LUSAS Bridge
is used by engineers worldwide for all types of bridge analysis, design
and load rating from
simple slab deck bridges, steel trusses, integral bridges and
bow-string arch bridges, through to box girder, movable, cable stayed and
suspension bridges. It is used routinely for all types of
"architectural" bridges with slender or curved shapes,
and especially where dynamic loading is important.
Case Studies
Illustrative uses of the software with the most recently
added at the top. Country flags relate to the project's
location.
Design of a
composite bridge deck for a 4-span viaduct comprising
two longitudinal beams curved in plan, with K-shaped
reticular transverse beams supporting an intermediate
beam, and torsion bracing members.
"The possibility of obtaining
force and moment diagrams from a series of sections of a beam-shell
model, coupled with the availability of generating influencing
surfaces for the same sections, allowed us to model the bridge with
transverse beams and torsion braces in their real position, fully
considering the effects of the curved plan. The use of LUSAS with
PontiEC4 allowed a fast and excellent optimisation of structural steel
and of reinforcement steel."
Detailed
structural analysis of a winding steel through girder
bridge involving staged construction modelling,
optimisation of member sizes, nonlinear analysis of
steel connections and detailed assessment of pedestrian
induced vibrations.
"The
design of the Kids’ Bridge had a unique set of challenges specific
to the site. Detailed analysis using LUSAS and collaboration with
fabricators enabled the design team to challenge the status quo and
design an economic and visually stunning structure."
Nicholas
Keage, Principal Engineer and Michael
Kakulas, Associate Director, AECOM
FLOW bridge
Development
of a prototype modular carbon fibre footbridge with the
potential to revolutionise new rail crossings. Using LUSAS allowed
the design team to optimise the staged construction
sequence, accurately predict structural behaviour, and
evaluate key components using localised models.
"The ability to solve different analyses in the same model really eased the design workflow and made analysing an innovative and complex structure fun and enjoyable."
Dismantling of
1930s steel bridge trusses and cantilever spans as part of
demolition phase 1 involving staged
construction modelling of the existing structure incorporating all
renovations made during its lifetime, and a detailed stage by
stage demolition analysis using to ensure safe removal
of the structure.
"By identifying and
analyzing the critical steps in the planned dismantling sequence,
LUSAS proved to be an invaluable tool in helping us to evaluate
bridge stability and predict dismantling effects on a very large and
complex structure."
Nathan
Miller, Bridge Engineer,
Foothills Bridge Co
Detailed modelling
of a single span half-through steel girder railway underbridge
with a 50 degree skew to reduce number of deck bearings used and
assist with checks to specific design codes.
"Generating
a full 3D finite element model using LUSAS allowed us to
complete the design rapidly and efficiently, and
optimize the section sizes with high precision."
Design and
analysis of the first Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite
bridge installed at a mainline station in the UK that, on
completion, became the first Grade II listed FRP bridge.
"LUSAS
is my first-choice tool for any of the structural
analysis we do. For the non-standard work we undertake
we need a general-purpose finite element analysis
package that is not narrowly tailored to a particular
market segment. LUSAS fulfils that role, letting us
analyse and design with materials or for applications
not yet well defined in civil engineering codes."
Design and
analysis of what is believed to be the world's first precast
network arch bridge, involving post-tensioning analysis, eigen
buckling, nonlinear analysis and staged construction modelling.
"Once
initial section sizing calculations had been performed, we then
used LUSAS to analyse numerous post-tensioning layouts for a
variety of construction stages... then, once a tendon layout that
satisfied all stress limits had been found, strength checks were
made and the tendon profile approved."
Dean Van Landuyt,
Principal Engineer, Texas Department of Transportation
Design of a novel
cable stayed pedestrian bridge that is suspended from the piers
of a road bridge,
involving staged erection analysis, assessment of extreme
loading events, and pedestrian footfall analysis.
"Using
LUSAS allowed us to accurately capture the behaviour of a very
complex structure that included a curved and skewed alignment with
cables that had both vertical and lateral inclinations."
