned Beam Section Definition form where you will see the
GIRDER III cross section defined in the previous step.
Click on the Component column in the second row of the table and select Cast in
place regular. This will open the Define Precast Beam Component form. The
Shape Reference will be set to Rectangle already so enter 2000mm in the
width field and 200mm in the depth field then click OK.
Ensure the Y offset for the slab is set to 1100 (input this data and press Enter on
the keyboard if it is not). Click on the Merge by stage # button so that the
program will remove the overlapping material for the two section components.

4-12

Check that the Transfer Property for the beam and the Final Property for the slab
are both set to grade 31 and the Final Property for the beam is set to grade 40,
then click on the OK button to close the Pre-tensioned Beam Section Definition
form. Click on OK to close the Pre-tensioned Beam Definition form.
9. Click on the icon when the Pre-tensioned Beam Tendon Definition or Define
Pre-tensioned Beam Reinforcement forms are open shows an isometric view in
which a three dimensional representation of the reinforcement and tendons can be
seen. Parameters for this view can be controlled on the orange General tab at
the side of the graphics window.

10. Finally we will save the beam file.
Click on the File |Save as... menu item and save the file as My US Example
4_2.sam.

4-13

Summary
This example shows how to enter a simple pretensioned prestressed beam into
Autodesk
Structural Bridge Design 2014. Particular emphasis is placed on the

suggested initial beam size based on the span and spacing of the beam.
It should be noted that the suggested size is just a recommendation and need not be
used. In this case the precast beam section shape is defined by selecting from the full
list or defining the shape manually.

4-14

4-15

4.3. Prestress Beam Definition (Advanced)
Subjects Covered:
Prestress beam; Edge beam; Exterior beam; Varying cross section; Merge by stage;
Edge upstand; Section locations; Remove unwanted tendons; Debond tendons; Define
reinforcement; Curtailment of reinforcement; Change reinforcement properties;
Outline
A Prestressed concrete edge beam
and insitu concrete slab, upstand and
Infill are shown below. The precast
beam is an I Girder standard beam
with just 4 tendons in the top of the
beam and two rows of tendons in the
bottom. The positions of the tendons
are in the manufacturers default
locations and the centre four tendons
of the second row are debonded along
the first 3.5m from the beam ends

The precast beam is 19m long but, when the insitu
diaphragm is cast, the composite beam spans
20m between the centre lines of the integral
supports. It is constructed using grade 50
concrete and prestressed with standard wire
strands, each having an effective area of
98.71mm
2
and a nominal diameter of 12.7 mm.
The tensile strength, fpu of each tendon is
1861MPa and they are initially stressed at 75%
with a low relaxation. The concrete strength at
transfer is 35N/mm
2

The slab is cast in two stages: the first (stage 1a)
being the central 11m portion and the second
(stage 1b) being the two ends together with the
infill between adjacent beams (which extends 2.0m along the beam from each end). The
upstand (stage 2) is then added as an additional stage and is cast along the complete
length. All insitu concrete is grade 31.

4-16

Reinforcement is placed in the slab
at each end of the beam, as shown,
to resist the hogging moment due to
the integral abutments. This
reinforcement extends 5.0m into the
slab from both ends. Standard
grade 420 reinforcement is used.

Procedure
2. Begin a new section using the menu item File |New Beam. Use Data |Beam
Type |Pre-tensioned Prestressed to select the beam type.
Define Materials and Beam
3. Open the Define Material Properties form using Data |Define Material
Properties... from the menu. Delete any redundant material by clicking on the
material and then using the Delete Key on the keyboard. Change the Grade 40
concrete to grade 50 by changing the characteristic strength in the data form and
then create an additional concrete property with a characteristic strength of
35MPa.

Change the Tensile Strength, fpu of the Prestress Strand material from
1860 to 1861. Close the Define Property Details form using the OK button.
(Property Names can be changed to more suitable descriptions). Close the
Define Material Properties form using the OK button.

4. Select the menu item Data |Titles... to set the Beam Title as Prestress Beam -
Advanced with a sub-title of Example 4.3. Also set the Job Number to 4.3 and

4-17

add your initials to the Calculated by data item. Click on OK to close the titles
form.
5. Open the Pre-tensioned Beam Definition form using the Data |Define Beam Menu
item. Set the Beam Length to 19 and the Support to beam end face to -0.5 at
both ends and press Enter on the keyboard. Note the Support c/c is shown as
20m.

6. In the Location is: field select Exterior beam from the drop down list and set
Cross section is: to varying. The No. of different sections: should be set to 3.
The first section is that at the centre of the beam with a precast beam and stage
1a insitu concrete representing the slab. The second section is that section where
there is no infill but the slab is stage 1b. The third section is the same as section 2
but the slab is now extended to include the infill concrete. The upstand (Stage 2
concrete) is present in all three sections
Define Cross Sections and Locations
7. To create section 1, open the Pre-tensioned Beam Section Definition form by
selecting Section 1 from the drop down list in the Define: field.
In the Component column of the first
row of the table, select PC
beam standard to open the
Define Precast Beam
Component form. Here set the
Concrete beam range: to I
Girder and the Shape no. within
range: to Type III 45 and then
close the form using the OK
button. Change the Transfer
Property to the grade 35 material and
ensure the Final Property is
grade 50 concrete.

4-18

In the Component column of the second row of the table select Cast in place
regular. In the Define Precast Beam Component form set the Shape reference to
Rectangle, the width to 1600 and the depth to 200; then close the form with
the OK button. Stage should be set to Stage 1A and the x & y offsets to 200
and 1100 respectively (and press Enter on the keyboard). To cut the concrete
out around the precast beam use the Merge by Stage button. If you cannot see
the full section on the graphics use the F4 function key on the keyboard (after
getting focus on the graphics window) to Fit the view.
To define the chamfer on the bottom left corner of the slab we need to change the
regular shape to a defined shape, add a point, and then edit the coordinates to
suit. Change the second row Component: to Cast in place define which will
display the Define Cast in Place form. Click on the first coordinate (the bottom left
corner of the slab should be highlighted with a red circle) and then click the small
+ button at the bottom of this table to add a point halfway up the left edge of the
slab. Change the Y coordinate of this point to 1150.

Click on the first coordinate again and set the X coordinate of the point to
-550. Change Name: to Slab and then close the Define Cast in Place form
using the OK button. Ensure that the Property is set to Grade 31 Concrete.

4-19

The last component to add is the
upstand which is done by adding
an additional defined shape. In the
Component column of the third row
of the table select Cast in place
define. Create a shape by clicking
the small + button at the bottom
of the table 5 times and then
editing the coordinates to (0,0)
(350,0) (250,400) (0,400) (0,0),
and naming the shape Edge.
Close this form with the OK
button. Set the X offset to -425
(which is the centre of the bottom
edge) and the Y offset to 1300.
Also check that the material
property is grade 31 concrete and
that Stage is set to Stage 2.
This completes the definition of section 1 so change the Name: to Stage1A and
close the Section Definition form with the OK button.
8. To create section 2 select Section 2 from the drop down list in the Define: field.
By default this will be the same as Section 1. All we need to do is change the
Stage for the Slab component to Stage1B and change the Name: to Stage1B.
Close the Section Definition form with the OK button.
9. To create section 3 select Section 3 from the drop down list in the Define: field.
By default this will be the same as Section 1. To define the Infill concrete, which is
cast together with the slab, around the shape of the precast beam we modify the
coordinates of the slab and then use Merge by Stage to remove any overlapping
portion.
In the Component column of the second row of the table re-select Cast in place
define to open up the Define Cast in Place form for the slab. In the graphics
window, click on the bottom right corner of the slab to make the circle marker turn
red. This highlights the coordinates in the table. Change the y coordinate of this
point to 0. Click on the coordinate immediately before the coordinate we have just
edited and change them to (0,0). Enter Slab + Infill into the Name: field and then
close the form using the OK button (say no to the prompt for updating the other
sections). Click on the button Merge by Stage to remove the overlapping
concrete then change the Stage to Stage 1B (if it is not already set to Stage
1B) and ensure the Property is set to grade 31 concrete.

4-20

All we need to do now is ensure the Stage for the Slab + Infill component is set to
Stage1B and change the Name: to Stage1B + Infill. Close the Section
Definition form with the OK button.
10. The sections now need to be located at positions along the span. This is done by
selecting Section Locations in the Define: field and filling out the data as shown
below in the resulting data form. Please note that the first column values are
selected from a drop down; entering the second column values will automatically
fill the third column values; the last row is hidden in the scrollable table but should
be Stage1B + Infill and 19. Click OK to close the Beam Feature Definition
form.

Define Tendons
11. To define pre-stressing tendons open the Pre-tensioned Beam Tendon Definition
form by selecting Tendons in the Define: field of the Pre-tensioned Beam
Definition form.

4-21

12. By default all available tendon locations have a
fully stressed tendon applied. To remove the
tendons not required (but not the locations) set
the Edit Mode: field to Insert/Remove and
then select the unwanted tendons in the
graphics window by boxing around the group as
shown this will turn the small dots red. The
tendons will be deleted when the delete key
on the keyboard is pressed. The tendons can
be replaced by doing the same but using the
Insert key rather than Delete.
13. The 4 middle tendons in the second row need
to be debonded which is done by selecting
Debond in the Edit Mode: field. Tick the
Symmetrical Elevation box, set the Left: field to
3.5 (when the enter key is pressed it
automatically updates the right end) and then
window round the 4 tendons, which turns them
red. The tendons are debonded beyond these
locations when the Insert key on the keyboard
is pressed and are indicated graphically as
orange dots.
14. To see how the tendons and sections change
along the beam length click once on the green arrow in the elevation graphics and
drag the pointer from one end to the other. The section graphics changes
accordingly. Moving the blue handles will alter the debond points. Close the
Tendon Definition form using the OK button. (For the purpose of this example
note and click Yes on the Confirm form).
15. To define the reinforcement, select Reinforcement in the Define: field of the Pre-
tensioned Beam Definition form which opens the Define Pre-tensioned Beam
Reinforcement form. To create the bar positions click on the Insert Bar + button
near the bottom of the form which opens the Define Reinforcement form.
Reinforcement is required at both ends of the beam with a gap in the middle. This
is achieved by defining two bars, one for each end of the beam, and setting the
start and end points of each accordingly. The two bars can be located in the
same position in the section. The bars will be created initially with the bars at one
end below the bars at the other end so that we can window round the group.
Once the curtailments have been set we can easily translate the bar positions to
the correct positions.

4-22

16. Set the Diameter: field to 25.2mm, the
Position by: field to Equal Spacing <
value and the Spacing: field to
150mm. Select Reinforce face(s) in
the Generate: field and then click on the
top face of the slab which will open a
secondary form. Accept the default
value of 50mm cover by closing this
form with the OK button and the bars
will then be displayed in the graphics
window. Click on the top face again but
this time change the cover to 100mm
before closing the form, which will
generate a second layer of
reinforcement.

By default the reinforcement runs from one end of the beam to the other, so each
layer needs curtailing. This is done by first closing the Define Reinforcement form
using the OK button. We will select the first 11 rows of the table (they will be
highlighted in orange). Click on the icon near the bottom of the form to open
the Edit Reinforcement Attributes sub-form. Tick the Modify tickbox and enter a
value of 5 in the
End : Dimension field. Click on OK to close the sub-form. Now highlight rows 12
to 22 of the table and click on the icon near the bottom of the form to open the
Edit Reinforcement Attributes sub-form again. Enter a value of 14 in the Start :
Dimension field. Click on OK to close the sub-form.

4-23

17. The lower layer of reinforcement now needs
moving to have 50mm cover. Click on the
green arrow in the graphics window and drag it
to the bars at the right hand end of the beam.
Click on the + button near the bottom of the
form, but instead of defining additional bars we
will click on the Edit bars button. Window round
the lower layer of reinforcement and an Edit
Reinforcement form will be displayed. Set the
Edit Option: field to X-Y Translation then set
the y: value to 50 before closing the form with
the OK button.
18. The Define Reinforcement form can now be closed with the OK button to
complete the reinforcement definition. To see graphically how the reinforcement
varies along the beam span, with the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Reinforcement
form open, click on the green arrow in the elevation graphics and move it along
the beam to display the reinforcement. (The bars can be seen by following the
same procedure with the tendon definition form open).
19. Close all forms using the OK button and then save the file using the File |Save
as... menu item as My US Example 4_3.sam.
Summary
In this example we have defined a pretensioned prestressed beam with three different
cross sections. We have also defined tendons along the length of the beam and
debonded them at various positions. Finally we looked at a special technique for defining
curtailed reinforcement.

4-24

4-25

4.4. Reinforced Concrete Beam Definition
Subjects Covered:
Reinforced concrete beam; Parametric shape; Join button; X and Y offset; Soffit face;
Soffit profile; Define reinforcement; Locate bar by 2 covers; Snap mode; Superimposed
bars; Reinforcing bar shape;
Outline
Create a uniform RC beam 30m long using the section shown below. The material for
the beam is grade 40 concrete. Ensure that the soffit is defined

The beam has a soffit profile as shown below

Place 4 rows of 43.7mm diameter bars in the bottom face and 2 rows in the top face.
Soffit Point
Coordinates
A 0.00 0.00
B 7.00 0.60
C 15.00 0.80
D 30.00 0.80

4-26

Procedure
6 Examples - US using the Options |Projects Templates menu item
2. Begin a new section using the menu item File |New Beam.
3. Set the beam type to Reinforced Concrete using the menu item Data |Beam
Type.
4. Use the menu item Data |Titles... to set the title as Reinforced Concrete Beam
with a sub-title of Example 4.4. Also set the Job Number to 4.4 and add your
initials to the Calculated by data item. Click on OK to close the titles form.
5. Use the Data |Define Beam menu item to open the Reinforced Concrete Beam
Definition form. Enter a value of 30m in the Beam Span field. Click on the Define
drop down menu and select Section from the list. This will open the RC Beam
Section Definition form.
Define Cross Section
6. On the first row of the table, click in the Component drop down menu and select
Parametric shapes from the list. This will open the Define Reinforced Concrete
Beam Component form. Select Rectangle from the Shape Reference drop down
menu. Enter a value of 1700mm in the width field and 2800mm in the depth
field. Click on the OK button to close the Define Reinforced Concrete Beam
Component form.
7. On the second row of the table, click in the Component drop down menu and
select Parametric shapes from the list. Using the Define Reinforced Concrete
Beam Component form, create a Rectangle of 550mm width and 350mm height.
Click on the OK button to close the Define Reinforced Concrete Beam
Component form.
8. On the second row of the table, enter a value of 2800mm in the
Y Coord field and press Enter on the keyboard. Click on the
Join button in the graphics window toolbar.

4-27

9. On the second row of the table, click in the Component drop down menu and
select Parametric shapes from the list. Using the Define Reinforced Concrete
Beam Component form, create a Rectangle of 350mm width and 350mm height.
Click on the OK button to close the Define Reinforced Concrete Beam
Component form.
10. On the second row of the table, change the X Coord value to 1350mm and the Y
Coord value to 2800mm and press Enter on the keyboard. Click on the Join
button in the graphics window toolbar.

11. On the second row of the table, create another Rectangle of 515mm width and
600mm height using the same method as step 6. Change the X Coord value to
1700mm and the Y Coord value to 1525mm and press Enter on the keyboard.
Click on the Join button in the graphics window toolbar.

12. Click on the bottom face of the section in the graphics window. The face will
change to a dashed line. This line type is used to indicate a continuous face.
Click on the bottom face again to change it to a solid, bold line. This tells the
program that the face is a soffit face and will follow the soffit profile of the beam.

4-28

Finally, select Grade 40 concrete from the Property drop down menu. Click on the
OK button to close the RC Beam Section Definition form.
Define Soffit Profile
13. Click on the Define drop down menu and select Elevation from the list. This will
open the Define Elevation form.
14. On the second row of the table, click in the Position along span field and enter a
value of 7.0m. On the same row, click in the Offset from datum field and enter a
value of 600mm. On the third row, enter a value of 15.00m in the Position along
span field and 800mm in the Offset from datum field. On the fourth row enter a
value of 800mm in the Offset from datum field. On the first row, click in the
Profile to next point drop down menu and select Arc from the list. Click on the
OK button to close the Define Soffit Profile form. (Clicking on the south view
icon will show the side elevation of the beam).

15. Click on the Define drop down menu and select Reinforcement from the list. This
will open the Define RC Beam Reinforcement form together with two graphics
views, one showing the elevation and one the cross section of the beam. We
need to define 6 rows of reinforcement, 4 rows at the bottom and 2 rows at the top
of the section.
16. Click on the green arrow marker in the graphics window and drag it to the support
at the left hand end of the beam. Click on the + button near the bottom of the

4-29

form to open the Define Reinforcement form. First we need to define the
outermost bars in each row of reinforcement.
Click on the Generate drop down and select 1 bar by 2 covers. Set the Diameter
field to 43.7mm then click on the bottom and left hand faces of the cross section.
This opens the Locate bar by 2 covers form. Leave both covers set to 50mm
and click OK. Repeat the process, this time clicking on the bottom and the right
faces.

Next click on the bottom and left hand faces and enter covers of 50mm and
140mm. Click on the bottom and right hand faces, entering covers of 140mm
and 50mm.
Repeat these steps, entering covers of 50mm and 230mm, and 230mm and
50mm. Finally repeat these steps, entering covers of 50mm and 320mm, and
320mm and 50mm.
You will now have 8 bars defined for the bottom of the section.

17. We now need to repeat this process for the top two rows of bars.
Click on the left hand face and the lower middle face on the top of the section and
set both covers to 50mm.

4-30

Next, click on the lower middle face and the right hand face and set both covers to
50mm.

Repeat these steps, entering covers of 140mm and 50mm for the left hand side
and 50mm and 140mm for the right hand side. You will now have 4 bars
defined at the top of the section.

18. The next step is to define the remaining bottom bars.
Click on the Generate drop down and select Draw bars from the list. Set No. Of
bars to 15, then click on the Snap drop down on the graphics toolbar and select
Bar/Tendon. Click on the bottom left bar then click on the bottom right bar on the
cross section. The program will draw 15 equally spaced bars between the two
end bars.
Repeat this process for the other 5 rows of bars. The cross section will now look
like this:

4-31

Click on OK on the Define Reinforcement form. The program will produce the
following warning message:

This is because the program defines bars at each of the locations where the
mouse was clicked. These 12 bars need to be removed so click OK to remove
them and define the beam reinforcement.
19. The program assumes reinforcing bars are horizontal. The side elevation will look
like this:

We want the bottom bars to run parallel with the soffit. To do this, draw a box
around all the bottom bars in the cross section view and click on the Edit
reinforcement attributes button . Click on the Set Bar Shape button on the
form that opens. This opens the Reinforcing Bar Shape form:

Click on the Shape drop down and select Parallel to underside. The elevation
will automatically update to show the reinforcement in the correct location. Click
OK to close the Reinforcing Bar Shape and Edit Reinforcement Attributes form.

4-32

Click OK to close the Define RC Beam Reinforcement form.

Click OK to close the Reinforced Concrete Beam Definition form.
20. Clicking on the icon when the Define RC Beam Reinforcement form is open
shows an isometric view in which a three dimensional representation of the
reinforcement can be seen. Parameters for this view can be controlled on the
orange General tab at the side of the graphics window.

21. The beam definition is now complete so we will save the beam for use in a later
example.

4-33

Click on the File |Save As... menu item to open the Save File form. Change the
filename to My US Example 4_4.sam and click on the Save button to save the
data file.
Summary
In this example we have defined a reinforced concrete section making extensive use of
the join command to create a complex section shape from a series of rectangles. We
then defined the soffit profile of the beam. Finally, we defined 6 layers of reinforcement
with the reinforcement at the bottom following the soffit profile.

4-34

5-1

5. Beam Design

Contents
5.1. Prestressed Beam Design ......................................................................................... 5-3
5.2. Reinforced Concrete Beam Design .......................................................................... 5-15

5-2

5-3

5.1. Prestressed Beam Design
Subjects Covered:
Prestressed beam design; Erection loads; Beam dead load; Temporary support loads;
Apply negative loads to beams; Temporary construction loads; Beam span increments;
Constructions loads; Remove loads; Superimposed dead loads; Import loads; Absolute
shears; AASHTO temperature profiles; Tendon layout optimization; Shear resistance;
Shear width; Shear link requirements; Transverse reinforcement requirements.
Outline
A composite pre-tensioned pre-cast beam and concrete slab is shown below. The beam
is an internal beam of a simply supported bridge deck of 21m span and the 2m wide
concrete slab is cast in one. The dimensions of the beam can be found in example 4.2.

The bending and shear effects due to dead load and superimposed dead load (2.5kN/m)
are created by importing loads from a .sld file. During construction the beam is initially
supported on temporary supports at 1m from the beam ends. There is also a temporary
construction load of 1.0kN/m over the length of the beam. This load and the temporary
supports are removed once the concrete has hardened.
Max live load bending (with associated shears) and shear effects (with associated
moments) have been prepared in an external ASCII file as envelopes.
There are no secondary effects due to differential temperature and shrinkage, as the
beam is statically determinate, but the primary stresses need to be included for both,
where appropriate. The temperature profile to be applied to the section is in accordance
with clause 3.12.3 of AASHTO, using a waterproofing as a finish. The shrinkage strain
for the concrete is to be set to -0.00025 with 25% of the losses occurring before the
section is composite.

5-4

It is required to design the required tendon layout with appropriate debonding so that
SLS and ULS design criteria for bending moments and stresses are met during transfer,
beam erection and during normal use. Shear link spacing in the beam also needs to be
determined to resist both transverse and longitudinal shear forces. The reinforcement
grade for the shear links is the same as that for the main reinforcement and the vertical
shear is resisted by the precast beam only.
All design is to AASHTO LRFD 6.
Procedure
1. Start the program and open the data file US Example 4_2.sam created in section
4.
2. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Prestressed Concrete Beam
item. Click on OK to close the titles form.
Define Erection Loads
3. Next we will define erection of beam loads using a .sld file which includes two
components; one for the temp 1kN/m and the other for the support loads
(upwards).
Use the menu item Data|Define Loading... to open the Define Pre-tensioned
Beam Loads form. Click on the Loading Description drop down and select
Erection of beam from the list of design load cases. Click on the Interface...
button and select the Direct ASCII File Import radio button on the Interface form.
Click OK on the Interface form. Select the file US52erectload.sld. (Click Yes
on the Confirm forms when importing these SLD files).

The program imports the data from the .sld file and displays the data in the Define
Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form.

5-5

The loads imported here from the .sld file represent the effects of two point loads
applied at a distance of 1 meter from each end of the beam and a UDL of 1kN/m.
Each of the two point loads is 183.8kN. This has been calculated as follows:
x 21m x (23.544kN/m
3
x 0.743492m
2
) = 183.8kN
These point loads have been applied equally to the two temporary support
locations. Those load effects in the Strength columns have been multiplied by a
Load Factor of -1.25. The negative load factors applied make these point loads
upward loads. A positive load factor of 1.5 has been applied to the 1kN/m UDL
making this a downward load.
Define Construction Stage 1 Loads
4. The next step is to define the loads for construction stage 1. Click on the
Interface button and select the Direct ASCII File Import radio button on the
Interface form. Select the file entitled US52const1A.sld. (Click Yes on Confirm
form). Click on the Loading Description drop down on the Define Pre-tensioned
Beam Loads form and select Construction Stage 1A from the list of design load
cases. A positive load factor of 1.5 has been applied to this 1kN/m UDL
construction load, making this a downward load.

5-6

Remove Temporary Loads and Supports
5. Next we will define a load case to remove the effects of the temporary loads and
supports.
Click on the Interface button. Select the Direct ASCII File Import radio button
and click OK. Select the file entitled US52remtempload.sld. (Click Yes on
Confirm form). Click on the Loading Description drop down on the Define Pre-
tensioned Beam Loads form and select SDL non-structural concrete etc from the
list of design load cases.
The Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form will now show the applied loads. This
time the effects of the point loads in the Strength columns have been multiplied by
a Load Factor of 1.25 and the 1kN/m UDL has been multiplied by a Load Factor of
-1.5. This is to calculate the effect of removing the temporary construction loads.

Define Surfacing and Live Loads
6. The next step is to define the SDL surfacing loads.
Click on the Loading Description drop down on the Define Pre-tensioned Beam
Loads form and select Superimposed dead load from the list of design load
cases. Click on the Generate button. The Generate Beam Loads form may now
open, after the display of an information message explaining the limitations of the
method. (Click Yes on this message).

5-7

Set the UDL Intensity Start and End as 2.5kN/m and set the Beam span equally
divided by field to 21. Click OK to close the form. The loads generated are
shown in the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form.
This has generated the effects of a superimposed dead load of 2.5kN/m with a
Load Factor of 1.5 (load factor for wearing surfaces). The positive Load Factor
makes this a downward load.

7. Next we will import some results from a separate live load analysis.
Click on the Interface button, select Direct ASCII File Import and click OK.
Select the supplied file testload.sld and click Open. (Click Yes on Confirm
form). This will import loads into the Transient load BM and Transient load SF +
associated BM design load cases. Click on the Loading Description drop down on
the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form and select Transient load SF +
associated BM from the list of design load cases.

5-8

Click OK to close the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form. (Click OK on a
confirm form if it appears).
Enter Temperature Profile and Shrinkage and Creep Parameters
8. We now need to create a temperature profile and enter values in the shrinkage
and shear parameters.
Click on the Calculate|Analyze... menu option to open the Pre-tensioned Beam
Analysis form. Click on the Set parameters for drop down and select Temperature
grad. 3.12.3 from the list of options.
The program will open the AASHTO 3.12.3 Temperature Gradient form and
display the default positive and reverse temperature profiles.

Click on OK to use this temperature profile.

5-9

Next, click on the Set parameters for drop down and select Shrinkage, creep and
relaxation from the list of options. This will open the Data for Shrinkage & Creep
form.
Set the Shrinkage strain to -0.00025. Set the Specify differential shrinkage to -
0.0001. Ensure that the Long term losses before composite are set to 25%.
(Tick the relevant tickboxes to activate these fields).

Click OK to save the parameters.
Tendon Optimisation
9. The next step is to design the required tendon layout.
To do this, click on the Tendon Optimization button on the Pre-tensioned Beam
Analysis form. This will open the Tendon Optimization form. Tick the Applied
Load BM1 tick box. Also tick the Straight and Debond tick boxes. For this
example we will set the Locations / Limit field to 4. Use the default values for all
the other fields on the form.
Click on the Design Optimized Layout button. The program will now consider a
series of tendon arrangements to come up with the optimized layout for the beam.
At the end of the optimization, the program produces an error message and
provides a summary on the right hand side of the form.

5-10

Click OK to close the error message then click on the OK button to close the
optimization form. Click OK to close the Pre-tensioned Beam Analysis form.
10. In order to resolve this error we need to alter the tendon layout and concrete
strength used on the beam.
Click on the Data|Define Beam to open the Pre-tensioned Beam Definition form.
Select Tendons in the Define field on the form to open the Pre-tensioned Beam
Tendon Definition form.
Window around the top row of tendons and press Delete on the keyboard to
delete this row of tendons. Also delete the 2 outer tendons in the bottom row. The
section will be as shown below when the green pointer is at the left end.

Close both forms (using both OK buttons to ensure that the changes are saved).
Note, but click Yes on the Confirm form for the purposes of this example.
Click on Data | Define Material Properties to open the Define Material Properties
form. Click in the Name column on row 1 to open the concrete material properties
and change the Compressive Strength, fc to 33MPa. Click in the Name column
on row 2 to open the concrete material properties and change the Compressive
Strength, fc to 43MPa. Click OK to close the forms.

5-11

Click on the Calculate|Analyze... menu to re-analyze the beam.
11. By selecting each of the different types of loads in the Analyze for: field and
examining the stress graphs displayed in the graphics window, it can be seen that
the stress due to bending is less than the permissible for each type of load.
Design for Shear
12. The next step is to check the beam for shear.
Click on the Analyze for drop down and select Shear force + BM 1. You will see
that the beam would need design shear links in the left and right hand end parts of
the beam. You will see that there is portion of the beam at mid-span which only
requires nominal links.

We can change the shear resistance of the beam. To do this, click OK to close
the analysis form then click on the Data|Define beam... menu item. Click on the
Define drop down and select Section from the list of options. In the Shear
resistance section of the form, ensure that the Width is set to 177.8mm. This is
the width of the beam where the shear stress is at its maximum. In the case of this
beam it is not appropriate to increase the shear width of the beam.
Click on the OK button twice to close both forms then click on the
Calculate|Analyze... menu to re-analyze the beam. You will see that, of course,
the beam still requires design shear links at some locations as shown above when
the Shear force + BM 1 load case is applied.

5-12

Shear Link and Transverse Reinforcement Requirements
Now, we will design the shear links in the beam. We are going to design the
shear links at 5 locations. These are:
0m
5m
10.5m
15m
21m

Click on the Results button to view the shear calculations. Scroll down to the
bottom of the results to see summary of link requirements (see below).

5-13

Use the arrows by the Design section for results printout field to select point 1 at
0m then click on the Results button. Scroll to that part of the Results Viewer
where you can see the table for link arrangement.

From the table and notes below the table, we can see that there are several
possible arrangements that could be used. The best arrangement would be 2 legs
of 11.3mm diameter links at 325mm spacing.
13. We can repeat this for the other locations to get the following results (obviously, in
practice the engineer could decide to make the arrangement of links symmetrical):
Location Diameter Legs Spacing
0m 11.3mm 2 325mm
5m 11.3mm 2 225mm
10.5m - - -
15m 11.3mm 2 250mm
21m 11.3mm 2 400mm
14. Finally we will use the results to define the transverse reinforcement requirement
to resist longitudinal shear at shear plane 2-2.
Click on the Analyse for field and select Interface shear transfer 1 from the drop
down list. For this example, set the design section location to the left hand end
(point 1) and click on the Results button. Scroll down to the bottom of the results
so you can see the reinforcement requirement across shear plane 2-2 for this
point of interest along the length of the beam:

Repeat this for the other locations then close the results viewer and click OK to
close the Pre-tensioned Beam Analysis form.
When the analysis form is open the results graphs can be displayed in a 3D
isometric window by clicking on the icon on the graphics window.

5-14

Also, it is worth noting that when the print preview window is opened by clicking on
the icon at the top of the graphic window, a pdf of the graphic window can be
generated by clicking on the icon at the top of the print preview window.
15. Click on the File|Save As... menu item. Set the file name to My US Example
5_1.sam and click on the Save button.
Summary
In this example we have taken a prestressed beam created in a previous example and
applied load to it for a series of design load cases. We have also carried out a tendon
optimization then checked the beam for a series of design criteria.

5-15

5.2. Reinforced Concrete Beam Design
Subjects Covered:
Reinforced concrete; Modify length; Import loads; ULS design; Minimize reinforcement;
Curtail bars; Service Limit State design; Shear link design; AASHTO
Outline
A reinforced concrete beam is shown below.

The dimensions of the original beam can be found in Example 4.4.
The beam will be modified to reduce the length from 30m to 29.82m. We will then import
some loads from an external file and carry out a detailed design of the beam in the
following order:
1. Check the beam at ULS for both sagging and hogging cases.
2. Modify the reinforcement to allow the beam to pass.
3. Curtail the reinforcement and remove bars to minimize the quantity of
reinforcement whilst still passing for both sagging and hogging at ULS.
4. Design the shear links
5. Check the beam at Service Limit State for both sagging and hogging cases.
Procedure
1. Start the program and open the data file US Example 4_4.sam in section 4.4.
2. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Reinforced Concrete Beam
Design with a sub-title of Example 5.2. Set the job number to 5.2. Also add
your initials to the Calculated by data item. Click on OK to close the titles form.

5-16

Modify Beam Length
The beam file which was put together in Example 4.4 is 30m long as a generic
beam for use on a scheme. In this example we are going to use the same beam
profile for a span of 29.82m.
3. Click on the Data|Define Beam... menu to open the Reinforced Concrete Beam
Definition form. Change the value in the Beam span field from 30m to 29.82m
and press Enter on the keyboard. The program opens the following confirmation
form:

Click Yes and the program will modify the length of the beam and move the soffit
locations to the same proportional position. Click OK to close the beam
definition form.
Import Loads
4. Next we will import some loads created in a line beam analysis. Click on the
Data|Define Loading... menu to open the Define Reinforced Concrete Beam
Loads form.
5. Click on the Interface button to open the Interface form. Make sure the Direct
ASCII File Import option is selected and click OK. The program will open a file
browser. Select the file 29.82m beam right span.sld and click on the Open
button. Click Yes on the Confirm form.

The program will import the loads in the file into the following design load cases:
Construction stage 1
Superimposed dead load
Transient load BM
Transient load SF + associated BM

5-17

You can review the loads imported from the file by selecting the appropriate
design load case from the Loading Description drop down list. Click OK to close
the Define Reinforced Concrete Beam Loads form.
Design for ULS
6. Now that we have the loads imported into our beam, we will carry out a design
check for Strength limit state. Click on the Calculate|Analyze... menu item to
open the Reinforced Concrete Beam Analysis form.

7. Click on the Analyze for drop down and select BM for live load 1 from the list.
Make sure the Limit State option is set to Strength I. The graphical results show
the design moment line in green which means the beam design passes for the
sagging case. Looking at the top right of the form, we can see that this design of
beam requires 31.62 tonnes of reinforcement.

8. Next we will check for the hogging case. Click on the Analyze for drop down and
select BM for live load 2 from the list. The graphical results will update and show
the following plot:

5-18

The design moment curve is shown in red, indicating that the design has failed for
the hogging case.
9. We now need to modify the reinforcement to get the beam to pass the hogging
case.
Click anywhere on the beam side elevation to open the Define RC Beam
Reinforcement form together with the associated graphics windows. We will start
by adding a third layer of reinforcement to the top of the beam.
Click on the + button near the bottom of the form. This will open the Define
Reinforcement form.
field to 43.7mm then click on the left hand face and the lower middle face on the
top of the section. This opens the Locate bar by 2 covers form. Set the covers to
230mm and 50mm then click OK.

Next, click on the lower middle face on the top of the section and the right hand
face and set both covers to 50mm and 230mm then click OK.

5-19

10. The next step is to define the remaining bars in the new layer.
bars to 15 then click on the Snap drop down on the graphics toolbar and select
end bars.

Click OK to close the Define Reinforcement form then click OK on the warning
message which appears. Finally, click OK to close the Define RC Beam
Reinforcement form and return to the beam analysis.
11. The graphical results show that the beam still fails for the hogging case.

5-20

This means we need to add a further layer of reinforcement at the top of the
beam.
12. Click anywhere on the beam side elevation to open the Define RC Beam
Reinforcement form together with the associated graphics windows. Click on the
+ button near the bottom of the form. This will open the Define Reinforcement
form.
field to 43.7mm then click on the left hand face and the lower middle face on the
top of the section. This opens the Locate bar by 2 covers form. Set the covers to
320mm and 50mm then click OK.

Next, click on the lower middle face on the top of the section and the right hand
face and set both covers to 50mm and 320mm then click OK.

5-21

13. The next step is to define the remaining bars in the new layer.
bars to 15 then click on the Snap drop down on the graphics toolbar and select
end bars.
Click OK to close the Define Reinforcement form then click OK on the warning
message which appears. Finally, click OK to close the Define RC Beam
Reinforcement form and return to the beam analysis.
The graphical results show that the beam now passes for the hogging case.

14. The next stage in the design is to optimize the reinforcement arrangement to
reduce the quantity of steel. This initial, working arrangement has 42.15 tonnes of
reinforcement. We can see that there is excess capacity in the sagging case so
we need to reduce the quantity of sagging reinforcement.
Reinforcement form. Draw a box around the top layer of sagging reinforcement.
Click on the red - button near the bottom of the form. This will remove the layer
of bars.

5-22

Click OK on the Define RC Beam Reinforcement form. Checking the results for
both sagging and hogging cases, we can see the beam still passes and the
reinforcement quantity has reduced to 36.88 tonnes.

15. Now that we have a better arrangement of reinforcement, we can begin to curtail
the bars to reduce the required reinforcement still further.
Reinforcement form. Draw a box around the top row of sagging reinforcement.
Click on the Edit reinforcement attributes button near the bottom of the form.
This will open the Edit Reinforcement Attributes form. Tick the Modify check box
and enter proportions of 0.4 and 0.85 in the form.

Click OK on both forms and check the results for both cases again. The beam
still passes and the reinforcement has been reduced to 33.98 tonnes.

5-23

16. We can reduce the sagging reinforcement still further.
Reinforcement form. Draw a box around the middle row of sagging reinforcement.
Click on the Edit reinforcement attributes button near the bottom of the form.
and enter proportions of 0.2 and 1 in the form. Click OK on both forms and
check the results for both cases again. The beam still passes and the
reinforcement has been reduced to 32.92 tonnes.

17. Next we will truncate the hogging reinforcement.
Reinforcement form. Draw a box around the bottom row of hogging reinforcement
and click on the Edit reinforcement attributes button near the bottom of the form.
and enter proportions of 0 and 0.1 in the form. Click OK on both forms and
check the results for both cases again. The beam still passes and the
reinforcement has been reduced to 28.18 tonnes.

18. We can reduce the hogging reinforcement still further.

5-24

Reinforcement form. Draw a box around the second from bottom row of hogging
reinforcement and click on the Edit reinforcement attributes button near the
bottom of the form. This will open the Edit Reinforcement Attributes form. Tick
the Modify check box and enter proportions of 0 and 0.2 in the form then click
OK.
Draw a box around the next row of reinforcement upwards and change the
locations along the beam to 0 and 0.35 (may need to untick and re-tick the
Modify tickbox). Click OK on both forms and check the results for both cases
again. The beam still passes and the reinforcement has been reduced to 20.55
tonnes.

19. Now that the beam has been optimised for both hogging and sagging ULS load
cases, the next step is to design the shear links in the beam.
Click on the Analyze for drop down and select Shear force + BM 1 from the list.
The plot of results will now show the design shear together with the maximum
allowable shear force and the shear force resistance with nominal links.

Click on the Results button to view the shear calculations. Scroll down to the
bottom of the results to see summary of link requirements.

5-25

Looking at the results, we can see that there are 3 areas in which the link
requirement changes. These are:
0m to 4m
4m to 8m
8m to 29.82m

We could look at the Preferred size of link and accompanying spacing in the
summary of link requirements table above. Alternatively we can determine the
shear link design by introducing additional points of interest (POI) along the length
of the beam.
20. Close the Results Viewer and go to the Reinforced Concrete Beam Analysis form
and click on the Points of Interest button. This will open the Points of Interest
form. Click on the point after the location where you want to insert a POI and click
on the + button near the bottom of the form. This will add a new point half way
between the two points either side of it. The new point will have a ticked tickbox
next to it. Double click in the Position along span column and enter a value of
4m. The new point will now be shown in the table.

5-26

Repeat this process to add a point at 8m then click on OK to close the form.
21. Use the arrows by the Result Point of Interest field to select point 5 at 4m then
click on the Results button. Scroll down the results and look at the table for link
arrangement.

From the table we can see that at this particular point of interest no shear
reinforcement is required.
Now close the Results Viewer and use the arrows to select point 10 at 8m then
click on the Results button to re-open the Results Viewer. Scroll down to see the
results and look at the table for the link arrangement.

22. We can repeat this for the other POI locations to get the following results. (At the
end of step 22 ensure that the Point of Interest cursor (P.O.I.) is at the left hand
end of the beam):
Location Diameter Legs Spacing
0m 11.3mm 2 72mm
2.129m 11.3mm 2 72mm
4.26m 11.3mm 2 72mm
6.39m 25.2mm 4 77mm
10.649m 11.3mm 2 72mm
27.69m 11.3mm 2 72mm
29.82m 11.3mm 2 72mm

23. We also need to check the beam at Serviceability.
Go to the Reinforced Concrete Beam Analysis form and click on the Analyse for
drop down and select BM for live load 1 from the list. Make sure the Limit State
option is set to Service I. The graphical results show the design stress line in
green which means the beam design passes for the sagging case. Repeating this

5-27

for the hogging case shows that the beam still passes. Selecting Point of Interest
1 at 0m shows the results below:

Note that when the analysis form is open the results graphs can be displayed in a
3D isometric window by clicking on the icon on the graphics window.

24. Click OK to close the Reinforced Concrete Beam Analysis form then click on the
File|Save As... menu item. Set the file name to My US Example 5_2.sam and
click on the Save button.
Summary
In this example we have changed the length of a standard beam to fit a specific structure
then carried out a detailed design. During the design process we have modified the
reinforcement by adding, removing and curtailing bars.

5-28

6-1

6. Analysis - Model Definition

Contents
6.1. Line Beam Definition .................................................................................................. 6-3
6.2. Portal Frame Definition .............................................................................................. 6-7
6.3. 3D Truss footbridge ................................................................................................. 6-19
6.4. Simple Grillage ......................................................................................................... 6-35
6.5. Finite Element Slab .................................................................................................. 6-49

6-2

6-3

6.1. Line Beam Definition
Subjects Covered:
Line Beam Analysis; Line Beam Geometry; Drop In Span; Parametric Shapes
Outline
It is required to form a five span line beam analysis model to represent a reinforced
concrete T beam, with dimensions as shown below. The first span is an 8m cantilever
and the third span consists of two cantilevers at each end supporting a 15m drop in span.
The beam is constructed of grade 40 concrete (Elastic modulus 31kN/mm2)
To model the drop in span we specify the line beam to have 7 spans and specify the
supports at the internal bearing locations accordingly.

Each span is split into 1m segments which will define the results output locations.
Once the beam is defined, produce a full data summary report in pdf format and save the
data file for use in another example.
6-4

Procedure
6 Examples - US using the Options |Project Templates menu item.
2. Begin a new structure using the menu item File |New |Structure
Create line beam geometry
3. Use the menu item Data |Structure Type |Line Beam to start a line beam
analysis.
4. Set the title to 5 Span Line Beam with a sub title of Example 6.1 using the
Data |Titles menu option. Also set the Job Number: to 6.1 and put your initials in
the Calculations by: field.
5. Click on the Structure Geometry icon to open the Line Beam Geometry form.

6. Set the Number of Spans: field to 7 and press the Enter key. The graphics will
update to show the new configuration.
7. In the table, double-click on the Span Length field in row 1 and type in a value of
8. Enter appropriate span lengths in the other rows as shown in the table below.
(rows 7&8 are hidden but the last span length is 10)

8. Specify the support conditions such that all span ends are fixed in displacement
but free to rotate (the default), but then free the displacement at the end of the
cantilever (row 1) and each end of the drop in span (rows 4 & 5). This will be
shown in the graphics as:
6-5

9. Finally, change the value in Divide Shortest Span into: to 5, which will split the
smallest span into 1m segments. The longest span is updated automatically.
Close the form using the OK button.
Define Section Properties
10. Change the navigation pane on the left hand side of the
screen to Section Properties by selecting the button at
the bottom.
11. Click on the + Add button at the top to display the
selection list as shown and pick Parametric Shapes. In
the Parametric Shape Properties form change the Shape
Reference: to T and then set height: to 1000mm,
width: to 1500mm, web thickness: to 500mm and
:flange thickness to 200mm.

12. Enter a Description: as RC T Beam, Elastic Modulus:
as 31kN/mm
2
and a Shear Modulus: of
12.91667kN/mm
2
to reflect that we are using grade 40 concrete.

6-6

13. To assign this property to all members in the structure draw a window round the
whole structure in the Structure Graphics screen (Click at the top LH corner and
release, move the cursor to the bottom RH corner and click again). The selected
Beams turn red.
14. Close the Parametric Shape Properties form using the OK button
15. Use the menu item File |Save as... to save the data file with a name of My US
Example 6_1.sst.
Summary
A Line Beam model is very easy to put together as the geometry is very simple. In this
way it is a very efficient method of analysis for preliminary design.
However, it must be remembered that a line beam only considers in plane vertical
displacement and rotation about a perpendicular axis (ie. dz and ry degrees of freedom).
This will of course mean that only two member actions are valid at the ends of each
beam segment (ie. moment MY and shear FZ).
If torsions, axial forces or transverse bending effects are significant in a structure then a
line beam will not represent them.

6-7

6.2. Portal Frame Definition
Subjects Covered:
Refined Analysis; 2D Frame; Sub Model Planes; Drawing 2D Members; Splitting
Members; Importing Sections; Copying Properties; Filtering; Rotating Local Axes;
Copying 2D Sub Models; Renumbering Joints; Support Conditions; Member Release of
Degrees of Freedom; User Notes; Data Reports
Outline
It is required to form a two story, single bay, building frame analysis model as shown
below. Each story is 8m high and the column spacing is 10m. All joints have full
connection except at the ends of the first floor beams, where there is full shear and axial
continuity, but no moment connection. All frame members are constructed with grade
345 structural steel (Elastic modulus 200kN/mm
2
, Shear modulus 76.9kN/mm
2
).
To model the beam column joint accurately we will place a model node at the face of the
column as well as the column center. The short member between these nodes will have
stiff properties (say 10
3
greater than the actual beam). This will ensure that the moment
releases applied to the ends of the actual beam are in the correct location.

Each beam and column is split into 10 segments which will define the results output
locations.
The beam and column sections have been defined in the section module and are loaded
as external files.
6-8

Once the frame is defined, produce a full data summary report in pdf format and save the
data file for use in another example using the name Two Span Single Bay Frame.sst.
Procedure
Setup & Geometry
2. Begin a new structure using the menu item File |New| Structure.
3. Use the menu item Data |Structure Type |Refined Analysis to start a refined
analysis.
4. Set the title to 2 Storey Single Bay Frame with a sub title of Example 6.2 using
the Date |Titles menu option and put your initials in the Calculations by: field.
5. In the Structure navigation window click on the button and
select 2D Sub Model from the selection list. This will create an
entry in the navigation tree and open the 2D Sub Model Plane
form.
6. We wish to define this frame in the XZ plane, so click on the
button and you will notice the axes change in the graphics.
Close the Sub Model Plane form with the OK button.
7. To create the structural members open the Sub Model Members
form by clicking on the element in the Structure
tree.
8. To create a member we simply draw it in the graphics window
making use of an appropriate snap mode. Initially click on the
icon in the graphics toolbar.
9. Then click on the origin of the graphics screen followed by another click 8m in the
vertical direction (Count the grid points as the Snap: mode should be set to grid).

6-9

10. If the member is drawn wrongly, simply click on the Edit Members item in the
Member Tasks list and change the coordinates in the displayed form before
closing this form with the OK button.
11. To draw the second column we use the Copy Member(s) item in the Member Task
list and enter a translation vector of (10,0) before clicking on the Apply button
and clicking OK to close the sub-form.

12. Now draw the transverse beam between the top two nodes of the column by
following the same procedure as in 8 above, but setting the Snap: mode on the
graphics toolbar to Node in Plane.
13. We now need to split the two columns into 10 segments each. This is done by
using Split Beam Element... in the Member task list.
14. In the Split Beam Element form set Split specified beam element / by specified
divisions by clicking on the appropriate radio button controls. And then set the
Number of new elements to 10.
6-10

15. Click on the leftmost column in the graphics (turns red) and then click on the
Apply button to see the 10 segments generated in the graphics window.
16. Repeat 14 for the rightmost column.
17. Now click on the beam, but set Number of new elements to 3 (hit enter to update
the table) and change the segment lengths in the table to 0.15m, 9.7m and
0.15m. Click on the Apply button to split the beam

18. Now click on the middle segment of the beam and split this into 8 equal length
segments using the Apply button. Close the Split Beam Element form with the
OK button. Use the Fit View icon on the graphics toolbar to fill the graphics
screen with the structure.

Section Properties
We are now going to define and assign some section properties to the structure so
far.
6-11

19. Close the Define Sub Model Members form with the OK button and change the
Navigation window to Section Properties by clicking on at the
bottom of the window.

20. Click on the button and choose Design
Section from the list of options. This will display
the Import file form in which the Browse... button
should be clicked. Select the file called US
Example 6_2 Beam Section.sam in the file
browser and Open this file.
21. The graphics will now have two parts to the
window the first part the structure and the
second part the section.

22. Using the right mouse button in the graphics area,
a number of tab and tile options can be selected to
customise the layout of the window panes. Set it
to Tile Vertically.
23. In the structure graphics, use the toolbar button to obtain a view on the xz
plane and then window round the horizontal beam elements (using a left mouse
click at the top left hand corner , releasing the button and moving the cursor to the
bottom right corner and clicking again) taking care not to select any of the column
members. The selected members will turn red.
24. Before closing the Import File form with the OK button, change the description to
US Example 6_2 Beam Section.sam by selecting it from the dropdown menu.
The imported beam section is a W27 x 102 Wide Flange Steel Beam.

6-12

25. Repeat 20 & 24 but import the file called US Example 6_2 Column Section.sam
and change the Description: to be W12 x 106. The imported column section is a
W12 x 106 Wide Flange Steel Beam.
26. To select the column members, window round the whole structure and when the
Confirm window asks whether the beam elements should be overwritten answer
No to All. Close the Import File form in the normal way.
Modify Section Properties
As described in the outline we now need to enhance the stiffness of the short
elements at the ends of the beam. To do this we copy the standard beam
property, increase the elastic and shear modulus and then overwrite the property
of these elements with the new property.
27. Right mouse click over the beam section property in the navigation window and
select copy from the popup menu. This will create a new property and open the
data form (Import data file form) allowing changes to be made. Change both
elastic modulus and shear modulus by increasing them by a factor of 1000 and
then changing the Description to Stiff.

28. To assign this property to the two short beam elements it is necessary to switch on
the node markers and zoom in to each of the top corners. To switch on node
markers use the orange General button at the right of the graphics window and
tick the Show Nodes option.
6-13

29. To zoom in, click on the graphics toolbar button and then place the cursor over
one of the corners and either use the mouse scroll wheel, or click on the
graphics toolbar button several times. When the short beam element is clear, click
on it to assign the stiff property (agreeing to overwrite the existing property).
30. Repeat this for the other corner and then close the Import File form.
Local Axes
The section properties defined are related to a certain set of axes and these must
be consistent with the local axes of the beam elements. The YY axis of the
sections is the horizontal axis parallel to the flanges, so the local y axis of all the
beam and column members must be perpendicular to the plane of the frame. To
check this we can turn on the local axis display using the orange General button
on the graphics window and tick the Local Axes box.
The red axis is the YY axis so, it can be seen that the column members are
orientated in the wrong way. Additionally, if we want the bending moment
diagrams to show sagging moments always on the inside of the frame then the
local Z axis should always be pointing to the outside of the frame. This means the
local axis system of the members should be rotated to correct this.
31. To do this the leftmost column members should be rotated by 90 degrees and the
rightmost by -90 degrees. This can be done by changing the Navigation window to
Structure and using the Add button to open Advanced beam Set |Local Axes.
In the resulting form, Twist: should be set to 90 degrees and then the leftmost
column selected graphically (to do this use the following procedure:
6-14

a. Select the filter toolbar button on the graphics screen
b. Click on De-select all in the selection tasks
c. Set the Select By: field to Section Property
d. Available groups W12 x 106... sent to selected groups using the>
button.
e. OK
f. Window round the leftmost column
g. Set the name of the Advanced Beam Set to Twist 90
h. OK
32. Add a second Advanced Beam Set |Local but set the Twist: to -90. Change the
name of this property to Twist -90. The current filter will allow the windowing
around just the right column without selecting any beams.
33. Click on the small arrow next to the filter and select Select all to remove the filter.
It can be seen that all the y axes (red) are now perpendicular to the plane of the
frame and all the z axes are pointing to the outside of the frame.
Copying Members
34. The single storey can now be copied to create the second storey. To do this we
open the Define Sub Model Members form by clicking on the Sub Model Members
entry in the navigation window. Select all the members by first getting focus on the
table by clicking on the first member in the list and then use the keyboard to press
the <Ctrl> and <A> keys together. Click on Copy Member(s) in the Members
Tasks list to open the Copy Member Selection form and enter a Translation vector
of (0m, 8m) before clicking on the Apply button and then the OK button to close
the forms.

35. In the Graphics window click on the toolbar icon to fit the structure to the
window. Switch off the local axis display using the orange General button.
6-15

Renumbering Nodes
Because the structure has been created by splitting members and then copying
the node and member numbers do not form a logical pattern. These next steps
are not absolutely necessary but it makes the reading of output tables a bit easier.
We will now renumber the nodes in a more logical manner.
Required Column Numbering

Required Beam Numbering

36. Open the Joint Details form from the Navigation window and change the graphics
view to an XZ view by clicking on the toolbar icon .
37. From the toolbar open the filter form using the button , Deselect all then Select
By Section Property, choosing the beam section from the list and moving it to the
Selected Groups with . Click on the Save in Member Set Tasks and enter a
name of Beams Only before closing the Save Member Selection form with OK.
Now close the Filter form with OK.

38. Click on Sort in Table Tasks and in the Sort form Sort by Z and Then by X (both
ascending). Close this form with OK.
39. Now click on Renumber in the Joint Tasks List. In the Renumber form set the
Renumber Range to All in Filter and the Start Number to 101 before clicking on
6-16

the Apply button and then OK. Scrolling up and down the list of joints, using
the arrows on the keyboard, will illustrate the joint sequence in the graphics
window.

40. We now change the Filter to show just the columns in the same way as for the
beams in 36..., saving this filter with a name of Columns Only.
41. Click on Sort in Table Tasks and in the Sort form Sort by X and Then by Z (both
ascending). Close this form with OK.
42. Renumber the filtered joints from 1 in the same way as in 39 above and then
close the Joint Details form with OK.
43. To do the same thing for member numbers open the Member details form by
clicking on Member Details in the Navigation Window.
44. Filter on Columns Only, using the filter drop down list displayed when the Down
Arrow next to the filter icon is clicked, and sort by Lowest Joint Ref. Renumber the
filtered members from 1. (Use Renumber from the Member Task tool bar).
45. Filter on just Beams Only and sort by Lowest Joint Ref. Renumber the filtered
members from 41.
46. Filter on stiff elements using the Section Properties in the filter form (remember to
deselect all first).
47. There is no need to sort these members but just renumber from 101.
48. Remove all filters.
Supports
49. We now need to support the structure by fixing certain degrees of freedom of the
two joints at the base of the columns. Click on Structure in the navigation tree and
then click on the Add button. Select Supported Nodes from the list. In the
graphics toolbar change Along Span End Lines to All Joints and then click on
the two base joints in the graphics window. Both joints will have the same fixity,
6-17

so they will be Uniform. Change all degrees of freedom except Rotation Restraint
about Y to Fixed before closing the form with OK.

Release of Member Degrees of Freedom
50. The first floor beam needs to be simply supported at its ends, so it is necessary to
release the RY degree of freedom at the beam ends. In the Structure navigation
window click on and select Advanced Beam Set|Releases from the
displayed list.
51. Change the name of the releases to Free RY and change the Moment y: field to
Free. Set the filter to Beam Only and click on the two ends of the first floor
beam. A small cyan circle will appear near to the end of the member selected.
Close the form with the OK button.

User Notes
52. It is good practice to make a note of any modeling techniques used in your model
so that others can check it more readily. Open up the User Notes form using the
menu item Data|Notes... Enter the following text into the form:
To model the first floor simply supported beam additional nodes have been
placed along the beam at the location of the column faces. This will enable
6-18

member releases to be applied at this location and modeling of the
eccentricity of the beam reaction into the column. The short beams
connecting the beam ends to the columns will have a stiffness 1000 times
greater than the standard beam by adjusting the elastic and shear modulus
accordingly.
53. Close the User Notes form with OK.
Data Reports
54. Now create a data summary and save as a pdf file using the menu item File|Data
Reports... Click on the Include all button and then the View button. In the
Results Viewer form click on the tab to display the results in pdf format.
To save this as a file click on the save icon in the toolbar and enter a name of
Portal frame data report.pdf before closing the Results Viewer and the Data
Reports form.
55. Finally save the data file using the menu item File|Save as... using a file name of
Two Story Single Bay Frame_US.sst
Summary
This example provides a basic introduction to the Refined Analysis module and
demonstrates the basic principles of creating structural elements in a sub-model,
manipulating these elements and assigning properties. Special care is taken when
assigning properties with respect to local axis definitions. Member releases and User
notes are also introduced.
6-19

6.3. 3D Truss footbridge
Subjects Covered:
Refined Analysis; 3D Frame; Setting Out Objects - Arcs; Construction Lines; 2D Sub
models; Drawing 2D Beam Members; Copying Sub Models; 3D Sub Models; Drawing 3D
Beam Members; Filtering; Importing Sections; Parametric Shapes; Structure Plots; Data
Summary
Outline
This model is of a 55m span steel truss footbridge, curved in elevation, constructed with
square hollow sections for the bottom boom members and circular hollow sections for the
top boom and bracing. The deck spans between the two bottom boom members and is
braced diagonally with angles.

6-20

Plan of Top Boom and Bracing

Plan of Bottom Boom, Deck Members and Deck Bracing

The top boom is a 406x16 Circular Hollow section
The bottom boom is 400x400x20 Square Hollow section
All other members except the deck members and deck bracing are 324x12 Circular
Hollow section. Please note that British steel sections have been used for this particular
example.
The deck is constructed from 6mm thick steel plate, transversely stiffened with inverted
T sections welded to the underside of the plate. The T sections are 400mm deep with
a 100mm wide flange and is 10mm thick throughout. They are spaced at 500mm
centers. Each transverse member in the bottom will be as shown below.

The deck is braced diagonally as shown in the plan with 75x75x12 steel angle.
The material throughout is structural steel with an elastic modulus of 200kN/mm
2
, a shear
modulus of 77kN/mm
2
and a weight density of 77kN/m
3

6-21

Procedure
2. Begin a new structure using the menu item File |New |Structure.
3. Use the menu item Data Structure Type |Refined Analysis to start a refined
analysis.
4. Set the Structure Title to 3D Truss Footbridge with a sub title of Example 6.3
using the Date |Titles menu option. Set the Job Number to 6.3 and put your
initials in the Calculations by: field.
Structure Geometry
The structure will be built up using four separate sub models: One for each truss,
one for the top boom connecting members and another for the deck and bracing.
The geometry of the first truss is defined by creating two curved arcs along the
lines of the top and bottom boom and then placing vertical construction lines at the
location of each of the truss connections. Members can then be drawn on the
graphics screen by snapping to the intersection points.
The first truss can be copied to form the second truss and then connecting
members can be drawn between them.
5. To start, add a new 2D sub model to the Structure navigation window, as
described in example 6.2, with its plane in the XZ plane. Rename the submodel to
Truss 1 by clicking on it in the navigation window with the right mouse button and
choosing the Rename option which allows text to be entered in the new name:
field.

6. With the new sub model highlighted add a Setting Out Object by using the Add
button and selecting the appropriate option.
6-22

7. Click on the small + at the bottom of the Define Setting Out Object form to add a
line segment. Choose Arc from the Pick a type: list and click on the Next button.

8. The method we will choose to define the curve of the bottom boom is 3 points on
curve click on the Next button.

9. Enter the three coordinates as (0.0, 0.0) (27.5, 0.688) (55.0, 0.0) and then click on
the Next button.

10. If the curve appears correct close the wizard with the OK button otherwise use
the Back button to re-enter incorrect data.
6-23

11. Change the Name: of the setting out object to Bottom Boom Curve before
closing the form with the OK button.

12. Repeat 6 to 11 to create a second setting out object but use coordinates (0.0,
3.375) (27.5, 5.188) (55.0, 3.375) and a Name: of Top Boom Curve.
13. Add a third setting out line 3 vertically at the left end by repeating 6 to 11 but
selecting start and end points and choosing a line rather than an arc and use
coordinates (0.0, 0.0) and (0.0, 6.0). Set the Name: to Vertical at x=0.
14. To create a series of vertical lines that will intersect with the top and bottom
booms, Add | construction lines offset parallel to SO3 with offsets as shown in the
elevation drawing above (see the introduction to Part 6.3 of this manual). The first
offset is at 2.475m. The bottom half of the table is shown below.

15. There are 20 lines in total. The lines are added by selecting the Line Type +Offset
parallel to SOL on the left of the form. Select S03 in the SOL Ref. and enter the
offset accordingly. Once all lines have been created close the form with the OK
button.
6-24

16. We will now connect the intersection points of these lines to create the beam
members of the truss. This is done by opening the Define Sub Model Members
form by clicking on the Sub Model Members item in the navigation tree.
17. Select the draw mode in the graphics toolbar to multiple members and then set
the snap mode to Intersection. Now draw the first member of the bottom boom
by clicking close to the first intersection point from the left then the third point.
18. The remaining members of the bottom boom can be created by continuing the
clicking on intersection points five, seven ...etc until the last point is clicked then
the Esc key on the keyboard will stop the selection. Any members drawn
incorrectly can be deleted, by highlighting them in the table and clicking on the
small - button at the bottom of the table, and then drawn again correctly.
19. This can be repeated for the top boom except the intersection numbers will be 1,
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21 (note how the center member is split in
two to give a node at the apex).
20. Draw the two end vertical members using the single member draw mode
toolbar icon by clicking on the bottom intersection then the top.
21. The diagonal bracing can now be drawn as multiple members, zigzagging from
bottom to top across the truss.
22. The members of the truss can be seen more clearly in the graphics if the
construction lines and Setting out objects are turned off using the orange Objects
button on the right of the graphics screen.
6-25

23. Close the Define Sub Model Members form with the OK button.
24. Copy this complete sub-model to the second side and rename the second sub-
model Truss 2. This is done by right clicking on the first sub model entry in the
navigation window and selecting the Copy option.
25. In the Copy Sub Model form click on the Define button to define a new origin and
plane for the copied sub model.

