LUSAS Technical Material

Tutorial
3D Box Culvert
 A single span box culvert is generated using shell elements
Overview and elastic links in raft to consider soil structure interaction.
The behavior of culvert is studied under self weight,
temperature, earth pressure, super imposed load and moving
load.
In this we will learn the following things;
How to model a 3 Dimensional Box culvert
How to define the material & sectional properties
How to define mesh properties and assigning the same to the model.
How to define the support conditions for the bottom slab to replicate for the soil structure
interaction.
How to define moving load, design combinations and using smart combinations tool in LUSAS.
How to define the slice beam/shells for viewing the results
How to generate report for the analysis
How to view the stress contours and deformed shape of the structure
LUSAS Interface
 Axis visualization
and Sign convention
 Axis visualization
and Sign
convention…..contd
Step 1: Modelling of
3D Box Culvert
1. Invoke LUSAS Bridge Plus
2. Open New File
3. Select the Unit System
(kN,m,t,s,C)
4. Select Analysis type and
category
5. Startup template as 3D
Beam/shell since we are
modelling as a shell element
6. Enter title name of your choice
and click OK.
Step 1: Modelling of 3D Box
Culvert….contd
1. By selecting the startup
template 3D Beam/shell LUSAS
will automatically adds basic
material/line mesh/surface
mesh/support/gravity loading
the attribute section as shown
in the image.
2. Go to the Geometry
tab<line<By Cord and enter the
4 Coordinates as shown.
3. 3 lines will be generated and we
need to connect the 4th line to
complete the Box.
4. Select two points to join with a
line by pressing ctrl to add to
previous selection and press the
line option in LUSAS.
5. This will connect the two points
and box is created as shown
Step 1: Modelling of 3D
Box Culvert….contd
1. Now to create a 3D structure of
box, select the all 4 lines by
dragging the cursor holding the
left click button on mouse.
2. Now we can sweep the lines to
create the required model by
selecting sweep geometry.
3. Go to geometry<surface<by
sweeping and enter a value of
12 and make sure surface is
selected in order of geometry to
create and click OK.
Step 1: Modelling of 3D
Box Culvert….contd
1. Now that the geometry is
created we need to assign the
mesh properties.
2. Mesh: The discretisation of a
body into small finite elements,
whose individual behaviour can
be predicted.
3. By default, there will be surface
mesh attribute in the treeview.
Double click the Thick shell,
linear order leaving all the
selections as default and
uncheck the automatic option
and enter 0.5 in element size.
(this is purely engineer choice
what type of mesh they wanted
to define) and click on Apply
and close.
4. Now press Ctrl+A and simply
drag the Thick shell, linear order
mesh attribute onto the
selection.
 Step 1: Modelling of 3D
Box Culvert….contd
1. With the model selected, also drag
and drop Concrete (Ungraded |
Concrete) in the attribute tree view to
assign the material to the selection.
2. Now we have define the section to
the walls, top slab and raft. We will
consider 0.3m as thickness for all. Go
to Attributes<Geometric<surface
3. Enter Thickness as 0.3 in the Geomtric
surface dialogue box and name it as
Thickness 0.3m, Click OK, this will
create an attribute named Thickness
0.3m, in the attribute tree view.
4. This will create fleshed model as
shown.
5. Now we need to define soil support
and assign to the bottom slab.
 Step 1: Modelling of 3D
Box Culvert….contd
1. Turn off the fleshing.
2. Select the top surface and click
icon and enter name Top Slab to
create a group. Similarly repeat the
same for each other surface and
create wall 1, wall 2 and Bottom Slab.
3. In the groups treeview, right click on
bottom slab and select set as only
visible.
4. Go to attributes<support. In the
Structural support dialogue box and
select the fixed in x, y and select
spring stiffness in z-dir and enter a
suitable value based on SBC and
allowable settlement to replicate the
soil behavior below the bottom sla
and enter the attribute name as soil
support and click OK. This will create
support attribute soil support.
