COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE ANALYSIS OF BRIDGE BENT COLUMNS INCLUDING A GRAPHICAL INTERFACE. INTERIM REPORT

The FORTRAN computer program BENTCOL was devleoped to provide an easy-to-use analysis tool for bridge bent columns which alleviates most of the cumbersome and tedious details involved with the current design process. An emphasis was placed on minimizing the required amount of input data and on producing clear, functional, and easy-to-read output. This computer program involved computerizing the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation current office procedure as well as the development of an integral frame analysis. The output from both the approximate and frame analysis is in the exact form required as input data for the column design program PCA2, making the transition from analysis to design simple and direct. Using this new computer program as a design tool, the design engineer may analyze and design bent columns quickly and easily. The PASCAL computer program BCINPUT was developed to investigate the use of a graphical interface for handling input arrangements on a microcomputer, specifically the IBM-AT personal computer. The microcomputer provides an inexpensive and innovative approach for handling input arrangements. The graphical interface emphasizes user-driven menus, user-friendliness, user-interaction, and graphical images to aid in the process of creating input data files. Using the graphical interface, the input data file required for the analysis program is created and edited easily, completing the analysis and design package.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research study title: Bent Column Analysis and Design.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research, 3208 Red River Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78705

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Stocks, R W
  • Johnson, C P
  • Roesset, J M
• Publication Date: 1988-11

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 168 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Computer programs; Design; Microcomputers; User interfaces (Computer science)
• Old TRIS Terms: Bridge bent columns; Graphical interface; Integral frame analysis
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496665
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-90+1129-1, Res Rept 1129-1, CTR 3-5-86-1129-1
• Contract Numbers: Study 3-5-86-1129
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM