APPLICATION OF CSI BRIDGE: ANALYSIS OF A WARREN TRUSS BRIDGE

Problem statement

Perform the structural analysis of a steel truss bridge that spans a total distance of 30 m. The
truss bridge consists of two parallel trusses and the truss configuration is given in the figure
below. The lower chords of the trusses support the roadway which in turn carries the car and
truck traffic. The object of this analysis is to calculate the internal forces in each member
of the bridge under the effect of the weight of the bridge and roadway (the dead load) and the
weight of the vehicles (the live loads) that are likely to cross the bridge. It is herein assumed
that the bridge carries two lanes of vehicle traffic. Make a first estimate of the internal forces
in each truss member under regular truck traffic. The analysis must be performed using the
CSI BRIDGE package. Use the simplifying assumptions given below to analyze the Six (6)
bay Warren truss bridge shown in Fig 1.

Assumptions
The bridge is supposed to carry its dead load (that is, the weight of the steel members and the
weight of the roadway), as well as the live load (that is, the weight of the cars and trucks) that
will cross over it. In order to simplify the analysis process, it is assumed that the live load can
be represented by the truck configuration shown below in Fig 1. The effect of this truck is
assumed to model the effect of the heaviest trucks that are expected to cross the bridge in its
lifetime.
 Fig 1: Six-Bay Warren Truss Bridge & Design Truck
Assume that the bridge is 7.5m with a two-foot curb on each side and that the roadway carries
two lanes of traffic. Because the bridge has two parallel trusses, it is herein assumed that the
total load applied on the bridge is divided equally to each truss. That is, each truss will carry
the weight of its members, half the weight of the roadway and one lane of traffic (that is, one
truck like the one shown in Fig. 1).

When calculating the weight of the roadway, assume that it is formed by one concrete deck
with an 8-inch thickness. Concrete weighs 150 lb/ft3 and the weight of concrete must be
counted as part of the applied load. Since the roadway is carried by the lower chords of the
truss, the weight of the roadway will have to be divided to each joint of the lower chord. At
this stage assume that each of the steel truss members has cross sectional area A = 30 meter
squared and the modulus of elasticity of the steel is E = 29,000,000 lb/in2. Steel weighs 490
lb/ft3. The weight of each member will be assumed to be equally divided between the two joints
at each end of the member
 Step 1: Define Model Geometry

- The first step when you start CSI Bridge is to start A New Model under the File
menu.
 Basic Units: If you are starting a new model, choose the Initialize Model from defaults
with Units you want to use (Fig3). The units used to start a model become the basic units
for that model. Set the units to KN.m.C. Then, select from the template menu the Grid
template to start.

- From the Grid template, set the number of divisions to 6. Enter a height of 5.59, a
division length of 5m. Leave the section properties as default, and make sure that the
restraints box on the lower left corner is checked.
Once you click the OK button, the window will split in two different views of the
truss: A 3-D and an X-Z plane view. Click inside the 3-D window. From the top
menu click on Select -> Select -> All, or use the command Ctrl +A, that will select
the entire truss as well.
 - Now the truss elements will appear in dotted lines. From the Edit menu, select the
- Option Replicate, or use the command Ctrl +R to get the Replicate dialog box. When
the box opens, select the linear tab, and enter a value of 7.5 m on the dy box. Leave 1
for the box Number and click OK.

From the Draw menu, select Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon (or selected from the left tool bar).
The pointer of the mouse will convert into a pointing down arrow. Click on the top nodes
of the truss to draw the top chord members of the truss as it is show in the pictures below,
joining the top nodes of the truss.
Draw the bottom cables of the bridge: Again from the View menu, select the 2-D view. This
time, set the X-Y plane distance to 0 to reach the bottom nodes in the truss. Repeat the process
performed for the top nodes. Joint the nodes drawing frame elements from the Draw menu.
The end result should look similar to the picture that follows.
Step 2: Defining Structural Sections

At this stage assume that cross sectional area, A = 30 meter squared, is the same for each
steel member.