26. Set the origin to (0.0, 3.5, 0.0) then click on the Next button.
27. The orientation of the plane does not need changing for the new sub-model so
click on Next on the next two forms then OK to confirm.
28. To actually create the new set of members click on the Next button on the Copy
Sub Model form and then OK to confirm.
6-26

29. Rename this new sub model to Truss 2 in the same way as the first.
30. To view the two trusses in isometric click on the Structure item in the navigation
window and use the appropriate toolbar button if necessary.
31. Add a new 3D sub-model to the Structure in the navigation window and in the
graphics screen set the Draw Mode to single member . Draw the top boom
transverse connecting members one by one by clicking on the node points in the
graphics screen. The structure may need rotating into a suitable orientation to
achieve this. Panning and zooming options in the toolbar may also benefit node
selection.

32. Add the top diagonal bracing in the same way but use the multiple beam members
option , finishing with the Esc key when the last member has been drawn.
34. Rename the 3D sub model to Top Bracing.
35. Add an additional 3D sub-model and repeat the exercise in 31 to 34 above but
name it Bottom Bracing & Deck. The graphics orientation and zoom will need
adjusting to achieve this. Note the different layout between the top and bottom
bracing.
36. In the Navigation window +Add a Supported Nodes item to the Structure. Change
the view direction to Isometric using the graphics toolbar button. Also in the
toolbar change the Along Span End dropdown field to All Joints. In the graphics
window click on the two nodes at the near end of the bottom boom members.
This will add small square support icons at these locations and add two entries
into the supports table. Repeat this for the two nodes at the other end of the
bottom boom members.
First Click
Second
Click
6-27

37. In the Define Support Nodes form set the Group Type: to Variable and then
change the X Direct Restraint to Free for the second two nodes. Close the Define
Supported Nodes form using the OK button.
Section Properties
38. Change the Navigation window to Section Properties by clicking on
at the bottom of the navigation window.
The sections for all but the deck bracing have already been created in section
files, so these can be imported. The deck bracing is defined by a parametric
shape.
39. Using the button at the top of the navigation window select the Section
Data from the drop down list.
40. In the Import file form that will now be displayed click on the browse button and
Open the file called US Example 6_3 324x12 CHS.sam.
41. In the graphics screen, right mouse click, and choose the option Tile Vertically to
display the section and structure as shown below.

42. In the Import file form use the drop down list in the Description: field to change the
name to 324x12 CHS. All other data will remain unchanged as this has been
defined in the section file.
6-28

43. Close the Import file form with the OK button.

44. Repeat 39 to 43 for the other sections using Section files called:
i. US Example 6_3 400x400x20 SHS.sam
ii. US Example 6_3 406x16 CHS.sam
iii. US Example 6_3 Stiffened Deck Plate.sam
Use appropriate names from the Description: drop down list.
45. The last section to define is an L parametric shape for the deck bracing. Using
the button at the top of the navigation window select the Parametric
Shape option from the drop down list.
46. In the Parametric Shape Properties form set Shape Reference to L, height: and
width: to 75mm, thickness of horizontal: and thickness of vertical: to 12mm.
6-29

47. Also change the Elastic Modulus: to 200kN/mm
2
, the Shear Modulus: to
77kN/mm
2
, the Density: to 78kN/m
3
and the Description: to 75x75x12 Angle
before closing the form with the OK button.
48. We now need to assign the various sections to the beam members in the
structure. Click on the 400x400x20 SHS item in the navigation window to reopen
the data form (Import file). This section needs to be assigned to the bottom boom
members of the two trusses.
This could be done by clicking on each bottom boom member individually in the
graphics window but we will use filtering and orientation to make this a little
simpler.
49. To filter the structure to just the two trusses, click on the filter button in the
graphics toolbar. Because the toolbar is shortened due to the combined display
with the section this may be hidden so the small triangle at the end of the toolbar
must be clicked to display it.

6-30

50. In the Member Selection Filter form click on the De-select all item in the Selection
Tasks. Then change Select By: to Sub Model Group. Double click on Truss 1
and Truss 2 to move them to the Selected Groups: as shown before closing the

51. Change the view of the structure, to view it from the South, by using the graphics
toolbar button
52. Window round the bottom boom members as shown to assign this section to the
selected members in both trusses.

53. Close the data form for this section with the OK button then open the Section
Data form for 406x16 CHS. This can be assigned to the top boom members in the
same way as 52 above.
54. To assign the properties for the other beams we first remove the filter by clicking
on the small arrow next to the filter icon and choosing Select All from the list.
55. Open the Section Data form for the section 324x12 CHS. Change Inclusive Box
to Excusive box in the graphics toolbar and then window round the top boom of
6-31

the structure. This is in effect a crossing box (dotted) that will select all members
wholly within the box and any member that is crossed by it

56. It will try to overwrite the top boom members already defined but a confirmation
box allows this not to happen by selecting the No to All button.

57. It may appear in the graphics that the top boom members have been selected
(turned red) but in fact it is the bracing which is shown. This can be confirmed by
changing the view to an isometric view. Click on the OK button in the section
data form to close it.
58. The Stiffened deck plate property and the 75x75x12 angle bracing can be
assigned in a similar way. This is done by first filtering the structure to the Bottom
Bracing & deck sub model, as described in 49 and 50 above. Then assigning the
property, member by member, by clicking on them individually in the graphics
screen. Assign 75x75x12 angle properties to the diagonal bracing members in the
bottom deck. Assign the stiffened Deck Plate properties to other members in the
bottom deck.
Section Properties
59. The structure is now completely defined. It is required to produce two graphical
reports to show the node numbering of Truss 1 and Truss 2.
60. With all data forms closed and just the graphics window visible, filter the model to
just Truss 1. This can be done by using the drop down selection displayed when
the small arrow at the right of the filter button is clicked.
61. Click on the Orange General button on the right of the graphics window and tick
the boxes for Annotate Joints, Show Nodes and Filtered Members Only. The
display can be viewed as a Print preview before printing a hard copy. This is
done by clicking on the print preview icon on the graphics toolbar .
6-32

62. You can see that there is nothing on the preview to say what part of the structure
we are looking at. User titles can be added at this stage to highlight this. Click on
the preview menu item Format |Titles and tick the box for Show User Title Block.
A title of Truss 1 showing node numbers can then be added in the text field
before closing the Titles form with the OK button. The new title can now be seen
added to the graphics.

63. Print a hard copy, if required, using the File | Print menu item then close the Print
Preview window using File | Close.
6-33

64. Repeat 60 to 63 with the filter and titles set for Truss 2 then remove the filter on
the structure and set the viewing direction in the graphics to isometric.
65. Now create a data summary and save as a pdf file using the menu item File |Data
Reports... Click on the Include all button and then the View button. Click OK
on the warning message. In the Results Viewer form click on the tab at
the bottom of the window to display the results in pdf format. Note that you can
navigate to different sections of the report using the hyperlinks displayed on the
first page.
66. To save this as a file click on the save icon in the toolbar and enter a name of
US 3D Truss Footbridge Data Summary.pdf before closing the Results Viewer
and the Data Reports form.
67. Finally save the data file using the menu item File |Save as... using a file name of
My US Example 6_3.sst.
Summary
This example highlights the methods used to create a general 3D structure by building up
sub-models. It introduces curved setting out objects, and multiple construction lines to
define the geometry of each truss. Particular interest is paid to filtering of the structure to
simplify certain procedures.

6-34

6-35

6.4. Simple Grillage
Subjects Covered:
Refined Analysis; 2D ;Transition Curve Design Lines; Construction Lines; Meshing; Slab
Properties; Support Conditions; Data Reports
Outline
A flat slab, 500mm thick, is shown below with setting out dimensions. It is to be modeled
as a grillage in the Autodesk
Structural Bridge Design 2014 and the data file saved for
analysis in section 7.

It is supported on 7 discrete bearings at each end of the slab and 2 bearings at midspan.
The two midspan bearings are parallel to the bearings at the slab ends and are located
on a line parallel to the deck center line but running through the bearings either side of
the center. All supports are restrained in the vertical direction but the center bearing at
the left end is also restrained in both horizontal directions while that at the right end
additionally restrained in the transverse direction.

6-36

The mesh will have seven longitudinal members parallel to the center line. As there is a
reasonable skew at the left end of the slab, the transverse members will be orthogonal to
the center line to give the most accurate results. To ease the positioning of the central
supports and to provide some form of mesh refinement at these locations, the mesh will
be generated in two. The left mesh will have 5 transverse members (in the non-skewed
region) and the right mesh 7 transverse members.

The single Carriageway is 12m wide with a 1.5m verge on either side and is centered on
the deck.
The concrete is grade 40 so it will have an elastic modulus of 31.975kN/mm2 and a
shear modulus of 13.32kN.mm2. In defining the section properties of the grillage
members it is important that the torsional stiffness of the slab is split evenly between the
longitudinal and transverse members.
6-37

Procedure
Setup
2. Begin a new structure using the menu item File |New| Structure.
3. Use the menu item Data |Structure Type |Refined Analysis to start a refined
analysis.
4. Use the Date |Titles menu option to set the Structure Title to Simple Curved
Grillage Model with a sub title of Example 6.4. Set the Job Number to 6.4 and
put your initials in the Calculations by: field.
Design Lines
5. In the Structure navigation window click on the button
and select Design Line from the selection list. This will create
an entry in the navigation tree and open the Define Design
Line form.
A design line needs to be created to represent the transition
curve of the deck centre line.
6. Click on the small + button at the bottom of the form to add a
segment and open the Define Line Segment wizard.
7. Set the segment type to Transition Curve and click on the
Next button.
8. Set the method to start point, start and end angle, and length
(clothoid) then click on the Next button.
9. The Start Point: coordinates should be (0, 0), the Start Angle:
20, End Angle: 0, and chainage Length: 25m. Click
Next.
10. Close the wizard with the OK button to enter the segment
into the Design line table.

11. Before closing the Define Design Line form with the OK button, change the
Name: to Deck CL.

6-38

Carriageway
12. A roadway is added by clicking the button at the top of the navigation
window and selecting Roadway.
13. In the Define Roadway form, set the design line to Deck CL and then enter the
relevant offsets as shown below. It should be noted that a negative offset to a
design line is on the left hand side as you walk along the design line. Click on the
Fit View icon in the graphics toolbar to view the carriageway fully.

6-39

14. Close the Define Roadway form with the OK button.
Construction Lines
To define the corners of the slab it is necessary to create some vertical
construction lines that will intersect the edges of the verge. Construction lines are
created within a sub model so a new sub model needs to be created first.
15. Use the +Add button in the navigation window to add a 2D Sub Model (GCS, z=
0) object. This sub model is automatically in the XY plane.
16. Now right click on the new sub model in the navigation window and select +Add |
Construction Lines.
17. In the Define Construction Lines form, click on the + Vertical line on easting option
and enter an Offset of 3 (click on the enter key before proceeding or the data will
be lost). The blue line can be seen graphically.
18. Repeat this with offsets of 13.5 and 24 so that there are three construction lines in
the table.

19. Close the Define Construction Line form with the OK button.
20. At this point save the data file as My US Example 6_4 Curved Slab Layout.sst
using the main menu File | Save as...
Grillage mesh
21. We can now define the two meshes. Right mouse click on the 2D sub Model in
the navigation window and select +Add |Mesh. This will display the Define Mesh
form.
22. Set Name: to be Left Span, Mesh Type: to be Splay orthogonal to DL/SOL,
Pick: by object and Member Type: to Beam Elements.
6-40

The boundary of the mesh is then picked graphically by selecting the four
boundary edges of this span. They must be picked so that consecutive lines
intersect (in order) and the first line defines the general longitudinal direction, the
second defines which is the positive direction (as can be shown by the arrow in
the graphics).
23. Start on the bottom verge line, then the middle construction line, next the top
verge line and lastly the leftmost construction line.

24. Set the no. of Longitudinal members to 7 and Transverse to 5 and note the
change in the graphics. The first mesh is now complete so close the form with the
OK button.
25. Repeat 21 to 24 but pick the boundary of the right span. The other parameters
can be copied from the first mesh by clicking on the Copy Mesh Details From
button although the number of transverse members needs adjusting to 7. Set the
name to Right Span.
26. Click on Structure in the navigation window and in the graphics screen change the
viewing direction to plan view by using the icon . The mesh should now look
like the picture below:
1
2
3
4
6-41

27. As well as the main longitudinal and transverse members, the mesh generation
has created rows of members along each of the span end lines, which could
represent diaphragm members in many forms of deck. This row of members
along the middle span end line is not required so we will remove them.
This is done by first clicking on the Members Details item in the Structure
navigation window, which opens the Member Details data form.
28. We can remove each unwanted member by clicking on it in the graphics window
and then clicking the small - button at the bottom of the table.

29. Close the Member Details form with the OK button.
Span End Lines
30. Before positioning supports we will define the span ends by drawing the span end
lines. This is done by right clicking on Structure in the navigation window and
selecting +Add | Span End Lines.
31. The coordinates of each end of the lines could be entered manually into the table
but it is easier to set the Snap: mode (Graphics toolbar) to Intersection and pick
6-42

the joints of the mesh coinciding with the span ends. The sequence of clicks to
give three lines would be as follows:

32. Close the Define Span End Lines data form with the OK button.
Supports
33. Click the +Add button at the top of the navigation window and select Supported
Nodes to open the Define Supported nodes form.
Each node along the two outer span end lines and two of the nodes along the
middle span end line needs supporting. This is most easily achieved by
supporting all nodes under the span end lines and then removing the ones not
required.
34. In the graphics window box round the whole structure in the normal way which will
place a support on each node under the span end lines (this is because one of the
select: options in the graphics toolbar is set to Along Span End Lines).
35. Now change the Select: option in the graphics toolbar from Create to Remove
and then click on the unwanted nodes to leave the following: ( note that the
Select: mode automatically changes to all joints to do this)
2
1
5
6
4
3
6-43

36. In the Define Supported Nodes form you will see that the Group Type: is set to
Uniform, which means all the support conditions are the same. Set the restraints
such that all degrees of freedom are Free except Direct Restraint Z, which is
Fixed.
37. Now change the Group type: to Variable, which allows each support to have
different constraints applied. We also change the Select mode (in the graphics
window) to Create.
38. To fix the X and Y translational constraints on the center support along the left
span end line we first click on this one support node in the graphics screen (which
highlights it in the table). In this row of the table we change the X and Y Direct
Restraints to Fixed.
39. Item 38 is repeated for the center support under the right span end line, except
that we only change the Y Direct Constraint to Fixed.

40. Close the Define Supported Nodes form using the OK button.
6-44

Properties
There are only two properties to define:
i. The 500mm thick slab property which can be assigned
to all members except the leftmost diaphragm
members.
ii. A parametric rectangular shape member 10mm by
10mm as a nominally low stiffness member assigned to
the leftmost diaphragm members.
41. We first change the Structure navigation window to the Section Property by
clicking on the Section Properties button at the bottom of the window.
42. Click on the +Add button at the top of the navigation window and select
Continuous Slab.
43. In the Continuous Slab Properties form, change the Depth: to 500, the Elastic
Modulus: to 31.975, the Shear Modulus: to 13.32 and the Density to 23.544.

44. Window round the whole structure to assign this property to all members.
45. Close the Continuous Slab Properties form with the OK button.
46. Click on the +Add button at the top of the navigation window and select
Parametric Shapes.
47. In the Parametric Shape Properties form, change the Shape Reference: to
Rectangle and enter a width & depth: of 10. The Elastic Modulus: should be set
to 31.975, the Shear Modulus: to 13.32 and the Density to 23.544. Set the
Description: to Nominal.
48. Now assign this property to the leftmost line of diaphragm members by selecting
them in the graphics window (this can be done by boxing round them). You will be
asked to confirm that you wish to overwrite the properties already assigned to
these members answer Yes to All in the confirmation form.
6-45

49. Close the Parametric Shape Properties form with the OK button.
50. Save the data file using the main menu File | Save as... with a name of My US
Example 6_4.sst.
Data Reports
One of the first things we will do is create a graphical plot showing all the node
and element numbers in one of the spans.
51. In the Navigation window Click on the Structure item. In the graphics window
toolbar click on the filter button to open the Member Selection Filter form.
52. Click on the Selection Task De-Select all. Change Select By: to Mesh and then
move the M1:Left Span item from the Available Group: into the Selected Groups:
by double clicking on it. Close the form with the OK button.

53. In the graphics window, click on the orange General button at the right hand side
and tick the Filtered Members Only option and tick the Joint and Member
Annotation objects (this window disappears automatically when the cursor is
moved away from the form).
6-46

54. Now click on the orange Objects button and de-select everything except Beam
Elements and Supported Nodes.
55. To make the annotation readable maximize the graphics screen and fit the
structure to the window with the Fit View graphics toolbar icon . Click on the
orange General button again and click on the Format button adjacent to the
Members annotation option. In the Text Setup form set the vertical offset to -
12 and the color to Blue. Close the form with the OK button.
The text should now be readable.
56. To get a hardcopy plot of this click on the Print Preview graphics toolbar icon to
display the Print preview window. Use the menu item Format | Title... to open the
Titles form.
57. Tick the option for Show User Title Block and enter Joint and Member Numbering
for Span 1 in the visible text field. This preview can then be printed on your
system printer by using the File |Print menu item before closing the preview
window.
58. Restore the graphics window to its normal size.
We are now going to create a report showing the calculation of the section
properties of a row of transverse members.
59. In the main menu select File |Data Reports... In the Data Reports form, select
the Member Section Properties tab and ensure that Show Details and Show
Summary are ticked.

60. In the graphics window toolbar, click on the Filter icon to open the Member
Selection Filter form. Set the Pick Mode: to Transverse beam and then click on
one of the transverse beams in the graphics window as shown. Switch off joint
annotation in the General tab. Click OK to close the Member Selection Filter.
6-47

61. Click on the View button on the Data Reports form to show the basic results
viewer. Although this doesnt show the graphics directly, if this form is printed (or
print preview) it will have the current graphics included at the top of the report.
62. Alternatively, if it was required to save a high quality pdf file of this report then click
on the PDF tab at the bottom of the Data Reports form. This view can be saved
to a local pdf file.

6-48

63. Close the results viewer using the green Exit button and then close the Data
Reports form using the Done button. The program can now be closed.
Summary
This simple grillage of a curved flat slab highlights all the basic methods for creating any
grillage structure and introduces most of the tools required to create a grillage and get
data reports. The model that has been saved will be used in the loading and analysis of
this structure in section 7 of the examples manual.

6-49

6.5. Finite Element Slab
Subjects Covered:
Refined Analysis; 2D ;Transition Curve Design Lines; Construction Lines; Meshing; Slab
Properties; Support Conditions; Data Reports
Outline
A concrete slab is shown below which has the same setting out dimensions as the slab in
example 6.4. It is to be modeled using shell finite elements in Autodesk Structural Bridge
Design 2014 and the data file saved for analysis in section 7.
The slab is generally 500mm thick but has a 2.5m wide cantilever on either edge which is
300mm thick.
It is supported on 5 discrete bearings at each end of the slab and 2 bearings at midspan.
The layout and restraint conditions of the bearings are the same as for example 6.4
except the four corner bearings are excluded.
Around the location of the two midspan bearings, the slab is thickened to 700mm so as
to form a column head. The lateral dimensions of this thickened slab are defined by the
mesh layout.

The mesh layout is shown below where both longitudinally and transversely, the wider
elements are twice the width of the narrower ones.
6-50

The single Carriageway is 12m wide with a 1.5m verge on either side and is centered on
the deck, as in example 6.4
The concrete is grade 40 with an elastic modulus of 31.975kN/mm
2
. Poissons ratio is
assumed to be 0.2.
6-51

Procedure
Setup
1. Start the program and use the menu item File |Open to open the file called US
Example 6_4 Curved Slab Layout.sst created in example 6.4. This will give us
the basic setting out from which we can create the FE model.
2. Use the Date |Titles menu option to set the Structure Title to Curved FE Slab
Model with a sub title of Example 6.5. Set the Job Number to 6.5 and put your
initials in the Calculations by: field.
FE mesh
3. We can now define the two meshes. Right mouse click on the 2D sub Model in
the navigation window and select +Add |Mesh. This will display the Define Mesh
form.
4. Set Name: to be Left Span, Mesh Type: to be Splay, Pick: by object and
Member Type: to Finite Elements.

The boundary of the mesh is then picked graphically by selecting the four
boundary edges of this span. They must be picked so that consecutive lines
intersect (in order) and the first line defines the general longitudinal direction, the
second defines which is the positive direction (as can be shown by the arrow in
the graphics).
5. Start on the bottom verge line, then the middle construction line, next the top
verge line and lastly the leftmost construction line.
6-52

6. Set the no. of Transverse elements to 16 and Longitudinal to 10 and note the
change in the graphics.
7. The spacing of the elements now needs to be adjusted so that the four elements
either side of each of the central supports is half the size of the others. Change
the size field for the transverse spacing from equal size to set size.
8. This opens the Set Transverse Size form. The spacing factors can be set to 0.5
where narrow elements are required as shown below:

9. The other values of Dimension and Proportion are updated automatically. (the
form above does not show the full table and there are three spacing factor values
of 1 that are not shown). Close this form with the OK button.
10. Set size is used again, for the longitudinal spacing, but it is only the last two rows
in the table that have the spacing factors changed to 0.5.
11. Close the Define Mesh form with the OK button.
12. Repeat 21, 4, 5 and 6 for the second mesh but set the Name to Right Span and
pick the boundary of the right span.
1
2
3
4
6-53

13. The general mesh parameters, such as spacing, can be copied from the first mesh
by clicking on the Copy Mesh Details From button and selecting that mesh.
14. The longitudinal spacing will need adjusting for this mesh to set the narrower
elements at the start. To do this re-select set size for the Longitudinal spacing
and then set the Spacing Factors such that they are all 1, except the first two,
which will be 0.5. Close this form with the OK button.
15. Close the Define Mesh form with the OK button.
16. Click on Structure in the navigation window and in the graphics screen change the
viewing direction to plan view by using the icon . The mesh should now look
like the picture below:

Span End Lines
17. Before positioning supports we will define the span ends by drawing the span end
lines. This is done by right clicking on Structure in the navigation window and
selecting +Add | Span End Lines.
18. The coordinates of each end of the lines could be entered manually into the table
but it is easier to set the Snap: mode (Graphics toolbar) to Intersection and pick
the joints of the mesh coinciding with the span ends. The sequence of clicks to
give three lines would be as follows:
6-54

19. Close the Define Span End Lines data form with the OK button.
Supports
20. Click the +Add button at the top of the navigation window and select Supported
Nodes to open the Define Supported Nodes form.
Five nodes along the two outer span end lines and two of the nodes along the
middle span end line need supporting.
21. In the graphics window toolbar set the second Select: option to All Joints and
then click on the required supported joints as shown below.

22. In the Define Supported Nodes form you will see that the Group Type: is set to
Uniform, which means all the support conditions are the same. Set the restraints
such that all degrees of freedom are Free except Direct Restraint Z, which is
Fixed.
23. Now change the Group type: to Variable, which allows each support to have
different constraints applied. We also change the Select mode to Create.
24. To fix the X and Y translational constraints on the center support along the left
span end line we first click on it in the graphics screen (which highlights it in the
table). In this row of the table we change the X and Y Direct Restraints to Fixed.
2
1
5
6
4
3
6-55

25. Item 24 is repeated for the center support under the right span end line except that
we only change the Y Direct Constraint to Fixed.

26. Close the Define Supported Nodes form using the OK button.
Properties
There are three properties to define
i. The 700mm thick isotropic FE property.
ii. The 300mm thick isotropic FE property.
iii. The 500mm thick isotropic FE property.
27. We first change the Structure navigation window to the Section Property by
clicking on the Section Properties button at the bottom of the window.
28. Click on the +Add button at the top of the navigation window and select Finite
Element.
29. In the Finite Element Properties form, change the Thickness: to 700 and the
Elastic Modulus: to 31.975. Note that the Shear Modulus gets automatically
updated based upon the default Poissons ratio of 0.2. Change the Density to
23.544.
6-56

30. Change the Description: to 700mm Grade 40 Concrete.
31. Select the 32 elements in the graphics window surrounding the two central
supports as shown. This can be done by clicking on the individual elements or
windowing around the two groups. To create the window, the Shift key on the
keyboard must be held down whilst clicking the two opposing corners. Ensure that
Select: is set to Inclusive Box in the graphics window.

32. Close the Finite Element Properties form with the OK button.
33. Right mouse click in the navigation window on the property just defined and select
Copy.
34. Set the Thickness: to 300, the Description: to 300mm Grade 40 Concrete and
then select the two rows of element adjacent to each curved edge of the slab.
35. These elements can be selected by clicking on them individually, windowing
around them in groups or, if we know the element numbers, they can be listed as
a text sequence eg. 25 to 50.
36. To determine the element numbers they can be annotated on the graphics by
clicking on the orange General button on the right of the graphics screen and
Hold the shift key
whilst drawing
this window
6-57

then ticking the Annotation Member tick box (if this is not shown click on the
button Switch to Member No.) Zooming in and panning should show the
numbers to be:
141 to 160 1 to 20
303 to 320 177 to 194
161 162
175 176
37. To enter this text sequence click on the small text icon at the left end of the
Assigned Members: field and type in the text as shown into the text field displayed
(remembering to click OK on the sub-form).

38. Turn off the Element Annotation in the graphics window.
40. Right mouse click in the navigation window on the property just defined and select
Copy.
41. Set the Thickness: to 500, the Description: to 500mm Grade 40 Concrete and
then select the remaining elements of the slab in the graphics window.
42. This can be done by windowing around the whole structure and then answer No
to all when asked if you wish to overwrite previous assignments
44. Save the data file using the main menu File | Save as... with a name of My US
Example 6_5.sst.

Data Reports
For general data reports and graphical plots follow the procedures detailed in
previous examples (in particular example 6.4).
It is required to produce a report for the section properties of a specific finite
element to show items such as element area and aspect ratios.
6-58

45. In the main menu select File |Data Reports... In the Data Reports form, select
the Member Section Properties tab and ensure that only Show Summary is ticked.

46. In the graphics window toolbar, click on the Filter icon to open the Member
Selection Filter form and click on the bottom left hand element in the display
47. Click on the View button on the Data Reports form to show the basic results
viewer. Although this doesnt show the graphics directly, if this form is printed (or
print preview) it will have the current graphics included at the top of the report.
48. Alternatively, if it was required to save a high quality pdf file of this report then click
on the PDF tab at the bottom of the Data Reports form. This view can be saved
to a local pdf file.
6-59

49. Close the results viewer using the green Exit button and then close the Data
Reports form using the Done button.
Summary
This simple FE mesh of a curved flat slab highlights all the basic methods for creating
any FE mesh structure and introduces most of the tools required to create an FE mesh
and get data reports. The model that has been saved will be used in the loading and
analysis of this structure in section 7 of the examples manual.
6-60

7-1

7. Analysis - Load Definition & Solution

Contents
7.1. Railway Loading on a Line Beam ............................................................................... 7-3
7.2. Portal Frame Loading and Analysis ......................................................................... 7-11
7.3. Highway Loading and Analysis of a Simple Grillage ................................................ 7-19
7.4 Dead Load & Diff Temp Load on a Finite Element Slab ........................................... 7-31

7-2

7-3

7.1. Railway Loading on a Line Beam
Subjects Covered:
Beam Loads; Lane Load Live Loads; Compilation; Envelopes; Bending Moments;
Graphical Results
Outline
It is required to analyze a five span line beam model as shown below and as defined in
example 6.1

The line beam represents one of a number of beams at 10 foot centers in a bridge
structure.
It is required to determine the maximum design sagging moment in spans 2 and 4 for the
Strength combination 1 design case.
Details of the loading are as follows:
Dead load of the beam is 23.544kN/m
3
(Yp = 1.25)
Wearing surface is 0.2m deep and has a density of 20kN/m
3
(Yp = 1.50)
Nonstructural attachments 2.5kN/m on each beam (
fl
= 1.25)
Lane Load assuming beams are at 10 foot centers (Load Factor = 1.75)
Five live load cases should be created for each span, one with the concentrated load at
the center of the span and others with the concentrated load 1m & 2m either side of this.
These can then be enveloped.

7-4

Procedure
1. Start the program and then use menu item File |Open... to open the data file with
a name of US Example 6_1.sst which was created in example 6.1. Close the
Structure overview with the Done button.
Basic Loads
2. To calculate the dead load of the beam it is necessary to determine its cross
section area so that we can apply the load as a beam load in terms of load per
unit length. To do this open up the Data Reports form using the File |Data
Reports... menu item. Tick the Include Section Property Data field and click on
the View button. This will open the Results Viewer which should show the cross
section area of the beam as 700000mm
2
. This means the UDL for dead load will
be 23.544 x 0.7 = 16.48kN/m. Click on EXIT to close this window and then on the
Done button to close the Data Reports form.
3. Change the sub title of the example to Example 7.1 using the Date |Titles menu
option. Set the Job Number to 7.1 and put your initials in the Calculations by:
field before closing the form in the normal way.
4. Change the navigation pane on the left hand side of the screen to
Basic Loads by selecting the button near the bottom.
5. Click on the + Add button at the top to display the selection list as
shown and pick Vehicle Load -> Lane Load. In the Define Vehicle
Loading form, change the Ends Defined By: to span and Span No:
to 2.

7-5

6. Change the Name: to LL Span 2 before closing the form with the OK button.
(Note that it is possible to change the value in the Load per unit length: field. In
this example we can use the default value of 9.340096kN/m because the beams
are at 10 feet centers).

