FINITE ELEMENT–BASED STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF AN RCC SUSPENSION BRIDGE DECK USING STAAD.PRO
Bridges are vital components of transportation infrastructure, ensuring safe and efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians across obstacles such as rivers, valleys, and roadways. This project presents the comprehensive analysis and design of a Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) bridge using STAAD.Pro in accordance with Indian Roads Congress specifications and relevant Indian Standard codes. Both 2D and 3D models of the RCC T-beam bridge were developed to evaluate structural behavior under various loading conditions including dead load, live load, impact load, and wind load as per IRC 6-2000 and IS 456:2000 provisions. Vehicle load classifications such as IRC Class A, Class AA, and 70R were considered to determine critical bending moments and shear forces. The structural components including deck slab, longitudinal girders, cross girders, columns, and substructure elements were analyzed for permissible stresses and deflections. Foundation design was carried out using STAAD Foundation by considering various footing alternatives such as pile foundations and raft foundations based on soil conditions and bearing capacity. The comparison between 2D and 3D analysis results indicates minimal variation, validating the reliability of simplified analytical approaches for standard loading conditions. The study demonstrates that finite element–based software significantly improves accuracy, efficiency, and optimization in bridge design while ensuring structural safety, serviceability, and durability.
Harshini, G., Madhu, C., Kiran, K. U. & Manasa, K. (2026). Finite Element–Based Structural Analysis and Design Optimization of an Rcc Suspension Bridge Deck using Staad.Pro. International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, 02(03). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i3.127
Harshini, G, et al.. "Finite Element–Based Structural Analysis and Design Optimization of an Rcc Suspension Bridge Deck using Staad.Pro." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, vol. 02, no. 03, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i3.127.
Harshini, G,Ch Madhu,K Kiran, and K Manasa. "Finite Element–Based Structural Analysis and Design Optimization of an Rcc Suspension Bridge Deck using Staad.Pro." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology 02, no. 03 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i3.127.
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