Course credit hours: 3 | Schedule: T-Th 10:30-11:45AM (LAMB 104) | CRN# 30099

Lead Instructor

Francisco Bonachera Martin Ph.D., PE. - Visiting Professor, Purdue University

Course Objectives

This course provides students with the necessary tools to perform load analysis for vehicular, thermal, and wind loads in steel bridge superstructures.  The course focuses on practical application of the structural engineering principles used in longitudinal analysis and transverse analysis of beam-slab bridges, floor systems, trusses and other typical steel bridge superstructures. 

This includes calculation of design lane force effects, live load distribution factors, bracing demands, centrifugal and braking forces, and application of wind and thermal loads as detailed in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and as performed by bridge engineers.  Basic concepts associated with redundancy will also be presented.

Finite element analysis software used in bridge design will be used to illustrate the theoretical background and to apply the course content.