7. In the Navigation window click on the +Add button and pick Vehicle Load >
Design Truck. Click twice near the second span on the graphics window to
approximately position the vehicle on span 2. Move the design truck load by
changing the Station: to 20.5. Change the Name: to DT Span 2 Cen before
closing the form with the OK button.
8. Again, click on the +Add button and pick Vehicle Load > Design Truck. Click
twice near the second span on the graphics window to approximately position the
vehicle on span 2. Move the design truck load by changing the Station: to 18.5.
Change the Name: to DT Span 2 Con -2 before closing the form with the OK
button. Repeat this for Con -1, Con +1 and Con +2 changing the concentrated
load position and name accordingly.
9. Repeat 5, 6, 7 and 8 for span 4 (Specify Span No. 6 in the data form as this is the
virtual span number due to the drop in span) giving 12 live loads in total. (You may
have to re-select Ends Defined By: Span to ensure that the lane load is correctly
defined).
10. Click on the +Add button at the top of the navigation window and select Beam
Member Load > Longitudinal Beam Load from the selection list.
11. In the first row of the Longitudinal Beam Loading form set the Load Type to be
Uniform, Load W1 to be 16.48 (Load W2 is automatically set as it is uniform)
and the Name: to Dead Loads. To apply this load to the complete beam, box
round the whole structure in the graphics window or tick all members in the drop
down list at the end of the Assigned Members: field. Close the form with the OK
button.
7-6

12. Copy the Dead load in the same manner as for the live loads and change the load
value to 12.19kN/m and the name to Surfacing Loads.
13. Repeat this again but change the load value to 2.5 and the name to
Nonstructural.
Compilations
14. Change the Navigation view to Compilations by clicking the appropriate button at
the bottom of the navigation window.
15. Click on the + Add button to add a Dead Loads at Stage 1 compilation. On the
form that has opened ensure that the Limit State is set to Strength. Click on the
+ button near the bottom of the form to add a row to the table. In the first row of
the compilation table use the drop down list to select the beam dead load case.
Note that the default gamma is correct at 1.25 and change the Name: to DL
Strength. Close the form with the OK button.
16. Click on the + Add button to add a Superimposed Dead Loads compilation. Click
twice on the + button near the bottom of the form to add 2 rows to the table. In
the first row of the compilation table select the surfacing load case and set the
gamma factor to 1.5. In the second row select the non-structural load case and set
the gamma factor to 1.25. Set the Name: to SDL Strength. Close the form with
the OK button.
7-7

17. Click on the + Add button to add a Strength I compilation. Click twice on the +
button near the bottom of the form to add 2 rows to the table. In the first row of
the compilation table use the drop down list to select the L1: LL span 2 live load
case. In the second row select the L2: DT Span 2 Cen. Note that the default
gamma is correct at 1.75 and the Percent field is set to 100%. Change the Name:
to Bending Span 2 Con Cen ST1 and close the form with the OK button.
18. Copy this compilation in the same way as before but change the load case in the
second row to the L3: DT Span 2 Con -2 loadcase and change the name
accordingly.
19. Create a separate compilation for each design truck live load case in the same
way, giving a total of 10 live load compilations, 1 dead load compilation and 1
super imposed dead load compilation.
Envelopes
20. To determine the max bending moment in each of spans 2 and 4 we create an
envelope. This is done using the menu item Calculate |Envelopes... to open up
the Define Envelopes form.
21. Click the mouse where it says Click Here.... and set Envelope For to Beam,
and accept all other entries as the default values except the Load Group which
should be set to Live Compilations. Click on the small + button at the bottom of
the top part of the table to add this data to the table and because All Complying
Cases is selected all live load cases are entered into the envelope automatically.
Click on the OK button to close the Define Envelopes form.
7-8

22. The load cases can now be solved using the menu Item Calculate |Analyze,
which carries out the solution and stores results ready for viewing.
Results
23. The maximum sagging moments can then be obtained by looking at the results of
the envelope in the results viewer. This is opened using the menu item File
|Results.

24. If the graphics and tabular results are not shown on the same screen then ensure
that the Graphics is enabled using the menu item View |Set Default Layout |
Graphic Above Table.
Click here
7-9

25. Set the Results Type: to Envelope and the Results For: to Beam.
26. To add the effect of dead load and superimposed dead load to the enveloped
results then use the drop down list in the include Dead Load Compilations: field to
include both Dead &SDL compilations. (This is located near the top left hand
corner of the graphics window).
27. To determine the maximum value then annotate the graphics using the orange
General button at the right of the graphics screen and tick the Result tick box. If
all results are shown then the Format button can be used to select maximums
only.
Filtering
28. The overall maximum is in span 2 but if we require to determine the maximum in
span 4, the simplest thing to do is to filter the results for span 4
only. This is done by clicking on the graphics filter button

29. First of all De-select all from the Selection Tasks and set the Pick Mode to
Longitudinal Beam. Then click anywhere on the forth span in the graphics
window before closing the Member Selection Filter form with the OK button. The
maximum sagging moment in span 4 is then shown on the graphics.
30. Annotate the member numbers using the orange General button in the graphics
window.
31. Remove columns in the table that have zero values and have no meaning for a
line beam analysis by unticking the selection that appears when clicking on the
first column of the headings row - as shown below
7-10

32. To see how the graphics and table would be printed out, use the File |Print
Preview menu item to display the print preview. Note that clicking on the icon
at the top of the print preview window will create a pdf document of the selected
output. Close the print preview using the Close button.
33. Close the results viewer using the File |Close Tabular Results menu item.
34. Save the data file, using File |Save as... with a name of My US Example
7_1.sam.
Summary
This example provides a basic introduction to the Analysis modules in Autodesk

Structural Bridge Design 2014 and demonstrates the basic principles for assigning
properties, defining railway loads compilations and envelopes and viewing the results.
7-11

7.2. Portal Frame Loading and Analysis
Subjects Covered:
Wind Load; Differential settlement; Lack of fit loading; Dead loading. Bending Moment,
shear and Axial force diagrams.
Outline
The portal frame model, created in example 6.2, is to be loaded with the following loads:
1. Dead load of the steel members based upon a weight density of 77kN/m3
2. Dead Load of precast concrete floor panels resulting in a UDL on the beams of
30kN/m
3. A horizontal wind load of 8kN/m acting as a UDL on the left hand columns
4. A support settlement of 20mm applied just to the left hand support
5. A Lack of fit loading due to the top beam being 15mm short during erection

Create a combination of these loads using load factors of 1.3 for the wind load and 1.2
for all other loads. (Obviously, the user should consult the appropriate code of practice
for the correct load factors).
30kN/m Slab dead loads
30kN/m Slab dead loads
8
k
N
/
m

W
i
n
d

L
o
a
d

7-12

Produce a combined bending moment/shear force diagram for the two beams, with max
values annotated, and an axial force diagram for the two columns both for the
combined load case.
Procedure
1. Start the program and open the file created in example 6.2 called Two Span
Single Bay Frame_US.sst using the menu item File |Open...
2. Click on the menu Data |Titles... and change the Structure Title to Portal Frame
Loading, the sub title to Example 7.2, the Job Number to 7.2 and enter your
initials in the Calculated by: field.
3. Close the Titles form using the OK button.
4. Click on the button at the bottom of the Navigation window to enable
adding basic loads into the navigation tree.
Dead Loads
5. Click on the + Add button at the top of the navigation window and select Beam
Member Load |Beam Element Load from the list of options.
6. We can enter the steel dead load into the first row of the Define Beam Loading
form by setting Load Type to be F Uniform, Direction to Global Z, Load Value to
be Volume and Load W1 to be -77 (it is negative because it is acting vertically
downward). W2 automatically assumes the same value as it is a uniform load.
7. Click on the small down arrow next to the filter button in the graphics toolbar
and select Beams Only from the list of filters (these filters were set up in example
6.2).
8. Window round the whole structure.
9. Repeat 7 and 8 but with the filter Columns Only. There should be 56 members
now loaded as seen in the last column of the table.

7-13

10. The second line in the table can now be used to define the slab dead loads which
will be F Uniform, Global Z, Length and -30.
11. This should be applied to just the beams using the Beam Only filter.
12. Change the Name: to Dead Loads and close the Define Beam Loading form with
the OK button.
Wind Loads
13. The wind load will also be created using Beam Member Load |Beam Element
Load when Adding a new Basic Load. The parameters for this will be: F
Uniform, Global X, Length and 8. It should be applied to just the left hand
column by using the Columns Only filter but only windowing around the left half
of the structure.

14. Change the Name to Wind Loads before closing the Define Beam Loading form
with the OK button.
Support settlement Load
15. Click on the + Add button at the top of the navigation window and select Support
Displacement from the list.
16. Enter -20 in the DZ(mm) column of the first row and then click on the left
supported node in the graphics window.
7-14

17. The default Name of Settlement is suitable so close the Define Support
Displacement Loading form with the OK button.
Lack of Fit Load
18. Click on the + Add button at the top of the navigation window and select Beam
Member Load |Beam Element Distortion from the list.
19. The lack of fit can be applied as a point distortion of -15mm at any point along the
top beam. Enter -0.015 in the D Start column of the first row and then set Type
to Point, Axes to Local, Direction to Direction X.
20. Apply this to the structure by setting the filter to Beams only and then clicking on
left end of the top beam.

21. Set the Name to Lack of fit load and then close the Beam Distortion Load (Define
Beam Loading) form with the OK button.
Compilation
22. To form a combination of these loads we create a Compilation. Click on the
button at the bottom of the navigation window and then click on the
+ Add button at the top. Select Other from the list. Click 4 times on the +
button near the bottom of the form to add 4 rows to the table.
7-15

23. In the Compile Loading Patterns form change the Name to Combination 1 and
then in the first row of the Load Name field, click on the arrow at the end and
select the L1: Dead Loads. Set the gamma value to 1.2.
24. Enter each of the loads into separate rows of the table and apply the appropriate
factors.

25. Close the Compile Loading Patterns form with the OK button.
Solution
26. Click on the menu item Calculate| Analyze to perform the analysis which will
display a form showing the progress of analyzing the four load cases. Before
closing this form display the analysis log file by clicking on the button.
27. In the text file that is displayed check that the total loads applied in load case L1
are equal and opposite to the support reactions for the same load case. (This
applies to direct actions and not moments).
28. Close both the log file and the Analysis form.
Results
29. Click on the menu item File |Results to open up the results viewer and then
display this as full screen using the window controls.
30. Use the menu item View | Set Default Layout | Tabbed Layout to set the view to
a tabbed view with the Graphics on one tab and the table on another (this will not
need doing if it is already a tabbed view). Click on the Graphic tab at the bottom.
31. In the blue control area Set Results Type to Compilation, Name: to Combination
1, Results For: to Beam.
32. Use the filter dropdown button to select Beams Only.
33. Click twice in the Results For field in the light blue graphics toolbar and in the
dropdown tick both FZ and MY.
7-16

34. To produce annotations of the values click on the orange General button on the
right side of the graphics screen, tick Result and then click the Format button
next to it.
35. Set the values to the values shown in the following graphic before closing the Text
Setup form using the OK button.
36. To enhance the scale of the plot click on the orange Results button on the right
side of the graphics screen and tick both scale boxes setting the scale for shear
as 1:50 and that for bending 1:200. (You may want to check that Auto Redraw is
switched on. The Auto Redraw button is located on the light blue graphics
toolbar).

37. A plot of the axial loads in the columns can be obtained in a similar way except the
filter would be set to Columns Only and the Results For tick box set to FX only.
For this plot it is best to rotate the results text back to 0.0 using the Text Setup
form.
7-17

38. Close the Results Viewer using the File |Close Tabular Results menu item.
39. Save the file using File |Save as... with a name of My US Example 7_2.sam.
Summary
This example explores some of the not so common load types applied to portal frames
and creating a combination of them. The use of filtering is encouraged to produce
graphical and tabular results for just specific parts of the structure and here, excluding
parts, such as stiff dummy members, where results are not relevant.
Sometimes the default scale of results plots is not large (or small) enough to show the
results adequately. This example shows how user defined scales can visually improve
the quality of graphical results.
In results plots that consist of more than one component, (eg. moment and shear) where
results values are displayed, then only one component can be annotated at a time. The
component that is shown is the first one selected when making the selection in the
dropdown list. To change the annotation to another component it is simply a matter of
re-selecting the components in a different order.
7-18

7-19

7.3. Highway Loading and Analysis of a Simple Grillage
Subjects Covered:
Beam Element Loads; Bridge Deck Patch Loads, Lane Loads; Design Tandem Loads;
Loading Sets; Compilation; Analysis; Analysis log file; Bending Moments; Graphical
Results, Print Preview; Customizing table headers; Sorting tabular results.
Outline
A two span grillage model of a 500mm thick, curved slab, as shown below and as
defined in example 6.4 is to be loaded and analyzed for dead, superimposed dead and
AASHTO traffic loading.

It is required to determine the design sagging moment at the center of span 1 for
Strength combination 1 design case and maximum deflection along the lower edge of the
structure for Service combination 1. Engineering judgment is to be used to create just
two load patterns to achieve this.
Details of the loading are as follows:
Dead load of the concrete slab is 23.544kN/m
3
(Yp = 1.25 & 1.0)
Roadway surfacing is 0.2m thick and has a density of 18kN/m
3
(Yp = 1.50 & 1.0)
Footway makeup & finish is 0.35m thick and has a density of 20kN/m
3
(Yp = 1.50
& 1.0)
Live load type Lane Load + DT loading (load factor = 1.75 & 1.0)
Footway live loading of 3.6kN/m
2
(load factor = 1.75 & 1.0)
For the max bending case the DT vehicle will occupy lane 3. For the max deflection case
the DT load will occupy lane 4. The Design Tandem loads and the CL of the middle DT
7-20

axle will be as close to the center of the horizontal span as possible (ie. an easting of
8.25m).
Procedure
1. Start the program and open the data file with a name of US Example 6_4.sst
which was created in example 6.4. Close the Structure overview with the Done
button.
2. Change the title sub title of the example to Example 7.3 using the Date |Titles
menu option, Change the Job Number: to 7.3 and put your initials in the
Calculations by: field before closing the form in the normal way.
Basic Loads
The dead load of the slab can be created by applying a volume load of
23.544kN/m
3
to just the longitudinal members (applying it to the transverse
members as well would double the actual dead load).
3. Change the navigation pane on the left hand side of the screen to Basic Loads
by selecting the button at the bottom.
4. Click on the + Add button at the top to display the selection list as
shown and pick Beam Member Load ->Beam Element Load.
5. In the Define Beam Loading form change the Load Type to F Uniform,
the Direction to Global Z, the Load Value to Volume and Load W1 to
-23.544. The field Load W2 automatically becomes
-23.544 also as it is a uniform load (note the units). The Name: field can
be changed to Concrete Dead Loads.
6. To apply this to just the longitudinal beams we need to filter the graphics
window to display just these beams. Click on the small arrow next to the
filter icon in the graphics toolbar and pick Longitudinal Beams from
the list.

7-21

7. By windowing around the complete structure and changing the viewing directions
to isometric it can be seen that the load has been applied to the longitudinal
beams only.

8. Close the Define Beam Loading form with the OK button.
9. To define the Carriageway surfacing load, the Bridge Deck Patch Load option is
selected when adding a new basic load.

10. Set Define loading by: to object then in the graphics screen click on the 4 lines
bounding the carriageway area (consecutive lines must intersect). The lines are
the carriageway definition lines and the span end lines at either end. It is best to
click on these lines outside the bounds of the structure so as to isolate them from
other lines. The loaded area is then shown hatched. (Ensure that the Roadways
and Span End Lines boxes are ticked on the orange Objects button at the right
side of the graphics screen).
7-22

11. In the Define Bridge Deck Patch Loading form set Load per unit area to 3.6kN/m
2

and set the Name: to SDL: Roadway. Note that subsidiary loads can be defined
in the X and Y directions by inputting values in the +X and +Y fields. However, in
this example we will leave these 2 fields at the default value of zero. Close the
12. In the navigation window right mouse click on the load just created above and
select Copy from the drop down list.
13. Set Define loading by: to object (and click Yes on the confirm form that appears),
then in the graphics screen click on the 4 lines bounding the south most footway
area.
14. In the Define Bridge Deck Patch Loading form set Load per unit area to 7kN/m
2

and set the Name: to SDL: footway 1 before closing the form with the OK
button.
15. Repeat steps 12 to 14 but for the north most footway using the Name: SDL:
footway 2.
16. Click on the +Add button in the navigation window and select Vehicle Load |
Lane Load to open a Define Vehicle Loading form. Set Ends defined by: to
Span and the Lane No: and Span No: to 1. The load intensity is calculated
automatically, from the length of the load, and all other data can be left as the
default so close the form with the OK button.
7-23

17. Right mouse click on the Lane Load in the navigation window and select Copy
from the drop down list. Change the lane to 2 and close the form with the OK
button.
18. Repeat for lane 3.
Design Tandem to open a Define Vehicle Loading form. Set Position: to within
lanes and then position the tandem load approximately by clicking twice in the
north most lane somewhere near the center of span 1. Now set the Station in the
form to 9.8m to position it more accurately. Change the load name to Tandem
1. Close the form with the OK button.

20. Repeat this for lanes 2 and 3 with stations of 8.7m and 7.4, naming the loads
appropriately.
21. The footway loading is applied using standard Lane Load loading so follow step
16 above but use lane 4 for one footway and 5 for the other. The Load per unit
area: field should be set to 3.6kN/m
2
in each case before closing the form with
the OK button. (Remember to apply the footway live loading to the left hand
span, ie. span 1, only).
7-24

22. Click on the +Add button of the navigation window to add Vehicle Load | Design
Truck.
23. Leave the settings on the Define Vehicle Loading at their default settings and then
click twice anywhere in lane 3 on the graphics screen to approximately position
the vehicle. (Ensure that you leave a gap of at least 1 second between clicks
when doing this).
24. The lane is 3.66m (12ft.) wide and the vehicle 1.83m (6ft.) wide and it is positioned
centrally on the lane. This means that the vehicle is within the boundaries of the
lane.

25. To position the vehicle longitudinally we set Using: to vehicle center and Station:
to 7.5m. Change the Name: field to DT lane 3 before closing the form with the
OK button.

Loading Sets
26. It is sometimes convenient to group the basic loads into recognizable sets. This
can be done by clicking on the Open Loading Sets... option at the bottom of the
navigation window.

27. In the Define Loading Sets form click on the green + button at the top right and
then change the Set Name to Dead Loads
28. Click on the single dead load in the Unassigned Load Cases: list and then click on
the > button to move it into the Selected Load Cases: list
29. Repeat 28 and 29 above with Set Name of SDL and the appropriate load cases.
7-25

30. Repeat 28 and 29 above with Set Name of Live Loads and the remaining load
cases. (Note that multiple loads can be selected at once by holding the shift key
down while clicking on the first and last in a series).
31. Close the Define Loading Sets form with the OK button
Compilations
32. Change the Navigation view to Compilations by clicking the appropriate button at
the bottom of the navigation window.
33. Click on the + Add button to add a Dead Loads at Stage 1 compilation. Click on
the + button near the bottom of the form to add a row to the table. In the first row
of the compilation table use the drop down list to select the Concrete Dead
Loads case. Note that the default gamma is correct at 1.25 and change the
Name: to DL Strength. Close the form with the OK button.
34. Repeat 34 above but this time set the Limit State: field to Service (a prompt to
confirm changing the load factors will appear) and the Name: to DL Service.
3 times on the + button near the bottom of the form to add 3 rows to the table. In
the compilation table use the drop down list to select the three SDL load cases.
Change the gamma for each row to 1.50. Close the form with the OK button.
36. The compilation for SDL Service can be created by copying the ULS compilation
and changing the Limit State: field to Service. The factors are changed by the
program to 1.0.
37. Click on the + Add button to add a Strength 1 compilation. This compilation will
be for Strength max sagging so add 6 rows to the table and select the vehicle and
pedestrian loads as shown below.

38. Note that the gamma factors are correct at 1.75 and, for this combination, the
Percent column values are set correctly at 100. Also, the Factor, m field is
automatically set to the correct value to reflect the number of lanes loaded. The
7-26

Name: of the compilation should be changed to Strength1 LL + DT Max Sag
Span 1 before closing the form with the OK button.
39. For the SLS Max Deflection Compilation repeat 38 and 39 but select a Service1
compilation and include the vehicle loads as shown below. The Name: is set to
Service1 LL + Tandem 3 Max Def Span 1 before closing the form with the OK
button.

40. The data file can now be saved as US Example 7_3.sst using the main menu
item File | Save As...
Analysis
41. The load cases can now be solved using the menu Item Calculate |Analyze,
which carries out the solution and stores results ready for viewing. Because we
have defined loading sets an Activate Loading Sets form is displayed allowing a
choice of which loading sets to analyze. Ensure they are all ticked and then click
on the OK button.

7-27

42. Once the analysis is complete as indicated on the Analysis form click on the small
icon at the bottom right of this form.

43. This will display the analysis log file which will indicate any warning messages
about the analysis (if any) and give a summary of the analysis degrees of freedom
and the total applied loads and total reactions for each load case. These should
be inspected for consistency.

44. The analysis log file can then be closed using the green EXIT button on the top
left of the window. The Analysis form can also be closed using the Done button.
Results
45. The maximum sagging moments can be obtained by looking at the results of the
appropriate live load compilation in the results viewer. This is opened using the
menu item File |Results.
7-28

46. If the graphics and tabular results are not shown on the same screen then ensure
that the Graphics is enabled using the menu item View | Set Default Layout |
Graphic Above Table.
47. Set the Results Type: to Compilation and the Results For: to Beam and the
Name of the compilation to Strength1 LL + DT Max Sag Span 1.
48. To add the effect of dead load and superimposed dead load to the live compilation
results then use the drop down list in the Include Dead Load Compilations: field to
include both Strength Dead & SDL compilations. Click on the orange isometric
view icon on the graphics toolbar and select My in the Results for: dropdown
menu.
49. To determine the maximum value then annotate the graphics using the orange
General button at the right of the graphics screen and tick the Result tick box. If
all results are shown then the Format button can be used to select maximums
only. Click on the Auto Redraw button on the graphics toolbar to show the
results. It is worth noting that un-ticking the Transparent box in the Text Setup
form can make it easier to read the results in the graphics window.

50. To see how the graphics and table would be printed out, use the File |Print
Preview menu item to display the print preview. This can be printed if required.
Close the print preview using the Close button
7-29

51. To repeat this exercise for the Service displacements change the compilation
Name to Service1 LL + DT Max Def Span 1, the Results For: to Joint and
include the Service Dead Load Compilations as before.
52. To ensure that you are looking at z displacements click on any number in the DZ
column in the table.
53. Before printing a Print Preview of these results remove columns from the table
that are all zeros (DX, DY, RZ). This is done by right mouse clicking on each
column header and selecting Remove This Column from the drop down menu
displayed. These can be reinstated if required by clicking on the column control
icon at the far left of the column headers and ticking the appropriate boxes.
54. To determine which node number gives the min result we can sort the results in
ascending order for a particular column and then look at the result at the top of the
table. For the vertical displacements, this is done by left clicking on the DZ
column header until the sort arrow points upwards and then scrolling to the top of
the table.

55. Close the results viewer using the File |Close Tabular Results menu item.
56. Save the data file, using the menu File |Save As... to a file called My US
Example 7_3.sst
7-30

Summary
This example provides a basic introduction to the basic loading and results of a bridge
deck grillage analysis.
Although maximum results are normally obtained using the load optimization to position
vehicle patterns accurately, it is important for the engineer to be able to create loading
patterns manually based on engineering experience. By understanding this process, the
engineer will be confident in checking the results produced automatically by the load
optimization, which is briefly described in Chapter 8 of this manual. (A more detailed
explanation of the load optimization feature is in Chapter 10 of the British Standards and
EU manuals. It is worth noting that the load optimization feature can be used for refined
analysis models using AASHTO, however full worked examples for refined analysis to
AASHTO have not yet been written for the AASHTO manual).
Some key features of this example are:
The copying of data items to create additional data items and then modifying them
(such as loads).
Understanding Vehicle loading.
Creating load compilations for different limit states.
Grouping of loads to form loading sets. These should not be confused with
compilations, as the loads or effects are not summed but merely grouped for
convenience. Each group can be analyzed separately and will not require re-
analysis if other groups are subsequently solved (as long as other data hasnt
changed.
The production of an analysis log file (the last log file produced is always available
from the File | Analysis Log File... menu). This file easily gives the ability to
check that the total applied loads are equal and opposite to the resultant total
support reactions. It is important to do this at least once for every structural
model, as differences in these values are an indication of an ill-conditioned
stiffness matrix and that structure stiffness should be scrutinized.
To show the ability to customize and be selective on printed output.

7-31

7.4 Dead Load & Diff Temp Load on a Finite Element Slab
Subjects Covered:
Dead loads in FE; Differential temperature in an FE Slab; The use of composite
members to represent FE results; FE results with discontinuities in slab thickness;
Principle moment vectors
Outline
Consider the finite element slab, as described and modeled in example 6.5 which has
variable thickness and a curved profile in plan

It is required to establish the distribution of load to the supports due to its own self weight
and to examine the load path by considering principle moment vector plots. The load will
be based on a weight density of reinforced concrete of 23.544kN/m
3
.
It is also required to consider the effects of an applied temperature profile through the
thickness of the slab, in accordance with AASHTO 3.12.3 (assuming the structure is
located in zone 3 as defined by Figure 3.12.3-1), with respect to t.0he secondary moment
created. Only positive differential temperature will be considered and it is assumed that
a surface thickness of 100mm will be applied.
The temperature load will be applied as a combination of a temperature gradient load
and a general temperature rise. The values of these two components will be different for
the variable thickness of slab. For the purpose of this example we will only consider the
main slab of 500mm and the cantilever slab of 300mm. The effects on the column head
will be assumed to be that of the 500mm slab.
The two values of temperature required here can be calculated from first principles using
the expressions
EI
M
Tg
for temperature gradients and
EA
F
Tm
for membrane
temperature. E is the elastic modulus of the concrete (31.975kN/mm2), I and A are the
7-32

moment of inertia and the area of a 1m section of the slab and is the coefficient of
thermal expansion 1.08E-5/C (6.0E-6/F).
M and F are the restraining Moments and Forces obtained when applying the
temperature profile to a 1m wide section of the slab. These can be obtained by carrying
out a simple diff temp analysis (using Autodesk Structural Bridge Design 2014) of 1m
wide sections of the two thicknesses of slab, by following the procedure in example 3.3.
The results of this and a section property analysis are as follows:
500mm thick slab
I = 1.0417E10mm
4
A = 5.0E5mm
2

M = 83.159kNm F = 638.87kN giving
T
g
= 23.11
o
/m T
m
= 3.7
o

300mm thick slab
I = 0.225E10mm
4
A = 3.0E5mm
2

M = 31.364kNm F = 535.26kN giving
T
g
= 40.37
o
/m T
m
= 5.17
o

Procedure
which was created in example 6.5. Close the Structure Overview with the Done
button.
2. Change the title sub title of the example to Example 7.4 using the Data |Titles
Dead Load
3. Click on at the bottom of the navigation window and then click on
at the top of the window and select Finite Element Load |External Load
from the dropdown list.

4. In the first row of the table in the Define Finite Element Loading form set Load
Type to Force/volume, Direction to Global Z and Load to -23.544.
7-33

5. Window around the complete structure in the graphics window to select all the
elements. It doesnt matter that they have different thicknesses as the load
applied is a volume load.
6. Set Name: to Concrete Dead Loads before closing the form with the OK button.
Temperature Load
7. Click on at the top of the window and select Finite Element Load
|Temperature Load from the dropdown list.

8. In the first row of the table in the Define Finite Element Loading form set
Temperature Type to Gradient and Grad to 23.11. Change the Coefficient to a
value of 0.0000108 if it is not already set to this value.
9. This temperature gradient needs to be applied to the 500mm and 700mm thick
slab. To do this click on the filter button in the graphics window toolbar, click on
the De-select all Selection Tasks, and then set Select By: to Section Property.
Move the 500mm and 700mm slab properties into the Selected Groups: field using
the > button and then close the Member Selection Filter form with the OK
button.
10. Window round the complete structure in the graphics window to select these
elements.
11. In the second row of the table set Temperature Type to Membrane and T-Bottom
to 3.7, then window round the complete filtered structure again to apply this to
the 500mm and 700mm thick elements.
12. In the third row of the table set Temperature Type to Gradient and Gradient to
40.37. This time the 300mm thick elements must be selected.
13. Use the filter tools in the same way as 9 above to filter the 300mm thick elements
only and then window round the entire structure.
7-34

14. In the fourth row of the table set Temperature Type to Membrane and T-Bottom
to 5.17 then window round the complete filtered structure again to apply this to
the 300mm thick elements.
15. Change the load case Name: to Diff Temp Loads before closing the loading form
with the OK button.
Analysis
16. Use the menu item Calculate |Analyze... to perform the analysis and then click
on the Analysis log file icon on the Analysis form to open the log file.

17. Check in the displayed text file that the total load applied is equal and opposite to
the total reaction for the Dead Load case. Note that the total reaction for the
Thermal load case, L2, is zero (or very close to zero) because temperature loads
are internal loads.

18. Close the log file then close the Analysis form with the Done button.

7-35

Results Dead Load Case
19. Use the main menu File |Results... to open the results viewer. Set the view to be
combined graphic and table, as shown below, by using the menu items View | Set
Default Layout | Graphic Above Table. Adjust window size to suit by holding the
left mouse button down on the dividing line between the graphics and table and
dragging to a new position.
20. In the dark blue area at the top of the window (Results Controller) set Results For:
to Joint, Name: to L1: Concrete Dead Loads and Effect: to Support Reactions.
21. In the graphics toolbar, the Results For: field should be set to FZ
22. Change the viewing direction to isometric by clicking on the Graphics toolbar icon
and then annotate the results using the orange General Button on the right of
the graphics window. Use the Format button next to the Results tick box and
ensure Display All values is selected and SOP: is set to Result before closing the
Format (Text Setup) window with the OK button. Click on the Auto Redraw
button on the graphics toolbar to show the results (if the results are not updated
automatically).

23. The distribution of dead load to the supports can be clearly seen.
To display how this load gets to the supports we can view the moment load path
by plotting the principal bending results.
24. Change the results annotation to Maximums only and then set the fields in the
Results Controller to those shown below. The Results For: field in the graphics
toolbar should be set to Principal Values Maximum to show a faded contour
plot together with two lines at the centroid of the element indicating the relative
magnitude and direction of the principal moments. Click on the Auto Redraw
Hold left mouse button
down on this line and
drag to adjust window
size
7-36

button on the graphics toolbar to show the results (if the results are not updated
automatically).

25. Red lines represent hogging moments and blue lines represent sagging.
26. To graphically represent the bending moment in the longitudinal direction, for the
dead load case, the Results Controller fields need to be set as shown below and
the Results For: field in the graphics toolbar should be set to Bending Triad x.

27. The view shown here has been changed to a Tabbed view (using the View)
menu) and the viewing direction set to plan view. There are two significant points
to note here.
i. The x moment values are per m width and represent bending in the
local xz plane. For this structure the default local x axis is the same
as the global X axis. If we wanted to change this such that the local x
7-37

axis was in the direction of the deck center line we would need to
change them by adding an Advanced FE Set |Local Axes item to
the Structure Navigation Window to align them to the design line.
The load cases would need resolving before viewing the results.
ii. The Location: field in the results controller is set to Node rather
than centroid or nodal averaged results so that the discontinuity
along the boundary between the two slab thicknesses is represented
28. Close the Results viewer.
Results Differential Temperature Load Case
29. The secondary moment results caused by the differential temperature case are
best displayed as bending moments on a virtual beam strip, the width of two
narrow elements, passing over the lower of the midspan supports. The results are
to be integrated over the width of this beam strip. To do this in Autodesk
Structural Bridge Design 2014 we use the concept of a composite member.
30. To define this composite member we click on the menu item Calculate |Define
Composite Member...
31. The elements that make up the composite member are then selected graphically
by first setting the Pick Mode: to Finite Element and then clicking on the
elements one by one as shown below.
32. The Composite axis is defined by setting the Pick Mode: to Node and then clicking
on the nodes, one by one, along the center of the virtual beam from one end to the
other.

7-38

33. Close the Define Composite Member form with the OK button.
34. Open the Results viewer and set the fields in the dark blue Results Controller area
to those shown below. The viewing direction has been set to a south elevation.

