Bridge Engineering Software

[ThomasH]

Hi all

I have a simple question. When an engineer in the US does the structural calculations for a bridge, what software does he use?

I need something that can handle moving loads in loadtrains.
For example up to 15 pointloads divided in 3-4 groups that can move independant of each other.

I also need to ability combine loads in a relatively complex way. Both finding and adding THE worst load as well as adding IF worse. These two methods also need to be combined.

My problem is that I have to work with the Swedish bridgecode and for some reason (?) it seems more complicades than most.

Anyway, what do you use in The US?

Regards Thomas

 

[jimbo]

Suggest you post in the Bridge Engineering Forum.

 

[ThomasH]

Probably a very good idea, I didn´t see the bridge forum first.

Thanks /Thomas

 

[fleisher]

They use MERLIN-DASH, STAAD, SAP and LARSA. STAAD generates influence surfaces with their new bridge loader module. I doubt they do Swedish codes.

 

[Qshake]

Yes, we use all the program listed by FLEISHER and then some. Some others that come to mind are GT-STRUDL, MDX, CONSPAN, CONSYS, and many others.

GT-STRUDL allows for a host of live load definitions and like many of the other programs can generate user defined live loads. The STRUDL database management will also allow for a wide range of load processing etc. Some of the other high end program likely offer that too.