"Sistema de diseño asistido por ordenador, para el anteproyecto de puentes de carretera compuestos por tableros de vigas prefabricadas"

Computer aided design of highway bridges composed by precast girders

In the paper the most important guidelines and criteria used in the elaboration of a software package for the computer aided design of highway bridges composed by precast girders are presented. They take into account the possible modifications concerning the live-load model, the specifications and regulations stated in the codes and the materials in order to evaluate in a fast and accurate way the economical influence of this modifications in a particular bridge. The design of the bridge is accurate enough to have a very good approximation of its cost. The software package is a modular one. Each module works in a linked way with other modules or in an independent way.The main modules ar the following: - Data Base Manegement Module. - Hypotesis Module: live loads, materials, etc. - Superstructure design model: slab + girders. - Joints and bearings design module. - Piers design module (maximum pier length is 40 m). - Abutments design module. - Cost evaluation module: materials measurement and prices. - Cost sensitivity module. The main characteristics of each module are described in the paper.