BRIDGE RATING OF GIRDER - SLAB BRIDGES WITH AUTOMATED FINITE ELEMENT MODELING TECHNIQUES. INTERIM PROJECT REPORT/FINAL CONTRACT REPORT

This research is part of an on-going program to develop better bridge rating systems using finite element technology. Originally, a lateral load distribution factor program, SALOD, was developed for design and rating of simple span bridges. SALOD is now routinely used by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). A complete bridge rating system, BRUFEM, is now being developed that will be able to handle the vast majority of the bridges in Florida using a finite element model for the analyses. BRUFEM consists of four FORTRAN programs: 1) a preprocessor for steel and concrete bridges, BRUFEM1, that develops a finite element model from a relatively small amount of input data and prepares input files for the finite element program; 2) a finite element program, SIMPAL, that solves the model created by the person using the preprocessor and outputs the results of the finite element analyses for printing and post-processing; 3) a post-processor, BRUFEM3, that reads unformatted SIMPAL output files and does the bridge rating based on the appropriate service level or strength criteria (the post-processor is now developed to handle both pretensioned simple spans and post-tensioned continuous spans, tee beam, steel girder and flat slab bridges); and 4) a graphics post-processor, SIMPLOT. The BRUFEM system is presently being used by FDOT for rating or design of a variety of bridges. The scheduled development will be completed in one more year.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Florida, Gainesville

  Engineering and Industrial Experiment Station
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Haydon Burns Building, 605 Suwanee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32301

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hays Jr, C O
  • Hoit, M I
  • Ellifritt, D S
  • Consolazio, G R
  • Garcelon, J H
• Publication Date: 1991-12

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 412 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Computer programs; Finite element method; Girder bridges; Ratings
• Old TRIS Terms: Slab and girder bridges
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00623562
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FL/DOT/TRC/0443-3591, UF 4910450432912, Proj 99700-7422-119
• Contract Numbers: C-3591
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1992 12:00AM