Bentley unveils software for design, analysis and load rating of steel bridges

LEAP Bridge Steel brings data reuse across the bridge lifecycle and optioneering for better decision making to steel bridge design, construction and operations
 Bentley Systems Inc., one of the leading providers of comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, has announced the immediate availability of LEAP Bridge Steel for the 3D modeling, design, analysis, and load rating of everyday steel bridges. The software, which adheres to AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD), enables users to leverage the benefits of bridge information modeling (BrIM), including increased efficiency and data reuse across the bridge lifecycle. It also provides the advantages of optioneering, which enables engineers to quickly consider trade-offs among multiple design strategies. When used with Bentley’s LEAP Bridge Enterprise software for concrete bridges, LEAP Bridge Steel provides bridge engineers and designers a comprehensive solution to evaluate multiple concrete or steel design alternatives.
Raoul Karp, Vice President – Structural and BrIM Products, Bentley Systems, said, “The cornerstone of BrIM is intelligent information mobility, which fosters the use of data beyond bridge design and engineering to inform downstream processes such as fabrication, construction, operations, maintenance, and inspection. With easy access to information about the bridge, organisations can optimise business processes across the bridge lifecycle.”
He continued, “Being a fully integrated product for superstructure and substructure analysis, design and load rating, Bentley’s LEAP Bridge Steel uniquely facilitates information mobility across various project stages. In addition, the bridge designs can be used in conjunction with MicroStation, GEOPAK, InRoads, MXROAD, the Power Civil products, and InspectTech, which makes it easy for information to move between project disciplines.
“But BrIM isn’t just about information mobility; it also provides project flexibility, which LEAP Bridge Steel supports through its parametric 3D modelling capabilities. Parametric modelling enables engineers to take advantage of optioneering – a hallmark of Bentley’s BIM advancement. With this powerful capability, they can quickly respond to project changes in a timely manner and arrive at the best design alternative for better asset performance.”
Michael A. Grubb, P.E., M.A., Grubb & Associates, LLC, said, “LEAP Bridge Steel addresses a real challenge in the bridge industry – the need for more robust and efficient systems for the design and analysis of everyday steel bridges. LEAP Bridge Steel performs a grillage or line-girder analysis and then performs comprehensive design code checks and load ratings based on the analysis results. I found LEAP Bridge Steel to be intuitive and was pleased to see how quickly a data-rich 3D solid model can be developed, analysed, and checked for compliance with AASHTO LRFD. This all-in-one modelling, analysis, and design software is going to enable bridge engineers and design firms to more efficiently design cost-effective steel bridges of varying complexity.”Christian DeWalt, Bridge Engineer, Greenman-Pedersen Inc., said, “We have been using LEAP Bridge Enterprise for our concrete bridge projects, so we were very excited to hear that the product family is being extended to support the design of steel bridges as well. In early testing, we’ve found LEAP Bridge Steel to be a real time saver. The workflow provides rapid modelling and analysis, so we can produce 3D models very quickly – and they are automatically updated as we make edits in the design. The complex, behind-the-scenes calculations save us many hours, enabling us to ensure compliance to industry standards faster.”
Benefits of LEAP Bridge Steel• Create 3D models of bridge superstructures and substructures, including ground data, all in a single program• Quickly evaluate multiple alternative designs• Design and construct bridges of a higher quality • Take advantage of the software’s intra-operability with other Bentley applications, including MicroStation, GEOPAK, InRoads, MXROAD, the Power Civil products and InspectTech.
LEAP Bridge Steel users also benefit from faster and more reliable workflows as well as from rework being minimised due to the accuracy and consistency of the 3D models.

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