Live Loads in RC-Pier

Question

I noticed my live loads were larger when I auto-generated them in RC-Pier than compared to when I imported them from Conspan. Is there a reason for this? This yields a more conservative pier design, but is it accurate? 
 Thanks.

Zachary Waite · Accepted Answer

Hi Vinay, 
 I am aware of the different ways RCpier and Conspan generates the live loads. I was using the same condition for both programs to generate the live loads. 
 I did figure out the problem. When I was generating my live loads in RCpier with the double truck loading condition, I was also generating my braking force at the same time with the double truck, When I was importing my live load reactons from Conspan into RCpier, I was generating my braking force in RCpier, but only using the single truck. This was the reason my pier design was being controlled by the case when I was auto generating the live loads in RCpier, as opposed to importing the live load reactions from Conspan. 
 Thanks for your prompt response, 
 Zach