Cable-Stayed Bridges Generator

 

This utility of CivillFEM allows an easy modeling of  cable-stayed bridges with beam elements. The concrete bridge section (slab or box) can be variable and defined with the bridge.

 

 

 

There are two types of cable arrangements: Harp and Fan.

 

Harp like arrangement

 

 

 

 

Fan like arrangement

 

 

 

Besides, both types include many more options:

 

o   Symmetric or not

 

o   Unlimited number of towers

 

o   Vertical or inclined tower

 

o   Tower of variable cross section

 

o   Bridge deck with variable depth

 

 

In the generated bridge beam model all norms and conventions used in the Bridges Module are kept up and, as well, all utilities for load generation are applicable.

 

 

 

1      CABLE-STAYED BRIDGES GENERATION WINDOW

 

1.1      TYPOLOGIES

 

Only admissible the ones generated as CivilFEM Bridge Section, concrete box or slab type (only beam model).

 

 

 

 

 

1.2      USING THE GENERATOR

 

Before launching it, user must define the following data:

 

-          Unit System.

-          Materials to be used: concrete, steel, etc.

-          Element types for bridge deck, towers, and cables.

-          Bridge sections (deck)

-          Cross sections (towers and cables)

-          Beam & Shell Properties.     

 

 

After that, the generator window appears with the ~BRCS, FileName command

 

or using the Main Menu path:

 

Civil Preprocessor > Bridges Prep > Predesigned bridges >  Cable Stayed Bridges > Concrete

 

                

 

 

 

 

1.3      DATA EXPLANATION

 

Referring to the next figures (harp & fan types) the required geometric data are explained in the following chapters:

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.3.1      GENERAL PARAMETERS TAB

 

 

Basic and general data will be introduced, to be constant in all model:

 

General Parameters:

 

NTow	Number of towers
MaxES	Maximum size of longitudinal division (SIZEL parameter of the ~BRGEN command
Dil	Dilatation, allows movement in X direction

 

Element types & Materials:

 

Cable

Deck

Tower

 

Deck Definition:

 

P1X, P1Z	X, Z coordinates of initial point of bridge layout
P2X, P2Z	X, Z coordinates of final point of bridge layout
P3X, P3Z	X, Z coordinates of a third arbitrary point of bridge layout
BrSec1	Initial section of bridge
BrSec2	Final section of bridge

 

Boundary Conditions (at P1, P2):

 

UX, UY, UZ	Constrained movement along X, Y, Z axes
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ	Constrained rotation about X, Y, Z axes
All	All DOFs constrained

 

 

 

1.3.2      TOWERS TAB

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tower Properties:

 

ID	Number of active tower
Symmetric	Symmetry from left to right in  number, area and distance between cables and bridge
Vertical	Vertical active tower
Layout: HARP or FAN	Cable arrangement: Harp or Fan
TowerSec	Tower cross-section in tower-deck connection
DeckSec	Bridge section in tower-deck conection

 

 

 Number of cables:

 

Left, Right

Number of cables at left and right of active tower

 

End Points:

 

XBot, ZBot	X, Z coordinates at bottom of active tower
TSecBot	Cross-section at bottom of active tower
XTop, ZTop	X, Z coordinates at top of active tower
TSecTop	Cross-section at top of active tower

                              

 

Deck Points:

 

XDistL,XDistR	Arrays of X distances at left and right of active tower
BrSecL, BrSecR	Arrays of bridge sections at left and right of active tower
CableAL, CableAR	Cable areas at left and right of active tower

 

 

Tower Points:

 

ZDistT,ZDistB	Arrays of Z distances from top and bottom of active tower  points where cross section vary or cable is attached
TsecT, TsecB	Arrays of cross-sections from top and bottom of active tower
CableAL, CableAR	Arrays of cable areas at left and right of active tower

 

     

Boundary Conditions (at bottom & tower-deck connection):

 

UX, UY, UZ	Constrained movement along X, Y, Z axes
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ	Constrained rotation about X, Y, Z axes
All	All DOFs constrained

 

 

 

 

Related commands:

~BRCS