Title: A geometric modelling of boxgirder deck for integrated bridge design

Authors: Alcinia Z. Sampaio, Alfonso Recuero

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, IST/ICIST, Technical University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais 1049, 1100 Lisbon, Portugal. ' Department of Structural Engineering, Eduardo Torroja Institute of Construction Science, C. Serrano Galvache, s/n, 28033 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: This paper presents a geometric modelling of box girder deck to automate deck design representations. A geometric methodology was developed and implemented in a computer programme. This software allows the geometric description of the deck, using bridge design data usually given at the conceptual stage, and the automation of several drawings and 3-dimensional (3D) models, defined accurately. Using traditional graphical systems, the execution of deck specific drawings is extremely time consuming, the 3D deck model gives an approximation only of the exterior shape of the deck and the 3D finite elements (FE) mesh generation software imposes important simplifications on the deck configuration. The computer application provides an important tool to the bridge designer particularly at the conceptual stage, as it allows aesthetic and structural evaluation of the bridge at an early stage in the design. The geometric modelling process and graphical results of a case study are presented.

Keywords: automation; integration; bridge design; geometric modelling; bridge graphical support application; box girder deck.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2004.003834

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2004 Vol.20 No.1/2/3, pp.54 - 61

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article