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Has middle gusset plate?: Choose "Yes" if there is a gusset plate at the overlapping section of the X.
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Station[ft]:
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Sections
Bottom-Diagonal Chord Section: Start/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.
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Sections
Assign a section for the top/ bottom/, or diagonal chord, which can be imported from the AISC database by the users. The finite element representation is in the form of a truss.data associated with this section is used for the 3D model of the object; however, the finite element model of the object will be generated regardless of whether the sections are defined or not.
Bottom Chord Section:
Diagonal Chord Section:
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Gusset Plate
Select Bottom Plate Geometry:
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