Girder Layout#

Girder Layout is a collection of lines that represents beams for multi girder bridges. You can place Beams on the selected spans of Girder Layout. For more information, please see Workflow for Multi Girder Bridges. Position of each Girder is tightly connected to the axis geometry, placements and various parameters.

Note

You can place more Beams Elements on one Girder Span.

Create#

You can create girders (lines) grouped in spans between two stations along an axis. Girder Layout is created according to the Girder Reference or Center Curve definition (Mode property).

  1. Click SOFiSTiK Bridge tab > Create panel > icon_Girder_System (Girder Layout) drop-down > icon_Girder_System_Create (Create)

  2. Select an axis.

    SOFiSTiK: Girder Layout dialog displays.

  3. In tab Spans, you can create Girder Spans (collection of Girder Lines) according to the given layout rule and various parameters. Some parameters can be defined using Girder Reference family, which is selected in separate tab.

    ../../_images/mpic_girder_system_dialog_spans.png

  4. In tab Girder Reference, you can select Girder Reference family (Profile Family with Girder Reference lines), parametrize it and use for the definition of the Girder Spans.

    ../../_images/mpic_girder_system_dialog_reference.png

  5. Confirm with OK.

Spans tab#

Spans#

This list shows currently available span in the Girder System. You can create or delete any span by marking it and clicking + or - icons New span will be created as a copy of the marked one.

Available spans are listed according to the mode, Girder Reference or Center Curve, which is defined in the properties.

Preview#

In preview window, you can see currently defined spans and the axis. You can switch the preview between:

  • Horizontal icon_Tendon_Dialog_HorizontalView

  • Vertical icon_Tendon_Dialog_VerticalView

  • 3D View icon_Tendon_Dialog_3DView

Path#

You can use various options to define start and end of the Girder Span

  • Start Parameter - defines start of the Girder Span

  • End Parameter - defines end of the Girder Span

Layout#

Choose layout rule to define the distribution of the girders in the span. In case of Girder Reference Mode, girders will be distributed according to the range (width) defined in Girder Reference Tab (marked by two vertical grey lines). In case of Center Curve Mode, girder will be distributed according to the Transversal Range (width) property.

Offsets#

You can define additional offsets for the Center Curve definition. These Offsets will be calculated according to the local coordinate system of the Center Curve. In case Interpolation property is ‘Conform to Axis’, Y and Z Offsets will be constant for whole Center Curve.

Properties#

  • Mode

    • Girder Reference - distribution of the girders across the girder span will according to the Girder Reference line

    • Center Curve - distribution of the girders across the girder span will be according to Center Curve and Transversal Range (width)

  • Orientation - decide whether girders should be placed orthogonally or vertically to the axis

  • Rotation

    • Ignore - Girder Span will not be influenced by the placement’s rotation

    • Pure Rotation - position of Girders will be calculated according to the rotated placement’s plane

    • Shear Mapping - position of Girders will be calculated according to the projection on rotated placement’s plane

    • Void Cut - Girder Span will be virtually elongated and cut with the placement’s plane

  • Transversal Range - defines the range (width) of the Girder Span. Girder lines will be distributed according to the Layout Rule and defined domain (width).

    • Girder Reference - value of domain will be taken from the Girder Reference family.

    • Symmetric - constant value distributed symmetrically (left and right) according to the Center Curve

    • Partition - unsymmetrical domain (width) with two values for left and right side of the Center Curve (positive and negative Y coordinate)

    • Circumscribed Boundary - value is calculated automatically based on the range (width) from the Girder Reference Family. Girders are placed to match the inner boundary of Girder Reference along the span

  • Interpolation - define the general geometrical feature of the Center Curve

    • Linear - straight line between start and end of the path

    • Conform to Axis - geometry is inherited from the axis.

