colincaprani.com

These programs were developed using Matlab 7.0. The programs are released under the terms of the GNU General Public License.

Continuous Beam Analysis – General

This is a general beam analysis program. It uses the stiffness method to determine the rotations at each support. These are then used to determine the member end forces. Exact expressions are then used to determine the distribution of shear, moment, rotation and deflection along each member. The program features:

• Multiple load types: point load; uniformly distributed load; patch load, and; moment load;
• Spring supports, both vertical and rotational, enabling it to be used as part of a subframe analysis;
• Results are output at 100 positions along each span, enable accurate deflection estimation.

Better yet, the program forms the analysis engine for two auxiliary programs, extending its range of applicability significantly.

Note that Section 15 of the GNU GPL, Disclaimer of Warranty, and Section 16, Limitation of Liability, are particularly pertinent to this engineering design program.

Source (6 KB)

CBA showing a subframe analysis

Continuous Beam Analysis – Envelope

This is an extension to the general beam analysis program. It automatically patterns applied loading to obtain envelopes of maximum and minimum load effects. The user can specify the maximum and minimum dead and live load factors.

Note that the files for CBA-Env must be put in the same folder as CBA.

Note that Section 15 of the GNU GPL, Disclaimer of Warranty, and Section 16, Limitation of Liability, are particularly pertinent to this engineering design program.

Source (2 KB)

CBA-Env showing 4-span beam analysis

Continuous Beam Analysis – Bridge

This is another extension to the general beam analysis program. It allows the user to pass the following forms of load across a bridge:

• knife-edge loads;
• HB vehicle;
• Special convoy vehicle.

In each case it outputs:

• moment and shear envelopes;
• maximum and minimum moment against position of first axle;
• bending moment diagrams when maximum and minimum moments occurred;
• a report of maximum and minimum load effects for any chosen point of interest.

This form of input and output allow the bridge designer to determine the maximum design load effects, as well as coincident effects, for the critical position of the vehicle. This is something that is only usually approximated.

Note this add-on requires the CBA-Env add-on to be available and the files are to be put in the same folder as CBA and CBA-Env.

Note that Section 15 of the GNU GPL, Disclaimer of Warranty, and Section 16, Limitation of Liability, are particularly pertinent to this engineering design program.

Source (6 KB)

CBA Bridge showing typical output

Section Properties Calculator

This is a short but really useful script that calculates the section properties for an arbitrary shape with holes.

Source (2 KB)

SecProp showing footbridge

Prestressed Concrete Design

A collection of scripts for prestressed concrete calculations. Features include:

• Magnel diagrams;
• Stress checks at critical sections;
• Minimum section modulus calculations;
• Cable zone calculations.

When integrated with CBA and SecProp above, this is a powerful suite for the design and analysis of prestressed concrete beams.

Source (10 KB)

PSC showing ongoing design of continuous prestressed concrete beam