35. This now shows the bending results of a beam strip 1.25m wide with its center line
along the composite member axis.
36. The results are obtained by integrating the FE results across the beam strip and
resolving them at each of the axis points. There are three integration/ resolving
algorithms that can be used, Method 1, Method 2 and Method 3. It is up to the
user as to which is the most suitable. The method is selected in the results
7-39

controller. The basic suitability criteria can be displayed by clicking on the small,
circular ? button next to the Method radio buttons.
37. In our case method 2 has been selected as most suitable. If in doubt, use the
most conservative approach.

38. Shear results can be displayed in exactly the same way.
40. Use the main menu File |Save As... to save the data file with a name of My US
Example 7_4.sst.
Summary
A simple example to show how secondary effects due to differential temperature can be
represented in a Finite Elements model and how to best display results where there are
discontinuities. The representation of FE results in the form of a virtual beam strip is also
demonstrated.
7-40

8-1

8. Transfer of Data

Contents
8.1. Line Beam Integration ................................................................................................ 8-3
8.2. Prestress Beam Grillage Integration .......................................................................... 8-9
8.3. Defining Section Library with DWG File ................................................................... 8-19
8.4. Defining Grillage with DXF File ................................................................................ 8-23
8.5. Defining Box Girder with DXF File ........................................................................... 8-27

8-2

8-3

8.1. Line Beam Integration
Subjects Covered:
3 span line beam; Import prestress beam; Dead and SDL load optimization; Transfer
results to beam module; AASHTO Distribution factors
Outline
In this example we are going to create a 3 span line beam with outer spans of 21m and
an internal span of 30m. The line beam is constructed from 3 prestress beams which
form a continuous structure. The concrete slab is then poured in two stages.

We will create a prestress beam of span 30m for use at the middle span of the line beam
structure. Then we will create a line beam structure and use the prestress beam file
created in example 4.3 to define the section properties for the end spans of the model.
We will then carry out a load optimization for dead, SDL and live loadings. When this
has been completed we will transfer the load effects into the beam files making use of
the direct link between the structure and beam files in Autodesk
Structural Bridge
Design 2014.
Define Additional Prestress Beam
1. Start the program and open the file called US Example 4_3 created in example
4.3.
2. Use the Data |Titles menu option to set the Beam Title to Prestress Beam Span
30m and set the sub-title to Example 8.1. Also set the Job Number: to 8.1 and
put your initials in the Calculations by: field. Click OK to close the form.
3. Use the menu item Data |Define Beam to open the Pre-tensioned Beam
Definition form.
4. Change the Beam Length to a value of 30 and click OK to close the form.
5. Click on the File|Save As... menu item and enter the filename My US Prestress
Beam Span 30m.sst. Click on the Save button to save the file.
8-4

Procedure
1. Ensure that the current Project Template: is set to Version 6 Examples - US
using the Options |Project Templates menu item
2. Begin a new structure using the menu item File |New |Structure.
3. Use the menu item Data |Structure Type |Line Beam to start a line beam
analysis.
4. Set the title to 3 Span Line Beam with a sub title of Example 8.1 using the Data
|Titles menu option. Also set the Job Number: to 8.1 and put your initials in the
Calculations by: field. Click OK to close the form.
Create line beam geometry
5. We now need to define the geometry of the line beam.
Click on the Structure Geometry icon to open the Line Beam Geometry form. Set
the Number of Spans to 3. Click in the Span Length column on row 1 of the
table on the form and enter 21m for the length of the first span. Repeat this for
the third span. Leave the support conditions at their default values and change
the Divide Shortest Span into field to 21. The Divide Longest Span into field will
automatically update to 30. Leave it set to this value. Click OK to close the
form.
Define Section Properties
6. Having defined the geometry of the line beam we now need to define the section
properties.
Click on the Section Properties tab in the tree view (within the Navigation
Window), then click on the Add toolbar button and select Prestress Beam from
the menu. This will open the Import file form. Click on the Browse button and
open the data file My US Prestress Beam Span 30m.sam which was created in
the steps above. Change Description to 30m Mid Span Beam, then click on the
center span on the graphics to assign the beam. Click OK to close the form.
7. We now need to assign properties to the first and third spans.
Right click on S1: 30m Mid Span Beam in the tree and select Copy from the
popup menu. When the Import file form opens, click on the Browse button then
select the file US Example 4_3.sam which was also created in example 4.3.
Change Description to 21m End Span Beam then click on the left and right hand
span on the graphics to assign the beam. Click OK to close the form.
Load Optimization
8. The next step is to carry out a load optimization on the line beam.
8-5

Click on the Data|Automated Loading... menu item to open the Automated
Loadings form. Ensure that the DLA Other Limit States field is set to 33 then
click on the Analyze button. The graphics window will update to show the shear
force and bending moment diagrams for the resultant loads.

Once the load optimization has been performed it is possible to see the influence
lines that were used to generate the live loads. Click in the Display Options field
and select Influence Line for Moment. Use the arrows to the right of the field to
move the point of influence along the beam. If you stop at point 38 you will see
the following influence line:

9. Next we will generate dead and SDL loadings using the load optimization.
Click on the Dead and SDL Loading tab. Set the Continuous from Stage field to
Stage 1A Concrete and change the value of SDL Intensity to 3.5kN/m. Make
sure Analyze for Temp. Grad and Analyze for Shrinkage are not ticked. Click on
the Analyze button to carry out the load optimization. When it has completed,
the graphics will show the bending moments and shear forces that were created.
8-6

The Included Dead Loads tick boxes can be used to see the effects of dead load
at each stage of construction.
Transfer Results
10. Once the loads have been generated, the next step is to transfer them into the two
beam files.
To do this, click on the Transfer Beam Load... button. This opens the Select
Beam form. Click on the middle span on the graphics window to select the beam
file into which we want to transfer the results. The beam will be highlighted in red
and the details shown in the Select Beam form.

Click OK to open the Assign Load Cases form. This form is used to match the
load cases in the line beam with the design load cases in the beam file. Click in
the Design Load Case column to select the required design load case in the beam
file then click in the Automated Load Results column and select the loading you
want to transfer into that load case. When you have finished the form should look
like this:
8-7

11. Click on the Transfer to Beam Module button to transfer the loads. The program
will now transfer the loads to the beam file My US Prestress Beam Span
30m.sam.
12. Click OK on the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form which has opened.
Click on the File|Save... menu item to save the beam file and then click on the
Data|Define Loading... menu to open the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads
form.
Click on the Interface button to open the Interface form. Select Line Beam
Analysis and click OK to return to the line beam model.
Click on the Data|Automated Loading... menu item. Select the Dead and SDL
Loading tab and click on the Analyze button. Then click on the Live Load
Envelope tab and click on the Analyze button. Click on the Transfer Beam
Load... button. Click on the right hand span of the line beam to select the second
beam file. Click OK on the Select Beam form which has opened.
13. Click on the Transfer to Beam Module... button.
Click on OK to close the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form. Click on the
File|Save... menu item to save the beam file.
14. Click on the Data|Define Loading... menu to open the Define Pre-tensioned
Beam Loads form. Click on the Interface button to open the Interface form.
Select Line Beam Analysis and click OK to return to the line beam model.
15. Click on the File|Save As... menu item and enter the filename My US Example
8_1.sst. Click on the Save button to save the file.
Summary
In this example we created a 3 span line beam and assigned section properties to it,
using prestress beam files created in an earlier example. We then used the load
optimization to create Dead, SDL and Live loads. These loads were then transferred to
the beam design.
8-8

8-9

8.2. Prestress Beam Grillage Integration
Subjects Covered:
Transfer of results from grillage analysis model to prestressed beam file
Outline

In this example we are going to follow a procedure for transferring results from the
analysis module to the prestressed beam module using SLD files.
We are going to use the automated load optimization to create live loads for a 2 span
prestressed concrete beam bridge. The loads will be created for what are usually the
most critical positions along a prestressed concrete beam in a 2 span structure such as
this. The load effects and positions are as follows:
- Sagging bending moment at mid-span
- Hogging bending moment at the intermediate support
- Vertical shear at a distance of a quarter of the span from left hand support
- Vertical shear at a distance of a quarter of the span from right hand support
- Vertical shear at the node adjacent to left hand support
- Vertical shear at the node adjacent to right hand support
After analyzing the load cases, we will save the results in 3 SLD files (one file for each of
the 3 inner beams in the left hand span of the deck see below). We will then import the
SLD files into the prestressed beam file. The prestressed beam file will be saved for each
SLD file imported to create 3 beam files in which design checks could be done. A fourth
pre-prepared SLD file containing dead load and temperature load effects has been
created in the line beam module and will also be imported into the prestressed beam file.
Because the 3 inner beams are identical and the deck is only skewed to a slight extent, it
8-10

is likely that the dead and temperature effects will be similar in each of the 3 inner
beams. Both spans are 21m from support center lines which are slightly skewed.

The deck has 3 inner beams, 2 outer beams and edge parapet sections.

Procedure
Define Live Loads
1. Start the program and open the pre-prepared data file US Example 8_2
Grillage.sst.
2. Set the sub title to Grillage with Live Loads using the Date | Titles menu option
and put your initials in the Calculations by: field.
3. We will now create some influence surfaces and generate live load patterns using
the load optimization in the program. The first step is to define the influence
surfaces we want to generate.
Click on the Data | Influence Surface menu item to open the Influence Surface
Generation form. Set Pick Mode to Beam Element then click on the beam
element indicated below in the left-hand span in the graphics window. Set the
Start/End field to End. This will define an influence surface for My Sagging for
the beam element.
8-11

Define the other influence surfaces for the other load effects and locations as
described in the introduction to the example. When complete the Influence
Surface Generation form will have 18 rows as shown below:

8-12

4. The next step is to analyze the structure and generate the influence surfaces.
Set Generate by to Reciprocal and click on the Analyze button. A progress box
will open. Click on the Done button when the analysis has completed. The
graphics window will now show the influence surface for the first member selected.
5. Next we will compile the loading patterns for the influence surfaces we have just
generated.
Click on the Run Optimization button to open the Load Optimization to AASHTO
LRFD form. Untick the Fatigue tickbox (if it is ticked). Set the Scope field to
Both to ensure both sagging and hogging moments are generated. For this
example set Double Design Veh to is not applied for All influences and accept
all other default values as shown below. Click on the Compile Loading Patterns
button to run the load optimization.

Click on OK on the load optimization and influence surface generation forms to
save the loads that have been created.
6. Details of the load optimization run will be shown together with the loads created
both on the form and in the graphics window.
8-13

7. Next we will solve the load cases.
Go to the Calculate menu and select Analyze.... The Activate Loading Sets form
will open. This allows you to select which loading sets you want to solve. Each
time the load optimization is run, a loading set is automatically generated for the
load cases produced by that run. The list also includes any load cases not
included in a loading set. Make sure all available tick boxes are ticked and click
OK.

The program will open a form showing the progress of the analysis. Click Yes to
All on a Confirm form that may appear. Once the analysis has completed, click on
the Done button.
8. Save the structure as My US Example 8_2 Live Loads.sst.
9. We will now save the results from the analysis in a SLD file.
Click on the Calculate|Design Load Effects|Select Beam menu item to open the
Select Beam form. Go to the graphics window and click on the beam just below
the center of the deck in the left-hand span (Beam 1). It will be highlighted in
red. Click on the OK button to open the Assign Load Cases form.
10. We will match compilations produced during the load optimization with design load
cases.
Fill in the form as shown below. The Strength factor will need setting to zero on
several rows because these rows are for Service compilations. Also, adjust the
I.D. number in the Index column on some rows of the table as shown below. This
will ensure that both Strength and Service limit state results for each loadcase are
identified by a single I.D. number when the results are imported into the beam
8-14

module. The Assign Load Cases form for Beam 1 will have 12 rows and will look
like this:

11. Click on the Export Loads to File... button and save the SLD file as US Example
8_2 Beam 1.sld.
12. We will now create an SLD file for the live loads effects at the beam elements at
the beam at the center of span 1 (Beam 2). This is done by following a similar
procedure as outlined in the steps above. Remember to clear the previous
selections on the Assign Load Cases form before filling in the form for this beam.
Following this, an SLD file for the live loads effects at the beam elements at the
beam just above the center of span 1 (Beam 3) is created. Remember to clear
the previous selections on the Assign Load Cases form before filling in the form
for this beam.
Import Loads in Prestressed Beam
13. When the 3 SLD files have been created we can import them into the prestressed
beam file.
Open the pre-prepared data file US Example 8_2 Inner Beam.sam.
8-15

14. Use the menu item Data|Define Loading... to open the Define Pre-tensioned
Beam Loads form.
15. Click on the Interface button. Select the Direct ASCII File Import radio button
and click OK. Select the pre-prepared file entitled US Example 8_2 DL and
Temp.sld and click Yes on the Confirm form.

This has imported the dead, superimposed dead and temperature effects defined
in the line beam module.

16. Click on the Interface button again. Select the Direct ASCII File Import radio
button and click OK. Select the SLD file entitled US Example 8_2 Beam 1.sld
and click Yes on the Confirm form. This will import the live load effects for Beam
1. The imported load effects can be seen by selecting, for example, Transient
load BM in the Loading Description field. Click Yes on the Confirm form.
8-16

Different compilations for this type of loading can be seen by selecting their
respective I.D. numbers in the I.D. field on the form. These I.D. numbers match
the I.D. numbers in the Index column of the Assign Load Cases form. Take note
of, and close, any Confirm forms that may appear.

17. Click OK to close the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form. Take note of, and
close, any Confirm forms that may appear.
18. Save the beam file as My US Example 8_2 Beam 1 Loads.sam.
19. The load effects for the Beam 2 will now be imported.
Use menu item Data|Define Loading... to open the Define Pre-tensioned Beam
Loads form.
button and click OK. Select the SLD file entitled US Example 8_2 Beam 2.sld.
This will import the live load effects for the relevant beam and will automatically
overwrite the live load effects imported from the previous SLD file.
23. The load effects for Beam 3 will now be imported.
8-17

Use menu item Data|Define Loading... to open the Define Pre-tensioned Beam
Loads form.
button and click OK. Select the SLD file entitled US Example 8_2 Beam 3.sld.
Again, this will import the live load effects for the relevant beam and will
automatically overwrite the live load effects imported from the previous SLD file.
Summary
In this example live loads were generated using the live load optimization in the analysis
module. The load effects for 3 longitudinal beams were saved as individual SLD files.
These 3 live load SLD files and a fourth pre-prepared SLD file were then imported into
the prestressed beam module file. The imported load effects were saved in the beam
module file to create 3 beam files, each containing live load effect results pertaining to 3
individual longitudinal beams in the deck of the grillage. Design checks could be
performed in each of the 3 beam files created. For more information about design checks
in the prestressed beam module see US Example 5.2.
Alternative working methods are available to the user as regards the transfer of results
from the analysis module to the beam module. For instance, in the above example the
user could choose to not save the beam file after each SLD file has been imported and
thus avoid generating multiple beam files. The user may choose to do this in cases
where frequent adjustments to the beam file are anticipated and the user wishes to avoid
having to make identical adjustments in each beam file. Another alternative method
would be to transfer load effects directly from the analysis module to the beam module in
cases where the user believes it is suitable to do so. This is done by clicking on the
Transfer to Beam Module... button on the Assign Load Cases form. See Chapter 9 of
this manual for further information about this.
8-18

8-19

8.3. Defining Section Library with DWG File
Subjects Covered:
Importing DWG files into Autodesk Structural Bridge Design 2014 to define sections;
User defined library shapes; User defined SXF files
Outline
The section file below is one of six sections in a section library. The section library and
the six SXF files which contain data pertaining to the tendons and reinforcement in the
six sections are all created by importing data from a single DWG file which has been
prepared in Autodesk
AutoCAD
. The drawing file contains data about each individual

section on separate layers. This is essential to the process of importing data from a DWG
file.

Below is the drawing file containing all six sections. Note that the program will recognize
a circle of less than 100mm diameter as a reinforcing bar and assign the diameter of the
bar as per the diameter in the DWG file when data from the drawing file is imported into
the program. The program will recognize a cross of less than 100mm height and width as
a tendon when data from the drawing file is imported into the program.

The sections, reinforcing bars and crosses representing the tendons were created in
AutoCAD using standard elements such as straight lines and polylines. Note that the
8-20

section outline has to have a closed perimeter in order for it to be imported into the
program.
Procedure
6 Examples - US using the Options | Projects Templates menu item.
2. Begin a new section using the menu item File | New Section.
3. Use the menu item Data |Titles... to set the title as W Beam Section US with a
Click on OK to close the Titles form.
Material Properties... Delete the structural steel by clicking twice in the name
field and then using the delete key.
5. We will import the section data for the Beam W7 from the DWG file into the
program.
Open the Import File form using the menu item File | Import File... . Navigate to
the supplied file called W Beam Sections US.dwg and open it.
6. Untick all tickboxes except the tickbox for layer W7 on the Import Shapes form
which has appeared on the screen. Ensure that Drawing Units are set to meters
and click the Next button. The data in the DWG file has now been imported.

7. Open the Define Section... form from the Data|Define Section menu item. Click
on the Fit View icon if the section is not shown clearly in the graphics
window.
8-21

8. This will display the general define shape in the graphics window. In the first row
of the Library column re-select Define Shape to open the Define Element Shape
form.
9. Change the Name on the Define Element Shape form to W Beam W7 then click
on the Add button to add it to a library file. This will open a file browser form
which will allow you to choose an existing library file, if it exists, or to create a new
one. We will create a new one by entering a library file name of W Beams
Precast.lib and then clicking on the save button.
10. Close the Define Element Shape data form using the OK button.
11. Assign a material property from the Property column drop down list as the Grade
31 concrete. Click on OK to close the Define Section form.
12. Open the Define Bars and Tendons form from the Data|Define Bars menu item.
13. Note that when Draw bars is selected in the Generate field the bar size is
correctly shown in the Diam (mm) field. The program will detect the bar size
provided that the circle in the dwg file is less than 100mm in diameter.
14. We will now input data for the tendon force and area. Note that the user must
manually calculate the prestress force after all losses have occurred when
entering tendon force data in the section module. Default values for the tendon
area and force are generated by the program, but can be overwritten by the user.
Select Draw tendons in the Generate field. Note that the values in the Area and
Force fields are just default values and need overwriting. The user must define
values in these fields. Click on the Edit Tendons button and box around the
whole section to open the Edit Reinforcement form. Set the Edit Option field to
Change tendon area, set the Strand area to a value of 181mm
2
and No of
Strands to 1. Click OK to close the Edit Reinforcement form. Click on the Edit
Tendons button and box around the whole section to open the Edit
Reinforcement form again. Set the Edit Option field to Change force and set the
Tendon Force field to 238kN. Click OK to close the Edit Reinforcement form.
8-22

15. The data for the bars and tendons will now be saved in a SXF file.
Click on the Data Export button. Enter a name of Bars and Tendons W7.sxf
and click on the save button.
16. Click OK to close the Define Bars and Tendons form.
17. The section file can be saved at this point by selecting the menu item File|Save
as... and saving the section file with an appropriate name.
18. Section data for the next section (Beam W8) can be added to the section library
and an SXF file generated for the bar and tendon data by selecting the menu item
File|New Section, clicking Yes on the Confirm form and following the steps as
outlined above. Remember to select only the tickbox for layer W8 on the Import
Shapes form.
19. When all 6 sections have been saved in the section library and six SXF files have
been generated close the program.
Summary
This method enables users to create user libraries of sections from data that has been
pre-prepared in, and imported from, AutoCAD. This may be useful when considering
sections that are not available in the default Concrete Beam and Steel Section
libraries provided in the program. SXF files are also created to store data pertaining to
reinforcement and tendons. Alternatively of course, section files can be defined directly in
Autodesk Structural Bridge Design 2014 as described in the examples in Chapter 2 of
this manual.
Note that after a section has been defined with data imported from a DWG file it may be
necessary to re-assign the material properties for the reinforcement and tendons before
analyzing the section.

8-23

8.4. Defining Grillage with DXF File
Subjects Covered:
Preparing DXF files for grillages; Importing DXF files into the program to define grillages
Outline
The grillage for the skew deck structure below would be easy to define directly in the
program. However, in this example an alternative method for defining such geometry in
AutoCAD is outlined. A DXF file has been prepared in AutoCAD using a set of
specialized commands which are loaded into AutoCAD.

Below is the drawing file containing the geometric data for the grillage beam elements.
Note that the program will recognize only elements defined using either the specialized
commands, or manually drawn 3D line entities, as beam elements when data from the
DXF file is imported into the program.

Below is an outline of the preliminary steps that were followed to create the supplied DXF
file in AutoCAD. Note that in these steps commands that are typed into AutoCAD are in
blue for clarity in this document. Subsequent steps will describe the procedure for
importing the DXF file into the program in order to define a grillage.
8-24

Creating a DXF File for a Grillage
1. To use AutoCAD in this example an SBD-CAD menu needs to be inserted into the
default menu. A file called sbdcad.mnu (and sbdcad.mnl) is supplied with the
software to enable this and should be installed to work through this example.
In addition, AutoCAD must be able to locate the sbdsetup.lsp file as an external
reference and the appropriate environment variable (eg. XREF) should be set to
include the path to this file.
2. Open AutoCAD.
3. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Setup | Define Drawing Limits. Click once in the
drawing area and type in the coordinates of the bottom left and then top right of
the drawing limits. This defines the drawing limits.
4. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Structure Layers | Define New Layer and type in
a suitable layer name (eg. DECK) and color (eg. RED). This defines the layer on
which the 2D deck members will be defined.
5. The members for the deck grillage will now be defined.
Select menu item SBD-CAD | Beams | Single Beam and type in the coordinates
of the start and end of a single longitudinal beam.
6. Use the Array tool to create an array of longitudinal beams.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to create an array for the transverse beams.
8. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Write DXF File and save the DXF file with an
appropriate name. Enter a value of 6 for decimal places of accuracy as per the
prompt.
9. Save the DWG file and close AutoCAD.

Importing the DXF File to Create a Grillage

Below are steps describing how data is imported into Autodesk Structural Bridge
Design 2014 from a DXF file to define a grillage.
1. Open the program and ensure that the current Project Template: is set to Version
2. Begin a new structure using the menu item File | New Structure.
8-25

3. Use the menu item Data | Titles... to set the title as Grillage with DXF File with a
4. Click on the Import Model icon at the top of the Navigation Pane to open the
Import Model form. Select the Bridge Structure radio button. This will ensure that
all members in the Z=0.0 plane are automatically assigned as deck members
when the data is imported into the program. Click on the Browse button and
open the supplied DXF file with a name of grillage.dxf. Click on the Next button.
5. Untick the tickbox for layer 0 so that only the tickbox for layer DECK is ticked.
Click on the Next button.

6. Tick the tickbox for Split intersecting beam elements so that both available
tickboxes are ticked. Ensure that the One linear drawing unit... field is set to
meter and click on the Next button. This will ensure that the grillage is split into
individual beam elements and that the grillage will be at the correct scale.

8-26

7. When the data has been imported click OK to close the Import Model form.
8. The Member Details form will open automatically. Note that the tickboxes in the
Deck Mem column are ticked automatically, indicating that the imported beam
elements are in the deck. Hence, these beam elements will be considered as deck
members in the calculation of influence surfaces and the application of loads.
Delete the 8 members at each end of the structure that are not required
(highlighted in red below). These beam elements are deleted because they are
outside of the skewed ends of the deck. Click OK to close the Member Details
form.

9. The structure file can be saved at this point by selecting the menu item File|Save
as... and saving the structure file with an appropriate name.
10. Additional data for the Design Lines, Carriageways, Section Properties etc. can be
defined to complete the structure file. See examples 6.4 and 10.1 for information
on defining grillage structure files. For example, the individual beam elements in
the longitudinal direction could be defined as being in longitudinal beams on the
Longitudinal Beams form.
Summary
This method enables users to import data from a DXF file to define a beam element
grillage. Such a method of working can be useful when the complex geometry of a
bridge deck has been defined in a drawing file. It is worth noting that design lines can be
imported from DXF files by using the Import button on the Define Design Line form.

8-27

8.5. Defining Box Girder with DXF File
Subjects Covered:
Preparing DXF files for Autodesk Structural Bridge Design 2014 finite element structures;
Importing DXF files into the program to define finite element structures; Design Line;
Carriageway definition; Local axes; FE properties
Outline
The box girder bridge below has a slab thickness of 200mm and a bottom flange
thickness of 275mm. The thickness of the webs is 250mm. The structure is modeled
using 3D shell finite elements. The geometry of the structure is complicated with the slab
(curved on plan) and sloping webs of the box girders. A structure with such geometry
would be difficult to define directly in the program. However, such geometry is relatively
easy to define in AutoCAD. Hence, a DXF file has been prepared in AutoCAD using a set
of specialized commands which are loaded into AutoCAD. The DXF file will be imported
into the program to define the geometry of the structure.

Below is the drawing file containing the geometric data for the finite elements. Note that
Autodesk Structural Bridge Design 2014 will recognize only elements defined using
either the specialized commands, or individually drawn 3D FACE entities, as finite
elements when data from the DXF file is imported into the program.

Below is an outline of the preliminary steps that can be followed to create a DXF file in a
AutoCAD for a simple finite element mesh. Note that in these steps commands that are
typed into AutoCAD are in blue for clarity in this document.
8-28

Defining a DXF File for an FE Model
1. To use AutoCAD in this example an SBD-CAD menu needs to be inserted into the
default menu. A file called sbdcad.mnu (and sbdcad.mnl) is supplied with the
program to enable this and should be installed.
In addition, AutoCAD must be able to locate the sbdsetup.lsp file as an external
reference and the appropriate environment variable (eg. XREF) should be set to
include the path to this file.
2. Open AutoCAD.
3. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Setup | Define Drawing Limits. Click once in the
drawing area and type in the coordinates of the bottom left and then top right of
the drawing limits. This has defined the drawing limits.
4. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Const lines | Single Line or Arc and draw the four
lines which form the boundary of the deck.
5. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Const lines | Mesh and type in the number of
divisions on the bottom edge and the vertical right hand edge of the structure.
Click on the 4 edges of the boundary line starting with the bottom edge and
working around the edge of the structure in an anti-clockwise direction. This
divides the deck along the lines that define the mesh.
6. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Structure Layers | Define New Layer and type in
a suitable layer name (eg. SLAB) and color (eg. RED). This defines the layer on
which the deck members will be defined.
7. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Elements | From Mesh and click on the mesh. The
mesh will turn red. This has split the mesh into the individual elements.
8. Select menu item SBD-CAD | Write DXF File and save the DXF file with an
appropriate name. Enter a value of 6 for decimal places of accuracy as per the
prompt.
9. Save the DWG file and close AutoCAD.
Importing the DXF File to Create an FE Mesh
Below are steps describing how data is imported into the program from a DXF file
to define a finite element model.
1. Open the program and ensure that the current Project Template: is set to Version
2. Begin a new structure using the menu item File | New Structure.
8-29

3. Use the menu item Data | Titles... to set the title as Box Girder with DXF File
item. Click on OK to close the titles form.
4. Click on the Import Model icon at the top of the Navigation Pane to open the
Import Model form. Select the Bridge Structure radio button. This will ensure that
all members in the Z=0.0 plane are automatically assigned as deck members
when the data is imported into the program. Click on the Browse button and
open the supplied DXF file with a name of BoxGirder.dxf. Click on the Next
button.
5. Untick the tickbox for layer 0. The tickboxes for all other layers are ticked. Click
on the Next button.

6. Tick the tickbox for Split intersecting beam elements so that both available
tickboxes are ticked. This will ensure that the mesh is split into individual
elements. Ensure that the One linear drawing unit... field is set to meter and click
on the Next button.

7. When the data has been imported click OK to close the Import Model form.
8-30

8. The Member Details form will open automatically. By scrolling down the table on
the form we can see that the tickboxes in the Deck Mem column are ticked
automatically for those finite elements that form the deck. Hence, these finite
elements will be considered as deck members in the calculation of influence
surfaces and the application of loads. Click OK to close the Member Details
form.
Defining the Carriageway and Span End Lines
9. We will define a design line which will be used to align the carriageway.
Select the Structure tab in the tree view. Click on the Add button and select
Design line to open the Define Design Line form. Click the + button. Select the
Arc radio button and click the Next button. Select the 3 points on curve radio
button and click the Next button. Set the Snap field at the top of the graphics
window to Intersection and select 3 points along the center of the deck in the
graphics window by clicking on the point at the left hand end of the deck, a point
near the center of the span and then at the right hand end of the deck. Click Next
and OK to close the forms.

10. Next we will define the carriageway that will run over the structure.
Click on the Add button and select Roadway from the dropdown menu to open
the Define Roadway form and set the fields to the selections and values shown
below. (Note that the traffic flow direction is indicated by a triangular arrow head
in each notional lane and clicking on each of the arrows until they are double-
headed will show that traffic can flow in either direction. However, in this example
we will leave the lanes as single direction). Click OK to close the Define
Roadway form.
8-31

11. The next step is to define the location of the span end lines.
Click on the Structure node in the Navigation window, click on the Add button
and select Span End Lines to open the Define Span End Lines form. Click on the
bottom left and top left-hand corners of the structure on the graphics window. This
will draw a heavy black line. Repeat this for the right-hand abutment to define the
span end lines. Click OK to close the form.
Defining Supports
12. Next we will define the 6 support nodes for the structure. The supports will be
defined such that the 4 outer supports will be resisting vertical loads only. The
support node at the center of the left hand end of the structure will be fixed in the
radial and tangential direction. The support node at the center of the right hand
end of the structure will be fixed in the radial direction and free in the tangential
direction. It is recommended that the user takes note of the orientation of the local
axes of the support nodes when interpreting support reaction results.
Click on the Structure node in the Navigation Window, click on the Add button
and select Supported Nodes. Ensure that the Select: field is set to All Joints
and select the 3 nodes at the left hand end of the structure as shown below. In the
first row of the support table, change the support conditions so that only the DZ
direction is fixed. Change Group Type to Variable then click on the middle of the
3 nodes (node 32). Change the support conditions for this node so that it is also
fixed in DX and DY.
8-32

13. The orientation of the supports will be altered such that the local y axis is
tangential and the local x axis is radial.
Click on the + button next to the Support Constraints about field to open the
Define Support Local Axes sub-form. Click on the bottom right support node
(node 59) then on the bottom left support node (node 96). Note that the angle in
the Beta field has changed to 101.4212 degrees. Click OK to close the sub-form.

14. Change Name to Left Supports and click OK to close the Define Supported
Nodes form.

15. The support nodes at the right hand end of the structure will now be defined.
8-33

Click on the Add button and select Supported Nodes again. Select the 3 nodes
at the right hand end of the structure as shown below. In the first row of the
support table, change the support conditions so that only the DZ direction is fixed.
Change Group Type to Variable then click on the middle of the 3 nodes (node
42). Change the support conditions for this node so that it is also fixed in DX.

16. The orientation of the supports will be altered such that the local y axis is
tangential and the local x axis is radial.
Click on the + button next to the Support Constraints about field to open the
Define Support Local Axes sub-form. Click on the bottom left support node (node
51) then on the bottom right support node (node 81). Note that the angle in the
Beta field has changed to 78.5788 degrees. Click OK to close the sub-form.

17. Change Name to Right Supports and click OK to close the Define Supported
Nodes form.

8-34

Properties
There are three properties to define
i. The 250mm thick isotropic FE property for webs.
ii. The 200mm thick isotropic FE property for slab.
iii. The 275mm thick isotropic FE property for bottom
flange.
18. We first change the Structure navigation window to Section Property by clicking on
the Section Properties button at the bottom of the window.
19. Click on the +Add button at the top of the navigation window and select Finite
Element.
20. In the Finite Element Properties form, change the Thickness: to 250 and the
Elastic Modulus: to 31.975. Note that the Shear Modulus gets automatically
updated based upon the default Poissons ratio of 0.2. Change the Density to
23.544 and change the Name to a suitable description.
21. Click on the Filter toolbar button and select WEBS. Note that sub model groups
were automatically created for each of the layers in the imported DXF file. Box
around the whole structure to assign the section property to the webs. Click OK
to close the form.
22. Assign the section properties for the other sub model groups by following a similar
procedure. When all of the section properties have been assigned select Select
All to turn the filter off.
23. The structure file can be saved at this point by selecting the menu item File|Save
as... and saving the file with an appropriate name.
24. Additional data for the Basic Loads etc. can be defined to complete the structure
file. See examples 6.5 and 7.4 for further information on defining finite element
structure files.
Summary
This method enables users to import data from a DXF file to define a finite element box
girder structure in Autodesk Structural Bridge Design 2014. The supports are assigned to
the structure and adjusted to suit the layout of the structure. Section properties are also
assigned to the structure. Note that a composite member could be created within the
finite element analysis model. See example 7.4 for information about this.

9-1

9. Specialist Analysis Techniques

Contents
9.1. Reinforcement Design Moments in a Finite Element Slab .............................................. 9-3
9.2. Dynamics Normal Modes Analysis Simple Footbridge .............................................. 9-9
9.3. Staged Construction - For Grillages .............................................................................. 9-15
9.4. Non-Linear Analysis Flat Slab Bridge Deck ............................................................... 9-45
9.5. Offset Beams For Finite Element Decks .................................................................... 9-61
9.6. 3 Sided FE Structure with Soil & Hydrostatic Pressure Loads ..................................... 9-77
9.7. User Defined Vehicles & Convoys ................................................................................ 9-99

9-2

9-3

9.1. Reinforcement Design Moments in a Finite Element Slab
Subjects Covered:
Creating new sub models; moving elements from one sub model to another;
Reinforcement sets; Moment triads; Design Moments.
Outline
Consider the finite element slab, as described and modeled in example 6.5 and loaded in
example 7.4

It is required to establish the design moments; hogging and sagging; main & secondary,
in a given reinforcement direction in various parts of the slab due to dead load only. The
design moments will be based on the Wood Armer equations.
The idealized reinforcement directions in the various components of the slab are as
shown below.

For hogging, the main reinforcement is parallel to a line joining the deck center points at
each end.
9-4

Procedure
button.
2. Change the title sub title of the example to Example 9.1 using the Date |Titles
menu option. Change the Job Number: to 9.1 and put your initials in the
New Design Line
3. Click on at the top of the navigation window and select Design Line
4. Set the Snap: mode in the graphics toolbar to Intersection and then click on the
node at the center of each end of the structure. (You may need to zoom in on the
graphics window to do this).

5. Set Name to Secant of CL and then close the Define Design Line form with the
OK button.
New Sub Models
For different reinforcement calculations to be carried out independently for
different slab thicknesses it is necessary to have a different sub-model for each
slab thickness.
It is therefore necessary to create two new sub models (in the same plane and
with the same origin as the existing sub model) and move the appropriate
elements from one to another.
6. Click on at the top of the navigation window and select 2D Sub model
(GCS , Z=0) from the dropdown list.
7. Rename this sub-model to 300 slab by right mouse clicking on the sub-model
entry in the navigation window and choosing Rename from the options
9-5

Moving elements between Sub Models
8. Within the 2D Model A sub model, in the navigation tree, click on Sub Model
Members.
To place the 300 thick elements into the appropriate sub model we first need to
select and then move them.
9. In the graphics window toolbar click on the filter button and then in the Member
Selection Filter form click on De-select All. Then set Select By: to Section
Property.
10. Move the 300mm property into the Selected Groups: by selecting it then clicking
on the > button. Close the filter form with the OK button.
11. Select all the displayed elements in the graphics window by windowing around the
whole structure.
12. In the Define Sub Model Members table click on Move to Sub Model... in Member
Tasks then select the 300 slab sub model before closing the Sub Models form with
the OK button.
14. Repeat steps 6 to 12 for the 700 slab. You will need to click on Structure at the
top of the tree so that the Add+ button is displayed again. After doing this,
Rename the 2D Model A sub model as 500 slab. Finally, use the drop down
arrow next to the filter button in the graphics window to turn off the filter (Select
All).
Analysis
The reinforcement moment calculations are principally post processing of load
case results, so the analysis of the already defined load cases can now be carried
out.

15. Use the menu item Calculate |Analyze... to perform the analysis.

9-6

16. Close the Analysis form with the Done button once the analysis is complete.
Defining the reinforcement sets
17. One or more reinforcement sets now need to be defined for each sub model.
18. In the navigation window, right mouse click on the 500mm Slab sub model and
select Add |Reinforcement Set.
19. In the Define Reinforcement Set form, change the Name: to 500 sag, click on the
curved design line in the graphics window, select just +ve in the Face tick box
and lastly tick the Results for: Design tick box. The reinforcement direction can be
seen in the graphics display

20. Close the Defined Reinforcement Set form with the OK button.
21. Repeat 18 to 19 to create a second reinforcement set in the same sub model.
This time it is named 500 Hog, the straight design line is selected and ve and
Design are both ticked.
22. To skew the secondary reinforcement so that it is parallel to the lines of the
supports change Pick: to Secondary Reinforcement Direction and then click on
any two nodes on the right hand span end line.
23. Close the Defined Reinforcement Set form with the OK button. There will then
be two reinforcement sets in the 500 Slab Sub Model.
9-7

24. Repeat 18 to 23 for the 300 slab sub model with exactly the same reinforcement
sets data as the 500 Slab, but of course use appropriate names.
25. Repeat 18 to 19 for the 700 slab sub model but this time both -ve and +ve
reinforcement are in the same direction and are both ticked. The reinforcement
direction data for this case is the same as for the 500 Hog set. Set the name for
this set to 700 Hog & Sag.
Results
26. Use the main menu File |Results... to open the results viewer. Set the view to be
combined graphic and table, as shown below, by using the menu items View | Set
Default Layout | Graphic Above Table. Adjust window size to suit by holding the
left mouse button down on the dividing line between the graphics and table and
dragging to a new position.
27. In the dark blue area at the top of the window (Results Controller) set Results For:
to Reinforcement Moments, Name: to L1: Concrete Dead Loads and set: to
RS1: 500 Sag.
28. In the graphics toolbar, the Results For: field should be set to Design Positive
Main.
29. Change the viewing direction to plan by clicking on the Graphics toolbar icon
and click on the Auto Redraw button if the graphics are not automatically
updated.
9-8

30. All the other reinforcement sets and components can be displayed and printed in a
similar way.
Example 9_1.sst.
Summary
This example illustrates that if reinforcement moments are to be created for different
components of a structure, then each component should be in a separate sub model,
and that results can be obtained separately for each component. This will mean that
discontinuities, occurring at the boundaries of different thickness slabs, are correctly
allowed for.
Although in this example we have only considered one load case, the results for
compilations and envelopes are also available.
It should be pointed out that the results for compilations are not obtained by simply
summing the reinforcement moment results for each constituent load case. This would
be incorrect as the Wood Armer equations are not a linear set of equations. They are
calculated by summing the component moment triad results and then performing the
Wood Armer calculations on the resultant moment triad.
In this example we have only considered the calculation of Design Moment. It should be
noted that there are an equivalent set of equations (Denton Burgoyne) which can be
used for assessing the adequacy of a known set of reinforcement. This will be covered
in a separate example.
Hold left mouse
button down on
this line and drag
to adjust window
size
9-9

9.2. Dynamics Normal Modes Analysis Simple Footbridge
Subjects Covered:
Steel Footbridge; Normal Modes; Natural Frequencies; Mode Shapes; Participation
Factors; Sturm Sequence Checks; Structural Mass; Density; Lumped Mass; Dynamic
Compilations; Animation
Outline
Many structures have dynamic characteristics which are undesirable and, if not checked,
would fail to meet certain design requirements. Footbridges are structures which are
often susceptible to dynamic problems caused by wind or simply by pedestrians using
the structure. These vibrations can sometimes be excessive and although they may not
cause any structural failure, they may cause discomfort and alarm to any user of the
bridge.
It is therefore generally required to check that undamped natural frequencies of
footbridges do not fall within a specified range.
In the following example, the vibration modes of a tubular steel footbridge, as described
and modeled in example 6.3, are to be examined.

It is required to establish the undamped natural frequencies and mode shapes of:
The fundamental vertical bending mode
The fundamental horizontal bending mode
The first torsional mode.

It is also required to establish how many vibration modes there are below 45Hz and if all
these modes are considered, what percentage of mass participation is achieved in the
vertical and transverse horizontal directions.
The total mass acting on the structure is made up from the structural mass of the
structure members all having a weight density of 77.0kN/m
3
and some non-structural
mass, due to surface finishing of the deck, of 0.7kN/m
2
.
9-10

Procedure
button.
2. Change the Title sub title of the example to Example 9.2 using the Data |Titles
Structural Mass
To check the structural mass applied to the structure we can look at a data report
to inspect the densities applied to each member.
3. Click on the Menu item File |Data Reports to open the Data Reports form. Scroll
to the bottom of the form and tick to include Section Property Data then click on
the View button.
4. Inspect the density of each of the properties. You will notice that they are all
77kN/m
3
except the 75x75 angle which is set to 78kN/m
3

5. Close the Results viewer with the green EXIT button and then the Data Reports
form with the Done button.
6. As this is a parametric shape, the density is input in the property definition form,
so this could be changed here but in this example we will show how to be more
specific in changing densities for individual members/elements.
7. Change the Navigation window to Section Properties by clicking on the
appropriate button at the bottom.
8. Click on at the top of the navigation window and select Advanced Beam
Properties |Modified Density from the dropdown list.
9. Change Name: to be Angle Modified and the Density: to 77. Now click on the
10 diagonal bracing members in the deck to assign them.

9-11

10. Close the Specify Beam Density form with the OK button.
Structural Mass
The surfacing mass of 0.7 kN/m
2
is to be added as Lumped mass on the nodes of
the bottom boom. The deck is 55m long and 3.5 m wide so the added weight is
134.75kN. This will be applied to the 22 nodes in the deck, with the two end
nodes at each end having half the mass of the others. This works out to 6.74kN
(0.687Tonnes) on internal nodes and 3.37kN (0.344Tonnes) on the end nodes.
11. Change the Navigation window to Basic Loads by clicking on the appropriate
button at the bottom.
12. Click on at the top of the navigation window and select Lumped Mass
13. In the first row set mX mY and mZ to be all 0.687 and then click on each of the
18 inner nodes in the deck.
14. In the second row set mX mY and mZ to be all 0.344 and then click on each of
the 4 end nodes in the deck.

15. Change Name: to be Surfacing Mass and then close the form with the OK
button.
16. To enable the addition of this into the structural mass we need to create a
dynamic compilation with this mass in it. Change the Navigation window to
Compilations by clicking on the appropriate button at the bottom.
17. Click on at the top of the navigation window and select Dynamic from the
dropdown list. Click on the + near the bottom of the form to add a row to the
table.
18. In the first row of the table we select the Surfacing Mass. The default value for
the Factor is 1.0 and this is correct but change the Name to With Added Mass
9-12

Analysis
19. Click on the menu item Calculate |Dynamic Analysis... to open the Dynamic
Analysis Control form.
20. Set the Compilation for Dynamic Analysis: data field to C1: With Added Mass.
21. The first analysis is a Sturm Sequence Check which checks the number of modes
below a given frequency. Check that this option is selected on the data form and
enter a frequency of 45.

22. Click on the Analyze button. Click OK on any warning message which appears
regarding very thin walled sections.

9-13

23. When the analysis is complete click on the Log File icon on the Analysis form to
open up the log file. This should report that there are 41 modes below 45 Hz.

24. Close the Analysis Log File with the green EXIT button and the Analysis form
with the Done button.
25. On the Dynamics Analysis Control form (which should still be open) select the
Modal Analysis for: radio button and set the data field to 42 Modes.
26. Click on the Analyze button. (The software may take a few seconds to perform
the analysis).
27. When the analysis is complete, close the Dynamic Analysis Control form with the
OK button and open the Results Viewer using the Menu item File |Results....
28. In the dark blue Results Control area tick the Show Participation Factors tick box
to display the following table

29. The percentage mass participation (at the bottom of the table) shows 93.8%
vertically and almost 100% laterally.
30. On inspection of the displacement participation factors for each of the first few
modes, it is clear that the first vertical deflection mode is mode 2 and the first
lateral deflection mode is mode 1.
9-14

31. These mode shapes can be visually checked by un-ticking the Show Participation
Factors tick box, setting Effect to Deflected Shape and clicking on the Auto
Redraw button on the graphics toolbar. Each mode can then be selected in the
Mode Shape: data field and the mode shape will be displayed.
32. It may be easier to interpret the shapes if they are viewed in animation by using
the controls in the graphics toolbar . It is clear that mode 3 is the
first torsional mode.

33. Close the Results Viewer.
Example 9_2.sst.
Summary
This example shows the very basics of carrying out a normal modes analysis using an
Autodesk
Structural Bridge Design 2014 structural model. It does not give any
assistance in creating models specifically for dynamic analysis where an understanding
of dynamic behavior is required.

This is essentially a very simple model as all the structural material is the same and has
the same density. When composite beams are used where there is a mixture of
materials and densities, then a transformed density will be required. If composite beams
created by the program are used in the analysis then this transformed density is
calculated automatically.

9-15

9.3. Staged Construction - For Grillages
Subjects Covered:
Prestress Beam; Grillage Model; Roadway Definition; Setting Out Lines; Construction
Lines; Rotate Mesh; Define Construction Stages; Basic Loads; Dead Load Compilations;
Transfer Results to .sld File; Recommended Outline Procedure for Staged Construction
Outline

In this example we are going to model a 2 span prestress beam bridge with a concrete
slab. The bridge has 14 longitudinal beams in each span as shown in the diagram below.
Transverse diaphragms are located at the two end abutments and the intermediate
supports. There is continuity between the two spans when the diaphragm and 6 meter
width of stitching slab at the intermediate supports becomes active. Each of the three
diaphragms is 1 meter wide.

The data for the beams is created by making alterations to beam files created in example
4.3. We will also define a section file and a grillage model. These properties will be
assigned to the members in the grillage and the construction stages will be defined. The
beams will be Girder III prestress beams. The slab thickness is 200mm.

To define construction stages for grillages it is not just a case of making various beam
elements active or inactive at each stage, but it is necessary to change section properties
9-16

to reflect whether a particular section is composite or prestress beam only. The prestress
beam only properties will be defined by the section files and the composite properties by
the beam.

There will be 5 construction stages as follows:
Stage 1 Prestress beams only
Stage 2 Prestress beams with wet concrete at end diaphragms & spans 1 & 2
Stage 3 - Active end diaphragms & slab at spans 1 & 2 and wet concrete at
6 meter wide stitching slab and diaphragm at intermediate supports
Stage 4 Active diaphragm at intermediate supports & wet concrete upstand
Stage 5 - Edge upstand sections active to complete the structure

We will apply dead and superimposed dead loads manually. The Define Construction
Stage Loading form will be used to assign these loads to the construction stages. After
analyzing the load cases, we will then transfer them to a .sld file. The notes in the
summary at the end of the example will describe an outline procedure for completing the
analysis and design of a structure in which construction stages have been defined.
9-17

Procedure
Creating the prestress beam file
1. Note that as an alternative to following steps 1 to 8 the supplied file US Example
9_3 Beam and Slab.sam can be used. Start the program and open the data file
US Example 4_3.sam created in section 4.
2. Open the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Prestress Beam and Slab
with a sub-title of Example 9.3. Set the Job Title to 9.3. Also add your initials to
the Calculated by data item. Click OK to close the form.
3. Open the Pre-tensioned Beam Definition data form using the menu item Data|
Define Beam. Set Cross section is: to varying. Open the Pre-tensioned Beam
Section Definition form by selecting Section 1 from the drop down list in the
Define field. Re-select Cast in Place regular in the Component column in the
second row of the table to open the Define Precast Beam Component form.
Change the width to 1000 and click OK to close the form. Click on Yes on the
confirm form. Click on the Merge by stage button on the Pre-tensioned Beam
Section Definition form.
4. On the third row of the table set the Component field to Cast in place regular to
open the Define Precast Beam Component sub-form. Set the width and depth
fields to 1000mm and 2mm respectively and click OK to close the sub-form.
Set Stage to Stage 2 in the third row of the table. This Stage 2 concrete
component of the beam is only defined to provide a construction stage to which
load effects can be assigned when results are transferred from the analysis
model. Click OK to close the form.

9-18

5. Open the Pre-tensioned Beam Section Definition form by selecting Section 2
from the drop down list in the Define field. Set Stage to Stage 1B in the second
row of the table. On the third row of the table set the Component field to Cast in
place regular to open the Define Precast Beam Component sub-form. Set the
width and depth fields to 1000mm and 2mm respectively and click OK to
close the sub-form. Set Stage to Stage 2 in the third row of the table. Click OK
to close the form.

6. Open the Beam Feature Definition form by selecting Section Locations from the
drop down list in the Define field. Fill out the data as shown below in the data form.
Click OK to close the data form.

7. Click OK to close the Pre-tensioned Beam Definition form.
8. Select menu item Options|Torsion Grid to open the Torsion Default Grid Size
form. Enter a value of 20 in the Divisions in X direction and Y direction fields and
click OK to close the form. This refinement of the torsion grid in the beam file will
ensure that the grillage will analyze when the beam is assigned. Save the file as
My US Example 9_3 Beam and Slab.sam.
Creating the prestress beam section file
9. Note that as an alternative to following steps 9 to 15 the supplied file US Example
9_3 Beam Only.sam can be used. Open the data file US Example 4_3.sam
created in section 4.
10. Use the menu item Calculate|Analyze to open the Pre-tensioned Beam Analysis
form. Select the menu item Data|Beam Type|Transfer to section analysis and
click Yes on the Confirm form.
9-19

11. Use the menu item Data|Titles... to set the title as Prestress Beam Section with
a sub-title of Example 9.3. Set the Job Title to 9.3. Also add your initials to the
Calculated by data item. Click OK to close the form.
12. Open the Define Section data form using the menu item Data| Define Section...
13. Delete the slab section by clicking in the Library field of the second row and using
the delete key.

14. Click OK to close the form.
15. Save the file as My US Example 9_3 Beam Only.sam.
Creating the structure layout
16. Note that as an alternative to following steps 16 to 26 the supplied file US
Example 9_3 Mesh and Suports.sam can be used. We start by defining the
alignments and outline of our structure.
Create a new structure using the menu item File|New|Structure. Set the correct
analysis type using the menu item Data|Structure Type|Refined Analysis.

17. Next we will add some descriptions to the structure which will be shown on all
printed output.
Click on the Data|Titles menu and set Structure Title to Prestress Beam Bridge
Deck with a sub-title of Section 9.3. Add your initials in the Calculations by: field.

18. The next step is to define the alignment of the structure.
Click on the Add button at the top of the Navigation Pane and select Design Line
from the drop down menu. This will open the Define Design Line form. Click on
the green plus button at the bottom left of the form to add a new segment to the
design line. On the Define Line Segment form select the Line option then click on
the Next button twice. Enter (0, 7) for the coordinates of point 1 and (42, 7) for
9-20

the coordinates of point 2. Click on the Next button and then click OK to define
the design line. Click OK to close the Define Design Line form.

Click on the Add button and select Roadway from the drop down menu to open
the Define Roadway form. Click on the Design Line field and select DL1: Design
Line from the drop down list. Set Roadway Type to Single and enter the
following coordinates in the Offset A/B fields:
(-6.8, -5.5), (-5.5, 5.5), (5.5, 6.8).

The number of notional lanes will be automatically updated. The notional lanes
are shown in the graphics window with the traffic flow direction indicated by an
arrow. Click on each of the arrows until they are shown as double-headed. This
shows that traffic can flow in either direction along each lane. Click on the OK
button to close the Define Roadway form.

20. Next we need to add a sub-model to the structure.
Click on the Add button and select 2D Sub Model (GCS, Z=0) from the drop
down menu. This creates a new sub-model node in the tree within the Navigation
Pane.

9-21

21. Next we will describe the edges of the structure and lines along each abutment
and pier using setting out objects and construction lines.
Click on the first node in the sub-model as shown above and click on the Add
button again. The menu list has changed to list objects that can be added to a
sub-model. Select Setting Out Objects to open the Define Setting Out Object
form. Click on the Insert Line Segment button at the bottom left of the form (this is
the small + button). Set the Type to Line then click on the Next button twice.
Enter (0, 0) and (0, 14) for the coordinates of the start and finish of the line, then
click Next. Click OK to close the Define Line Segment form and click OK
again to close the Define Setting Out Object form.

Click on the Add button again and select Construction Lines to open the Define
Construction Lines form. On the left hand side of the form there is a list of line
types. Click on Offset parallel to DL/SOL to add a new row to the table. Click in
the DL/SOL Ref column and select DL1: Design Line from the drop down list.
Give the line an offset of 7m and press Enter on the keyboard. Click on Offset
parallel to DL/SOL again to add a new row to the table. Click in the DL/SOL Ref
column and select DL1: Design Line from the drop down list and give it an offset
of -7m. This has defined construction lines along the top and bottom edges of the
structure.

Click on Offset E/W of DL/SOL then click in the DL/SOL Ref column and select
SO1: Setting Out Object from the drop down list. Give it an offset of 21m.
Repeat this process to add a line at 42m. Click on the OK button to close the
Define Construction Lines form. The graphics window will now show an outline of
the structure as shown below.

22. Click on the File|Save menu item and save your model as My US Example 9_3
Layout.sst.
Defining the mesh and supports
23. We will now begin to define the grillage geometry. The first step is to define the
locations of the span ends.
Click on the Structure node in the Navigation Pane then click on the Add button.
Select Span End Lines from the drop down menu. This will open the Define
Span End Lines form.
9-22

Click on the bottom left and top left hand corners of the left-hand abutment on the
graphics window. This will draw a heavy black span end line. Repeat this to
locate the piers and second abutment. The span end lines will be shown in the
table as above and on the graphics as below:

Click on OK to close the Define Span End Lines form.
24. The next step is to define the two meshes which make up the grillage.
Click on the sub-model node in the Navigation Pane and then click on the Add
button. Select Mesh from the drop down menu. This will open the Define Mesh
form. Set Name to Span 1 and set Mesh Type to Orthogonal to span. Click on
the four edges of the left hand span, starting with the bottom edge and then set
Longitudinal to 16 and Transverse to 14. (You may need to press Enter on
the keyboard in order for the numerical data to be input properly before clicking in
the graphics window).
We will rotate the mesh at span 1 to ensure that the beams have the correct
orientation when they are assigned. Click on the Rotate Mesh button twice to
reverse the direction of the longitudinal members of the mesh. Set the
Longitudinal Spacing to set spacing to open the Set Longitudinal Spacing form.
Set the spacing factor to 0.5 on the first and last rows of the table. Click OK to
close the form. Set the Transverse Spacing to set spacing to open the Set
Transverse Spacing form. Set the spacing factor to 0.5 on the first and last rows
then set the Dimension to 3 on the second row. The table will be as shown
below. Click OK to close the form. Click OK to close the Define Mesh form.
9-23

Click on the sub-model node in the Navigation Pane again and click on the Add
button. Select Mesh to open the Define Mesh form. Click on the Copy Mesh
Details From button and select M1: Span 1 (2D Model A) from the drop down
list. Change Name to Span 2 and then click on the four edges of the right hand
span, starting with the bottom edge. Click OK to close the Define Mesh form.

25. Next we will define which nodes in the structure are supported.
Click on the Structure node at the top of the tree and then click on the Add button
and select Supported Nodes from the drop down menu. This will open the
Define Supported Nodes form. Click on the Select drop down menu in the
graphics window and set it to Along Span End Lines, then draw a box around the
nodes shown below. In the first row of the support table, change the support
conditions so that only the DZ direction is fixed.
Change Group Type to Variable, which allows each support to have different
constraints applied. Click on the node just above the center of the left abutment
(node 126). Change the support conditions for this node so that it is also fixed in
DX and DY. Click on the node just above the center of the right abutment (node
328) and change the support conditions so it is also fixed in the DY direction.
Click on OK to close the form.
9-24

26. Click on the File|Save As menu item and save your model as My US Example
9_3 Mesh and Supports.sst.
Assigning section properties
27. We will now assign section properties to our grillage, starting with the inner
beams.
Open the Section Properties tab on the Navigation Pane. Click on the Add button
and select Prestress Beam from the drop down menu. This will open the Import
file form. Click on the Browse button and open the file US Example 9_3 Beam
and Slab.sam created earlier. Click on the Beam Section Reference... drop down
menu and set it to origin, which ensures that the beam will be imported at such a
height that the support is at the soffit, rather than the centroid, of the beam.
Change Description to Inner Beam and click on the 14 inner beams in each of
the 2 spans of the structure. They will be highlighted in red as shown below and
their references added to the Assigned Beams list. Click on OK to close the
form. (You may need to move the bottom of the graphics window upwards in order
to be able to see the form).

28. Next we will assign properties to the edge upstands using parametric shapes.
Click on the Add button again and select Parametric Shapes from the drop down
menu. This will open the Parametric Shape Properties form. Change Description
to Edge Section and set Width and Depth to 500mm. Leave the other
properties at their default concrete values. Ensure that the Select field at the top of
the graphics view is set to Inclusive Box. Select the two rows of edge members
9-25

in the structure using the mouse to draw a selection box around each of them.

29. Next we will assign properties to the transverse slab members using a continuous
slab property.
Click on the Add button again and select Continuous Slab from the drop down
menu. This will open the Continuous Slab Properties form. Change Depth to
200mm and Description to Transverse Slab. Leave the other properties at their
default concrete values. Click on the Member selection filter drop down menu and
select Transverse Beams. Box around the whole structure and click on OK to
close the form.

30. Finally we will assign properties to the transverse diaphragms using a parametric
shape property.
Click on the Add button again and select Parametric Shapes from the drop down
menu. This will open the Parametric Shape Properties form. Change Width to
1000, Depth to 1300 and Description to Diaphragm. Leave the other
properties at their default concrete values. Click on the Member selection filter
drop down menu and select Transverse Beams (if it is not already set to this) .
Box around the three diaphragms and click on the Yes to all button as
necessary. Click on OK to close the form.
9-26

31. Open the Structure tab on the Navigation Pane. Click on the Add button and
select Advanced Beam Set | Eccentricities from the drop down menu. This will
open the Define Beam Eccentricities form. Click on the small green + button
then set the Start Z field on the first row to a value of 1200 and press return on
the keyboard. Box around only the continuous slab members in span 1 and span 2
separately to select the transverse slab members as shown below.

Click on the Member selection filter drop down and select Longitudinal Beams.
Box around the edge upstands to select them. Click on the + button to add a
second row then set the Start Z field on the second row to a value of 650 and
press return on the keyboard. Click on the Member selection filter drop down and
select Transverse Beams. Box around the three diaphragms to select them.
Click on the Member selection filter drop down and select Select All to remove
the filter. Click on OK to close the form. The advanced model view icon can
be used to check that the eccentricities have been applied correctly.
9_3 Section Properties.sst.
Define the construction stages
33. First of all we will create three stages, with all members active and then we will
alter the first stage to contain just the longitudinal beam members (not the edge
upstands) and a nominal transverse connecting member between them at the
locations of the three diaphragms.
Open the Structure tab on the Navigation Pane. Click on Open Construction
Stages... near bottom of the Navigation Pane to open the Construction Stages
form. Ensure that the Select dropdowns at the top of the graphics window are set
Selection 1 Selection 2
9-27

to Make Inactive and Inclusive Box. Click on Insert Before twice to create a
total of three rows on the table. Ensure that the top row of the table is highlighted.
Click on the Member selection filter drop down menu and select Transverse
Beams. Box around the left span of the structure and then the right, such that the
members at the three transverse diaphragms are not selected (see below).

34. Click on the Member selection filter drop down and select Select All to remove
the filter. Select the two rows of edge members in the structure using the mouse to
draw a selection box around each of them.
35. Click on Insert After to create a new row for Stage 2 which will be identical to
stage 1.
36. We will now create a new stage after stage 2 so that we can add the concrete slab
at spans 1 and 2 as active members.
Ensure that the second row of the table is highlighted and click on Insert After
again to create a new row for Stage 3. Ensure that the third row of the table is
highlighted and use the Construction Stage dropdown at the top of the Navigation
Pane to select Stage 3: Construction. Use the Select dropdown at the top of the
graphics window to select Make Active. Box around the areas of the left and right
spans where the stitching slab is not present as shown below:

37. We will make the edge upstand members inactive at both spans.
9-28

Use the Select dropdown at the top of the graphics window to select Make
Inactive. Box around the members at the top and bottom edges of the structure.
Click OK to close the form and click OK on the Information message that
appears.
38. The prestress section file will be assigned to the longitudinal beams for
construction stages 1 and 2, because the prestress beams are the only active
members at these stages.
Use the Construction Stage dropdown at the top of the Navigation Pane to select
Stage 1: Construction. Open the Section Properties tab on the Navigation Pane.
Click on the Add button and select Section Data from the drop down menu to
open the Import file form. Use the Select dropdown to select Create. Click on the
Browse button and open the file My US Example 9_3 Beam Only.sam created
earlier. Click on the Beam Section Reference... drop down menu and set it to
origin. Change Description to Inner Beam Only. Click on the Member selection
filter drop down menu and select Longitudinal Beams. Box around the members
of the 14 inner beams along the full length of the structure. Click on the Yes to
All button on the Confirm form and click on OK to close the Import file form.
39. We will assign a nominal section property to the three transverse diaphragms.
Click on the Member selection filter drop down menu and select Transverse
Beams. Click on the Add button and select Parametric Shapes from the drop
down menu. This will open the Parametric Shape Properties form. Change
Description to Nominal and set Width and Depth to 10mm. Change the Elastic
Modulus, Shear Modulus and Density fields to a value of 1. Ensure that the
Select field at the top of the graphics view is set to Inclusive Box. Select the
members at the three transverse diaphragms using the mouse to draw a selection
box around them. Click on the Yes to All button on the Confirm form and click on
OK to close the form. Click on the Member selection filter drop down and select
Select All to remove the filter.
40. Repeat steps 38 and 39 with the Construction Stage drop down at the top of the
Navigation pane set to Stage 2: Construction. (Note that it is not necessary to re-
import or re-define the sections used in those steps).
41. Click on the Member selection filter drop down menu and select Transverse
Beams. Set the Construction Stage drop down at the top of the Navigation pane
set to Stage 3: Construction. Assign the Nominal section defined in step 39 to
the transverse beam elements at the intermediate diaphragm. Click on the
Member selection filter drop down and select Select All to remove the filter.
42. The prestress section file will be assigned to the longitudinal beam members at
the location of the 6 meter wide stitching slab for construction stage 3, because
the stitching slab and diaphragm at the intermediate supports are not active at this
stage.
9-29

Ensure that the Construction Stage dropdown at the top of the Navigation Pane is
set to Stage 3: Construction. Click on the Member selection filter drop down
menu and select Longitudinal Beams. Select the Inner Beam Only section in
the Navigation Pane to open the Import file form. Ensure the Beam Section
Reference... drop down menu is set to origin. Box around the members of the 14
inner beams at the location of the 6 meter wide stitching slab as shown below.

