End Diaphragm
Diaphragm Location[Start/End]: End diaphragms can be defined at the end or start of the girder.
Connected Girders: Select all the girders for which an end diaphragm is defined.
Depth: Total vertical depth.
Additional Overhang Length Transverse Direction Left- Right: Additional transverse distance from the girder's exterior web centerline. You can determine the right and left directions by looking up-station
Thickness (Downstation w.r.t Support Line): The thickness (Downstation) of the end diaphragm measured from Support Line where girders are connected.
Thickness (Upstation w.r.t Support Line): The thickness (Upstation) of the end diaphragm measured from Support Line where girders are connected.
User can define skew values for end diaphragms. However, if the defined Support Line is at the start of the girder unit or at the end of the girder unit, Start Skew or End Skew values are automatically assigned to the Support Line’s skew value, respectively.
Material: Set the material for the end diaphragm.
FEM
Cap Connection[Yes/No]: When selected as 'yes,' additional beam elements are created between the midpoint of the end diaphragm and the pier cap, and they behave as a unit. Otherwise, the bearing connection will transfer the forces.
As seen in the figure, the cap connection still exists between the girder and pier cap through the bearing
As shown in the figure below, there is an additional rigid beam between the cap and the end diaphragm.
Cap Connection Type[Rigid/Pin]: If the Cap connection option is set to 'yes,' we offer two types of connections: rigid and pin connections. The pin connection is suitable when the forces only transfer to the pier cap without sufficient reinforcement. This behavior(pin) is achieved by using beam end releases. If there is sufficient reinforcement connecting the pier cap to the diaphragm, the rigid connection can be selected to guarantee that the concrete block moves together during rotation.