LARSA: Influence Line and Surface Analysis
Influence Line and Surface Analysis in LARSA 4D simulate the application of live load to a structure on a design lane. Design lanes can take any path through a structure, curved or straight, with or without eccentricity.


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Overview

In LARSA 4D, influence line and surface results are an extension of the moving load analysis. By running a unit load over the deck of a bridge, the effects of any set of vehicles, even with variable axle spacing, can be computed without needing to re-run an analysis.

Using this method, the engineer need not decide ahead of time which points on the structure he wants influence results for. Once the fast Influence Analysis is run, results for any point on the structure are computed in real-time as they are needed.

Influence Surface Coefficients and the Worst-Case Positioning of a Vehicle

Vehicle Variation

Influence line and surface analysis reports the most extreme effects generated by any permutation of vehicle parameters.

LARSA 4D supports varying wheel positions, multiple vehicle applications with varying distance between the vehicles, minimum vehicle spacing longitudinally and transversely, and varying axle distances.

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Lane Load Variation

UDL/patch lane loading is applied only where it contributes to the extreme force effects. UDL magnitude can be constant or variable based on the loaded length according to UK BS5400 or a custom length-load curve. For variable magnitude loading, the smallest loaded length that produces the most extreme effect is used.

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Influence Lines

Influence lines are used when the bridge is modeled as line girders. Vehicle and lane loads are applied directly to the girder. Distribution of load across lanes is accomplished using lane loading factors. Lanes can be offset transversely from the girder to which the loads are applied.

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Influence Surfaces

Influence surfaces are used for plate-deck models, using standard and new two-dimensional vehicle definitions that model both the length and width of the vehicle and tire contact area.

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Supported Codes

AASHTO LFD and LRFD and the Indian Roads Congress codes for lane loading are among the codes that can be strictly followed using LARSA 4D. The vehicle load patterns for these codes are provided with LARSA 4D, and other load patterns can be entered by the user as needed.

In combination with Linear Result Combinations and Extreme Effect Groups, influence-based result cases can be put together to derive any loading scenario required by a design code.

Influence-Based Case Properties

Live Load Wizard

The Live Load Wizard automates code requirements, creating the required load combination scenarios that will show the most extreme effects for design. In a multi-lane bridge, for which dozens of scenario permuations are required, the Live Load Wizard saves many hours of engineering time. The wizard supports AASHTO LRFD and IRC 2000.

The Influence Lines Used to Compute Influence-Based Results can be Graphed
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