INTRODUCTION
SNAPColumn™
is a family member of SNAPBridge™: Bridge Analysis and Design Suite, which is
used for Analysis and Design of Reinforced Concrete Columns.
Copyright © SAS Suite, LLC and Lubin Gao,
Ph.D., PE. All Rights Reserved.
This chapter describes the features of SNAPColumn™ program.
Table of Contents
Structural Design and Code
Check
Serviceability Limit State Check
Columns are the important structural member type in bridges, such as pier columns, drilled caissons/shafts, arch ribs, bridge pylons/towers etc. They are normally subject to the combination of axial compression and uniaxial/biaxial bending. The analysis and design procedure of the columns normally requires to build the P-M interaction diagram for the column section. This process is pretty simple, but turns to be laborious and tedious.
SAS Suite, LLC developed a powerful software tool: SNAPColumn™ for design engineers to simplify this tedious process and increase the productivity. It is a MS Windows program with a user-friendly interface and powerful functionality.
SNAPColumn™ is a user-friendly powerful tool for the analysis and design of reinforced concrete columns, which has the following features:
1) Support any types of column sections from simple shapes like circular, rectangular to arbitrary geometry bounded by polylines with any number of opennings.
2) Support English/Metric Unit systems.
3) Draw the column sections on screen graphically.
4) User-friendly GUI shows the results visually.
5) Build the P-M interaction curve for uniaxial bending or interaction surface for biaxial bending.
6) Code-check strength limit state of the column.
7) Support ASD, LFD and LRFD design codes.
n Coordinate System: x-y rectangular coordinate system is used.
n Nodes and Elements define the geometry of the column section.
n Element ID and Node ID are generated automatically when user draws the section on screen.
n There is no limit on number of elements and/or nodes.
n Properties of concrete and reinforcing steel are defined by users through the dialogbox.
n The default data are set internally.
n See the design assumptions in next chapter.
n Users can directly draw reinforcing steel bars in the section on screen.
n For regular sections, users can easily define the reinforcing rebar layout through the dialog box.
n Users can provide service loads or factored loads.
n There is no limit on the number of load cases.
n Users could use the Load Information command and dialogbox to input/change the loads .
n The program automatically analyzes and builds the P-M interaction diagram for the column section defined. For uniaxial bending, P-M interaction curve is built. For biaxial bending, the P-M interaction surface is built.
Users can specify one of the three design methods: Allowable Stress Method (ASD), Load Factor Design Method (LFD) of AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges and Load and Resistance Factor Design Method (LRFD) of AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.
n The program checks the strength limit of the column section defined according to the code requirements and the P-M interaction diagram.
n Serviceability Limit State check will be performed to meet the cracking criteria for the column section defined.
This manual describes the modeling, analysis and design features offered by SNAPColumn™: a Family Member of SNAPBridge™ Analysis and Design Suite. The analysis and design theory is briefly discussed in Chapter 2. The menu commands and their functions are introduced in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 provides step-by-step guide examples to make users quickly familiar with the program. Verification examples are presented in Chapter 5.
1) The information provided in Chapter 2 covers the basic assumptions of the program. Users are recommended to read the chapter to refresh your concepts and understand the restrictions and conditions of the program before using the program
2) Users can skip Chapter 3 if you are familiar with other Windows application softwares because SNAPColumn™ is totally Windows-based system with user-friendly GUIs. You can directly play with the program to make you familiar with it.
3) Users are strongly recommended to read through Chapter 4, which can make you more quickly get into the program. When you are familiar with SNAPColumn™, you will find it is so easy and fast and of lots of fun to use.
4) Engineers are not "computer operators". Users of the program should have some training for bridge design. Users are recommended to read Chapter 5: verification examples. In any circumstance, users are recommended to verify the program output and your input carefully to make sure the design correct, practical and feasible.