...
Girders: Choose the two girders that are connected by the cross frame.
Skew Angle [deg]:: A positive skew value rotates the cross frame in a clockwise direction, while a negative skew value rotates it in a counterclockwise direction. It is important to remember that the cross frames are positioned at the specified station along a line perpendicular to the PGL, which is then rotated according to the entered skew value.
...
Station[ftStart/End] : Enter the station along the PGL. When dealing with curved girder bridges, collecting distance along the girder length can lead to different inputs for the right and left girder that are connected by cross frames, causing ambiguity. Therefore, collecting the station along the PGL is a more reliable solution to avoid such issues. Furthermore, since cross frames are typically continuous in the transverse direction, entering the same station for all cross frames ensures that their locations are consistent between each girder.
The same principle can be applied for skewed cross frames. If the user enters the same station and skew values for the cross frames between Girder 1-2, Girder 2-3, and Girder 3-4, it ensures continuity between the cross frames. It should also be noted that the cross frames are positioned along a line perpendicular to the PGL, which is rotated according to the entered skew value.
Inaccurate finite element models and disconnected nodes/elements in the cross frame can occur if the entered station values are not >= the girder start station or <= the girder end station. This can cause stability issues in the finite element model. To ensure correct station input, users should select the start/end options from the station input. This approach is especially recommended for cross frames located at the beginning or end of girders.
...
Sections
Top Chord Section - Bottom Chord Section - Diagonal Chord Section: Assign a section for the top/bottom/diagonal chord, which can be imported from the AISC database by the users. The finite element representation is in the form of a truss.
...
The parameters listed below are exclusively used employed for 3D representation and are integrated into the gusset plate code section of the cross frame code check object's design process. They do not have any impact on design or finite element analysis at presentintroduce any additional stiffness into the finite element analysis. Nonetheless, if you choose to perform load computations based on the stiffener and gusset plates, they will impact the weight calculation.
Select Bottom Plate Geometry:
...
The parameters listed below are exclusively used employed for 3D representation and . They do not have any impact on design or finite element analysis at presentintroduce any additional stiffness into the finite element analysis. Nonetheless, if you choose to perform load computations based on the stiffener and gusset plates, they will impact the weight calculation.
vertical stiffener thickness [in]:
...