Substructure Help

Results of Last Auto Generated Live Load

To view the comprehensive results of the last auto generated live load, click LL Details on the Loads screen. This will activate the Live Load Generation Details screen. By selecting the options at the top of the screen, you can view the results of the last generated live load as follows:

  • Selected Item - displays the results for each controlling live load case.
  • Selected Combinations - displays the results for all controlling live load cases, and
  • All Load Positions - displays the results for all live load positions.

The results include the maximum effects produced in the members of the structure model, maximum live load reactions, and truck or lane positions measured from the left edge of the bridge superstructure to the centerline of the truck/lane position.

The number of lane load positions varies according to the geometry of the superstructure, such as curb to curb distance, number of lanes, number of bearings, single or double bearing lines, and type of live load (military, truck, lane, or combination). Therefore, auto generation of the live load can be very extensive. The time involved depends on the number of live load positions created by the algorithm explained earlier, number of structural members, and speed of the computer. For a wide bridge (4 or more lanes), the number of live load positions can be very large. To limit the amount of execution time required by analysis, the maximum number of loaded lanes allowed is 4.

For AASHTO LRFD, the design truck and design lane have to be evaluated separately since the dynamic load allowance for the design truck and design lane are different. Substructure calculates individual design truck and design lane load results for each bearing. The first value(s) are for the design truck while the second value(s) is for the design lane.

Note: You are not allowed to delete the auto generated live load values but you can modify the loads or add additional loads.