Question
Pier definition is not defined in Evaluation Group.
Answer
When defining the Evaluation Group, we have summarized the precautions for each input item. Please refer to the following information and double-check the defined data.
- Option > Add/Replace
Add/Replace function allows you to either add a new Evaluation Group or modify previously entered data. Many mistakes are made during the process of defining a new Evaluation Group, as image below:
1. When the Evaluation Group for P1 is defined as shown in the image below
2. Click on P1 to check the status of the P1 Evaluation Group definition
3. While P1 Evaluation Group information is still present, enter information for P2 and click the Apply button
In such cases, the Replace action is applied instead of the Add action, resulting in the data originally defined for P1 being replaced with data for P2. Therefore, to define an additional evaluation group, you should click on the empty space in the List, clear the data, and then enter the new data, as shown in the image below.
[ Evaluation Group List Dialog Box]
- Pier Cap
In cases where the shape of the bridge coping is symmetrical, it is common to define the element axis in an inverted manner for modeling convenience, as shown in the image below, to have a symmetrical definition with one section.
However, to input Pier Cap data in the Evaluation Group, all elements must be connected, and the following conditions need to be met to be recognized as connected
- Coping elements with element axes in the same direction
- Coping elements with straight lines
Therefore, even if the coping shape is symmetrical, you should unify the direction of the element axis, and then create additional Tapered Sections for the left and right sides and assign them separately, as shown in the image.
- Link
The definition of the Evaluation Group Link plays a crucial and essential role in transferring loads from the upper structure to the lower structure, making it vital for seismic performance evaluation. It is important to note that for the program to recognize a Link, information about both endpoints that make up the Link must be defined.
Therefore, when entering Link information in the Evaluation Group, you should define all endpoints of the paired Links by selecting them. For instance, if you only select the lower endpoint of a Link when defining it, the structural forces will not be calculated in the seismic performance evaluation report.