SOFTWARE | Research projects - Software development
|
Project start 01/2006 Funded by FFG - Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH Description The design of bridge structures is often performed as an iterative process. The final structure is the result of an optimisation process with regards to its structural behaviour, cost and aesthetics. Bridge design engineers have developed traditional ways of thinking and working within this process according to their respective experiences and to the respective national design codes. Numerous discussions with international bridge design experts and the careful evaluation of international design codes have shown that this process is not sufficiently supported by commercial software products currently available on the market.
Within the present research project a software product will be developed which supports the described design process starting from the first conceptual draft all the way to the finished shop drawings. The new software product will aim at integration with existing software products rather than trying to compete with them. The necessary data interfaces will also be defined as part of this project.
ABES staff has great know how in the field of computer-supported bridge design and have also got access to numerous experts who have promised to support this research project.Figure 1 illustrates a typical bridge design cycle:
- The choice of a particular bridge type usually is the first step that has to be taken.
- Cross-section design for the individual bridge components then starts the actual design process.
- Based on the cross-sections the components can be planned.
- A 3D design model can then be defined from these components.
- Detailling can be done on the basis of the gathered information at this stage.
Figure 1 - Bridge design process
ABES IT Austria is authorized co-operation partner of SOFiSTiK Aktiengesellschaft, Germany.