From the define menu, choose Section Properties -> Frame Sections. This will open the
Define Frame Properties window:
- Click on the Import New Property.
- From Frame section property type list select Steel
- From steel section Click I/Wide flange
-
- From the Section Property File windows select SECTIONS8.PRO (last file in the
list)

- Click Material (1), then new Material (2)

- Select Material as steel from Material type (3)
- Select Fe345 from Standard
Step 3: Assigning a Structural Sections Now we will assign the
W10x100 I-beam (30” cross section) to our bridge:

- Press Ctrl +A to select the whole bridge

- Go to Assign/Frame/Frame Section
- From the Frame property window select W10x100 then press OK

Now we finished designing our bridge frame and assigning a 30 m cross section area to steel
member. Next step will be adding the concrete deck.

Step 4: Defining and assigning the roadway (Concrete Deck)

Roadway property:
- Concrete deck thickness = 8in
- Concrete weights = 150 lb/ft3
- The roadway will have to be divided to each joint of the lower chord

In CSI BRIDGE:
- From the View menu, select the 2-D view. This time, set the X-Y plane distance to 0
to reach the bottom nodes in the truss.

a- Define the concrete area :

- Go to Define/Section property/Area section

- From the Select Section Type to Add Select Shell
- Click Add new Section
- Type DECK into the section name edit box
- Verify that the Material Name is set to 4000Psi in the Material area. Clicking + button
will display the define materials from where material Properties may be altered or
added.
- Set the Thickness (both Membrane and Bending) to
8in (make sure you add “in” after 8).
- Click the OK button then click the OK to complete
The Deck definition

b- Assign the concrete area :

- Draw the rectangle area following the figure below (The drawn concrete rectangle will
be highlight in red)
Mesh the Area Object

- Click anywhere on the area object to display the Object Model

- Go to Edit/Edit Area/Divide Area
- Select the Mesh Area Based on Points on Area Edges option.
The roadway (Area Object) is now meshed. (Click inside each box to check)
To better view the deck addition, click the set Display Options button , or go to the view
menu > Set Display Option command (Or press Clrl+W). When the form appears, check Fill
Objects box and Apply to All Windows check box as shown in bellow figure
 - Click Ok

Step 5: Define Load Cases (Live Load)

The load used in this tutorial consists of dead and live static load acting in the gravity
direction.

For this project, assume that dead consists of the self-weight of the bridge plus an additional
live load (the weight trucks).

Dead load = the weight of the steel members + the weight of the roadway

Assign Area Stiffness Modifiers

In this step, the membrane properties of the Area object is modified to prohibit the deck from
acting as flange for the bottom chords of the trusses. Make sure that X-Y Plane @ Z=0 view
is still active, and that the program is in the select mode.
 A- Click anywhere on the area object to select the deck.
B- Click the Assign menu > Area > Area Stifness Modifiers command to access the
property/Stiffness Modification Factors from shown in Figue.
C- Type 0 in the Membrane f11 Modifier edit box
D- Type 0 in the Membrane f22 Modifier edit box

Assign Joints Load (Live load)

When the cars and trucks move across the bridge, they normally produce dynamic oscillations
of the bridge structure. This dynamic oscillation will in turn produce forces in each member
that are higher than the forces obtained if the loads are statically applied. These additional
dynamic forces can be modeled using a dynamic amplification factor or impact factor. It is
herein assumed that the impact factor is equal to 0.27 times the truck load. This dynamic
amplification load should be added to the total truck load.

The impact factor is computed as a percentage increase in vehicle live load stress.

Back Wheel Middle Front Wheel

Live load without addition of the Impact factor 32000 lb 32000 lb 8000 lb
Live load after addition of the Impact factor ? ? ?

Calculate the new loads after adding the impact factor

 - In SAP2000 go to Define menu > load pattern
- Add the seven cases and make sure you choose Live for load type and leave Self
Weight Multiplier set as 0 for the live loads.

Note that Self Weight Multiplier is set to 1 for default case (DEAD). This indicates that this load
case will automatically include 1.0 times the self-weight of all members.

