Bridge Engineering software

[ThomasH]

Hi all

I have a simple question. When an engineer in the US does the structural calculations for a bridge, what software does he use?

I need something that can handle moving loads in loadtrains.
For example up to 15 pointloads divided in 3-4 groups that can move independant of each other.

I also need to ability combine loads in a relatively complex way. Both finding and adding THE worst load as well as adding IF worse. These two methods also need to be combined.

My problem is that I have to work with the Swedish bridgecode and for some reason (?) it seems more complicades than most.

Anyway, what do you use in The US?

Regards Thomas

 

[Qshake]

See my post in the structural forum.

Essentially we use too many to list. However, for most live load analysis, a general purpose structural program like STAAD, GT-STRUDL, SAP2000 will allow for user defined live loads or standard loadings from the codes (this would include the railroad standard Cooper E80).

Many of those same programs have database management capabilities that allow the user to combine and manipulate load cases resulting from the primary load cases.

Good Luck.