West Point Bridge Designer 2015

Tutorial

This is 2D single plane CAD program with a built in simulator to see if

your design works. The program has a very simple interface, and is
easy a quick to learn. This is a great program for an interdisciplinary

To start off:
For the first step we
are going to click on
create a new bridge
design,
then click next twice
on
the lower right hand
side.

The Settings:
On the third screen is where all of
the settings are for your bridge:
Deck Elevation- This setting allows you to tell the
simulation how high you would like the deck (the
area where the road is located) from the water.

Support configuration- This is your

foundation for your bridge.
Pier- This will allow you to split the
span (length) of the bridge in two.

Cable Anchorages- This will give

you additional locations for
bracing of your bridge.
Once you have made all of the
changes to the settings of your
bridge click on next on the lower

The Settings:
(Continued)

Deck Material-This setting allows you to

change the type of material you would like
the roadway (deck) to be composed of).

Loading- There are two different

ways you can test out the bridge,
either with two way traffic or one
way traffic.

Once you have made all of the

changes to the settings of your
bridge click on finish on the lower

Your Screen, the basics

Your Drawing board
mode
Your testing mode

Your tools
Eraser
Selection Tool
Members
Joints

Type of steel
Format of member
Thickness of member

List of all members in design

and properties, and results o
each

Structural Design Basics

(Truss Design)

If you have only squares

(example),

Simply put,

You have only squares

(example), you will receive
an error message (see
below)

= Good!
= unstable, and will collapse!

Structural Design Basics

(Truss Design)

Triangles are the strongest

shape, and therefore are present
in effective bridges.

A good rule (in general, there are

exceptions to the rule) to follow in this type
of bridge design is for every Joint you create it
must be connected to a minimum of 3 other
points.

Drawing your design!

To create your design you can design it either above,
below, or both in relationship to the roadway.
Click and place your Joints, then connect them with the
member tool.
Then to test out your design click on the Run Load Test
icon

The Results, in testing mode

Once you click on the Run test Load you will find this type
of response:

Click on the Drawing Board Icon once you

ed is showing compression, getting squished together.are done with the simulation

Blue is showing Tension, getting pulled apart

there is too much of either force, it will cause the bridge to have structural issues.

Ways to fix your design!

There are generally about 3 main ways to fix your
design:
1. Erase it and start over again.
2. Add cross bracing & sub-structures to your design.
3. Play with the properties of the materials your bridge is
constructed out of.

Cross bracing
Cross bracing is exactly like what it sounds like, placing
a beam across the problem area, in order to give the
area more support.
Problem area

Problem area with cross bracing

Sub-structures
Sub-structures are smaller structures that aid
Problem area
problematic areas.

Problem area with Sub-structures

Material Properties
With this simulation you are able to change a variety of
the properties of the materials the bridge is constructed
out of. They can be found here on your screen

To change the properties of your bridge select the member or

joint that you want to change the properties of and not all of
the settings will be able to be changed.

Your challenges:
1. To explore West Point Bridge Designer, and understand
the basic mechanics of how the program works using
the proceeding slides.
2. To create the cheapest costing bridge at the following
settings (1 for each):
- 16 meters, any materials you wish, no cable anchorages, no
pier.
- 24 meters, hollow tube only, no cable anchorages, no pier.

3. To create a 1 or 2 day activity that you could do with

utilizing this program. Your activity must include
objectives, and basic procedure as to how to run the