Hossam Abdou, Vice
President, Alfred Benesch and Company.
Design of bridges on a 4.75 mile light rail extension
involving rail track-structure interaction analysis of two multi-span precast
concrete beam structures and the analysis of a steel through
girder span.
"An
independent verification of the thermal interaction results
obtained using LUSAS for the Rowlett Creek bridge was carried out
by engineers in another Gannett Fleming office using different
software. The results were strikingly similar, verified the LUSAS
modelling method, and illustrated just how efficient LUSAS is at
modelling track-structure interaction effects for these types of
bridges."
Eric
Dues, Principal Engineer, Gannett Fleming Engineers and
Architects, P.C
Strengthening of a major steel box
girder bridge for additional traffic loading, by cantilever
propping, internal stiffening, and post-tensioning; and
management of construction loads.
"Having
a single global shell model meant that there was no need to worry
about specifying boundary conditions or applying suitable loading
as would be required for looking at regions of the structure using
separate localised models, and this was a big plus."
Illustrative
projects involving 3D and 2D
modelling of movable bridges and girders for design and load rating
analysis
EC Driver used LUSAS to carry out a
three-dimensional frame analysis of the double-leaf, trunnion bascule
leaves to investigate the forces, moments, shears and reactions in the
various members of the complex structure.
Elastic critical bucking and nonlinear
analysis of an exceptionally slender steel tied arch
footbridge with steel plate hangers and a single-span integral highway bridge of composite steel
box girder construction.
Using LUSAS, Atkins found that
existing industry and codified guidance was not always sufficient
to ensure that a structure with unusual buckling behaviour was
correctly modelled and the behaviour correctly accounted for.
Linear elastic modelling of a
multi-span vaulted arch structure for load assessment and
nonlinear analysis of a single vaulted arch using a multi-crack
concrete material model to confirm RA8 loading.
"Although
there was new-build design work on this project, which might have
grabbed the headlines from a photographer's point of view, the
real crux of this project from a design/assessment perspective was
being able to justify the new railway tracks over 90m of old
vaulted arches."
Construction
engineering analyses for a vertical lift bridge including the
determination of stresses and displacements during the launching of a massive steel
truss.
“The
use of LUSAS helped us prove our erection design. Early
communication between the client, Massachusetts DOT, the
Contractor, J. F. White, and FINLEY created a design that took the
Contractor’s strengths into account and maximized the use of
existing support structures to create a reliable and efficient
erection plan".
Jerry M Pfuntner,
P.E., Finley Engineering Group, Inc
Twin Sails Bridge is a novel
steel bascule road bridge that spans a navigation channel linking
Holes bay with Poole Harbour in the UK. Ramboll worked
closely with architect Wilkinson Eyre and mechanical engineer
Bennett Associates to develop the bridge concept and used
LUSAS Bridge analysis software to assist with its design of the
crossing.
Analysis and design of steel/composite integral bridges to optimise
sizes of steel sections and slab reinforcement bars.
"The use of
LUSAS with nonlinear joints modeling the active and passive
pressure allowed us to have an integrated model of the deck and
the abutments that will be used also for seismic analysis. The use
of the steel and composite deck designer was mandatory to enable
us to optimize the design in a reasonable amount of time in
accordance with relevant Eurocodes."
L. Ferretti
Torricelli, Bridge Design Department, Spea Engineering spa
Design of a visually
stunning, asymmetric cable-stayed pedestrian swing bridge.
MediaCityUK Footbridge is an
asymmetric, cable-stayed, pedestrian swing bridge whose form and
function was dictated by site constraints. The bridge comprises
two spans: a main span, approximately 65m in length, which
traverses the shipping channel of the Canal, and a 18m flared
concrete-filled back span that forms the counterweight to balance
the asymmetric spans during opening,
Outline design and
Category III design check to Eurocodes of a replacement cycle /
footbridge involving linear and nonlinear buckling analyses and
dynamic analyses for pedestrian and crowd loading.
"We used
modal and transient dynamic analyses to ensure that the response
of the structure would remain within the acceptable limits given
by EN 1990, using pedestrian excitations from the UK National
Annex to EN1991-2."
Antonio Di Caprio,
Project Engineer, Capita Symonds.
Staged
construction modelling of a self-anchored suspension bridge
incorporating all
renovations made to the structure during its lifetime and
subsequent demolition analysis to ensure safe dismantling.
"Being able
to construct and deconstruct a major nonlinear structure like the
Paseo Bridge in a single analysis model was critical in the
success of the demolition."
Soil-structure
interaction modelling and staged
construction analysis of all backfilling and overfilling stages
of the first BEBO arch
structure to be built in the UK.
"BEBO engineers have a lot
of experience in the use of finite element analysis software, not
only for the design of projects involving soil-structure
interaction, but also for a variety of materially nonlinear
analysis, particularly of reinforced concrete structures. To
assist us with the design of our range of BEBO Arch Bridge
Solutions, and for our general structural analysis requirements,
LUSAS meets our needs perfectly."
Gian Nick, Managing
Director, BEBO Arch International AG
Staged construction
analysis involving post-tensioning, creep and shrinkage of a footbridge with a unique
asymmetric design and asymmetry in two major planes.
"Modelling
each stage of construction in LUSAS facilitated accurate geometry
control and allowed us to confidently monitor the pylon bending
demands."
John
Boschert,
Structural Engineer, Genesis Structures
Structural assessment of
historical ageing concrete through-arch structure and a staged
construction analysis of a new replacement structure constructed
during the sequential demolition of existing structure
"It was a very interesting
project, not only because of its complexity, but because of the
project timescale we used variations of our LUSAS model for
assessment, design and construction over a period of 10
years."
Detailed linear, noninear and
pedestrian moving-load and steady-state analysis to assist in the development
of the first major highway infrastructure project designed and
constructed to Eurocodes in the UK.
This 82m span twin-arch
bowstring bridge was developed with the aid of LUSAS bridge
analysis software and on completion was believed to be the first
major highway infrastructure project designed and constructed to
Eurocodes in the UK.
Analysis of an illustrative design
of a 3-tower cable stayed bridge using line beam modelling to
investigate global effects and a staged construction analysis to
prove the design.
Ramboll was appointed Lead
Consultant and Project Manager by Halton Borough Council to carry
out a route identification study and illustrative design for a new
crossing of the River Mersey in the UK. To assist with its
development of the proposed new bridge Gifford used LUSAS bridge
analysis software to carry out analytical studies to prove its
draft design.
Natural frequency, forced
vibration analysis and nonlinear buckling analysis of a steel
arch pedestrian bridge.
"In
addition to using LUSAS for dynamic analysis of the structure; for
both natural frequency and forced vibration, we also used it to
perform nonlinear bucking analysis of the two large arches as well
as for the design of sections using output derived under static
load combinations, for both trams and buses, and also for large
crowd loading."
Davood Liaghat,
Bridge Team Leader at Buro Happold
Design assistance,
thermal assessment, and development of construction method for a
cable stayed swing footbridge with a cranked back span.
Cathedral Green Footbridge is an
award-winning pedestrian and cycle cable-stayed swing bridge. It
has a 30m main span and an 18m cranked back-span that
counterbalances the main deck. The bridge rotates on a pintle
bearing, with a central wheel to support its weight and swings to
one side automatically when the river is in flood.
Modelling
of concrete viaduct structures involving seismic
analysis to AASHTO LRFD to
derive design moments from
seismic and modified BS 5400 load combinations for
use with pile and pier design.
"The use of precast
concrete elements for the deck and for key substructure
components, and the use of LUSAS software to assist with our
design process, all helped to ensure that the viaduct construction
progressed as planned."
David A Smith,
Regional Head of Bridge Engineering, Atkins
3D
modelling and eigenvalue analysis of a large number of
steel truss footbridges to derive
mode shapes and mass participation factors to assist
with their design.
