Traffic Lanes > Lane Input Macro
Definition of lane points - along the whole lane length - which form the influence line.
Linear interpolation is applied between the points, i.e. the spacing between the individual points must be sufficiently small to get a reasonable accuracy of the polygonal influence line. In most cases the subdivision into beam elements already matches this requirement, allowing for defining just the points at element begin and end.
The available MACRO TYPES allow for a respective lane definition in an easy way. They generate lane points at element begin and end for a given element series. However, it is also possible to specify point generation in subdivision points of individual beam elements in order to achieve a higher accuracy of the influence lines.
The workflow is as follows:
Once the lane definition is finished, click on the Confirm + Close button.
The transversal position of the lane is not defined by the eccentricities ey and ez but with dx at the first and last transversal element of the lane. dx represents the length from the staring node of the transversal element. It can be defined as relative value or real length.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Relative | Definition of the position as ratio between the distance from the start node and the total distance between start and end node |
| Length | Definition of the position as the distance from the start node. |
| First girder | Definition of the position at lane begin (first element of the series) |
| x/D-Beg.: | Ratio between dist. from the start node and dist. between start and end node. |
| dx-Beg: | Distance of the lane from the start node of the element. |
| Last beam | Definition of the position at lane end (last element of the series). |
| x/D-End.: | Ratio between dist. from the start node and dist. between start and end node. |
| dx-End: | Distance of the lane from the start node of the element. |
| Orthogonal to lane | Check button for the search algorithm to find longitudinal elements orthogonal to the lane direction. Available only if the option Distrib. load to main girder is selected. |
| Insert before/Insert after |
Once the input (on the left side) is finished, it needs to be confirmed by clicking on one of the buttons. If the lane is defined in several steps, it is important, first which row is selected, and secondly which button is clicked. The Insert before button will add rows before the selected line, the Insert after button will add rows after the selected line. The created table can be modified by double-clicking on the respective item in the row. Certain items can also be modified for several rows at once. Multiple rows can be selected one by one using the space-bar or "Ctrl"+left mouse button. To select a consecutive series of rows hold "Shift" and click the first row of the series and then the last one. After the rows to be modified are selected, click the corresponding item in one of the rows. To unselect one row (or more rows "row by row") select the row and then press the space-bar or "Ctrl" + left mouse button. To unselect all rows click the Unselect all button or type "Ctrl+U". When "Loading secondary girder" and "Distrib. load to main girder" are selected, the program automatically evaluates the longitudinal girders to which the force will be distributed. The element number of the calculated longitudinal girders are listed in the table under column "MG". The longitudinal girder(s) to which the load is distributed can be changed. This is possible by directly double-clicking the corresponding item (or by clicking on the corresponding item and clicking the button Edit) or by pressing the arrows below the table. The latter one will automatically calculate new longitudinal girder(s). The main preview window in the lower right part of the dialog will show the preview of the whole lane. The view options can be changed by pressing the View options button or by invoking the context-menu (right mouse click). It is also possible to show other already defined lanes by checking the box Other lanes. The lanes to be displayed including various respective settings can be defined in the menu to be opened by clicking on the Select button. |
| Confirm+Close | Clicking this button will generate the lane according to the list/table and close the window. |
| POS3D | Points for evaluation along the lane are defined in the same global coordinate system as the structural model. |
| POSEL(XYL) | Points for evaluation along the lane are defined relative to a particular element in the local element coordinate directions. |
| POSEG(YZL) | Points for evaluation along the lane are defined relative to a particular element in the global element coordinate directions. |
| POSERL | Simplified point input for points located between two other fully defined points. Note: This is used for a point located midway along an imaginary line parallel to a longitudinal element located within a grid of longitudinal and transverse elements. The load distribution to the elements from the defined point must be input immediately after each point definition (before the next point definition).
|
| POSFG | Definition of a unit load and distribution to the surrounding element e.g. wheel loads applied eccentrically to the lane. |
| POSFRG | Simplified load definition (load application directly in the lane point). |