Bracing System Design

This PDH online course is a part of the Civil course category. This course covers a full range of topics and design examples intended to provide engineers with the information needed to make knowledgeable decisions regarding the selection, design, fabrication, and construction of bracing systems for bridges.

This course discusses the design of bracing systems for the superstructures of straight and curved girder systems, I-girder and box shaped members. Bracing systems serve an important role in both straight and horizontally curved bridges. The braces provide stability to the primary girders as well as improving the lateral or torsional stiffness and strength of the bridge system both during construction and in service. Depending on the geometry of the bridge, braces may be designated as either primary or secondary members.

The engineer needs to recognize the importance of the bracing systems and bracing member design for appropriates construction and in-service stages. This course provides an overview of the design requirements of the braces so that engineers can properly size the members to ensure adequate strength and stiffness.

The course provides:

a) an overview of bracing utilized for I-girders

b) a discussion of the bracing systems for tub girders

c) design requirements for the members and connections of bracing systems.

This course is intended for use by civil and structural engineers, construction professionals and others interested in learning about the bracing system design for bridges.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will:

• Understand torsional behavior of open and closed girders
• Understand lateral torsional buckling
• Learn about different bracing categories
• Understand requirements for bracing of I-girders
• Understand cross-frame forces in horizontally curved girders
• Be able to design for stability bracing of I-girders
• Understand system buckling of interconnected girders
• Explain continuous bracing
• Understand bracing of tub girders
• Determine bracing forces
• Understand diaphragm stiffness and strength design requirements
• Be able to perform bracing member design and develop connection details
• Be able to design welded and bolted connections of bracing members
• Understand fatigue design of cross-frame members