Bridge Design

Balanced Cantilever Bridge

FEA/SSD/SOFiPLUS Version 2014

SOFiSTiK AG 2014

Bridge Design Tutorial

This manual is protected by copyright laws. No part of it may be translated, copied or

reproduced, in any form or by any means, without written permission from SOFiSTiK AG.
SOFiSTiK reserves the right to modify or to release new editions of this manual.
The manual and the program have been thoroughly checked for errors. However, SOFiSTiK
does not claim that either one is completely error free. Errors and omissions are corrected as
soon as they are detected.
The user of the program is solely responsible for the applications. We strongly encourage the
user to test the correctness of all calculations at least by random sampling.

Bridge Design Tutorial

Table of Contents
1

Project Description ......................................................................................................... 4

1.1

Geometry ........................................................................................................................ 4
Model: ............................................................................................................................. 5

2.1

SOFiPLUS: ..................................................................................................................... 5

2.2

Cross Section ................................................................................................................. 7

2.3

Load Case Manager ..................................................................................................... 10

2.4

Cross Section - Reinforcement .................................................................................... 11

Pre-stressing: ............................................................................................................... 12
3.1

Tendon generation inside SOFiPLUS .......................................................................... 12

3.2

Tendon Generation with User Task: .......................................................................... 14

Construction Stage Manager: ....................................................................................... 15

4.1

Stages: ......................................................................................................................... 15

4.2

Groups: ......................................................................................................................... 16

4.3

Loads: ........................................................................................................................... 17

4.4

Control Parameters: ..................................................................................................... 17

Traffic loads: ................................................................................................................. 19

Combinations, design CSM_DESI: ........................................................................... 24

Additional definitions: ................................................................................................... 27

Content

Bridge Design Tutorial

Project Description

This tutorial hand out requires basic SOFiSTiK knowledge and is supposed to be used within
a training session run by a SOFiSTiK trainer.
Inside this tutorial we guide you through the following bridge project. The analytical model of
the bridge consists of quadrilateral elements QUADs (superstructure) and beam elements
(columns):

For a better understanding and reproducing, we split up the data files according to the different chapters. This enables you to start in the middle of the Tutorial if necessary.
The idea of this tutorial is to guide you through a simple RC bridge project and introduce the
general workflow showing the necessary program tools and functions. All steps like modelling, loading, traffic, combinations etc. are simplified.

If there are any hints of new tasks that have to be modified manually (new tasks
named Text Editor (Teddy)) you find further informations directly in those tasks.
Please open data files related to the chapter

1.1

Geometry

Bridge Geometry:
Spans [m]:

- 10 - 30 - 60 - 30

Stations [m]:

10

40

- 10

100 130 140

Bridge Materials:
Concrete bridge deck:

C 40/50

Concrete columns:

C 40/50

Reinforcement steel:

B 500

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Model:

Start SSD, new project, EN1992-2004, Road Bridges, 3D FEA

Check material (C40/50, B500)
Open SOFiPLUS(-X) to define:
-

2.1

Cross section(s)
System axis
Variables
Beam elements
Supports
Load actions (G_1, G_2, P, C, L, F)
Loading cases for self weight (test), Settlement

SOFiPLUS:

Create a new project axis called sys, horizontal alignment as straight line

New variable for section height: H (units [mm]!):

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Placements are so called points of interest along axis. Here: we use supports and construction joints.

Hint: use station offset for quicker definitions.

Support axis @: 0, 10, 40, 100, 130, 140
Construction point/joints @:

Balanced Cantilever Bridge

10 - 40 incr. 3.0m
40- 100 incr. 3.0m
100- 140 incr. 3.0m

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2.2

Cross Section

New cross section called box used for the main girder: assign variable H to section

Draw outer section shape, define boundary, draw inner boundary, define opening, define
stress points top and bottom, and assign variable H to corners of section:

12.0m
0.25m

0.40m

2,80 / 0.15
m

0.30m
6.40m

Close and calculate the section to also see CG and SC.

