Subfunctions for displaying, defining or modifying of parameters describing the different impacts acting on the structure (dead load, traffic, additional loads, earthquake events, etc.)

• Combination Table: The combination table contains rules for superimposing load cases and envelopes to get relevant load combinations for the different checks proof. The RmBridge combination table allows for defining the rules for up to 24 combinations.  The combinations can be later created with using the schedule action SupComb.
• Load Management: This function governs the automatic superposition of permanent load cases of a certain category in the stage calculation process. The function allows for defining load case categories and the rules for automatically superimposing the  load cases of these categories into up to 3 summation load cases and 3 envelopes. The assignment of the categories to the load cases is done in the  load case definition function.
• Load Set Definition: Definition of a load set consisting of several load definition lines. These load sets (one or several) are later assigned to the respective load cases. Although load definition lines may also be directly assigned to the load cases, working with load sets and grouping different impacts in load sets has many advantages in complex   loading situations. In some cases (e.g. in dynamic analyses with partly static (masses) and  partly time dependent loads (unbalanced mass)) using load sets is essentially  required.
• Load Case Definition: Definition of a load case by directly specifying load definition lines or by assigning previously defined load sets. The load case can be specified as a permanent load (effective load for creep) or as a non-permanent load. The load case can be assigned to a  certain load category for automatic superposition.
• Traffic Lanes: Definition of the geometric position of traffic loads moving over the bridge. Lanes describe the center line of actual or nominal traffic lanes where vehicles are moving along. The respective influence lines are calculated for all traffic lanes and evaluated with the  defined load trains.  Several parallel lanes have to be specified in case of 2D traffic loading (influence surface evaluation) in order to allow for an appropriate interpolation.
• Load Trains: Definition of the intensity of the traffic load (line load or concentrated axle loads). The influence lines are later evaluated with these load trains (schedule action Infl).
• Earthquake Load: Definition of the earthquake events with the excitation vector, duration and combination rules for the modal superposition (ABS, SRSS, DSC, CQC). The earthquake analysis requires the calculation of the relevant natural modes  (schedule action Eigen) and the modal evaluation of the response spectrum (schedule action RespS).
• Wind Load: Definition of sophisticated wind loading with specifying the wind velocity (dependent on the altitude above ground), turbulence intensity, coherence factors etc. The load consists of a static and a dynamic part.

• Activation : Activation or de-activation of elements in the different construction stages. New elements are added for new construction stages.
• Schedule Actions : Definition of the schedule actions to be performed in the respective construction stage. These are calculation actions or proof check actions. Many schedule actions   are dependent on the point in time they are performed. Therefore it is essential that the schedule  actions be arranged and performed in the right sequence.
• Tendon Actions : Definition of the stressing actions for the individual tendons, i.e. the modality and sequence of stressing the tendons. The development of the prestressing forces  along the tendons is the result of these actions. These forces are later applied at the structure when the prestressing load case is calculated.

Additional constraints are optimization conditions. Several load cases (e.g. stressing of stay cables) can be defined as adjustable such that internal forces or deformations in specified points  of the structure do not exceed specified limit values. The application range includes for instance: · form finding of the loaded state geometry and according stress free state geometry · determination of prestressing for keeping allowable stress limits of elements · optimization of stay cable arrangement and stressing sequence.

• Loads: Definition of the fixed load cases that should be considered in the optimization process and of the variable load cases that shall be adapted until the additional constraints  defined in Additional constraints > Elements will be met.
• Elements: Definition of the DOF's (i.e. result values for certain elements or nodes) that get defined additional constraints, i.e. which should have a certain value or must not  exceed a certain value.

• Activation list for all stages: Shows the activation of elements for all construction stages of the respective variant in one list.
• Action list for all stages: Shows the schedule actions of all construction stages   of the respective variant in one list.
• Load case list: Definition  of the respective variant in one list.