The permanent or dead loads acting on the bridge are modeled either as dead load of structural components and non-structural elements, DC, or dead load of wearing surface and utilities, DW.

Dead loads on precast can be modeled only as Line or Point Loads; however, dead loads on composite can be modeled as Line, Point, and Area loads. In the case where you specify an area load and a width over which this load applies, Precast/Prestressed Girder multiplies the two together and analyzes it as a line load acting on the continuous beam model, as discussed in the previous section. The resulting moments and shears are then distributed to each beam using the dead load distribution/tributary fraction factors.