How exactly should the vertical component of LL surcharge on the footing be input? I have a 100 ft long footing (x dir) with a 9.75 ft heel (z dir). Per AASHTO, I'm using the equivalent of 2 ft of soil for the surcharge. There's 80 ft of clear roadway…

When entering loads manually for a wall type pier, what is RC Pier referring to as cap loads? Is this the pile cap? Some load screens also have a tab for footing, so this does not seem to make sense. Is it the top of the pier even though a wall type pier…

Why does the default load combination for Strength II have beta factors set to zero for LL+IM, CE, and BR? Shouldn't they be set to 1.35 per AASHTO 3.4.1-1?

Does anyone have calculation verification for the live load auto-generation function in RC-PIER? Or has anyone else had problems verifying the LL output from RC-PIER?

I am using Leap Bridge Enterprise v14.00.00.09 in a Win7 environment. When I open the Geomath and Conspan modules, they work fine. When I open RCPier, it gets to a screen which says "Loading Project File" and then crashes, and it sometimes gives me a…

The attached file shows the output from the cap design module of RCPier v14. Can you tell me why there is a point where phi*Vn=504 and Vu=72.5 yet phi*Vn < Vu? Is this result spurious or is there a reason for this? Also, how can I tell what the most…

We are working a substructure design in which, due to the geometry of the roadway, it may be necessary to have the column rotated at an angle from the orientation of the pile footing on which it sits. In the past we've had to handle this via calculation…

In RC Pier, is it possible to apply a load factor to the self weight of concrete (for cap self weight in particular)?

Am I correct in assuming RC-Pier does not check columns for shear capacity? Why is this? Also, when checking footings for one-way and two-way shear, does RC-pier only check Vc? I'm being told footing stirrups are required, but don't see an option to…

I have created a Leap Bridge Enterprise file consisting of a 3 span precast girder Conspan Model, and single column bents with bent caps created in RC-Pier. I'm trying to generate WS loads from the Auto Generate feature. I assume the Wind Pressure for…

What is the best way to model a solid wall pier using RC Pier? I am thinking there are two possibilities: 1) Model short cap (1' height or less) and one column (non-tapered in x and z direction) centered on footing 2) Model short cap (1' height…

One of the new features added to the latest RC-PIER is the comprehensive auto-generation of WS loads and load combinations per the FDOT SDG 2013: An option for WS load auto-generation is now offered under the “Loads” tab. FDOT strength and service…

A few RC-PIER users recently asked questions about the two analysis options in the abutment design and the related footing design reports. Here is some clarification. In abutment design, when "Cap as continuous beam" is selected for the frame analysis…

I'm trying to apply vertical wind loads on a pier per AASHTO LRFD 3.8.2. The problem I have is with the load combination generation. This load shoud only be applied during Strength III and Service IV limit states. Is there a way to specify this for the…

I cannot match the values that RC Pier generates for the column's moment magnification calculation for the Bd value (Ratio of Perm. Moment/Total Moment from AASHTO LRFD eqn 5.7.4.3-2). I have tried the minimum eccentricity from the AASHTO LFD code. I…

In RCPier "Main" window, if I click "Diagrams", how do I get back to the "Main" window?

When manually inputting live loads into RC-Pier, how do you specify a lane load. According to the help.... "For manually input live loads in AASHTO LRFD, this screen behaves slightly different. When a live load case is added in LRFD mode and edited, the…

Hello all: I am having an extremely difficult time getting through my bridge design on LEAP bridge. Especially while working in GEOMATH and RC PIER. In GEOMATH: Problem #1: Back when I was trying to make minor adjustments to the geometry of the…

I am designing a two stage pier wall. There is no option for just a wall in RC pier. Is there a way to trick the program, I have tried a couple of different options but none have worked. The top wall is tapered in both directions and the bottom wall does…