Curved Steel I-Girder Bridge

Bridging Your Innovations to Realities

midas Civil

Bridging Your Innovations to Realities

Overview
1.

The bridge geometry is made.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

2.

Live Loads are applied as per AASHTO LRFD.

1.
2.

3.

Materials and sections are defined.

Geometry is made from scratch.
Crossbeam/ diaphragm modeling.
Boundary conditions are applied.
Loading is applied. (Self weight and SIDL)

Two lanes is defined.

The lane can carry vehicles in both directions.

Analysis
1.
2.

Response Spectrum
Live load

midas Civil

Bridging Your Innovations to Realities

1. Introduction

30 ft
200 ft

8 in

6 ft

32 ft
1.5 ft
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1. Introduction

FEA Modeling of Steel Bridges

1. Beam Element (Composite Section)

2. Beam & Plate Elements

3. Plate Elements

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2. Materials
Properties> Material > Add

Steel:

1. Select Steel under type of design.

5
3

6
7

2. Select ASTM09(S) under Steel

Standard.
3. Select A709-50W type from DB.
4. Click Apply.
Concrete:
5. Select Concrete under type of design.

6. Select ASTM(RC) under Concrete

Standard.
7. Select C5000 (for pier and pier table).
8. Click Apply.
Concrete for Crossbeam:
9. Select C5000 from DB, then Standard
as None.

10. Enter Name as Crossbeams.

11. Set Weight density as Zero.

12. Click OK.

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3. Sections
Properties > Section > Add > select
DB/User tab
1. Select I-section
2. Select User
3. Plug in dimensions as provided
4. Click Change Offset
5. Select Center-Top
6. OK
7. OK

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3
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Steel Composite Girder Ramp

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Sections
1
2

Properties > Section > Add > DB/User

Diaphragm:
1. Select BD/User tab.
2. Select I-Section, and DB
3. Select AISC(US) under Steel Standard.
4. Enter name Diaphragm, as W16X45 from
DB.
5. Change Offset to Center Top.

6. Click Apply

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3. Sections
Properties> Section > Add

Bracing:

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3

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1. Select DB/User tab.

2. Select Angle Section, and DB.

3. Select AISC(US) under Steel Standard.

4. Enter name as Bracing, and L- 4X4X3/8
from DB.

5. Set Offset as Center-Center.

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6. Click Apply.
Pier :
7. Select DB/User tab.
8. Select Solid Round.
9. Select User.

10. Enter name as Pier.

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11. Enter Diameter as 72 in.

12. Click Apply.
Pier Cap Center:
13. Select Solid Rectangle.
14. Name as Pier Cap Center.
15. Enter H as 72 and B as 72.
16. Set Offset as Center Top.
17. Click OK.

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3. Sections
Define Tapered Section properties (For Pier Cap)
Properties> Section

Add Section

Pier Cap: (P_L)

1. Select Tapered Section Tab.

2. Select Solid Rectangle section for the ends of Pier Cap.

3. Enter name as P_L for left end.

4. Enter values for i and j .
5. Apply y and z axis variation for linear.
6. Set Offset Center Top.
7. Click Apply
Repeat above step s again for the other end of cap(P_R) (i and j
end interchanged)
Dummy Crossbeams:
1. Select DB/User tab.

2.Select Solid Rectangle

3. Enter name as Dummy Crossbeams.
4. Select User.

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7

5. Enter the H as 8 and B as 60. (Note: Thickness of beam =

deck thickness)
6. Set Offset as Center-Bottom.
7. Click OK.

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3. Sections

1
2
3
4
Properties > Thickness
1. In-plane & Out-of-plane: 8 in
2. Check Plate offset
3. Value: 4 in
4. OK

6
7

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4. Modeling
1. Node/Element > Nodes > Create nodes. Create nodes at (0,0,0) and copy once.
2. Create node at (100,30,0)
3. Select all by clicking

and translate (Nodes>Translate) along Y axis to make the nodes for edge girders

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4. Modeling
1. Node/Element > Nodes > Rotate Nodes. Rotate nodes at abutment 1 (left side)by 30 first.
2. Then abutment 2 (right side) by - 30.

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4. Modeling
1.

Node/Element > Elements > Create Line Elements on Curve. Create Line Elements on Curve by using
Arc by 3 Points methods. Enter 40 for Number of Segments. Click in field P1 and then click on nodes from
left to right (like nodes 1, 2, 3)

2.

Repeat for the other four girders.

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4. Modeling
1.

Select beam element of two exterior girders, be aware that only beams elements should be selected not
any nodes

2.

Hit Delete key from your keyboard. The nodes should remain in place

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4. Modeling
1. Create diaphragms for Abutment 1. Click in nodal connectivity field and click on nodes 7,1,4.
2. Repeat step 1 for diaphragm over Pier Cap and Abutment 2.

3. Repeat Step 1 for every 4th node (diaphragm at pier cap) on inner edge girder with section as Bracing as shown.

Diaphragm Sections
Toggle off Hidden

Over
Pier cap

Abut. 1

Abut. 2

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4. Modeling - End Diaphragm

1. Right click on Diaphragm section from Works Tree Menu and select Active. Then Select All
and translate
(Node/Element > Nodes>Translate) along Z axis by (0,0,-76.8), to make the nodes for Bottom chords of
diaphragms at abutments.
2. Node/Element > Elements Create Elements. Create bottom chords by connecting the translated nodes using
bracing sections.
Change units to inch

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4. Modeling - End Diaphragm

3. Change element type to Truss and create inverted K- bracings for end diaphragms by snapping nodes at the mid
points of the bottom chord.*
4. Click in Nodal connectivity. Click node at top and then move down to the bottom chord, the cursor will
automatically be placed at its mid point, and click there.*
5. Repeat for all end-diaphragms. (i.e. at pier cap and abutment 2)

At bottom-right corner of midas CIVIL window

* 2 signifies that nodes will be snapped automatically to

divide the element into . It can be changed to 3,4,5,,,,, to
divide element by snapping nodes at 1/3 , ,1/5 ,.of
18
element length.

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4. Modeling - End Diaphragm

6. Boundary>Rigid Links. Create Rigid Link between top and bottom nodes
on the girder webs at Abutment 1 diaphragm; the bottom node as
Master node and top node as Slave node.

7. Click in Master node field and then click on bottom node in Model View
window.
8. Use Select Single
Slave node.

to select the node directly above Master node as

9. Click on typical type as Rigid Body.

10 Click Apply.
11. Repeat for other girder webs at Abutment 1 diaphragm, and then for
Abutment 2 diaphragm.

Slave Node

8
Rigid links
9

Cross Bracings
Master Node
10

7
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4. Modeling - Intermediate Diaphragm

1. Activate All
and right click on Bracing section from Works Tree Menu and select Active. Then Select by Window
member corresponding to intermediate diaphragm.

the

2. Click Activate(F2).
Select All
and Translate nodes (Node/Element > Nodes>Translate) along Z axis by (0,0,-74.4) , to
make the nodes for the bottom chords of intermediate diaphragms.
3. Node/Element > Elements > Create Elements. Create bottom chords by connecting the translated nodes using bracing
sections.

1
2

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4. Modeling - Intermediate Diaphragm

4. Change element type to truss and check off intersect Node and Element and create cross bracings for
intermediate diaphragms.
5. Click in Nodal Connectivity. Click node at top and then move down diagonally to the bottom chord.

6. Repeat for all intermediate diaphragms.

Cross Bracing

Bottom Chord

4
Intermediate Diaphragm
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4. Modeling - Intermediate Diaphragm

7. Boundary > Rigid Links. Create Rigid Link between top and bottom nodes
on the girder webs at intermediate diaphragms. The top node as
Master node and bottom node as Slave node.

8. Click in Master node field and then click on top node in Model View window.
9. Use Select Single
Slave node.

to select the node directly below Master node as

10. Click on typical type as Rigid Body.

11. Click Apply.
12. Repeat for other girder webs at intermediate diaphragm, and then for other
intermediate diaphragm.

Master Node

8
Rigid links
10

Cross Bracings
11

Slave Node

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4. Modeling Concrete Deck

Node/Element > Elements >Auto Mesh

1
5
2

1.

Select Nodes

2.

Type: Quadrilateral

3.

Select Material 1

4.

Select Thickness 1

5.

Click the box to turn to green

6.

Select nodes one by one in clockwise direction starting from left top
node to create an enclosed area (so the 1st node and the last node
should be the same)

7.

When all nodes selected > Click Apply

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4. Modeling Concrete Deck

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4. Modeling - Pier
1. Activate All
. Switch to Top-View
over pier cap. (Box A)
2. Click Activate(F2)

Select by Window

Select member corresponding to end diaphragm

and switch to Left-View

A
1

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4. Modeling
1.

Use Select Single

and select the bottom nodes of the girders.

2.

Translate by (0,0,-12.4). Node/Element > Nodes>Translate

3.

Select node A using select single, and translate through unequal distance along y axis by -36,-138,210,138.

3
1
Girder bottom Nodes

Node A

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4. Modeling
1.

Node/Element > Elements>Create Elements. Set material as C5000.

2.

Create Pier Cap left end using Section as P_L ,click in nodal connectivity and click on nodes along a to c .

3.

Change Section to Pier Cap Center, click in nodal connectivity and then click nodes c to e.

4.

Change Section to P_R , click in nodal connectivity and then click on nodes e to g.

1
2
3

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4. Modeling
1

1.

Properties>Tapered Section Group.

2.

Select by window the right end of pier cap.

3.

Enter name as P_Right .

4.

Z-Axis variation as Polynomial (2) with Symmetric plane

from J end.

5.

Y Axis variation being Linear.

6.

Click Add.

7.

Select by Window the left end of Pier Cap.

8.

Name as P_Left and Z axis symmetric plane from I-end.

9.

Click Add.

Left End
7

Right End
2

9
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4. Modeling
1.

