Moving Load Analysis

of Box Girder
Using SAP2000


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Moving Load Analysis
of Box Girder
Using SAP2000

Table of Content
Objective ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
Problem........................................................................................................................................................ 3
Material .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Plan and Elevation View.......................................................................................................................... 3
Sections .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Step-by-Step Solution................................................................................................................................... 4
Start modeling by template....................................................................................................................... 4
Modify Structure ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Define Material Properties ....................................................................................................................... 8
Define Frame Section Properties.............................................................................................................. 9
Assign Frame Sections ........................................................................................................................... 11
Define Lanes and Vehicles..................................................................................................................... 13
Define Moving Load Cases .................................................................................................................... 17
Set Analysis Options and Start Analysis ................................................................................................ 18
View Results........................................................................................................................................... 20

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Objective
To demonstrate and practice step-by-step on the modeling, moving load analysis
Problem
Plot influence line for vertical displacement at point A in Lane 1and plot moving
load M33 moment for bridge as shown below for worst case of HS20-44 truck
load and HS20-44L lane load applied to each lane simultaneously.
Material
SteelEc = 5,000 ksi
Poissons Ratio = 0.2

Plan and Elevation View

6
'
6
'
Lane 2 Centerline
Lane 1 Centerline
Frame Elements
Centerline
100' 100' 100'
5
0
'
2
0
'




Sections

Box Girder
A = 35 ft
2
I = 500 ft
4
A
Shear
= 12 ft
2


Column
A = 40 ft
2

I = 400 ft
4

A
Shear
= 30 ft
2



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Step-by-Step Solution
Start modeling by template

Step 1-1: Start up screen of SAP2000, click on or go to File >New Model.
Select working unit =Kip, ft, F and select Portal Frame.


Step 1-2: Enter Portal Frame parameters as shown in above figure and click OK.

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Step 1-3: Back to main screen, showing structure in 3D view (left window) and X-
Z Plane view (right window). Close 3D view window to enlarge X-Z Plane by
clicking at top-right of 3D View window.

Modify Structure

Step 2-1 (Display Joint & Frame Labels): Click on or go to View > Set Display
Options, check the Labels box in J oints and Frames/Cables and click OK.

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Step 2-2 (Delete Columns at both ends):Select Frame 1 and 4 by clicking on
them one by one and press Delete button in keyboard.


Step 2-3 (Assign Restraints): Select J oint 2 and 8. Click on or go to Assign >
Joint > Restraints, click on Hinge support button and click OK.

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Step 2-4 (Move Joint 5): Click on J oint 5 and go to Edit > Move. Specify Delta Z =
20 (ft) and click OK.


Step 2-5 (Divide Frame 5, 6 and 7): Select Frame 5, 6 and 7 by drawing selection
rectangular to cover all of them. Go to Edit >Divide Frame, enter Divide into 2
Frames and click OK.


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Define Material Properties

Step 3-1 (Change Working Unit): Select Kip, in ,F from drop-down menu at the
bottom-right of screen.


Step 3-2 (Define Concrete Material): Click on or go to Define >Materials.
Select CONC and click on Modify/Show Material, enter 5000 (ksi) and click
OK 2 times.

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Define Frame Section Properties

Step 4-1(Change Working Unit): Select Kip, ft ,F from drop-down menu at the
bottom-right of screen.


Step 4-2 (Define Column Section): Click on or go to Define > Frame/Cable
Sections. Select Add General from second drop-down menu and click on Add
New Property

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Step 4-3 (Define Column Section): Enter section property as shown above figure
and click OK.


Step 4-4 (Define Column Section): Enter Section Name =COLUMN, select
Material =CONC and click OK.



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Step 4-5 (Define Girder Section): Repeat Step 4-2 to Step 4-5 to define
BOXGIRDER section property.







Step 4-6: Back to Frame Properties dialog shows BOXGIRDER and COLUMN
section have been added in the list and click OK.



Assign Frame Sections

Step 5-1 (Select Girders): Draw selection rectangular to cover frame 8 to 13.
Selection Status at the bottom-left of screen shows 7 Points, 6 Lines Selected.




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Step 5-2 (Assign Girder Sections): Click on or go to Assign > Frame/Cable >
Sections, select BOXGIRDER and click OK.


Step 5-3 (Select Columns): Change back to undeformed mode by clicking on or
from Display > Show Undeformed Shape. Click on frame 2 and 3 one by one.







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Step 5-4 (Assign Columns): Click on or go to Assign > Frame/Cable >
Sections, select COLUMN and click OK.



Define Lanes and Vehicles

Step 6-1 (Define Lane 1): Click on or go to Define > Bridge Loads > Lanes
and click Add New Lane. Enter Frame =8, Eccentricity =-6 and click on
Add. Repeat this step to define eccentricity =-6 to frame 9 to 13 and click OK.





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Step 6-2 (Define Lane 2): Back to Define Bridge Lanes dialog and click Add New
Lane. Enter Frame =8, Eccentricity =6 and click on Add. Repeat this step to
define eccentricity =6 to frame 9 to 13 and click OK 2 times.


Step 6-3 (Select Vehicles): Click on or go to Define > Bridge Loads >
Vehicles, select Add Standard Vehicle and click on Add Vehicle.




Step 6-4 (Select Vehicles): Select Vehicle Type =HSn-44, enter Scale Factor =
20 and click OK.


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Step 6-5 (Select Vehicles): Back to Define Vehicles dialog, click on Add
Vehicle. Select Vehicle Type =HSn-44L, enter Scale Factor =20 and click
OK .




Step 6-6 (Select Vehicles): Back to Define Vehicles dialog shows 2 vehicle types
have been added in list. Click on OK to finish this step.

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Step 6-7 (Define Vehicle Classes): Click on or go to Define > Bridge Loads >
Vehicle Classes, select Add new Class. Select HSn441, enter Scale Factor =
1 and click Add. Select HSn442, enter Scale Factor =1 and click Add. Click
OK 2 times.




Step 6-8 (Define Bridge Response): Click on or go to Define > Bridge Loads
> Bridge Responses, select all response results, select Method of Calculation =
Exact. Click OK.




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Define Moving Load Cases

Step 7-1: Click on or go to Define > Analysis Cases. Click on Add New Case.





Step 7-2: Specify parameters shown in above figure and click OK


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Set Analysis Options and Start Analysis

Step 8-1 (Set Analysis Options): Go to Analysis > Set Analysis Options. Select
XZ Plane and click OK.






Step 8-2: Click on or go to Analysis > Run Analysis. Select MODAL case and
click on Run/Do Not Run Case (not required in this example). Click on Run Now.

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Step 8-3: After analysis is complete, check error messages in analysis window. If
no error report, click on OK to finish analysis step.




Step 8-4: Click on to change back to undeformed mode.
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View Results

Step 9-1 (View Influence Line): Go to Display > Show Influence Lines > Joints.
Specify LANE1, Joint ID =10 (middle of bridge), Vector Type =Displacement
and Component =U3. Click Tables to view in tabular form or click on OK to
view influence line in diagram.


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Step 9-2 (View Moment 3-3 Diagram): Click on or go to Display > Show
Forces/Stresses > Frames/Cables. Specify parameters as shown in above figure
and click OK.




Step 9-3 (View Moment 3-3 Diagram): Click on or go to Display > Show
Forces/Stresses > Frames/Cables. Specify parameters as shown in above figure
and click OK.

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Step 9-4 (View Moment 3-3 Diagram): Force diagram in each frame can be
displayed by right-mouse clicking. When move mouse over particular diagram,
distance and force value will be displayed at the bottom of diagram.