If your goal is to define, analyze and design an open girder bridge superstructure and substructure, but the geometric design is not a concern, we recommend you only use Precast/Prestressed Girder and Substructure.

In this case, the bridge definition will be first done by using Precast/Prestressed Girder and defining the number of spans and girders and size and location of girders. Once the Precast/Prestressed Girder analysis and design process is concluded, you can close Precast/Prestressed Girder and at the prompt if you wish to create LEAP Bridge Concrete model you need to answer Yes. This creates a database file for the bridge, and a 3-D model of the bridge superstructure in LEAP Bridge Concrete. A default roadway will be generated with a flat surface, width equal to bridge width, and constant elevation of 100 ft.

To continue with the pier design, you need to move to the Substructure tab, select one of the piers, and run Substructure. Since pier definition has not been defined previously, Substructure will start with blank data, and all description data must be done, with exception of the superstructure information which has been automatically transferred from Precast/Prestressed Girder. The pier data can be entered directly into each field, or an existing Substructure native file can be opened as a starting point and modified to match the existing bridge definition. After analyzing or design the pier, when closing Substructure you should answer Yes when prompted to update the LEAP Bridge data set. This will update theLEAP Bridge Concrete database with the pier information, the 3-D bridge description, and the roadway elevation is adjusted to match the pier elevation defined in Substructure. If the selected pier is the first or last pier in the bridge, then the elevation of the adjacent abutment is also adjusted to match the pier elevation.

You can now continue to refine or revise the superstructure or pier design by moving back and forth between Precast/Prestressed Girder and Substructure as needed to complete the bridge. To update the LEAP Bridge Concrete database and ensure exchange of data between the components, each time you close Precast/Prestressed Girder or Substructure you need to answer Yes to updating the LEAP Bridge Concrete database. You are also asked if you want to create the reports. If you answer Yes, then a complete set of reports are generated (not printed) and may be later accessed from within the LEAP Bridge Concrete Report tab without having to run Precast/Prestressed Girder or Substructure. This option also allows another user of LEAP Bridge Concrete to access the results of your design without having to access the components.