Create new rectangular section for piers:

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Create a new structural line and assign section to axis (segment on bridge axis see right
mouse click menu):

Define meshing options: mesh as one element for balanced cantilever parts, automatic
meshing for columns and side span meshing.
The support placements are displayed as grey rectangle. Double-click on placements for
support axis to work on local section at this specific placement: bearings, columns, eccentric
connections (constraints):

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Note: group numbers for beam and spring elements must be defined correctly to match with
construction sequence:

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2.3

Load Case Manager

Go to LoadManager to define Actions and Loadcases:

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The define Free loads for the actual loading and assign the loading the appropriate loading
case.

Example for Pier settlement (point load):

In addition to the shape the section also requires additional data such as reinf. layers, stress
points, geometry points, shear lag, shear cuts, etc. Here only reinf. layers for top/bottom,
geometry points for PT and stress points top/bottom are defined. Note that also the reinf.
lines require link to variable behavior.

2.4

Cross Section - Reinforcement

Add reinf. layers bottom/top to section:

Add a geometry point to section to which we refer to for the geometry of the continuity tendons:

Export structure to SSD, end of chapter 1, for modeling

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Pre-stressing:

3.1

Tendon generation inside SOFiPLUS

Add new material: Y 1770 (EN 1992).

Add a pre-stressing system:

Create Tendons with PT-Editor (developed geometry) with SOFiPLUS:

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Calculate all loading cases incl. PT., check behavior in animator.

There are usually many different tendons to define, in this case we recommend making use
of copy/past/modify that is much easier in text file input than in graphic input.

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3.2

Tendon Generation with User Task:

With right mouse click on the task we can view input in text format. Next step is to complete
the tendons, done via text input TEDDY. See input in text files. We use F1 for help as well
as we use variable definitions for having flexibility for number of tendons, geometry, etc.:

We also introduce a few variables for number of tendons per stage, segment lengths, distances etc. These variables will make it easier to optimize the PT.
There are three TEDDY tasks for PT in the cantilevers, PT for the continuity tendons and for
the side spans. After calculating the tendons, we can view reports, animator, and also the PT
loading cases.

the loadcases for the tendons will not be used for the construction stages. These
are storage cases where the PT loading info is generated and stored for later use.

Note: important input also predetermining the stage definitions in the following chapter are
the ones for

jacking the tendon

in which stage (ICS1)?
grouting the tendon in which stage (ICS2)?
removing the tendon in which stage (ICS3)?

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Construction Stage Manager:

Before going into the stage definitions some things were added to the project:
-

A traveler load (Load manager and Loadcases 19, 29, 39,.) for each stage.
the pt geometry is extended: now we also see a horizontal offset. A new variable is
introduced as well.

Insert new task for CSM, Double click.

4.1

Stages:

The numbering sequence (allow gaps for later changes!) as well as the titles are user defined. The TYPE has to be set as such that the program knows what it has to do. All events
have to be aligned along the time axis. Only Creep + Shrinkage allow moving on the time
axis.
Also important is the link between tendon and stages.

Schematic construction sequence:

Stage 21

Stage 41

Stage 31

Stage 11
2
First group
activation
(age 7),

nd

group

Stages

activation

for

activation

rd

group

PT,

th

group

Stages

activation

for

for

(age 7),

traveler

(age 7),

traveler

(age 7),

Self weight

new and

Self weight

new and

Self weight

PT,

traveler

Self weight

to

to

applied

be

PT,

Stages

be

to

be

to

be

applied

applied

applied
Creep+shrinkage 14 days

T0

Creep+shrinkage 14 days

Creep+shrinkage 14 days

T42

T28

T14

Time axis

Elements of stage 11 are

Elements of stage 11 are

from zero

7+14=21days old

7+14+14=35days old

Elements of stage 11 are

7+14+14+14=49days old

to oo
Elements of stage 21 are

Elements of stage 21 are

7+14=21days old

7+14+14=35days old

Elements of stage 31 are

7+14=21days old

We also define a certain stage for which we want the precamber to be set.
Please note that the stages for PT must (!) match with the tendon assignments.