"The use of a modular
design approach in conjunction with detailed LUSAS analyses of the
main footbridge types enabled us to design the large number of
footbridges required for the project in a very timely and
efficient manner."
David A Smith,
Regional Head of Bridge Engineering, Atkins
2D
modelling of rail / structure interaction to the UIC 773-4
code to verifify
spreadsheet calculations and prove otherwise potentially
problematic results.
"By using LUSAS to
investigate these span arrangements we got a more accurate
assessment of the rail track interaction effects and obtained
values that did not exceed design criteria"
Detailed
3D analysis including investigation
of lower lateral bracing requirements and uplift
analysis of
one of the longest and most highly curved single span girder
bridges in the world.
“LUSAS proved to be
a valuable tool for the project. We especially enjoyed
the ability to model the various stages of construction andin-service
loading."
Staged construction
modelling of a low-cost footbridge with time
step analysis of pedestrian crowd loading
Baker
Bridge is an excellent example of a practical but eye-catching
cable stayed footbridge designed for rapid erection and for a
relatively low overall cost. LUSAS
Bridge analysis software was used to assist with the design of the
bridge by modelling all stages of the construction sequence.
Investigations into
the implications of UK engineers changing to Eurocodes for
bridge design and comparison of analysis of first and second
order effects for critical buckling analysis.
"Not only did the nonlinear
LUSAS model give results almost identical to the actual physical
test specimen but it also showed that the EN 1993-1-5 rules for
stiffeners were very conservative for this particular beam, and
the BS 5400 Part 3 predictions even more so."
Chris Hendy, Head of
Bridge Design and Technology, Atkins
User-created wizards to speed-up
composite bridge deck modelling, composite
cross-section property calculation, and design checking to
Italian codes of practice.
"Many
composite bridges have been analysed by Alhambra using LUSAS
Bridge, and in doing so the number and quality of the wizards
created and used for this purpose has increased so that they have
now become a very productive modelling tool."
Detailed 3D
modelling to analyse live load effects on a
longitudinally prestressed extradosed bridge with good
correlation being obtained with static and dynamic load tests.
"By using
LUSAS on this project we obtained an accurate assessment of the
deck displacements caused by the static and dead loads. The
easy-to-use modelling capabilities and the re-use of previously
defined load patterns helped enormously with this."
Václav Kvasnička,
Consulting
Engineer, Pontex Consulting Engineers Ltd.
Evaluation of
induced rail stresses and track displacements on a 1.8km long
viaduct structure from rail
temperature, acceleration and braking loading.
"Correct modelling of the
nonlinear behaviour of ballast, and of the interaction between the
ballast and the rail track is not easy to do manually, so the
LUSAS Rail Track analysis option, which handles this
automatically, was very useful to us in this respect".
Mr Jeongil Kim,
Engineering Manager, Saman Engineering
Linear
static analysis and optimisation of steel box girder deck segments
for what, when constructed was the 4th longest suspension
bridge in the world.
Using LUSAS, all webs, flanges, ribs
and other small members in the 6 metre long deck segment were
modelled. From the detailed
LUSAS analysis it was seen that the main structural behaviour was in
the transverse direction, and, as result, it was seen that the initial
diaphragm design needed to be strengthened.
Steel box girder redesign
of a two-span bridge resulting in large construction
cost savings for the client.
"The use of LUSAS helped us
meet our design deadline and to prove an alternative bridge design
that will ultimately save the client a great deal of money in
construction costs."
Analysis and optimization
of post-tensioned precast concrete bridge segments
"LUSAS Bridge has been a
great tool for us on this project. It allowed us to produce a
design that has major benefits for the client and contractor. We
would recommend its use to others wanting to enhance their
in-house design and analysis capabilities".
Craig Finley,
President, Finley Engineering Group Inc.
Staged erection analysis
of two complex post-tensioned bridge structures
involving 3D linear and nonlinear analysis and cable
tensioning optimisation.