43. The edge upstand members have not been defined as being inactive at
construction stage 4, although they are not actually an active part of the structure
at this stage. Hence, the nominal section will be assigned to these members,
rather than defining them as being inactive.
Use the Construction Stage dropdown at the top of the Navigation Pane to select
Stage 4: Construction. Select the Nominal section created in the previous step
to open the Parametric Shape Properties form. Box around the two rows of edge
members in the structure using the mouse to draw a selection box around each of
them. Click on the Yes to All button on the Confirm form and click on OK to
close the form.
44. Finally we will apply member end releases at the ends of the longitudinal beams to
represent the fact that the prestress beams are simply supported until the
diaphragm at the intermediate supports is active.
Open the Structure tab on the Navigation Pane. Use the Construction Stage
dropdown at the top of the Navigation Pane to select Stage 1: Construction.
Click on the Add button and select Advanced Beam Set|Releases from the drop
down list to open the Specify Beam Releases form. On the form set Moment Y to
Free. Click on the right hand ends of each prestress beam in span 1. A small
cyan circle will appear near the end of each member selected. It may be
necessary to zoom in on the graphics view to ensure that the releases are applied
to the correct end of the beam element.
9-30

The releases are also applied to construction stages 2 and 3 by clicking on the
copy to other stages icon on the form. Select the Selected Stages radio
button. Tick the tick boxes for stages 2 and 3. Click on OK on both forms to
close both forms.

45. Click on the Member selection filter drop down and select Select All to remove
the filter. The advanced model view icon and the Construction Stage dropdown
at the top of the Navigation Pane can be used to check that the construction
stages have been defined correctly. (see the diagrams for each construction stage
in the introduction to this example).
9_3 Construction Stages.sst.

Defining basic loads
47. We will now apply some basic loads to our model, starting with dead loads for the
prestress beam.
Open the Basic Loads tab on the Navigation Pane then click on the Add button
and select Beam Member Load|Beam Element Load from the drop down list to
open the Define Beam Loading form. In the first row of the table set Load Type to
9-31

F Uniform, Direction to Global Z, Load Value to Volume and Load W1 to -
23.544kN/m
3
. Change the Name to Prestress Beam Dead Load.
On the graphics window, click on the filter drop down menu and select
Longitudinal Beams. Draw a box around the internal longitudinal beams to
assign the loads. Click on OK to close the form.

48. We will now apply the dead loads for the concrete slab and end diaphragms.
Click on the Add button and select Beam Member Load|Beam Element Load
from the drop down list to open the Define Beam Loading form. In the first row of
the table set Load Type to F Uniform, Direction to Global Z, Load Value to
Length and Load W1 to -4.7kN/m. Change the Name to Span Slabs & End
Diaphragms and box around the beam members in the left and right spans where
the stitching slab is not present.

In the second row of the table set Load Type to F Uniform, Direction to Global
Z, Load Value to Length and Load W1 to -30.6kN/m. In the graphics window,
click on the filter drop down menu and select Transverse Beams. Box around the
3 diaphragms. Click on OK to close the form.
9-32

49. Next we will apply dead loads for the stitching slab and diaphragm at the
intermediate supports.
Click on the Add button and select Beam Member Load|Beam Element Load
Length and Load W1 to -4.7kN/m. Change the Name to Stitch Slab & Mid
Diaphragm. In the graphics window, click on the filter drop down menu and select
Longitudinal Beams. Box around the beam members where the stitching slab is
located.

In the second row of the table set Load Type to F Uniform, Direction to Global
Z, Load Value to Length and Load W1 to -30.6kN/m. In the graphics window,
click on the filter drop down menu and select Transverse Beams. Box around
the intermediate diaphragm. Click on the Member selection filter drop down and
select Select All to remove the filter. Click on OK to close the form.

9-33

50. The next step is to assign dead loads for the concrete edge upstands to the
model.
Click on the Add button and select Beam Member Load| Beam Element Load
Volume and Load W1 to -23.544kN/m
3
. Draw a box around the full length of the
edge beams.

Change Name to Concrete Edge Upstand and click on OK to close the Define
Beam Loading form.

51. Next we will create three SDL cases using bridge deck patch loads.
Click on the Add button and select Bridge Deck Patch Load from the drop down
list to open the Define Bridge Deck Patch Loading form. Set Load per unit area to
4.63kN/m
2
.
On the graphics window, move the mouse pointer over the Objects tab and
deselect Design / Setting Out Lines, Construction Lines and Beam Elements.
The graphics now shows the carriageway and span end lines. Click on the bottom
edge of the main carriageway, the right hand span end line, the top edge of the
carriageway and the left hand span end line. (See the screen shot on the following
page for details of the carriageway edge locations). This will apply a patch to the
carriageway. Change Name to SDL Surfacing. Click OK to close the form.
9-34

4.8kN/m
2
. (You may need to press Enter on the keyboard to ensure that this
value is retained by the form).
Click on the bottom edge of the bottom footway, the right hand span end line, the
top edge of the bottom footway and the left hand span end line. This will apply a
patch to the bottom footway. Change Name to SDL Footway 1 then click OK to
close the form.

Repeat the process for the top footway. Click on the Add button and select
Bridge Deck Patch Load from the drop down list to open the Define Bridge Deck
Patch Loading form. Set Load per unit area to 4.8kN/m
2
.
Click on the bottom edge of the top footway, the right hand span end line, the top
edge of the top footway and the left hand span end line. This will apply a patch to
the top footway. Change Name to SDL Footway 2. On the graphics window,
move the mouse pointer over the Objects tab and select Design / Setting Out
Lines, Construction Lines and Beam Elements then click OK to close the
form.
9-35

52. We will now define a SDL barrier load.
Click on the Add button and select Beam Member Load| Beam Element Load
Length and Load W1 to -2kN/m.
Longitudinal Beams. Draw boxes around the edge longitudinal beams to assign
the loads.

Change Name to SDL Barriers and click on OK to close the Define Beam
Loading form.

53. The next step is to define the temporary construction loads. Click on the Add
button and select Beam Member Load| Beam Element Load from the drop down
list to open the Define Beam Loading form. In the first row of the table set Load
Type to F Uniform, Direction to Global Z, Load Value to Length and Load W1
9-36

to -5.5kN/m. Draw a box around the beam elements of the left and right spans
where the stitching slab is not present to assign the loads. Change Name to
Construction Loads Spans Slabs and click on OK to close the Define Beam
Loading form.

Now define the construction loads for the area of stitching slab in a similar way.
Name the load Construction Loads Stitching Slab. (For this load the members
below will be selected).

54. The next step is to define the construction stage loading. This defines which loads
are present at each construction stage.
Click on Open Construction Stage Loading... near bottom of the Navigation Pane
to open the Define Construction Stage Loading form. Click on the Stage drop
down on the form and select Stage 1: Construction. In the Construction Stages
table at the left hand side of the form click on the Status drop down to select Add
Load for load case L1.

9-37

Click on the Stage drop down on the form and select Stage 2: Construction. In
the Construction Stages table at the left hand side of the form click on the Status
drop down to select Add Load for load cases L2 and L9.

drop down to select Remove Load for load case L9 and Add Load for load
cases L3 and L10.

drop down to select Remove Load for load case L10 and Add Load for load
case L4.

9-38

drop down to select No Change for load case L1, L2, L3, L4, L9 and L10.

The Show Overview button can be clicked on to show an overview of the
construction stage loading. There is a scroll bar at the bottom of the form which
can be used to check at what construction stage each load is applied or removed.
Click on the Hide Overview button when you have checked that the construction
stage loading has been defined correctly. Click on OK to close the form.

9_3 Basic Loads.sst.
Load Compilations
56. The next step is to create dead load compilations for ULS.
Open the Compilations tab on the Navigation Pane, then click on the Add button
and select Dead Loads at Stage 1. Ensure that the Limit State is set to
Strength and click on the Find and Add to Table button to input the dead load
at stage 1. Click on OK to close the Compile Loading Patterns form.
9-39

Click on the Add button and select Dead Loads at Stage 2. Ensure that the Limit
State is set to Strength and click on the Find and Add to Table button to input
the two loads added at stage 2. Change the gamma value in the second row to
1.5. Click on OK to close the form.

the two loads added at stage 3 and the one load removed. Change the gamma
value in the second row to -1.5 and change the gamma value in the third row to
1.5. Click on OK to close the form.

9-40

the load added at stage 4 and the load removed. Change the gamma value in the
second row to -1.5. Click on OK to close the form.

the four loads added at stage 5. In all 4 rows of the table change the gamma value
to 1.5. Click on OK to close the form.

57. The next step is to create dead load compilations for Service.
Right click on the compilation for dead loads at stage 1 and select Copy to
create a copy of the compilation. Click on the Limit State drop down and select
Service. Click on Yes on the confirm form to change the values of the gamma
factor to the correct value. Click on OK to close the form.
9-41

Now define the service compilations for construction stages 2, 3, 4 and 5 in a
similar way. Click on OK to close the form.

9_3 Compilations.sst.
Analysis and Exporting Results
59. Select the menu item Calculate|Analyze. The program will open a form showing
the progress of the analysis. Once the analysis has completed, click on the
Done button.

9-42

60. We will now export the results from the analysis to a .sld file.
Select Beam form. Go to the graphics window and click on the beam just below
the center of the left span. It will be highlighted in red. Click on the OK button to
open the Assign Load Cases form.

61. In the Design Load Case column and select Erection of beam. Click in the L/C/E
column and select Load. Click in the Analysis Load Case column and select L1:
Prestress Beam Dead Load. Repeat a similar process to assign loads and
compilations in the other rows. The Strength Factor in the sixth, seventh and tenth
rows of the table needs to be set to a value of 0. The Service Factor in the first
row also needs to be set to a value of 0.

62. When the table is as shown above, click on the Export Loads to File... button
save the results in a .sld file called My US Example 9_3 DL and SDL.sld. Click
on the OK button to close the Define Composite Beam Loads form.
Summary
In this example we defined a 2 span grillage consisting of two meshes and then assigned
section properties to it using beam and section files. Construction stages were defined.
We then applied some basic dead and superimposed dead loads to the structure. Load
compilations were then defined. The structure was analyzed and the results exported to
a .sld file. For a structure such as this, where construction stages have been defined, one
recommended working procedure would be to follow the steps above and then re-open
9-43

the file My US Example 9_3 Section properties.sst and use the automated load
optimization to generate live loads for the carriageway on the structure. The results from
this .sst file would be exported to a second .sld file. In addition, a line beam module file
would be defined and used to analyses the effects of temperature and shrinkage. Refer
to Example 8.1 in this example manual for information on the line beam module. Note
that the differential temperature parameters would have to be set in the beam module file
prior to it being assigned in the line beam module. The line beam module would be
analyzed and the results exported to a third .sld file. The three .sld files would then be
imported into the composite beam file so that design checks could be performed. See
Example 5.2 of this example manual for advice on prestress beam design using the
program.

9-44

9-45

9.4. Non-Linear Analysis Flat Slab Bridge Deck
Subjects Covered:
Grillage model; Roadway Definition; Setting Out Lines; Construction Lines; Slab
Properties; Lift Off Supports; Basic Loads; Dead Load Compilations; Live Load
Optimization; Non-Linear Analysis; Results
Outline

In this example we are going to model a 2 span concrete flat slab structure with a
constant thickness of 600mm. It is to be modeled as a grillage and because the skew of
the deck is 45 degrees (i.e. greater than 15 to 20 degrees), an orthogonal mesh will be
defined. The deck will have 7 discrete bearings at each end of each span. The bridge will
have lift-off supports. The left hand span will be 13 meters and the right hand span will be
21 meters.

Dead and superimposed dead loads will be applied manually. We will then use the
automated load optimization to create live loads for the model. After performing a linear
analysis of the load cases, we will examine those load compilations for which non-linear
effects are considered to be significant. The Non-Linear Analysis Control form will then
be used to add the concurrent dead and superimposed dead load compilations to the
relevant live load compilations. We will then run a non-linear analysis and look at some
results.
9-46

Procedure
1. We start by defining the alignments and outline of our structure.
Start the program and then create a new structure using the menu item
File|New|Structure. Set the correct analysis type using the menu item
Data|Structure Type|Refined Analysis.

2. Click on the Data|Titles menu and set Structure Title to 2 Span Flat Slab Bridge
Deck with a sub-title of Non-Linear Analysis. Add your initials in the Calculations
by: field. Click OK to close the form.
the Next button twice. Enter (0,0) for the coordinates of point 1 and (47,0) for the
coordinates of point 2. Click on the Next button and then click OK to define the
design line. Click OK to close the Define Design Line form.

(-6.5, -5.5), (-5.5, 5.5), (5.5, 6.5).

The number of notional lanes will automatically update. The notional lanes are
shown in the graphics window with the traffic flow direction indicated by an arrow.
Click on each of the arrows until they are shown as double-headed. This shows
9-47

that traffic can flow in either direction along each lane. Click on the OK button to
close the Define Roadway form.

Pane.

the small + button). Set the Type to Line then click on the Next button. Select
the start point, angle and length radio button, then click Next. Enter (0, -6.5) for
the co-ordinates of the point, 45 for the angle and 19 for the length. Click Next
then OK to close the Define Line Segment form. Click OK again to close the
Define Setting Out Object form.

Give the line an offset of 6.5m and press Enter on the keyboard. Click on Offset
9-48

of -6.5m.

Click on Offset E/W of DL/SOL then click in the DL/SOL Ref column and select
SO1: Setting Out Object from the drop down list. Give it an offset of 13m.
Repeat this process to add a line at 34m. Click on the OK button to close the
Define Construction Lines form. The graphics window will now show an outline of
the structure as shown below.

Layout.sst.
8. We will now begin to define the grillage geometry. The first step is to define the

Click on the bottom left and top left corners of the left-hand abutment on the
locate the pier and second abutment. The span end lines will be shown in the
table as above and on the graphics as below:
9-49

9. The next step is to define the two meshes which make up the grillage.
form. Set Name to Span 1 and set Mesh Type to Orthogonal to span. Set
Longitudinal to 7 and Transverse to 2 and then click on the four edges of the
left hand span, starting with the bottom edge. (You may need to press Enter on
the keyboard in order for the numerical data to be input properly before clicking in
the graphics window). Click OK to close the Define Mesh form.
Click on the sub-model node in the Navigation Pane again and click on the Add
button. Select Mesh to open the Define Mesh form. Click on the Copy Mesh
Details From button and select M1: Span 1 (2D Model A) from the drop down
list. Change Name to Span 2 and set Transverse to 5, then click on the four
edges of the right hand span, starting with the bottom edge. Click OK to close
the Define Mesh form.
The graphics will now show a plot of the grillage as shown below:

9-50

graphics window and set it to Along Span End Lines, then draw a box around the
entire structure. Click on the Support Type drop down menu on the form and set it
to Lift Off. In the first row of the support table, change the support conditions so
that only the DZ direction is fixed. Change Group Type to Variable then click on
the center node on the left abutment (node 22). Change the support conditions for
this node so that it is also fixed in DX and DY. Click on the center node on the
right abutment (node 89) and change the support conditions so it is also fixed in
the DY direction. Click on OK to close the form.

11. We will now assign section properties to our grillage.
and select Continuous Slab. In the Continuous Slab Properties form change the
depth to 600, leave the other fields set to the default values as shown below and
then draw a box around the entire structure. Click on OK to close the form.

12. Click on the Add button again and select Parametric Shapes from the drop down
menu. This will open the Parametric Shape Properties form. Change Description
to Diaphragm and set both Width and Depth to 10mm. Again, leave the other
properties at their default concrete values and select the diaphragm members at
the leftmost support. Click Yes on the Confirm form to overwrite these 6
members. Click on OK to close the form.
9-51

14. We will now apply some basic loads to our model, starting with dead loads for
concrete.
23.544kN/m.
Longitudinal Beams. Draw a box around the entire structure.

Change Name to Concrete Dead Load and click on OK to close the Define
Beam Loading form. Use the filter drop down menu and select Select All.
9-52

15. Next we will create three SDL cases using bridge deck patch loads.
4kN/m
2
and press Enter on the keyboard.
On the graphics window, move the mouse pointer over the Objects tab and
deselect Design / Setting Out Lines, Construction Lines and Beam Elements.
The graphics now shows the carriageway and span end lines. Click on the bottom
edge of the main carriageway, the right hand span end line, the top edge of the
carriageway and the left hand span end line. (See the screen shot below for
details of the carriageway edge locations). This will apply a patch to the
carriageway. Change Name to SDL Carriageway. Click OK to close the form.

5kN/m
2
.
Click on the bottom edge of the bottom verge, the right hand span end line, the top
edge of the bottom verge and the left hand span end line. This will apply a patch
to the bottom verge. Change Name to SDL Bottom Verge then click OK to
close the form.
9-53

Repeat the process for the top verge, changing the Name to SDL Top Verge.
On the graphics window, move the mouse pointer over the Objects tab and select
Design / Setting Out Lines, Construction Lines and Beam Elements then click
OK to close the form.
16. The next step is to create dead load compilations for ULS and SLS.
and select Dead Loads at Stage 1. Click on the + button near the bottom of the
form to add a row to the table. In the first row of the compilation table use the
drop down list to select the Concrete Dead Load case. Note that the default
gamma is correct at 1.25 and change the Name: to DL Strength. Close the form
with the OK button.
17. Repeat the previous step above but this time set the Limit State: field to Service
(a prompt to confirm changing the load factors will appear) and the Name: to DL
Service.
3 times on the + button near the bottom of the form to add 3 rows to the table.
Use the drop down list to select the three SDL load cases and change gamma for
each to 1.50. Close the form with the OK button.
The compilation for SDL Service can be created by copying the Strength
compilation and changing the Limit State: field to Service. The factors are
changed by the program to 1.0. Close the form with the OK button.
9-54

Live Load Optimization
Click on the Data|Influence Surface menu item to open the Influence Surface
Generation form. Set Pick Mode to Joint then click on the joints at the top left
corner of span 1 and the bottom left corner of span 1 in the graphics window
(joints 1 and 43 respectively). Set the Scope field to Negative in the top two rows
of the table. This will define influence surfaces for negative support reactions at
these two joints.

Set Generate by to Reciprocal and click on the Analyze button. A progress box
will open. Click on the Done button when the analysis has completed.
9-55

generated.
LRFD form. Untick the Fatigue tick box (if it is ticked). Accept all other default
values as shown below for this example.

Click on the Compile Loading Patterns button to carry out the load optimization.
The form will change to show the status of the load optimization. When it is
complete it will show a summary of the loads generated and the graphics window
will show the loading pattern for the selected influence surface.
9-56

Click OK on the Load Optimization to AASHTO LRFD form and click OK on the
Influence Surface Generation form.
Go to the Calculate menu and select Analyze.... The Activate Loading Sets form
will open. Make sure all tick boxes on the form are ticked and click OK. Click on
Yes to All if a Confirm form opens.
9-57

The program will open a form showing the progress of the analysis. Once the
analysis has completed, this form will show a line of text stating that Non-linear
effects are significant in 8 compilations. Hence, results will not be available for 8
compilations until a non-linear analysis has been performed. Click on the Done
button.
9_4 Basic and Live Loads.sst
Results Processing
25. We will now examine the compilations in which non-linear effects are significant.
We will add the relevant dead and superimposed dead load compilations to those
compilations. This is necessary because, by their nature, the results of
compilations in which non-linear results are significant cannot be simply added
together after the linear analysis has been performed. Instead the loads in those
compilations must be added together and then analyzed together in a nonlinear
analysis. When the non-linear analysis has been run we will look at some of the
results produced.
Go to the Calculate menu and select Non-linear analysis. The Non-Linear Analysis
Control form will open. (Note that if the file is opened at this step then the linear
analysis must be run before the non-linear analysis option becomes available). A
red circle next to a compilation denotes a compilation in which non-linear effects
are significant. Click on the Include Controller button to open the Include
Controller sub-form. Tick the tick boxes for compilations C5 and C7. These are
strength limit state compilations so the strength limit state compilations C1 and C3
for dead and superimposed dead load are selected using the tick boxes in the
Dead Load Compilations dropdown. Click on the Apply to All Selected
Compilations button.
9-58

Click on the Clear Selection button and tick the tick boxes for compilations C6
and C8. These are service limit state compilations so the service limit state
compilations C2 and C4 for dead and superimposed dead load are selected using
the tick boxes in the Dead Load Compilations dropdown. Click on the Apply to All
Selected Compilations button. Click OK to close the sub-form.

Note that live load compilations C5 and C6 continue to be denoted by a red circle
indicating that they are still non-linear, despite the addition of the dead loads.
However, compilations C7 and C8 are now denoted by a green circle indicating
9-59

that they are linear now that the dead loads have been added. This indicates that
the dead loads have counteracted the lift-off effects caused by the live loads in
compilations C7 and C8.
26. Click on the Analyze button on the Non-Linear Analysis Control form to run the
non-linear analysis. Click on the Done buttons on both forms to close both forms.
27. We will now look at the results produced for the analysis run in the previous step.
Click on the File|Results menu item to open the Results Viewer. Click on the
Result Type drop down and select Compilation from the list of options. In the
Name drop down select compilation C5, set Result For to Joint and Effect to
Support Reactions. Ensure that the Results For drop down menu on the graphics
toolbar is set to Fz. Note that the names of the dead and superimposed dead load
compilations which were defined as acting concurrently with this live load
compilation on the Non-Linear Analysis Control form are displayed in the Dead
Load Compilations field.
The results in the table show that the support reactions at 2 of the nodes are
effectively zero. This indicates that there is lift-off of supports at 2 bearings when
this live compilation is considered together with the concurrent dead and
superimposed dead compilations.

28. Now click on the Name drop down and select compilation C7. The results in the
table show that the support reactions at all of the bearings are positive, non-zero
values. This indicates that there is no lift-off of supports when this live compilation
9-60

is considered together with the concurrent dead and superimposed dead load
compilations. Select File|Close Tabular Results when you have finished looking
at the results.

29. Click on the File|Save As menu item and save the model as My US Example 9_4
Complete Model.sst and close the program.
Summary
In this example we defined a 2 span grillage consisting of two meshes and then assigned
section properties to it. We then applied some basic loads to the structure and used the
automated load optimization to generate specific live loads in order to investigate lift-off
of supports. After running a linear analysis of the structure we found that non-linear
effects were significant in several load combinations. The Non-Linear Analysis Control
form was then used to add the concurrent dead and superimposed dead load
compilations to the relevant live load compilations before running a non-linear analysis.
We then looked at some of the results.

9-61

9.5. Offset Beams For Finite Element Decks
Subjects Covered:
Roadway Definition; Setting Out Lines; Construction Lines; Prestress Beam Structures;
FE deck with Offset Beams; Member Eccentricities; Dead Load Compilations; Transfer
Results to Beam Design
Outline

In this example we are going to model a single span bridge of 21m span. The bridge
structure is constructed with four Girder III prestress beams acting compositely with a
concrete slab. The structure is modeled using a finite element slab with imported
prestress beams which are assigned as Offset Beams. This process defines the
prestress beam as a beam element with an automatically defined vertical eccentricity
relative to the deck. Upstands are added as edge beam members with an appropriate
vertical eccentricity.

The beam data for the two inner beams will be imported directly from beam files created
in example 4.3. In addition, an edge section with a width and depth of 200mm will be
added to the beam file created in example 4.3 to create a new beam file that will be
assigned to the two outer beams. The slab will have a thickness of 200mm. The deck will
have 4 discrete bearings at each end of the span.

9-62

Dead and superimposed dead loads will be applied manually. We will then use the
automated load optimization to create live loads for the model. After performing an
analysis of the load cases, we will transfer some of the results to one of the beam files.
Procedure
Creating the edge beam
1. We start by defining a beam file that will be assigned to the two outer beams of
the deck.
Start the program and open the data file US Example 4_3.sam created in section
4.3.

2. Click on the Data|Titles menu and set Structure Title to Prestress Beam Outer
Beam. Add your initials in the Calculations by: field.
3. Click on the Data|Define Beam... menu item to open the Pre-tensioned Beam
Definition form. Click on the Define drop down and select Section. This will open
the Pre-tensioned Beam Section Definition form.
Click on the Component column in the third row of the table and select Cast in
place regular. This will open the Define Precast Beam Component form. The
Shape Reference will be set to Rectangle already so enter 200mm in both the
width and depth fields and click OK.
Change the X offset to -900 and Y offset to 1300 to put the edge section in the
correct location. Click OK to close both forms.

4. Click on the File|Save... menu item and save the file as My US Example 9_5
Outer Beam.
5. Next we define the alignments and outline of our structure.
9-63

Start the program and then create a new structure using the menu item
File|New|Structure. Set the correct analysis type using the menu item
Data|Structure Type|Refined Analysis.

6. Click on the Data|Titles menu and set Structure Title to Single Span Prestress
Beam Bridge Deck with a sub-title of Offset Beams. Add your initials in the
Calculations by: field. Click OK to close the form.
the Next button twice. Enter (0,0) for the coordinates of point 1 and (21,0) for the
coordinates of point 2. Click on the Next button and then click OK to define the
design line. Click OK to close the Define Design Line form.

(-3.8, -3.5), (-3.5, 3.5), (3.5, 3.8).

The number of notional lanes will automatically update. The notional lanes are
shown in the graphics window with the traffic flow direction indicated by an arrow.
Click on each of the arrows until they are shown as double-headed. This shows
that traffic can flow in either direction along each lane. Click on the OK button to
close the Define Roadway form.

9-64

Pane.

the small + button). Set the Type to Line then click on the Next button twice.
Enter (0, -4) for the co-ordinates of point 1 and (0, 4) for point 2. Click Next then
OK to close the Define Line Segment form. Click OK again to close the Define
Setting Out Object form.
Give the line an offset of 4m and press Enter on the keyboard. Click on Offset
of -4m.
Click on Offset parallel to DL/SOL again to add a third row to the table then click in
the DL/SOL Ref column and select SO1: Setting Out Object from the drop down
9-65

list. Give it an offset of 21m. Click on the OK button to close the Define
Construction Lines form. The graphics window will now show an outline of the
structure as shown below:

Layout.sst.
12. We will now begin to define the mesh geometry. The first step is to define the

Click on the bottom left and top left corners of the left-hand abutment on the
locate the second abutment. The span end lines will be shown in the table as
above and on the graphics as below:
9-66

13. The next step is to define the mesh.
form. Set Member Type to Finite Elements and Mesh Type to Orthogonal to
span. Set Transverse to 8 and Longitudinal to 14 and then click on the four
edges of the deck, starting with the bottom edge. (You may need to press Enter
on the keyboard in order for the numerical data to be input properly before clicking
in the graphics window). Change the equal size option for the Longitudinal
elements to set size. In the Set Longitudinal Size form that should now be visible
set the spacing factor for the two end elements to 0.5 and click OK to close the
sub-form. Click OK to close the Define Mesh form.
The graphics will now show a plot of the mesh as shown below:

graphics window and set it to All Joints, then select the 8 nodes shown below. In
9-67

the first row of the support table, change the support conditions so that only the
DZ direction is fixed. Change Group Type to Variable then click on the node just
above center of the left abutment (node 46). Change the support conditions for
this node so that it is also fixed in DX and DY. Click on the node just above the
center of the right abutment (node 60) and change the support conditions so it is
also fixed in the DY direction. Click on OK to close the form.

15. We now need to add beam members along the edges of the slab to represent the
upstand. This is done by clicking on the Sub Model Members node to open the
Define Sub Model Members form so that additional members can be created.

16. In the graphics window click on the toolbar button to draw a single member.
Then click on the bottom left corner node of the mesh and then again on the
bottom right node to draw one member. Repeat this on the top edge of the mesh.
These members can then be split into 14 beam element segments by using the
Split Beam Element task in the Define Sub Model Members form.
17. In the split beam elements form select the at nodes along element option, click on
the edge beam and then click on the Apply button. Dismiss the information
window and repeat for the beam on the top edge of the mesh. Click OK to close
the form.
18. We will now import properties to be assigned to our mesh.
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and select Prestress Beam. This will open the Import file form. Click on the
Browse button and open the file US Example 4_3.sam created in section 4.3
of this guide. We will leave the Beam Section Reference... field set to the default
setting of centroid because the beams will be assigned as offset beams. Change
Description to Inner Beam and click OK to close the form.
Follow a similar procedure to import the outer beam file created earlier in this
example.

19. We will now assign the beam properties we imported in the previous step as
Offset Beams.
Open the Structure tab on the Navigation Pane. Click on the structure node in the
Navigation Pane and then click on the Add button. Select Offset Beam from the
drop down menu. This will open the Define Offset Beam form. Set Section
Property to Inner Beam then click on the inner beam just above the center of the
deck. It will be highlighted in red and an Information form will appear. Click OK
on the Information form and click on the Add Additional Offset Beam... button. A
new Define Offset Beam form opens with Inner Beam automatically selected in
the Section Property field. Click on the beam just below the center of the deck. It
will be highlighted in red as shown below.

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20. Click on the Add Additional Offset Beam... button. A new Define Offset Beam
form opens. Use the Section Property dropdown to select Outer Beam and click
on the outer beam near the top edge of the deck. It will be highlighted in red as
shown below.

Click on the Add Additional Offset Beam... button. A new Define Offset Beam
form opens with Outer Beam automatically selected in the Section Property field.
Click on the outer beam nearest the bottom of the deck. It will be highlighted in
red. Click OK to close the form.
21. The next step is to reverse the direction of the longitudinal beam nearest the
bottom of the deck to ensure that the beam has the correct orientation.
Click on the Longitudinal Beams node to open the Longitudinal Beams form. Click
on the fourth row in the table then on Reverse Order in the list of Beam Tasks.
The direction of the selected longitudinal beam members will be reversed as
shown by the arrow heads on the graphics window. Click on OK to close the
form.