Case 1:
 - Note: It is herein assumed that the live load applied on the bridge is divided
equally to each truss.
- Go to Assign > Joint Loads > Forces
- Select CASE1 for Load Pattern Name
- Add the value of the front wheel load in the Load edit box

Remember that the Gravity Direction is in the negative Global Z direction

Click the pointe tool icon . Select the first two lower cord joints
 - Click OK

Case 2:

Now we’ll apply load in four joints (front wheels load and middle wheels load)
- Select the second two joints only, then go to Assign > Joint Loads > Forces
- This time select CASE2 for Load Pattern Name
- Add the value of front wheel load, then press OK
- Next select the first two joints only, then go to Assign > Joint Loads > Forces
- Make sure you are selecting the same Load Pattern Name CASE2
- Add the value of the middle wheel load in the Load edit box, Then press OK
Continue with the other cases by following the same steps. Make sure you choose the right
CASE from Load Pattern Name before assigning the loads

You can display the Load Pattern by going to Display > Show Load Assigns > Joint
Step 6: Run the Analysis

In this Step, the analysis model will be viewed and the analysis will be run
Click the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command or the Run Analysis to access the Set
Analysis Cases to Run form as shown bellow

- Select MODAL from the Case Name list.

- Click the Run/do Not Run Case button to set the action for MODAL to Do Not Run, as
we intend to run only a static analysis
- Click run Now button

The program will create the analysis model from the object-based CSI Bridge model, and
will soon display an analysis window. Data will scroll in this window as the program run the
analysis. This information may be accessed at a later time by going to the File menu > Show
Input/Output Text Files command and selection the file with .Log extension
Step 10: Graphically Review the Analysis Results

In this Step, the analysis results will be reviewed using graphical presentation of the results.

- Select the XZ plan

- Click the show Forces/Stresses > Frames/Cables button , or the Display menu >
show Forces/Stresses > Frames Cables command to bring up the Member Force
Diagram for Frames (You can also press F8 for a quick access)
- Select CASE2 / Combo Name Drop-down list
- Select the Axial Force option.
- Select the Auto option under the Scaling area
- Select the Fill Diagram option
- Click OK button to generate the axial force diagram shown in figure

Fill Diagram Option:

 Blue: Tension
 Red: Compression

Show Values on Diagram option

Designing the structural members and checking the safety of a design.
In This Step, the steel frame members of the trusses will be designed.
Not that the analysis should be run before completing the following action items
 - Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure
command or the Start Steel Design/Check of Structure button, to start the
steel frame process.

When the design is complete, the selected sizes and stress ratios are displayed on the model.
The goal is to repeat the analysis and design process until the analysis and design sections for
the truss are all the same.
Note that when the bridge is reanalyzed, CSI Bridge will use the current design sections, as
new analysis sections for the next analysis run. You will need to optimize you design by
changing the cross section area of the frame steel, by following the same procedure in Step 2

Notes for the design and analysis of the Truss Bridge Part
A –Procedure:
Create an EXCEL table for listing all the members. EXAMPLE
Member# COMBO. FORCE (DSLTL4) 𝐹𝑂𝑅𝐶𝐸 Optimum 𝐴𝑂𝑃 = A_min + i
𝐴_𝑚𝑖𝑛 = ( )
𝜎𝐴𝐿𝐿
1

Note:DSTL4 = (All cases ) + Dead Load.To Select DSTL4 ∶

• Consider the type of force (tension or Compression to select your 𝑖 (Cross section area
increment).
• Go to the Steel Sections website (see http://www.structural-drafting-net-
expert.com/steelbeam.html) and you the 𝐴𝑜𝑝 value to find the cross section Designation (e.g.
W10x100 for 30 to 32 𝑖𝑛2𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛).
• Select the member that you want to change the cross section then follow step 3 in the tutorial
to assign it.
• Check the safety of a design again and make sure your member is optimum in terms of cost and
not overstressed (green Color):

Part B – Cost analysis

Steel cost $560 per ton

Concrete cost $50 per cubic yard

Calculate only the material cost for the steel members and roadway (neglect connections and Labor

costs)

Part C – Group Report - (format similar to lab reports). Include all concepts and

Cost analysis: Use the excel file provided to calculate the cost

Part D – Prototype building and testing (bridge model). Material will be provided