Document Information

Document Type: FAQ

Product(s): LEAP BRIDGE STEEL

Version(s): All

Original Author: Bentley Technical Support Group -VM

QUESTION: How to manually select fatigue category for welded/bolted Connection type?

ANSWER:

LBS internally select Category E’ or C’ for welded/bolted connection of x-frame (with main girder). Now LBS allows users to revise the default category. A new column has been added in the Cross-frame/Diaphragm window. The default Category shown is C’, which is typically for the welded connection type between cross-frame/diaphragm and main girder. Connection type can be changed to Bolted. Now in the newly added Fatigue Category column user can select different Connection type from the Drop-down menu.

Generally, the Connection Type should be consistent for the same bridge. However, for special cases where different Connection Types are defined for two adjacent bays, that could result in two Fatigue Categories being assigned to the same POIs of the same PO, program will use the worst case and the corresponding Category, i.e., min allowed stress range as the control in the fatigue check.