Career Episode 3

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Background

3.2.1 Overview
Bridges are the infrastructure that is used for the passage of the obstruction caused due to
obstacles such as a river, rivulets, drains, highways, etc. Bridges are the connecting structure that
opens the barrier and provide passage for pedestrian, waterways, and road and plays a significant
role in the transportation system. During ancient times, people used to construct a temporary
connecting structure to cross the river and transport essential things. Time flies and technology
arrives and with the discovery of the bridge, it has become easier to travel to another place. The
bridge required proper inspection by the engineer to design for bearing the load of the moving
object or pedestrian. A bridge structure consists of different components such as a foundation,
piers, cap beams, girder, concrete deck, and abutments.
Two models of different types such as U-box girder and ASHTO-PCI-ASBI standard box shape
girder were carried out in the project to determine the best model. The essential research works
were done using various records, journals, and old papers to explore the knowledge of different
parts of the bridge infrastructure. The project used the CSI bridge application for the execution of
the analysis and the design works. Further, the bridge model was created defining all the
essential materials and loading following all the design codes and standards. All the drawings of
the bending moment and shear forces were extracted to evaluate the project. The model was
analyzed and compared based on various parameters such as torsion, base reaction, vertical
displacement, lateral displacement, and transverse displacement.

3.2.2 Objectives
The main objective of the project was to determine the simulation works & the modeling works
of the bridge structure under various seismic loading. The minor motto of the project was shown
in the following ways:
 To ensure the safety and predict the sustainability of the bridge structure under various
natural loads.
 To upsurge the stability of the structure ensuring the welfare & security of the pedestrian
and the traffic loads.
3.2.3 Nature of work
I made the proposal for the project after the formation of the group. I was assigned as the group
mentor for the execution and implementation of the project work. I assigned the assignment to
my colleague and examine the work carried out to check the possible errors. Likewise, I defined
all the possible load combinations and the material following all the design standards and the
codes to execute the model. I also implemented the modeling and the simulating works in the
CSI bridge application and extract the various outcomes based on various parameters. I did the
design and analysis for the two models of the bridge and recorded all the findings to conclude the
best model.

3.2.4 Organization Chart

3.2.5 Duties

3.3 PEA

3.3.1
I gathered different sorts of research papers, books, magazines, and old case studies to
understand the different working mechanisms and the background of the bridge infrastructure. I
also surveyed with few people to learn and explore the several types of bridges with their
respective applications. I also studied to know the load transfer mechanism in the bridge
structure. Further, I educated myself to learn the various parts of the bridge for consideration
during the design process. I also invested my time to enhance my knowledge of various codes
and standards to be used for the modeling and analysis of the structure. I explored application
like CSI BRIDGE to carry out the entire modeling and the simulation works to extract the results
for further evaluation.

3.3.2
I decided to prefer the two different models of the bridge structure for the designing works and
the simulation of the project. I employed the U-box girder bridge structure with a long span of
150m. I picked the concrete grade of M35 and the steel reinforcement grade of Fe500 for the
structure. Next, I adopted the unit weight of the concrete as 24KN/m 3 considering the poison
ratio as 0.20. I decided to use the dimension of the column as 750 mm*750 mm at the bent and
the beam dimension as 650 mm*650 mm. I opted to choose the slab thickness of 180mm for the
structure. Further, I adopted the modulus of elasticity of the steel as 210GPa and the concrete
material as 30GPa respectively. I decided to use the CSI BRIDGE application for further work.
Furthermore, I implemented the same procedure for the next model of the bridge with the
ASHTO-PCI-ASBI standard box girder shape structure.
3.3.3
After accomplishing the selection of assembling portions and materials, I moved to the third
stage to begin the designing works of the structure. Firstly, I opened the CSI bridge application
and created a new file. I saw the new window interface to insert the design standards and the
units. I inserted the design codes and the unit in metric form. I defined the layout lanes and
construct the grid to set the horizontal alignment. I clicked on the bridge wizard option on the
menu and stated the steel and the concrete material along with their respective engineering
properties. I drew the various fragments of the bridge structure such as piers, girder, abutments,
etc. Next, I defined the loads and the load combination from the load tab. I added the loads such
as live load, moving load, dead load, pre-stress load, etc. Then, I also defined line loads to both
sides of the deck such as end blocks, curbs, etc. to create the 3D model of a U-box shape girder. I
repeated the same step and prepared another model for the standard box girder.

3.3.4
I went to the fourth stage to begin the evaluation carrying out the analysis of the model. For the
analysis works, I assigned the entire defined load earlier in the bridge structure to check the
behavior under such load conditions. I allocated the fixed support for the structure and also
assigned the diaphragm. Further, I defined the live load for IRC classes of different categories. I
considered the IRC class AA for the highways. I simulated the CSI bridges and perceived the
deformed structure shape on the screen. Next, I produced all the bending moments and the shear
forces acting due to the presence of the load applied in the girder on the bridge structure for
evaluation. I specified various parameters for static analysis as a deciding factor such as moment,
torsion, base reaction, and vertical, longitudinal, and transverse displacement to conclude the
model with better working performance.

3.3.5
I simulated the model prepared in the CSI bridge software application and perceived various
outcomes for further evaluation based on different contributing factors. For the u-box girder
bridge, I recorded the extreme value of the moment, torsion, and the base reaction as ……
KNm, ..…kNm and …..KN respectively. Further, I witnessed the utmost value for the vertical
displacement as …….mm, longitudinal displacement as ….mm, and the transverse displacement
as …mm. For the standard box girder, I noted the supreme value of base reaction as …..KN & I
found the highest torsion & moment as …kNm & …kNm respectively. Similarly, I observed the
maximum value longitudinal as ….mm with a transverse displacement of …..mm and the utmost
vertical displacement of …mm simultaneously. I compared the outcomes received from the
simulation and declared the …….model have better results as compared to other.

3.4
I found the model failed with the larger value of the different parameters such as torsion and
displacement. I witnessed the instability in the bridge structure during the simulation from the
CSI bridge application. I found the results were away from the required prevision. I arranged a
meeting with my group colleagues and review the model to inspect and find out the cause of the
problem. I noticed the failure due to the insufficient thickness of the slab. I increased the slab
thickness from 150mm to 200mm and ran the analysis work again the examine the outcomes. I
noticed the failure still existed and arranged another meeting with my supervisor to consult about
the issues. I found the cause of the problem which was due to insufficient loading. I applied the
loading as per the guidelines of the supervisor following the codes and specifications. I simulated
the results from the software and found the outcomes were within the acceptable range and the
model was passed from the static analysis.

3.5 Creative works

I decided to increase the slab thickness from 150mm to 200mm considering all the essential
specifications and parameters. I compared the two different models of different types to check
their stability and performance.

3.6 Team management

I did all the monitoring work for the implementation of the work assigned by the supervisor. I
divided the work into different phases and prepared the work schedule to execute as per the plan.
I made sure to accomplish the model and the evaluating work within the time. I checked the
entire file and the work operated by the group and examined the possible errors. I also managed
to organize the meetup program to discuss with the supervisor the techniques to remove the
errors. I followed all the guidance given by the experts along with a proper discussion with the
members. I shared all of my suggestions and received feedback to progress the work faster and
smoother. Further, I prepared the entire output of the model in the final document and submitted
it to the department.
3.7 Codes

3.8 Summary

3.8.1

3.8.2