3D composite girders bridge analysis.

[centralstate]

What kind of software will you recommend?
We are trying to use a 3D software(shell elements) to model the bridge system with composite at postive moment and non-composite at negative moment for steel plate girders or box girders. We found some programs, LARSA2000, LUSAS, MIDAS, STADD, and SAP2000 have similar function. Does anyone know which program is easier to do that? Thank you.

 

[rowe]

I can't comment on the software you've listed, although I was familiar with STAAD at one time. I have used MDX for design and analysis of curved steel girder bridges and it allows both line girder and 3d analysis (traditional frame and also grid). MDX can do a lot of work (LFD, ASD, LRFD CODE CHECKS), but the user must be very familiar with steel design because the documentation basically only gives definitions of the variable names - no examples.

good luck.