Start of Tutorial
- Select Open from the File menu to activate the File/Open dialog. Browse to the examples sub-folder and select Tutor1.csl and click Open. This will open the three span data file that we looked at in Tutorial 1 earlier.
- Since in this example, we only want to look at rating an existing bridge, we will not select any load for the design Live Load. Go to the Loads tab and remove the HS25 Truck and the HS25 lane, by clicking on the << button. Next, click on the Analysis tab and run Analysis. This will prepare all the dead loads moments and shear envelopes required for the rating analysis. Even if we leave the selected live loads as is, or added a different set of loads here under Design Live Loads, it will not affect the rating calculations in any way.
- Click the Beam tab and select beam 2 from the Beam list. This is the beam for which we will do the load rating. The Strand Pattern for the beam has already been designed, and will show up in the cross-section view and elevation view as shown below.
- Click Rebar Pattern to open the Rebar Patterns dialog. In this screen we can input a shear reinforcement schedule as shown in the problem data, and entered in the screen below. Use the buttons on the left to insert a new row, to delete a row or to copy it.
- Next we will input the negative moment reinforcing steel (continuity steel) shown under problem data, by clicking on the Neg. Moment Continuity Steel tab. Enter the values shown below. Click OK to close the Rebar Pattern.
- Click Parameters, and add the appropriate rating vehicles for both Inventory and Operating Rating as shown in the screen below. Select which options to consider for Rating by checking the individual Rating Options. You can also adjust the individual factors for the rating equations on this screen. For this example, we will stay with the defaults, and click OK to close the dialog.
- Click Rating Results and Precast/Prestressed Girder will start the live load analysis and perform all necessary computations to come up with the rating factors for the parameters and trucks selected under the rating parameters screen. At the end of the run, the rating report is displayed on the screen as shown below.
