AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Software
AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Software
(OP)
I am revisiting a discussion developed in 2001 requesting comments regarding the best option(s) for Bridge design software. A decade has passed since this was last discussed, so maybe someone has a bit more recent feedback.
Original Post:
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All the mainstream softwares (STAAD, Risa 3D, RAM or SAP2000) appear to cater to design according to building design criteria (ASCE7, ACI, AISC, etc.)...not AASHTO. It is a narrow road shopping for Bridge software, but I have located the following:
Bentley RM Bridge & LEAP Bridge
http://w ww.bentley .com/en-US /Products/ Bridge+Des ign+and+En gineering/
STAAD.pro in combination with STAAD.beava
ftp://ftp2 .bentley.c om/dist/co llateral/W eb/Buildin g/STAADPro /Bridge_De sign_using _STAAD.pdf
Bridgesoft (Limited to Steel Girders)
http://www.bridgesoftinc.com/index.html
Last, but certainly not least, AASHTO has their own software called Opis
http://www.aashtoware.org/Pages/Opis.aspx
The catch is the price. Unless you are consulting for a member agency holding a valid license to the Opis Unlimited Option, the annual license fee is $37,500! Given, I think I can get the "special consultant" option for $2,700 if we can demonstrate our company's relationship with various DOT's.
Any comments or alternatives? Any experience with the software options listed above. Thanks in advance!
Original Post:
ht
All the mainstream softwares (STAAD, Risa 3D, RAM or SAP2000) appear to cater to design according to building design criteria (ASCE7, ACI, AISC, etc.)...not AASHTO. It is a narrow road shopping for Bridge software, but I have located the following:
Bentley RM Bridge & LEAP Bridge
http://w
STAAD.pro in combination with STAAD.beava
ftp://ftp2
Bridgesoft (Limited to Steel Girders)
http://www.bridgesoftinc.com/index.html
Last, but certainly not least, AASHTO has their own software called Opis
http://www.aashtoware.org/Pages/Opis.aspx
The catch is the price. Unless you are consulting for a member agency holding a valid license to the Opis Unlimited Option, the annual license fee is $37,500! Given, I think I can get the "special consultant" option for $2,700 if we can demonstrate our company's relationship with various DOT's.
Any comments or alternatives? Any experience with the software options listed above. Thanks in advance!






RE: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Software
P/S Concrete - CONSPAN (Bentley) and PSBEAM
Steel: MDX, DESCUS, PCSIMON
Intermediate piers - RC-Pier (Bentley)
Concrete slab/box girder - CT Beam
General Analysis FEA Programs with Bridge Modules:
CSiBridge - From CSi same as SAP2000 and ETABs producers.
LARSA
MIDAS
Specialty Software:
SEISAB - Seismic Analysis of Bridges (formerly Imbsen and Associates)
ADAPT - P/T bridges
Rating Software:
LARS (Bentley)
VIRTIS (AASHTOware) only for DOT's and their chosen consultants.
OPIS same as VIRTIS
I'm sure there are some that I'm missing but these strike me as the most popular right now.
Regards,
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RE: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Software
However, I can say I believe LUSAS >> SAP >>>> MDX as far as general ability and user-friendliness. In school I used STAAD and RISA, and prefer LUSAS to both of those as well (probably between LUSAS and SAP). I'm just an EIT though, so I may not be as intimately familiar with the full capabilities of the software as others.
RE: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Software
RE: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Software
RE: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Software
RE: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Software
http://www.bridgeweb.com/