Structural Modeling Introduction Theoretical Background Modeling Selection of Modeling Methodology • Geometry • Material and Section Properties • Boundary Conditions • Loads Alexander Krimotat SC Solutions, Inc. Li-Hong Sheng California Department of Transportation Summary Introduction Prior to construction of any structural system, an extensive engineering design and analysis process must be undertaken. During this process, many engineering assumptions are routinely used in the application of engineering principles and theories to practice. A subset of these assumptions is used in a multitude of analytical methods available to structural analysts. In the modern engineering office, with the proliferation and increased power of personal computers. | Krimotat A. Sheng L. Structural Modeling. Bridge Engineering Handbook. Ed. Wai-Fah Chen and Lian Duan Boca Raton CRC Press 2000 8 Structural Modeling Alexander Krimotat SC Solutions Inc. Li-Hong Sheng California Department of Transportation Introduction Theoretical Background Modeling Selection of Modeling Methodology Geometry Material and Section Properties Boundary Conditions Loads Summary Introduction Prior to construction of any structural system an extensive engineering design and analysis process must be undertaken. During this process many engineering assumptions are routinely used in the application of engineering principles and theories to practice. A subset of these assumptions is used in a multitude of analytical methods available to structural analysts. In the modern engineering office with the proliferation and increased power of personal computers increasing numbers of engineers depend on structural analysis computer software to solve their engineering problems. This modernization of the engineering design office coupled with an increased demand placed on the accuracy and efficiency of structural designs requires a more-detailed understanding of the basic principles and assumptions associated with the use of modern structural analysis computer programs. The most popular of these programs are GT STRUDL STAADIII SAP2000 as well as some more powerful and complex tools such as ADINA ANSYS NASTRAN and ABAQUS. The objective of the analysis effort is to investigate the most probable responses of a bridge structure due to a range of applied loads. The results of these investigations must then be converted to useful design data thereby providing designers with the information necessary to evaluate the performance of the bridge structure and to determine the appropriate actions in order to achieve the most efficient design configuration. Additionally calculation of the structural system capacities is an important aspect in determining the .