Node/Element > Nodes>Translate. Translate node a by (0,0,-72 in).

2.

Using Select Single, select the translated node

3.

Node/Element > Elements>Extrude. Extrude Node into line element to create pier as shown in dialog box.

Node a

2
Newly Translated
node

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4. Modeling
1. Boundary > Elastic Link.
2. Select Rigid Type.

3. Click in 2 Nodes field and then click at nodes a and b.

4. Check on Copy Elastic link and copy along Y axis as shown

5. Click on nodes c and d.

6. Click on d and e.

3
b
2

4
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6. Boundary Conditions: Supports

Model > Boundary> Supports

1. Select the support nodes.
2. Select Support type.
3. Click Apply.
Repeat for abutment nodes.

Interior girder
node

Exterior girder
node

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Steel Composite Curved Bridge

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7. Loads

Load>Static Load Cases

1.

Enter SW, SIDL as Dead Loads.

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Steel Composite Curved Bridge

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7. Loads: Self Weight and SIDL

Load>Self Weight
1. Load case name as SW and group name as
default.

2. Z = -1
3. Click Add.
SIDL:
4. . Select the elements to be loaded. For example,
for Girders, double click on girder section
from Works Tree.
5. Load>Element Beam Load. Load case name as
SIDL.
6. Enter element beam loads as UDL in z direction.
-0.5 kips/ft (Change units from in to ft).
7. Click Apply.

3
7

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7. Loads: Structure Groups

1. Click on Groups tab under Tree menu.
2. Right click on Structure group and click on New
3. Enter name as Girder, click add.
4. Enter name as Crossbeams + Diaphragms, click add, click close.
5. Click on Select by Plane
Close.

and select XY plane with Z=0 ft. and click

6. Click Activate.
7. Double click on Girder under section in Works tree to select all girders.
8. Go to groups tab, click on Girder under structure group and drag and
drop it over the Model View window. (to assign the girder members
to the structure group.)
9. Right click on Girder structure group and select Inactive.
10. Click on Select All
and drag and drop the Crossbeam +
Diaphragm structure group on Model View window to assign the
diaphragms and crosbeams to the structure group.

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Steel Composite Curved Bridge

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7. Loads: Live Loads (Define Lane)

1
Load > Moving >Moving Load Code.
1. Select AASHTO LRFD from the moving load code.
Load > Moving Load Analysis > Traffic Surface Lanes.
1. Lane Name : Lane 1

2. Lane width: 12 ft
3. Wheel spacing:6ft

4. Offset: -7 ft

5. Selection by: Picking.

6. Select all exterior nodes in bottom one by one starting from left bottom corner.

7. Apply
8. Repeat the process for Lane 2. Only change Eccentricity to -23 ft

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Steel Composite Curved Bridge

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7. Loads: Live loads (Vehicles and Load cases)

Load > Moving Load Analysis Data> Moving
Load case.

5. Enter a Load case name: MVL

6. Check or modify Multiple Presence Factor.

7.Select loading effect for sub load case as

Independent .
8. Add Sub-Load case.
9. Select one of the vehicles..
10. Scale factor as 1, and min. number of loaded
lane as 1 and max. as 2.
11. Select lanes L1 and L2.

12. Click OK.

13. Similarly create load case for HL-93 Tandem
Vehicle.

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Load > Moving Load Analysis Data>

Vehicles.

1. Click Add Standard

2. Click on Vehicle load type

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3. Select HL-93 TRK as first vehicle load

type., DLA = 33%,Click Apply
4. Select HL-93 TDM as second vehicle
load type. Click OK

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7. Loads: Moving Load analysis Control

Analysis> Moving Load Analysis Control Data

1. Set the analysis control as specified in the dialog box.

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7. Loads: Conversion of Loads to masses for seismic analysis.

Load > Static Loads > Masses > Loads to masses.
1. Select the Mass direction :X,Y,Z
2. Load type: Nodal, Beam, Floor, Pressure
3. Select the Load case (SIDL) to be converted and scale factor.

4. Click Add.

5. Click OK.
Model> Structure type
6. Check on Convert Self Weight into Masses.

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Steel Composite Curved Bridge

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8. Response Spectrum Analysis

1
4
2
3

Load> Response Spectrum analysis data > Response spectrum functions

1. Enter the Function Name.
2. Import the response spectrum coordinates as obtained from RS.spd file, [AASHTO LRFD , Soil type E site.].
3. Response spectrum is generated simultaneously.
4. Enter the Damping Value and acceleration due to gravity.

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7. Seismic Load case / Eigenvalue Analysis Control

Load> Response Spectrum analysis data > Response spectrum load cases

1
2

1. Enter the Load case name. RS-X

2. Select Direction and Excitation angle as 0 deg.
3. Select Function name.
4. Click Add. And repeat with Load case name as RS-Y and Excitation angle as 90 deg
5. Click Eigenvalue Analysis Control.

6
7

4
6.Select Lancoz Vectors as type of Analysis.
7. Enter no. of frequencies as 10.

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9. Perform analysis
Analysis > Perform Analysis

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