  • Radius - in case Interpolation: Conform to Axis is selected, you can override the radius of the Central Curve and Girders

    • Constant - constant value for Central Curve and all girders

    • Partition - definition of the radius for each girder separately. List of values corresponds with indexes of the girders in span

  • Rotation X - rotation of girder geometry and coordinate system along the local X axis. For example, tendons should be measured perpendicular to the sloped surface.

    • Constant - constant value for rotation

    • Partition - definition of the rotation for each girder separately. List of values corresponds with indexes of the girders in span

    • Girder Reference - girders are placed perpendiculary to the Girder Reference line. You can define addtional rotation.

Vertical Profile#

You can define the position of each girder at start and at the end of the span. Additionally, decide whether girders should be straight in profile or curved.

  • Position - you can decide whether the vertical position of the girders should be calculated according to:

    • Girder Reference

    • Center Curve

  • Offset at start/end - offset in vertical direction of the girders

    • Constant - constant value for whole span

    • Partition - offset for each girder defined separately

  • Interpolation - general geometric feature of the girder profiles

    • Linear - straight line between start and end of the span

    • Conform to Axis - girder profile is inherited from the axis geometry

  • Camber - in case Interpolation: Conform to Axis is selected, you can override girder profile with the value of camber. Girders will have circular curvature.

    • Constant - constant value for whole span

    • Partition - Camber for each girder defined separately

  • Radius - in case Interpolation: Conform to Axis is selected, you can override girder profile with the radius. Girders will have circular curvature.

    • Constant - constant value for whole span

    • Partition - radius for each girder defined separately

Girder Reference tab#

Family#

  • Select Profile Family with defined Girder Reference. All available Girder Reference Families in the project will be listed.

  • Parameters - you can control the geometry of Girder Reference Family and Girder Reference line. Give a constant value to the parameter or assign a parameter to the variable or secondary axis. The parameters will be filled with the proper value according to the chosen variable along an axis.

  • Shape Handle Points - you can assign the shape handle point of the family to the selected axis or secondary axis. Assigned point will follow the curve along the axis in the Bridge Profile plane and influence the profile geometry.

Note

Shape Handle Points needs to have a name in order to be shown in the table.

Preview#

In preview window, you can see seleceted Profile Family with marked the Girder Referance. Green and red cylinder indicate Start and End of Girder Reference accordingly. Two horizontal grey lines show the range (width) of Girder Span. Girder Spans will be distributed between them. This lines are adjusted according to the current parameters and Offsets at Start and End of Girder Reference.

../../_images/mpic_girder_system_dialog_reference_preview.png

Girder Layout#

  • ID - you can define name for the Grider Layout

  • Edge Offsets - Offset from Start and End (left/right or right/left) edge of girder reference lines. Start and End are marked by Green and Red cylinders accordingly. Current width of the girder span is shown by two vertical grey lines.

  • Parametrization mode:

    • Horizontal projection - length of Girder Reference is calculated according to horizontally projected marked lines (see picture above)

    • Arc Length - length of Girder Reference is calculated according to the actual length of marked lines

      ../../_images/mpic_placement_rotation.png

Edit#

Edits previously created Girder System. You can easily apply any changes in Girder System Dialog and update your structure.

  1. Click SOFiSTiK Bridge tab > Create panel > icon_Girder_System (Girder System) drop-down > icon_Girder_System_Edit (Edit)

  2. Select Span.

    SOFiSTiK: Girder Layout dialog displays with previous input data.

  3. Adjust the parameter values and other settings and confirm with OK.

  4. The Girder Layout is updated according to the current definition.

Disconnect#

Disconnects Girder Layout from its axis. Girder Spans lose dependency to the axis. Changes applied to the axis will not influence Girder Layout.

  1. Click SOFiSTiK Bridge tab > Create panel > icon_Girder_System (Girder System) drop-down > icon_Girder_System_Disconnect (Disconnect)

  2. Select one Girder Span of Girder Layout.

  3. Girder Layout is disconnected from its axis.