Piers

For defining a pier, it is necessary to specify a girder or an axis as reference. For defining a pier, it is not necessary to create an axis in advance, since the axis is automatically generated in vertical direction during input.

Note: Skew pier axes may be defined by specifying a respective variation of the distance between the center point of the cross section and the vertical axis.

The connection of the axis of the pier is located at the point of origin with the local station 0. The definition of the pier is performed in the direction of the local x-axis (global Y-axis, i.e. positive upwards), therefore the stations downwards along the negative x-axis get negative values.

The intersection point between the local coordinate axes (Yloc/Zloc) of the cross section forms the reference point for assigning the cross section to the axis.

In order to achieve the required accuracy of the model (and analysis if applicable) and to consider variations or connection points to other structural members etc. at certain positions, it is necessary to subdivide the girder into appropriate elements when it is defined.

When creating a pier, the three submenus Stationing, Cross Sections and Variation are created.

For the various possibilities of defining piers, see 3D Modeling: Piers.