BIM Solutions
for Bridge Engineering
ALLPLAN has developed a unique, integrated BIM solution especially for the requirements of bridge construction. Products cover the areas of reinforcement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Bridge Construction Software
More quality and efficiency through BIM in Bridge Construction
Industry challenges
Lack of design quality due to inconsistent data
The structural integrity of bridges is a central issue in civil engineering. If this is at risk, costly and time-consuming repair measures, up to and including demolition become necessary. In the worst case, bridges collapse with the loss of life.
The lack of quality in bridge structures often has its origins in the design and construction phases due to inconsistent design data coming from different data sources and formats from different parties being involved. In this way the individual bridge models (geometric, static, structural) do not match exactly.
Furthermore, both the number and the complexity of infrastructure projects continues to increase. In combination with an expanding globalization of projects and project teams, this leads to ever greater time and cost pressures.
Solution approach
Increase design quality through BIM
To get a grip on the challenges in worldwide bridge construction a "single source of truth" is needed, a common bridge model in which the data from the geometric model, the structural analysis model and the detailing are combined. The solution is Building Information Modeling or BIM.
The "single source of truth" is achieved through a central BIM model, which represents the parametric 3D geometry of the bridge, but also serves as an analytical model for static and dynamic calculations along the time axis. Any change to one of these models affects all phases in the life cycle of the bridge. Therefore, all information is preserved, and it is no longer necessary to create multiple models for the different phases.
Solution with ALLPLAN
What ALLPLAN offers the bridge construction industry
With ALLPLAN's innovative BIM solution, bridge engineers can create an intelligent digital 4D model of the bridge structure, construction process, structural analysis, design and detailing. This improves the planning process both in terms of time and quality. Essentially, this is achieved by creating a detailed geometric model and a structural analysis model in a common environment and by integrating time-related data into the model.
Benefits for Bridge Engineers
Innovative solution for BIM in bridge construction
The use of BIM in bridge construction delivers many benefits. Due to clear, coordinated processes, deadlines can be better met. The quality of the continuously optimized bridge design increases, together with the structural analysis and code-dependent design, as well as through fast construction variant comparisons. On the construction site, there are fewer delays due to design and planning errors and therefore construction is more cost-effective. Finally, all parties involved benefit from smooth data exchange through openBIM. With the innovative BIM solution for bridge engineering from Allplan you ...
- Design and build attractive and safer bridges
- Reliably meet your deadlines and budget targets
- Optimize transparency, communication and coordination through open data exchange and BIM
Products
Allplan Bridge – the professional BIM solution for bridge construction
Allplan Bridge is the professional BIM solution for modeling, analysis, design, and detailing. Engineers work with a single solution from parametric model creation with high level of detail including prestressing to integration of the construction process, structural analysis, reinforcement design and detailing.
Design your bridges more efficiently:
- The world’s first complete solution for bridge engineers
- Common parametric 4D model for structural analysis, code-based design, detailing and drawing production
- openBIM workflows with other disciplines and products
Versamertobel bridge
"Allplan was particularly useful for the 3D depiction of the design of the foundations in steeply sloping ground, as well as for the complex geometrical details and for eliminating reinforcement collisions."
Oliver Müller, dsp Ingenieure
Aare bridge
"With Allplan’s approach to 3D models, we were able to guarantee the correctness of the geometry for formwork, reinforcement and pre-tensioning and construct all components neatly."
Rudolf Vogt, Co-owner of ACS-Partner
Queensferry Crossing
"With its 3D reinforcement module, Allplan provided us with excellent support in the construction design so that precise collisionfree reinforcement detailing could be provided at the building site while meeting all delivery deadlines."
Andreas Hartung, LAP-Consult/Germany
Tamina bridge
"Already during the planning phase, extensive designs of pre-stressed element guides and reinforcement were required to demonstrate the constructability of the design. A very powerful tool was available for this purpose with Allplan Engineering."
Markus Förster, Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner
Advantages of the Allplan Bridge solution
Model creation without compromise
Allplan Bridge has been developed by recognized bridge experts. The 3D parametric model description considers the road layout, bridge alignment and required cross-sections, making model configuration quick and efficient. Complex geometries including double-curved alignment and variable cross-sections can be created easily. The user only needs to define typical cross-sections and Allplan Bridge will accurately calculate all cross-section variants in accordance with the defined table(s) or/and formula(s).
Structural Analysis
A global static analysis based on the Bernoulli beam theory is performed for all automatically and manually generated calculation actions defined previously in the construction sequence definition. The analysis is enhanced to accurately consider the cross-section variation. Furthermore, the nonlinear calculation of time dependent effects is performed, considering design code formulas.
Code Based Design
Design of necessary reinforcement area is based on both ULS and SLS requirements. Governing combinations of internal forces including 2nd order effects are checked against flexural, torsional and shear resistance and the requirements for stress limitations and crack width. The greater of calculated or any manually specified reinforcement amount is used for code assessments of the cross-sections.
References
Railway bridge Grubental
The section of the new line Ebensfeld-Erfurt was planned by the engineering office schlaich bergermann partner and was carried out by the Goldisthal Railway Bridge consortium (Bickhardt Bau AG and Ed. Züblin AG). Situated about five kilometers southwest of Goldisthal in the Thuringian Forest, the 215-meter long structure spans the Grubental Valley at a maximum height of 35 meters and connects the Goldberg Tunnel with the Dunkeltal Bridge.
Sava Bridge
Belgrade lies at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. For years, expansion of the northern suburbs of the city has been hindered by the limited capacity of the three existing bridges over the Sava: the Brankov most, Savski most, and Gazela. In order to expand the capacity of the transport network, a fourth bridge is currently being built over the Sava.
Three bridge project
The Dutch in Nijmegen reveal just how sustainable and pioneering flood protection can be with an impressive project. Just across the border from Germany in the Lower Rhine, Europe's largest flood protection project is under construction. It is called "Ruimte voor de Waal" – literally "more room for the Waal" – and is intended to create more space for the biggest river in the Netherlands, the Waal.
The Allplan solution portfolio for bridge construction
Allplan Bridge is the professional BIM solution for bridge construction. Engineers work with a single solution from parametric model creation with a high level of detail including prestressing to integration of the construction process and structural analysis of the bridge model.
Allplan is the ultimate BIM solution to meet the challenges of the construction industry and benefit from the digital transformation. BIM software and ALLPLAN's industry-leading collaboration and integration tools form the ideal combination.
Allplan Bimplus is the ultimate open BIM platform for all disciplines to collaborate efficiently in building projects. BIM model data, information, documents and tasks are managed centrally over the complete building life cycle.