"We used LUSAS Bridge
exclusively for the erection engineering of the Wichita
Bridges and obtained excellent correlation between the
on-site cable stayed measurements and the values that LUSAS
predicted for lift-off"
Optimization of arch
profiles, vehicle load optimisation, and examination of
hanger forces and stressing requirements
"The
arch optimization phase was greatly enhanced by the result
processing facilities in LUSAS and the ease with which the
geometrical outline of the structure could be
manipulated."
Fast assessment of
track/bridge interaction forces in rails from thermal
and in-service train loading
A LUSAS product option,
permits track-structure interaction analysis to the
International Union of Railways Code UIC 774-3. It allows
models to be automatically built from data defined in MS
Excel spreadsheets, an analysis to be run, and results
rapidly obtained in spreadsheet or LUSAS results file
formats.
Analysis and assessment of
the behaviour of a dynamically sensitive footbridge to
pedestrian loading with and without the installation of
a tuned mass damper.
"By
using LUSAS we obtained a good correlation of the measured
frequencies and successfully designed and tested a tuned
mass damper to restrict deck movement for all the pedestrian
loadings that were considered."
Milan
Kalný,
Technical Director, Pontex
Consulting Engineers Ltd.
Post-continuity live,
earth pressure and thermal load assessments for an
integral bridge replacement of an existing masonry
structure
"Detailed
analysis of this integral abutment bridge provided us with a
better understanding of the behaviour of the structure under
the imposed loadings. LUSAS made it easier for us to assess
many different variations of loading, particularly earth
pressure and temperature, and also allowed us to study them
in more detail than we could have done using alternative
methods."
Sameer Khan,
Principal Engineer, Tony Gee and Partners
Use of LUSAS scripting
facilities to automate model building and
design/checking of railway culverts to Italian bridge
loading and reinforced concrete codes of practice
"The script developed
significantly speeds up the analysis of a typical
"simple" structure, such as a railway culvert ...
and the quality of the analysis is improved significantly
also."
Assessment of a historic
cast iron swing bridge and development and analysis of
strengthening options prior to refurbishment
Pell
Frischmann used LUSAS
Bridge analysis software to create 3D models to assist with
its analysis of various strengthening options that
led,.ultimately, to the bridge being re-furbished,
strengthened, and brought back into full working order.
Static analysis of a steel
and glass retractable footbridge
"Finite
element analysis with LUSAS was essential on this project and proved
that the differential movement between the glass and the steel helix
was within the strain limits of the silicon adhesive."
Phil Snowsil, Senior
Design Engineer, Davy Markham
Analysis of construction
process and installation of glass and steel swing
footbridges with calculation of pre-camber required to ensure
correct closure
"Analysis with LUSAS was needed in order to calculate the amount of pre-camber required to ensure closure due to a 120mm deflection along the length of the cantilever span."
Phil Snowsil, Senior
Design Engineer, Davy Markham
Pile-soil interaction
modelling and automated model building for multi-modal
spectral response analysis of viaduct structures
"The
versatility of LUSAS Bridge coupled with the technical
expertise within our Group helped produce an economical
design for the extreme seismic performance criteria of the
Taiwan project with its demanding programme and construction
constraints."
Static, nonlinear buckling
and natural frequency analysis of a tubular steel
lattice footbridge
"Because of the
complex nature of the structure and its S-shaped form, it would
not have been possible for us to be sure of the exact stresses and
forces in the helical members without the use of LUSAS."
Linear and nonlinear
buckling analysis and localised connection
modelling for a steel arch road bridge
"LUSAS was used throughout the design, from preliminary
sizing of members right through to the detailed design of the more
complex fabricated elements. It helped us to provide the client
with an efficient, aesthetically pleasing structure."
