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Model description

• Create a new model from template. Define as a simple span, 40m long, with steel girders cross-section.

• Release the bearing at the end abutment to achieve a simply supported condition.

• Define point, line, and area loads in separate load cases as follows:
  
  

  • Point load: 10kN load applied at station 20, centered transversely.

  • Line load: 1kN/m load applied between stations 15 and 25, centered transversely.

  • Area load: 0.1kN/m^2 load applied between stations 15 to 25 and across the width of the deck.
    
    These loads will all cause an effect equivalent to loading the bridge midspan with a 10kN point load

• Run the analysis and check the midspan moments. For point loading, the theoretical midspan moment is given as follows:

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Plan, elevation, and section diagrams depicting load application are given in Figure 1:

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Figure 1 - Load application diagrams

Model development

Define and apply loads

Use the Loads > Loads - Point command to define a new point load, as shown in Figure 2:

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Figure 2 - Define point load

Use the Bridge > Loads > Point Loads command to assign the previously defined point load, as shown in Figure 3: 

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Figure 3 - Assign point load

Using a similar approach, define and apply line and area loads.

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The moment diagrams below (Figures 4-6) depict the midspan moment expected.

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Figure 4 - Point load moment diagram

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Figure 5 - Line load moment diagram

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Figure 6 - Area load moment diagram

Attachments

• CSiBridge V15.0.0 model (zipped .SDB file)

Metadata

• Name: Applying point, line, and area loads to bridge objects

• Description: This tutorial demonstrates point-, line-, and area-load application to bridge objects.

• Program: CSiBridge

• Program Version: 15.0.0

• Model ID: na