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4.2

Groups:

The group definition as done in SOFiPLUS is now important. The activation of the individual
groups has to be linked to the stage definitions. Also define the age of the next segment
when activated (emod, c+s)

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4.3

Loads:

As in the coming menu Control Parameters all self weight is considered as per the group
activations. PT is clear, too and the traveler load has to be built in as external load.

the traveler load is activated and deactivated. So it is loaded and unloaded.

4.4

Control Parameters:

This input here defines the automatic self weight activation as well as definitions for the precamber. Also import it is to save the stress results of the stages.
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After calculation, please check animator, report with special regard to the Loading Case results 4 000+, 5 000+, 6 000+. 7 000+.

In case of more than 999 construction stages the automatic generated LC numbers
are 40 000+, 50 000+, 60 000+. 70 000

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Bridge Design Tutorial

Traffic loads:

This task is based on the module ELLA and allows the analysis of traffic loads using influences lines/surfaces and the combination into envelopes.
As a first thing the deck is subdivide into lanes based on the selected design code. For EC a
centric, left-most and right-most arrangement is set up.

One can add as many load trains as wanted into the project. In case a user defined train is
required we refer to TEDDY input.

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As a next step we select the wanted degrees of freedom. As results we get max/minN,
max/min VY etc., each one with co-existing (associated) forces.
These envelope results are stored as matrix as in an XLS table (columns and lines):
The column headers are called as the degree of freedom (N, Vy,..), the lines are following a
numbering scheme that is based on a default set which can also be adjusted:
Example:
Line 101
Line 102
Line 103
Line 104
Line 105
Line 106
Line 107
Line 108
Line 109
Line 110
Line 111
Line 112

N
maxN
minN
co-ex.
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex

Vy
Vz
Mt
My
Mz
co-existing (associated) forces
co-existing (associated) forces
maxVy
co-existing (associated) forces
minVy
co-existing (associated) forces
co-ex
maxVz
co-existing (associated) forces
co-ex
minVz
co-existing (associated) forces
co-ex
co-ex
maxMt
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
minMt
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
maxMy
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
minMy
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
maxMz
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
co-ex
minMz

We now assign which load train is moving on which lane and set up so called cases each
one representing a certain loading scenario.
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Also an action type has to be defined so that the program knows the category of the result
envelopes.

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The Max/min MY envelope is shown in the following graphics:

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Bridge Design Tutorial

Combinations, design CSM_DESI:

For this part, there is not Graphic User Interface available. The user has the possibility to set
up individual combinations for the relevant ULS and SLS combinations (using module MAXIMA) and to do the design manually (using modules AQB for beams and BEMESS for shell
elements).
Based on the result coming from CSM one can also extend the CSM to do the design. The
CSM results are here combined with the final combinations of say temperature, traffic, settlement etc. In addition to the actions to be combined with the stage results one can also
shows elements for detailed stress checks on element level.
Similar to CSM a batch file consisting of input for MAXIMA, AQB and/or BEMESS is generated and executed.
This generated file called (project)_desi.dat can also be edited and modified.

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Decompression check (-):

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Decompression check (-):

Does not pass, varying of number of tendons as option to adjust design.

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Additional definitions:

The example is extended by the following details:

-

The substructure is also linked to the girder, follows when changing the axis geometry.
Traffic is enhanced in such way that we now have two envelopes for UDL and truck
loads: L_T and L_U. This is part of the Load groups definition.
The combinations are not done using the automated CSM DESI wizard, but manually
using MAXIMA.
Same for the ULS and SLS design: the necessary input is done manually in AQB instead of using the CSM DESI definitions.
In this part there is a warning message saying that no torsion reinforcement layer is
found, this can be extended within the cross section if wanted.

Additional comments:
The procedures shown here describe the general workflow for a simplified but real
reinforced concrete bridge project.
Real projects will require a more detailed input for most of the parts specifically
when doing combinations.
This example can be understood as getting started reference for a RC Bridge project using SOFiSTiK software.
Feedback will be much appreciated. Please send us your comments via Email to
support@sofistik.de with subject Reinforced Concrete Bridge Tutorial.

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