22. Next we need to define a section property for the upstand.
Click on the Section Properties tab on the Navigation Pane. Click on the Add
button and select Add|Parametric Shapes. Define a section, 200mm wide by
200mm deep. Call the section Edge Upstand and assign it to the two lines of
edge members and then close the form.
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23. We will apply an eccentricity to the edge upstand so that the height of the centroid
of the section is at the same height as it is in the beam file.
Go back to the Structure tab and click on the Add toolbar button and select
Advanced Beam Set|Eccentricities. Click on the Insert Record button (+) to
add a new row to the eccentricity table. Enter 200mm in the Start Z column and
-100mm in the Start Y column then draw a box around the upstand members at
the top of the deck to select them. Click on the Insert Record button (+) to add a
second row to the eccentricity table. Enter 200mm in the Start Z column and
100mm in the Start Y column then draw a box around the upstand members at
the bottom of the deck to select them. Call the eccentricities Edge Upstand and
close the form.

24. The next step is to modify the composite members created when the offset beams
were defined to include the upstand edge. To do this, go to the Calculate|Define
Composite Member menu item. Change to a plan view and make sure the pick
mode is set to Beam Element. Select Composite Member 3 and draw a box
around the top upstand. Repeat the process for Composite Member 4, adding the
bottom upstand and then close the Define Composite Member form.

25. We can check that the structure has been defined correctly by clicking on the
icon to activate the advanced model view. Click on the icon to activate the
dynamic view function.
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27. We will now apply some basic dead loads for concrete to the prestress beams and
edge upstand sections of our model. (Other examples in this manual, such as
those in chapter 10, give guidance on applying superimposed dead loads and live
load optimization).
23.544kN/m.
Draw a box around the entire structure to assign concrete dead loads to the
prestress beams and edge upstands. (Note that because the deck is a finite
element deck and the load type selected is a beam element load, loads have only
been assigned to the prestress beams and edge upstands. Under different
circumstances the filter tool could be used to ensure that loads are assigned only
to certain members).
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Change Name to Concrete Beam Dead Load and click on OK to close the
Define Beam Loading form.

28. Next we will apply some concrete dead loads to the slab.
Click on the Add toolbar button and select Finite Element Load|External Load.
Draw a box around the entire structure. Change the Load Type to Force/volume,
Direction to Global Z, Load to -23.544 and Name to Concrete FE Dead Load.
Click OK to close the form.

29. For this example we will create dead load compilations for ULS only.
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and select Dead Loads at Stage 1. Click twice on the + button to add 2 rows to
the table. In the first row of the table click on the Load Name column and select
L1: Concrete Beam Dead Load from the list. In the second row, click in the Load
Name column and select L2: Concrete FE Dead Load from the list. The default
gamma values of 1.25 are correct. Click on OK to close the Compile Loading
Patterns form.
Go to the Calculate menu and select Analyze.... to run the analysis.

The program will open a form showing the progress of the analysis. Once the
analysis has completed, click on the Done button.
32. We will now look at some of the results produced for the analysis.
Click on the File|Results menu item to open the Results Viewer. Click on the
Result Type field drop down and select Compilation. Click on the Result For drop
down and select Composite Member from the list. The Name field should show
compilation C1. Click on the Results For drop down menu on the graphics toolbar.
You will see tick boxes next to each result type with Fz already ticked. Tick the My
option as well to add the bending moment diagram to the plot.
Click on the Filter toolbar button to open the Member Selection Filter form. Click
on De-select all then set Select by to Composite Member. Add Composite
Member 4 to the Selected Groups list and click OK to close the filter form. Click
on the icon to change the viewing direction. In this example The Method field
has been set to (1) Smoothed.
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When you have finished viewing the results click on the Member selection filter
drop down and select Select All to remove the filter. Select File|Close Tabular
Results to close the Results Viewer.

33. We will transfer results from the analysis to one of the beams defined in the
prestress beam design module.
Select Beam form. Go to the graphics window and click on the beam near the
bottom edge of the deck. Note that Composite Member 4 is shown in the
Composite Member field and it is highlighted in red in the graphics view. Click on
the OK button to open the Assign Load Cases form.

34. We will select the dead load compilation we defined and transfer the results to one
of the prestress beam files.
On the Assign Load Cases form, click in the Design Load Case column and select
Construction stage 1A. Leave Comb. set to 1. Click in the L/C/E column and
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select Comp. Click in the Analysis Load Case column and select envelope C1:
Dead Loads at Stage 1 ULS. The ULS Factor will be automatically set to 1.1.
The Assign Load Cases form will look like this:

Click on the Transfer to Beam Module... button to transfer the results to the
prestress beam design module.
35. The beam module will display the load effects we have just transferred in tabular
and graphical form.
Click on the OK button on the Define Pre-tensioned Beam Loads form and click
Yes on the confirm box which appears. Click on the File|Save menu item to
save the loads in the beam file.
36. Now that the loads have been transferred, we can check that the beam has
sufficient capacity under all loads.
37. After weve checked the beam design we can save the beam and structure.
Summary
In this example we defined a single span structure. The slab and beam properties were
imported from beam files and assigned as Offset Beams. Using this method to assign
the section properties means that the properties of the slab are assigned to the FE deck
and the properties of the prestress beam are assigned to beam elements which are
offset vertically from the soffit of the deck. We then applied some basic dead loads to the
structure. We analyzed the load cases and looked at some of the results for them. We
then exported the results to a beam file where the design of the beam could be checked
following steps similar to those outlined in example 5.2 of this guide.

Note that the beam files were defined in such a way that the widths of the slabs were
suitable for the widths of the finite elements in the deck to which they were assigned.
Also, the spans of the beams were defined such that they matched the span of the deck.

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9-77

9.6. 3 Sided FE Structure with Soil & Hydrostatic Pressure Loads
Subjects Covered:
Refined Analysis; 3D FE Model; Sub Model Planes; Setting Out Objects; Construction
Lines; Meshing; Support Local Axes; Spring Supports; Filtering; Copying Sub Models;
Conforming Sides; Temperature Effects in FE Slabs; Compilations; Hydrostatic Loads;
Soil Pressure Loads; Transfer Results to .sld File
Outline
In this example we are going to model a single span 3 sided FE structure. Two models
will be defined as described below for two different design situations.

Model 1
This first model will be used to ascertain the load effects in the deck when live loads and
positive temperature effects are combined with dead load and superimposed dead load.
It is assumed that the passive resistance of the soil will be mobilized when the live loads
and positive temperature effects cause a net outward deflection at the tops of the
abutments. Hence, in this model the horizontal stiffness of the soil is modeled by spring
supports to estimate the effect of the abutments on the span moments. Each abutment
consists of a row of piles acting compositely with a reinforced concrete wall. It is
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assumed that the piles are embedded in rock at the bottom of the walls and therefore the
base of each abutment is fully fixed in all directions.

The deck will be a concrete flat slab of 800mm thickness and the abutment walls will be
600mm thick. The skew of the deck is 30 degrees, however because the deck is to be
modeled as a finite element structure, a skew mesh will be defined. The abutments will
also be modeled as finite element structures and conforming sides will be assigned to
both sides of the fold where the deck adjoins the abutments. Defining these conforming
sides will prevent spurious rotations of the nodes along the fold when load is applied.
The span of the deck will be 15 meters and height of the abutment walls will be 7 meters.

The deck has been defined as a pre-prepared file in which the deck geometry,
carriageway, dead and superimposed dead loads have already been defined. After the
abutments have been defined, dead loads and temperature loads will be applied
manually. We will then use the automated load optimization to create live loads for the
model. After performing an analysis, the results for a composite member that has been
defined in the deck model will be saved in a sld file.

Model 2
The second model will be used to ascertain the load effects in the deck when negative
temperature effects are combined with dead load and superimposed dead load. In this
model it is assumed that the active soil pressure will be mobilized when the negative
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temperature effects cause a net inward deflection at the tops of the abutments. Hence, in
this model the spring supports of Model 1 are replaced by a uniform horizontal soil
pressure. A hydrostatic load which varies with depth will also be added to this model to
represent the water contained in the soil. The water table will be 2 meters below the level
of the deck. In all other respects, this model will be identical to Model 1.

Other models would have to be defined to ascertain the load effects to be used in the
design of other elements of the bridge. As with all of the examples in this manual, this
example is primarily intended to be a guide to using the program. It is recommended that
users consult current technical documentation on the analysis and design of integral
bridges.

Procedure
Setup & Geometry
1. Start the program and open the pre-prepared data file US Example 9_6
Deck.sst.
2. Set the title to Deck with Abutments using the Date | Titles menu option and put
your initials in the Calculations by: field.
3. We will define the abutment at the left hand end of the deck. In the Structure
navigation window click on the Add button and select 2D Sub Model from the
selection list. This will create an entry in the navigation tree and open the 2D Sub
Model Plane form.
4. We wish to define this frame in a plane parallel to the edge of the deck, so click on
the Define button to define a new origin and plane for the sub model.
5. Define the origin by clicking on the joint at the top left corner of the deck as shown
below and click on the Next button.
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6. The orientation of the plane needs changing for the new sub-model so click on the
joint at the bottom left corner of the deck and click on the Next button twice. Click
OK on both forms.

7. Right click on the first node of the new sub model as shown below and select
Rename. Enter the name Left Abutment and click OK to close the sub form.
The name of the sub model for the deck can be changed in a similar way.

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8. Next we will describe the edges of the abutment using setting out objects and
construction lines.
Click on the on the 2D Sub Model: Left Abutment node in the Navigation Pane
then click on the Add button. Select Setting Out Objects to open the Define
Setting Out Object form. Click on the Insert Line Segment button at the bottom
left of the form (this is the small + button). Set the Type to Line then click on
the Next button twice. Enter (0, 0) for the co-ordinates of point 1 and (0, -7) for
point 2. Click Next then OK to close the Define Line Segment form. Click OK
again to close the Define Setting Out Object form.

the SOL Ref column and select SO1: Setting Out Object from the drop down list.
Give the line an offset of -11.547m and press Enter on the keyboard. Click on
Perpendicular to SOL to add a new row to the table. Click in the SOL Ref column
and select SO1: Setting Out Object from the drop down list and give it an offset
of 7m. Click on the OK button to close the Define Construction Lines form. The
graphics window will now show an outline of the structure as shown below:

9. To create a mesh for the abutment click on the 2D Sub Model: Left Abutment
node in the Navigation Pane again then click on the Add button. Select Mesh
from the drop down menu.
This will open the Define Mesh form. Set Member Type to Finite Elements and
Mesh Type to Skew. Set Transverse to 8 and Longitudinal to 11 and then
click on the four edges of the abutment, starting with the bottom edge and working
around in an anti-clockwise direction. (You may need to press Enter on the
keyboard in order for the numerical data to be input properly before clicking in the
graphics window). Change the equal size option for the Longitudinal elements to
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set size. In the Set Longitudinal Size form that should now be visible set the
spacing factor for the two end elements to 0.5. Click OK to close the sub-form.
Repeat this for the Transverse elements. Change the Name to Left Abutment
and click OK to close the Define Mesh form. Click OK on the Information form.
The graphics will now show a plot of the mesh as shown below:

Left Abutment Mesh.sst.
Defining supports
11. Next we will define the horizontal spring supports at the abutment. Spring supports
of six different stiffnesses will be defined with stiffnesses in proportion to the
surface area of abutment wall supported. (Note that in many cases the stiffness of
the soil will increase with depth, however for this example a constant stiffness of
6000kN/m has been assumed over the height of the wall).
on De-select all then set Select by to Sub Model Group. Add Left Abutment to
the Selected Groups list and click OK to close the filter form.
graphics window and set it to All Joints, then select the top 2 corner nodes
shown below. In the first row of the support table, change the support conditions
so that the DY direction is set to Spring and DX and DZ directions are free. Set
the value in the first row of the Direct Stiffness Y column to 375.

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12. The direction of the spring supports will be defined relative to a defined axis set to
ensure that the springs act in a direction normal to the plane of the abutment wall.
Click on the icon to change the viewing direction. Click on the + button next
to the Support Constraints about field to open the Define Support Local Axes sub-
form. Click on the joint at the top right corner of the abutment then click on the
joint at the top left corner of the abutment. Note that the angle in the Beta field
has changed to 60 degrees. Click OK to close the sub-form. Change Name to
Spring 375 kN per m and click OK to close the Define Supported Nodes form.

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13. Define the other five supports as described above. Note that Defined Axes Set
needs to be selected in the Support Constraints about drop down on the Define
Supported Nodes form for each new support type. A summary table of the spring
stiffnesses and the nodes to which they are applied is shown below.
Spring Stiffness (kN/m) Node Numbers
375 1 & 144
1125 14, 131, 157, 168, 229 & 240
1500 27, 40, 53, 66, 79, 92, 105, 118, 169,
180, 181, 192, 193, 204, 205, 216, 217
& 228
3375 158, 167, 230 & 239
4500 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166,
170, 179, 182, 191, 194, 203, 206, 215,
218, 227, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236,
237 & 238
6000 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178,
183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190,
195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202,
207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214,
219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225 & 226

14. We will now define the fixed supports at the base of the abutment.
Define Supported Nodes form. Select the 12 nodes at the base of the wall. In the
first row of the support table, change the support conditions so that the Rotational
Restraint is fixed about all 3 axes in addition to the supports being fixed in DX, DY
and DZ. Select Defined Axes Set in the Support Constraints about drop down
and click OK on the sub-form. Change Name to Fixed Bases and click on OK
to close the form.
When these supports have been defined the lower part of the Navigation Pane will
look like this:
9-85

Section Properties
15. We will now assign section properties to the finite elements of the abutment.
at the top of the navigation window and select Finite Element. In the Finite
Element Properties form, change the Thickness: to 600. Box around the whole
structure and change the Description: to 600mm Abutment. Click OK to close
the form.
16. Next we will copy the abutment sub model to the right hand end of the structure to
define the right hand end abutment.
Click on the Member selection filter drop down and select Select All to remove
the filter. Open the Structure tab on the Navigation Pane. Right click on the first
node of the Left Abutment sub model and select Copy. In the Copy Sub Model
form click on the Define button to define a new origin and plane for the copied
sub model.

Click on the joint at the bottom right corner of the deck then click on the Next
button. The orientation of the plane needs changing for the new sub-model so
click on the node at the top right corner of the deck. Click Next on the next button
twice then OK to confirm. Click Next and OK to close the Copy Sub Model
form. (Note that it is important to follow this sequence in order for the spring
supports to be copied with the correct orientation relative to the abutment wall).
Right click on the first node of the new sub model and select Rename. Enter the
name Right Abutment and click OK to close the sub form. Also, click on the
M1: Left Abutment node of the new sub-model to open the Define Mesh form.
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Change the Name to Right Abutment and click OK to close the form and click
OK on the Information form.
17. Conforming sides will now be assigned to both sides of the fold where the deck
adjoins the abutments. Defining these conforming sides will prevent spurious
rotations of the nodes along the fold when load is applied.
at the top of the navigation window and select Advanced FE
Properties|Conforming Sides. In the Specify FE Conforming Sides form, ensure
that the Both sides of fold radio button is selected and the Stiffness Factor is set to
1. Click on or near the two folds in the graphics window to select them. They will
be highlighted as shown below. Click OK to close the form.

9-87

Supports and Sections.sst.
Basic Loads
19. The dead and superimposed dead loads have already been applied at the deck in
the pre-prepared file. We will now apply the concrete self-weight to the
abutments.
and select Finite Element Load|External Load from the drop down list to open the
Define Finite Element Loading form. In the first row of the table set Load Type to
Force/volume, Direction to Global Z and Load to -23.544kN/m
2
. Change
Name to Concrete DL Abutment.

on De-select all then set Select by to Sub Model Group. Add Left Abutment
and Right Abutment to the Selected Groups list and click OK to close the filter
form.
Draw a box around the entire structure to assign concrete dead loads to the
abutments. Click OK to close the form. Click on the Member selection filter drop
down and select Select All to remove the filter.
20. In this model we will apply positive temperature loads to the deck as discussed in
the introduction to Model 1. First we will apply the differential temperature effects.
(The temperature input data has been derived using a procedure similar to that
outlined in Example 7.4 of this manual).
Click on the Add button and select Finite Element Load|Temperature Load from
the drop down list to open the Define Finite Element Loading form. In the first row
of the table set Temperature Type to Membrane, T-Bottom to 2.31 and press
Enter on the keyboard.
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on De-select all then set Select by to Sub Model Group. Add Deck to the
Selected Groups list and click OK to close the filter form.
Draw a box around the entire structure to assign differential temperature loads to
the deck. In the second row set Temperature Type to Gradient and Grad to
12.2. Draw a box around the entire structure again to assign the gradient loads.
Change Name to Diff Temperature +ve Loads. Click OK to close the form.
21. Now we will apply the seasonal load effects to the deck.
Click on the Add button and select Finite Element Load|Temperature Load from
of the table set Temperature Type to Gradient and Grad to 10. Change Name
to Grad Seasonal Temp Loads +ve.

Draw a box around the entire structure to assign seasonal temperature loads to
the deck. Click OK to close the form. Click on the Member selection filter drop
down and select Select All to remove the filter.
22. The next step is to create dead load compilations for Strength and Service Limit
States.
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and select Dead Loads at Stage 1. Click twice on the + button near the bottom
of the form to add 2 rows to the table. Set the Limit State field to Strength. In the
first row of the compilation table use the drop down list to select the Concrete DL
Deck case. In the second row of the compilation table use the drop down list to
select the Concrete DL Abutment case. Note that the default gamma is correct at
1.25 and change the Name: to DL Strength. Close the form with the OK
button.
23. The compilation for DL Service can be created by copying the Strength
changed by the program 1. Change the Name: to DL Service. Click OK to
close the form.
24. Click on the Add button to add a Superimposed Dead Loads compilation. Set the
Limit State field to Strength. Click 3 times on the + button near the bottom of
the form to add 3 rows to the table. In the compilation table use the drop down list
to select the three SDL load cases. Change the gamma for each load to 1.5.
Change the Name: to SDL Strength. Click OK to close the form.
25. The compilation for SDL Service can be created by copying the Strength
changed by the program to 1. Change the Name accordingly and click OK to
close the form.
26. The differential temperature load is not considered for Strength limit state in
accordance with clause 3.4.1 of AASHTO. Hence, the differential temperature
load will only be applied for the Service limit state.
Click on the Add button to add an Other compilation. Click on the + button near
the bottom of the form to add a row to the table. In the compilation table use the
drop down list to select the Diff Temperature +ve Loads load case. Set the
gamma for the load to 1.0. Change the Name: to Diff Temp Loads Service.
Click OK to close the form.
27. Click on the Add button to add an Other compilation. Click on the + button near
the bottom of the form to add a row to the table. In the compilation table use the
drop down list to select the Grad Seasonal Temp Loads +ve load case. Set the
gamma for the load to 1.0. Change the Name: to Seasonal Temperature
Strength. Click OK to close the form.
28. The compilation for Seasonal Temperature Load Service can be created by
copying the Strength compilation. Use the same gamma value of 1 and change
the Name to Seasonal Temperature Service. Click OK to close the form.
9-90

Live Load Optimization
Click on the Data|Influence Surface menu item to open the Influence Surface
Generation form. Set Pick Mode to Composite Member Element then click on
the element shown below. Set the Direction/Axis field to y and the Scope field to
Positive in the top row of the table. This will define an influence surface for mid-
span sagging at this element.

9-91

Set Generate by to Direct (Defined) and set Method to (2) Original. Click on the
Analyze button. A progress box will open. Click on the Done button when the
analysis has completed.

generated.
LRFD form. Untick the Fatigue tick box (if it is ticked). Accept all other default
values as shown below for this example.

Click on the Compile Loading Patterns button to carry out the load optimization.
The form will change to show the status of the load optimization. When it is
complete it will show a summary of the loads generated and the graphics window
will show the loading pattern for the selected influence surface.
9-92

Click OK on the Load Optimization form and click OK on the Influence Surface
Generation form.
9_6 Model 1 Loads.sst.
34. Select the menu item Calculate|Analyze and click OK to start the analysis. The
program will open a form showing the progress of the analysis. Once the analysis
has completed, click on the Done button.

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35. We will now export the results from the analysis to a .sld file.
Select Beam form. Click in the Composite Member field and select Composite
Member: 1. It will be highlighted in the graphics view. Click on the OK button to
open the Assign Load Cases form.

36. Click in the Design Load Case column and select Construction stage 1A. Click
in the L/C/E column and select Comp. Click in the Analysis Load Case column
and select C1: DL Strength. Repeat a similar process in the other rows. The
Strength Factor in the fifth, sixth and ninth rows of the table need to be set to a
value of 0. Set the Strength Factor in the third row to 1.2. Set the Service
Factor in the third row to 0. Set the Service Factor in the seventh row to 1. For
this example we will set Method to (2) Original.

37. When the table is as shown above, click on the Export Loads to File... button
save the results in a .sld file called My US Example 9_6 Model 1.sld.
Defining Model 2
38. We will now adjust the model we have defined to convert it to Model 2. We will
start by removing the six types of spring support at the abutment.
Open the Structure tab on the Navigation Pane. Right click on the Spring 375kN
per m node of the tree and select Delete. Repeat this procedure for the other
five types of spring support but do not delete the Fixed Bases supports.
9-94

39. Now that the spring supports representing the stiffness of the soil have been
deleted we will define some external loads representing the horizontal soil
pressure on the wall.
Note: In the following steps check the orientation of the horizontal loads applied to
the abutments in the graphics window and compare these with the diagram in the
introduction to Model 2 at the beginning of this example. Alter the sign convention
of the magnitude of the load as necessary to ensure that the loads have the
correct orientation as shown in the diagram.
and select Finite Element Load | External Load from the drop down list to open
the Define Finite Element Loading form. In the first row of the table set Load Type
to Force/area, Direction to Local Z and Load to -21kN/m
2
. Change Name to
Soil Pressure.

on De-select all then set Select by to Sub Model Group. Add Left Abutment
and Right Abutment to the Selected Groups list and click OK to close the filter
form.
Draw a box around the left abutment to assign soil pressure loads to the left
abutment. In the second row of the table set Load Type to Force/area, Direction
to Local Z and Load to 21kN/m
2
and draw a box around the right hand
abutment. Click OK to close the form.
40. Hydrostatic loads will now be applied to the abutments. The datum height will be
input as being 2 meters below the level of the deck because that is the height of
the water table.
Click on the Add button and select Finite Element Load|Hydrostatic Load from
of the table set Load w.r.t. datum to Below datum, Density to -10 and Datum to
-2. Draw a box around the left abutment to assign hydrostatic loads to the left
abutment. In the second row of the table set Load w.r.t. datum to Below datum,
9-95

Density to 10 and Datum to -2. Draw a box around the right abutment. Click
OK to close the form.

41. Next we will adjust the differential temperature loads applied to the deck.
Click on the Diff Temperature +ve Loads node of the tree to open the Define
Finite Element Loading form. In the first row of the table set T-Bottom to 1.16
and press Enter on the keyboard. In the second row set Grad to 6.09. Change
the Name to Diff Temperature ve Loads. Click OK to close the form.

42. Now we will adjust the seasonal load effects at the deck.
Click on the Grad Seasonal Temp Loads +ve node of the tree to open the Define
Finite Element Loading form. In the first row of the table set Grad to -10.
Change Name to Grad Seasonal Temp Loads -ve. Click OK to close the form.
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43. The next step is to create a compilation for soil pressure and hydrostatic loads.
and select Other. Click twice on the + button near the bottom of the form to
add 2 rows to the table. In the first row of the compilation table use the drop down
list to select the Soil Pressure case. Set the Gamma factor to 1.0. In the
second row of the compilation table use the drop down list to select the FE
Hydrostatic case. Set the Gamma factor to 1.0. Change the Name: to Soil &
Hydro Strength. Click OK to close the form.
44. The compilation for Service soil pressure and hydrostatic loads can be created by
copying the Strength compilation. Use the same Gamma factors of 1. Change
the Name to Soil & Hydro Service and click OK to close the form.
45. We can check that the other compilations have the adjusted loads assigned to
them with the correct gamma factors by opening and closing the Compile Loading
Patterns forms.
9_6 Model 2 Loads.sst.
Follow a procedure similar to that outlined in steps 34 to 37 to analyze the
structure and save the results in a .sld file. Note that dead loads, superimposed
dead loads and live loads should be omitted from the Assign Load Cases form for
model 2. The Assign Load Cases form for model 2 should look like this:

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Summary
In this example we defined a 3 sided FE structure consisting of a single span finite
element deck with finite element meshes representing the abutment walls. Support
conditions and loads relating to two different design situations were defined. In the
first model spring supports were defined to represent the stiffness of the soil. The
local axes of these spring supports were defined as being normal to the plane of the
abutment wall. In the second model the spring supports were replaced by a
horizontal soil pressure and a hydrostatic load to represent the water contained in the
soil. The resulting load effects for each design situation were saved in two .sld files.
Load effects from .sld files created in different analysis files can be imported into the
same beam file.
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9-99

9.7. User Defined Vehicles & Convoys
Subjects Covered:
User Defined Vehicles; User Defined Convoys
General background
User defined vehicles and convoys can be used when a vehicle is not included in the
list of default vehicles available in the program. It is worth noting that a user defined
vehicle, or a convoy which contains that user defined vehicle, can be manually
applied to the structure or selected on the Load Optimization form. In this example a
user defined vehicle is created for each cab/trailer, and then a convoy is defined with
the cab/trailers positioned along the length of the convoy. This ensures that the
orientation of the axles in each cab/trailer are radial when the convoy is applied to a
structure. The structure is curved on plan.
A convoy based on the Caltrans Permit Truck in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design
Specifications 2
nd
Edition will be defined. Each of the 3 different types of cab/trailer
are defined as individual user defined vehicles.
Note that if the structure were not curved on plan then the Caltrans Permit Truck
could be defined as a single user defined vehicle with all axles parallel.
Outline
A pre-prepared four span grillage model of a 500mm thick, curved slab, as shown
below is supplied with dead and superimposed loads already applied. A convoy load
which will represent a Caltrans Permit Truck will also be applied.

Details of the loading is as follows (3 dead loads already applied):
Dead load of the concrete slab is 23.544kN/m
3
(Yp = 1.25 & 1.0)
Roadway surfacing is 0.2m thick and has a density of 18kN/m
3
(Yp = 1.50 & 1.0)
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Footway makeup & finish is 0.35m thick and has a density of 20kN/m
3

(Yp = 1.50 & 1.0)
Caltrans Permit Truck as outlined below (load factor = 1.35 & 1.0):

Procedure
1. Start the program and open the pre-prepared data file with a name of US
Example 9_8 grillage.sst. Close the Structure overview with the Done button.
2. Change the title of the example to Curved Grillage Model with Convoy Load
using the Date | Titles menu option and put your initials in the Calculations by:
field before closing the form in the normal way.

User Defined Special Vehicles
The dead and superimposed dead loads of the slab and wearing surfaces have
already been applied to the structure in the pre-prepared file. The 2 types of trailer
(Trailer A and Trailer B) are also already defined in the pre-prepared file to
save time in this example. The cab, containing 3 axles, will be defined as a user
defined vehicle in the following steps.

3. Select the menu item Data | Define Permit Vehicles... to open the Define Permit
Vehicles form.
4. Click on the + button to add a new vehicle and change the Name to Cab.
5. Set the Number of Axles to 3 and the Number of Tracks to 6. Enter a value of
27kN in the Nominal Wheel Load field. This will ensure that each wheel load has
the same value, although the load at some wheels will be entered directly in the
Load column as required.
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6. In the Edit field select axle spacing from the drop down list. On the sub form that
has opened enter the values as shown below in the table. This will ensure that the
axle spacings in the cab are as per the vehicle load diagram. Click OK to close
the sub form.

7. In the Edit field select track spacing from the drop down list. On the sub form that
has opened enter the values as shown below in the table. This will ensure that the
track spacings in the cab are as per the vehicle load diagram. Click OK to close
the sub form.

8. Set the Front Axle Overhang and Rear Axle Overhang fields to 1.2m. This would
ensure that the appropriate swept path allowance would be set correctly if the
convoy were to be considered in the Load Optimization process.
In this example we will set the value of the Unloaded Length Front and Unloaded
Length Behind fields to 5. This will ensure that no load is applied to the structure
over that length immediately in front of, or behind, the cab.
9. Enter a value of 3.048m in the Overall Width of Vehicle field. Note that the
program automatically alters the value in this field when the value of the track
spacing is set.
10. We will now define the 10 wheels in the cab.
Click on the graphics window at the relevant locations where the blue construction
lines intersect to define the 10 wheel positions. The 10 wheels in the cab are
represented by green circles on the graphics window as shown below.
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Note that as an alternative wheels can be defined by selecting wheel positions in
the Edit field and clicking Yes on the confirm form. This places wheels of equal
load at all locations where the blue construction lines intersect.
11. Enter a value of 59kN in the 2 rows of the Load column pertaining to the 2
wheels at the front axle of the cab. The loads and wheel positions for the cab are
now as shown on the vehicle load diagram.

12. Click OK to close the Define Permit Vehicles form.
Convoy of Vehicles
The cab and 4 trailers will be defined as a single convoy of 5 user defined
vehicles.
13. Select the menu item Data | Define Convoy... to open the Define Convoy of
Vehicles form.
14. Click on the + button to add a new convoy and change the Name to Caltrans
Permit Truck.
15. Set the Convoy Type to Non-uniform. This enables vehicles to be positioned at
varying distances within the convoy. Set the Vehicle Type dropdown fields and
enter the values in the Vehicle Separation fields as shown below. These
dimensions position the cab/trailers along the length of the convoy as per the
diagram in the introduction to this example. Click OK to close the form.
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Applying the Convoy Load to the Structure
A convoy load can be included in the Load Optimization process. However, in this
example the convoy load will be applied manually to the structure.
16. Change the navigation pane on the left hand side of the screen to Basic Loads
by selecting the button near the bottom.
Convoy Load to open a Define Vehicle Loading form. Use the default values on
the form. Position the Convoy Load approximately by clicking twice in the north
most lane somewhere near the right hand end of span 2 (leave a gap of a few
seconds between clicks). Now set the Station in the form to 27m to position it
more accurately. Note that the axles in the convoy align radially with the curved
deck. The user can input the appropriate dynamic load allowance in Dynamic
Load Allowance field on the form.

18. It is worth noting that when Defined is selected in the Axles field the Axles
Included sub form opens in which tick boxes can be selected or deselected to
include or ignore individual axle loads in the convoy. This may be useful when a
user wants to ensure that axles are not applied when they do not contribute to the
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extreme force effect under consideration as mentioned in article 3.6.1.3 of
AASHTO LRFD. Close the sub form if it has been opened. Close the Define
Vehicle Loading form with the OK button.

9_8 with Convoy Loads.sst. Close the program.
Summary
This example provides an introduction to defining user defined vehicles and user defined
convoys.

The user defined a vehicle and a user defined convoy. The convoy load was placed on
the structure manually. Users can create loading patterns manually based on
engineering experience. The appropriate load factors would be input manually in the
Compile Loading Patterns form.

Alternatively, the convoy could be included in the Load Optimization process which is
described in other examples in Chapter 9 of this manual.

Structural Bridge Design ASSHTO

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November 2013

Structural Bridge Design 2014

Structural Bridge Design 2014. There are nine sections,

Structural Bridge Design 2014 before adding the standard

Structural Bridge Design 2014. Particular emphasis is placed on the

. The drawing file contains data about each individual

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