Reinforced concrete bridges - Computational Analysis and Design of Bridge Structures - page 122

Deck (shell element)

z

y x

Beam (shell element)
Abutment (frame element)

Figure 4.16 T-beam bridge computer model by CSiBridge.

The comparison results are shown in Figure 4.17 for Merlin-DASH
line girder model and in Figure 4.18 for CSiBridge finite element model,
respectively. From Merlin-DASH program the maximum positive moment
for dead load is 112.6 kip-ft (152.7 kN-m), whereas CSiBridge finite
element model shows 102.2 kip-ft (138.6 kN-m). In the live load analy-
sis, the line girder program is assuming HL-93 vehicle(s) with AASHTO
distribution factor, whereas finite element model has two lanes loaded
with HL-93 vehicle on each lane. It can be seen that for a normal girder
bridge, the single-beam model is comparable with the 3D finite element
model (Table 4.2).

300

250

200

Dead load
Live load

150

100

50

0

0 2.6 5.2 7.8 10.4 13 15.6 18.2 20.8 23.4 26

Figure 4.17 Merlin-DASH dead and live load moment results (kip-ft).