David Doyle, Structural Engineer, Roughan & O’Donovan
Successful linear analysis
re-assessment of bridge deck previously failed for 40
tonne vehicle loading
"We found it
quick and simple to upgrade an existing model in order to include
new features or de-activate existing ones within a 3D model. In
addition the results processing facilities were particularly
useful in identifying the critical areas of the deck."
Replacement of beyond-life
viaduct with new biaxially post-tensioned, high
performance concrete slab structure requiring vehicle
load optimisation for irregularly supported deck
"Using
the LUSAS Vehicle Load Optimization facility expedited the
live load analyses for a highly repetitive task that would
have otherwise been extremely time consuming."
Dr Ihab
Darwish, Project Engineer, Alfred Benesch and Company
Numerous detailed analyses
including staged construction with creep and shrinkage
analysis of what, if built, would have been the 5th longest
cable stayed bridge in world
"Modjeski and Masters
used LUSAS Bridge to assist with a number of global and
local analyses of the structure because of the advanced 3D
nonlinear, dynamics and staged construction facilities that
it offers for this type of work."
Linear and nonlinear
dynamic study of earthquake damaged structure for
potential future earthquake.
"Gebze Institute of Technology,
used LUSAS Bridge to study
the effects of the earthquake on a number of the structures including a seismic assessment
study of the Mustafa Inan viaduct."
Assessment of a steel
truss arch railway bridge using iterative model
development from strain gauge results to assess
Ultimate, Serviceability and Fatigue Limit States.
"Ramboll successfully
used strain gauge measurements on the Forsmo Bridge in
Sweden to fine-tune a LUSAS Bridge model prior to
carrying-out an in-depth assessment of the structure for a
proposed increase in freight train axle loading."
Linear and nonlinear
analysis of moving parts of the world's first rotating
boat lifting bridge
"We needed assurance that the axially loaded joint
(
in the main axle situated just inside the clawed arm) would
not prise apart, and the results from the LUSAS model formed a vital part of this
assurance."
Richard Prosser,
Project Engineer,
Tony Gee and Partners.
Detailed dynamics analysis
using Interactive Modal Dynamics techniques
"LUSAS Bridge
analysis software was used to carry out detailed dynamic
analysis for their client Railtrack London North Eastern.
The Interactive Modal Dynamics (IMD) techniques used greatly
reduced the time required to assess the dynamic response of
the structure for numerous combinations of different moving
train loads and speeds."
Global and local analyses
of a cable stayed swing footbridge
"Using LUSAS
was the only viable way of analysing the structure for the multitude
of loadcases that had to be considered - in effect, we couldn't have
done it any other way."
Modelling of suspension
bridge
construction process using nonlinear and dynamics
analysis
LUSAS Bridge analysis software
was used to provide
advice and structural analysis on the construction of the bridge. Many static and dynamic geometrically nonlinear
LUSAS analyses were undertaken during the engineering construction process.
Linear static analysis to
optimise arch/girder stiffener arrangement
"LUSAS is good at modelling this kind of
problem. Its shell and solid elements are easy to use, and the ability to plot results on
selected parts of the model allows us to check the stress levels in a very straightforward
manner. This is one of the many benefits in using LUSAS on this and other projects".
Eigenvalue analysis of a
spiral-ramped tubular steel footbridge
LUSAS finite element analysis was used to investigate the response of the
structure and in particular to ascertain the modes of vibration for
the 40m-long unsupported length of the spiral section.
Staged construction and
nonlinear dynamic analysis of a cable stayed opening
footbridge
"Using
LUSAS was essential on the design of this bridge because a
full 3D staged construction analysis to model the
construction sequence, and a step-by-step integration with
large angles, to model the opening and closing sequence was
required."
Linear, nonlinear and
dynamic analysis of a cable stayed footbridge with
staged construction checks
"By using LUSAS, the
entire philosophy of the design, and of pushing back the
boundaries of engineering, could be met. The computer
modelling enabled us to provide a very slender, elegant, and
cost-effective structure that previously could not have been
designed with confidence."
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modified: November 08, 2024. Privacy
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Any modelling, design and analysis capabilities described are
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