Model Description

• Create new model from template: 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 a separate load cases as follows (all these loads should cause similar effect as if the bridge is loaded in the middle by a 10kN point load):
  • Point load: 10kN load applied at station 20, transversely centered.
  • Lineal load: 1kN/m load applied between stations 15 and 25, transversely centered.
  • Area load: 0.1kN/m^2 load applied between stations 15 to 25 across the width of the deck.
• Run the analysis and check the midspan moments. For point load, the theoretical midspan moment is (PL/4) = (10kN) (40m) / 4 = 100 kN-m.

Model Development

Define and apply loads

Use "Loads > Loads - Point" command to define new point load:

Use "Bridge > Loads > Point Loads" to assign the previously defined point loads:

Using similar approach as described above, define and apply lineal and area loads.

Results

The moment diagrams below show that the maximum midspan moment is as expected: