• RCPier Cap design - shear and torsion

    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…
  • RC Pier - Lateral Pile Resistance

    How does RC Pier calculate the lateral pile resistance for battered piles? Thanks.
  • RC Pier - EV & EH loads

    I am designing an abutment using RC Pier. Under the Loads tab, I input/generate EV & EH loads. However, when I run an analysis and review the load combinations the vertical or horizontal earth loads are all "0". It appears that these loads are being applied…
  • LEAP RC-Pier Rotated Column on Pile Footing

    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…
  • RC Pier - Pier Wall with Cap

    I'm desiging a pier wall with a cap on top. The wall is about 2'-6" wide and the cap is 4'-6" wide (side view). The "Wall Pier" option does not allow a cap. The "Multi-Column" option requires a minimum of two-columns. I've input two wall columns but the…
  • Live Loads in RC-Pier

    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.
  • Importing Permit Loads from Conspan to RC-Pier

    I'm modeling a PC/PS Girder Bridhge in LeapBridge, Conspan and RC-pier, based on California amendments to AASHTO. I am able to import my Vehicular LL and Fatigue LL from CONspan into RCpier, but RC-pier isnt letting me import the Permit Loads. Do you…
  • RE: Solid Wall Pier

    Hi, I'm also trying to model a solid wall pier using LEAP RC-Pier V12.01.00.57. This version has the 'Wall Pier' option, however the generated wall design is coming up with rather impractical reinforcement layouts (#18 @ 12") oriented parallel to the…
  • Auto-generation of wind load on structure (WS) per FDOT Structures Design Guidelines (SDG) 2013

    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…
  • How to obtain the out-of-plane governing load case in the report of pile lateral resistance

    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…
  • Importing loads into RC Pier from Conspan

    I have created a model of the roadway in Conspan and then generated the loads and exported them into a text file. I have also created a model of one of the piers for that bridge. When I go to import the loads from the text file I receive an error message…
  • Suggestion on Leap RC-Pier

    In Load Tab->Combination, user can let the program automatically create load combinations (load combs) or user can customize load combs. But the program auto-generated load combs is very limited, I have to create combs one by one, it's very tedious. Hope…
  • Cannot specify Lane Loads in RC-Pier

    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…
  • LEAP bridge problems

    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…