Superstructure Attachment Construction
This section defines the construction stage for superstructure attachments such as barriers.
Overview
Barriers in steel I-girder bridges are typically constructed after the deck pouring stages are completed. They are designed to provide a physical barrier between the roadway and any areas where vehicles or pedestrians should not be allowed.
Bridge owners usually prefer to be conservative and avoid using barrier stiffness in finite element analysis. To achieve this in OpenBrIM, the user can input a self-weight factor of 1 and select "No" for stiffness. However, this approach will not suffice if the user intends to apply wind loads to the structure, as OpenBrIM requires finite element representation of wind-exposed objects. In such cases, the user should select "Yes" for stiffness and assign materials with low E to decrease the barrier's stiffness.
Barrier Construction Sequence
Formwork installation: Similar to deck pouring stages, formwork is used to shape and support the concrete barrier during the construction process
Reinforcement installation: Steel rebar is installed into the formwork to add strength to the barrier
Concrete pouring: Concrete is poured into the formwork, carefully placed and compacted to minimize voids
Curing: Concrete is left to cure and harden for several days
Finishing: Formwork is removed and surface is smoothed; protective coating may be applied
Steps
Step 1: Navigate to Superstructure Attachment Construction
Navigate to Loading > Construction > Superstructure > Superstructure Attachment Construction in the tree view.
Step 2: Select Construction Stage
Click the three-dot icon on the Stage cell and select FBarrierStage as the stage.
Step 3: Pick Barrier Objects
Click the three-dot icon on the Barrier cell and select Pick.
Pick the barrier objects from the 3D view, then click Done after selection is completed.
Verification
All barrier objects should be assigned to the FBarrierStage.
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