mBrace3D | Presentations

1. Refined Analyses for Curved Steel Bridges

This presentation summarizes why advanced FEA is the preferred analysis method for curved steel bridges, and how mBrace3D can help bridge designors and erectors capture the "true" bridge behavior.

2. Vehicle Load Optimization (VLO) for Plate Girder Bridges

This presentation shows the pseudo-code for the calculation of the influence surfaces and vehicle load optimization algorithms within mBrace3D, and illustrates the results of the live load analysis for the reference continuous, curved plate girder bridge described in NSBA Design Example 3.

Influence Surface - Negative Moment at Pier 1.png

3. Placement Analysis of a Curved, Variable Depth, Single Tub Girder Bridge

This presentation explains the modelling and deck placement analysis of a curved, variable depth, single tub girder pedestrian bridge recently built in Houston, TX. It illustrates the parametric modelling capacities of the software and shows how mBrace3D is well suited for this type of complex analyses.

Curved Variable Depth Tub Girder Bridge - Close-Up View.png

4. Lifting Analysis of a Curved Plate Girder

This presentation addresses the modelling and lifting analysis of a mildly curved plate girder. It illustrates how mBrace3D can be used to give erectors further confidence in their lifting plans.

Lifting Analysis - Eigenvalue Buckling Mode.png

5. Load Rating of a Curved, Simple Span Plate Girder Bridge

This presentation explains how to conduct a load rating analysis for curved plate girder bridges. It takes as an example one of the NCHRP Report 725 study bridges.

Influence Surface - Shear at First Abutment.png

6. Curved Plate Girder Bridge Case Study - Comparison with other FEA Software Packages

A four-girder, two-span continuous plate girder bridge with skewed supports is modelled in mBrace3D. Envelope moments as well as support reactions are compared with other FEA software packages (DESCUS I, STAAD, CSiBridge and ANSYS).

Curved Plate Girder Geometry - Top View - 2.PNG

7. Determination of Lateral Bending Stresses Using Large Displacement Analyses

AASHTO 6.10.3 constructability checks require the calculation of second-order lateral bending stresses, which are often approximated using amplification factors. However, these factors are often inaccurate, and the only reliable way to determine second-order lateral bending stresses is to conduct a large displacement analysis. This presentation illustrates these ideas on a curved, skewed, six-girder bridge.

Lateral Bending Stresses - First-Order vs. Second-Order.png

8. AASHTO Chapter 6.10.3 Constructibility Checks

AASHTO 6.10.3 constructibility checks are required for bridges during erection and construction and may control the design for severely curved and/or skewed systems. This presentation describes the different checks and explains how mBrace3D conducts and plots them in an automatic fashion, thereby relieving the bridge engineer from this time-consuming yet critical task.

AASHTO LRFD Constructibility Checks - LTB.png