 Step 2: Application of
supports and loads
1. Now select the view i.e Bottom slab
and drag and drop the soil support
attribute onto the selection and in the
dialogue box make sure assign to
surfaces is selected and click OK. This
will be visualized as shown.
2. Now without selecting anything, right
click on the model window and select
All Visible option.
3. Select the entire model and drag and
drop the Structural BFP1 (Gravity –ve
Z) attribute onto the selection. And in
the dialogue box rename the loadcase
as Self Weight and make sure assign to
surfaces is selected and click OK.
4. By clicking the load visualization
bottom, applied load is shown on the
model as shown.
Step 2: Application of
supports and loads…contd
1. Now to assign Live Load surcharge as
per IRC 6, go to
attributes<loading<local distributed
and window will be displayed as
shown, knowing the local axis for the
surfaces, enter 12kN in z dir and enter
attribute name as Live Load Surcharge
and click Ok to see it in attribute tree
view.
2. Right click the Live load surcharge
attribute, click copy. Now go to
groups, right click on wall 1, select
paste, and do the same for wall2 also.
Make sure to rename the loadcase to
Live load surcharge. Loads will be
visualized as shown
3. Similarly create global distributed load
of -2.4kN/sqm and name the attribute
as surfacing and apply it to top slab.
Make sure to rename the load case as
surfacing
Step 2: Application of
supports and loads…contd
1. To create earth pressure loading we
need to first define a function which
represents the variation of load with
respect to global/local coordinates.
2. Go Utilities<variation<general field
variation. It will display a window as
shown. Enter the function
0.5*20.0*(3.0-z) to define the earth
pressure variation as Ka*γ*(3.0-z) and
enter utility name as EP and close the
window, this will create an field
variation in utility tree view.
3. Now go to attributes<loading<local
distributed and in the z direction input
go to far right and you will find and
click. This will display units converter
and variation utility window, in this go
to variation select EP in the drop down
list and click OK. Enter attribute name
as EP right to assign to right side wall
and do the same and create EP left
attribute also.
Step 2: Application of
supports and loads…contd
1. Apply the EP right to wall 1 and EP left
to wall 2, by simply copy and paste it
in the groups tree view to the
respective group or you can drag and
drop on to the selected surface as
explained in earlier steps. After the
application the load visualization is as
shown.
2. Now to assign temperature variation,
go to attributes<loading<temperature
and in the Final temperature enter 30
and leave the initial as 0, this will be
taken as temperature rise from 0 – 30
Degree and enter the attribute name
as Temperature rise and click apply,
now enter the Final temperature as 0
and initial as 30 and change the
attribute name as Temperature Fall
and click OK.
3. Assign both the loads to top slab and
make sure to change the loadcase
name to Temperature rise/fall
accordingly while applying.
Step 3: Application of
moving loads
1. LUSAS has predefined vehicle loads
with reference to number of codes in
the Bridge<Bridge Loading.
2. Go to Bridge<Bridge Loading<India
and it will display a window showing
lane load, tracked load and vehicle
load as shown.
3. For simplicity we will apply one lane of
class A and 70R wheeled in remaining
lanes in this problem.
4. To do this, go to vehicle load select
70R in vehicle class and click apply,
now select class A in wheeled vehicle
class and click OK, this will add to
loads namely Pnt3 (Indian vehicle class
70R – 7 Axle(s) 2x2 wheels on each
axle) and Pnt6 (Indian Vehicle load
class A) in the discrete point loading
attribute.
Step 3: Application of
moving loads
1. To assign moving to the model we
need to define the path on which the
moving load shall follow. To do this
simply create a line by coordinates
and enter (3.095,4,3), (3.095,-1,3) and
create another line by coordinates
(6.84,4,3), (6.84,-1,3). We will not
assign any mesh attribute to these
lines since these are not structural
elements and only meant to define
the path of the moving loads.
2. Go to Attributes<search area, create
as top Slab and assign the search area
attribute to top slab.
3. Select the first line and go to
Bridge<moving load and it will display
moving load generator window. Select
the discrete load as Pnt6 (Indian
Vehicle load class A from the drop
down list, set search area to top slab
to, and we can choose vehicle path
options based on engineer choice and
how many load steps we want. And
then click apply.
Step 3: Application of
moving loads
1. Search area - A search area can be
used to limit the features to which the
prescribed load is considered to be
applied so that the effect of the load
on other features in the model may
discounted. If a search area is not
specified the default loading area is
Whole model.
2. After assigning the moving loads, in
the Analysis tree view, number of load
cases are obtained based on the
vehicle load position increments. and
also in the post processing, load
envelopes for each moving laod will
be created.
Step 3: Application of
moving loads…contd
1. We can visualize the moving loads by
right clicking the loadID and setting it
active for the moving load case.
Step 4: Basic Analysis
1. Now that all the load applications are
finished, click (solve now) to
perform analysis.
2. After the analysis deformed mesh for
the load case active will be displayed.
3. In the layers tree view, right click on
the mesh and click on/off to switch off
the mesh in the view and repeat the
same to geometry also, now we can
see deformed mesh for the active load
case.
4. We can visualize the deformed mesh
for other load cases as well by setting
those active in the analysis tree view.
Step 5: Defining
Combinations
1. Combinations can be defined in three
ways, one is Basic Combinations, other
one is Smart Combinations and the
last being LUSAS automated design
combinations with respect to design
codes.
2. Go to Analysis<Basic combinations
and a window will be displayed as
shown.
3. Add the load cases by selecting it in
the available section and press
and respective factors in the desired
location and name the Combination as
desired, press Apply.
4. Likewise define the other required
load combinations.
Step 5: Defining
Combinations…contd
1. In this example, we have created the
load combinations for SLS (Rare and
QPC)-without Live load and ULS
(without Live Load).
2. Smart Combination are defined by
selecting the Analysis < Smart
Combination menu item. These enable
results from individual load cases
(possibly from more than one
analysis), basic combinations, other
smart combinations or envelopes to
be factored with an adverse or
relieving factor and added together.
3. Go to Analysis < Envelope…To obtain
the maximum effect of the Class A
load cases. To do this select the
LoadID=3 Line=18 Dir=Fwd Pos=1 to 6
in the available section and press
to add to the included section. In the
name section enter Envelope class A.
Repeat the same for 70R load cases as
well.
Step 5: Defining
Combinations…contd
1. Now for each envelope we create
LUSAS will automatically gives the Max
and Min envelopes. In this example
LUSAS will add Envelope Class A (Max)
and Envelope Class A (Min). By default
Max corresponds to maximum +ve
effects (Hogging) and Min envelope
corresponds to Minimum –ve effects
(sagging). And in the same manner
Envelope 70R (Max) and Envelope 70R
(Min) are added to the post
processing in the analysis tree view.
2. Like wise to know the combined effect
of 3 Lane load I.e Class A + 70R, we
use smart combination option to avoid
creating more basic combinations. Go
to Analysis < Smart Combination add
the load cases as shown, Smart
Combinations also create a Max and a
Min in the tree view; the Max part of
the Smart Combination will use the
Max Envelope, and the Min part will
use the Min envelope. Also, by giving a
Beneficial factor of 0 to the Envelope,
LUSAS will ignore the envelope if all its
load cases would reduce the effect
we’re looking for.
Step 5: Defining
Combinations…contd
1. Now we have to take combinations of
all the loads together for the
maximum effects. To do this, double
click on the SLS Rare 1 (without Live
Load) and add Combination (Class A +
70R) (Max) and rename the
combination as SLS Rare-1 (With Live
Load)-Hogging. and repeat the same
by adding the Combination (Class A +
70R) (Min) and rename the
combination as SLS Rare-1 (With Live
Load)-Sagging.
2. Repeat the above steps for all SLS,
QPC and ULS cases as well.
3. Remember that the approach can be
user choice on how one wants to
arrive at the total effect.
4. One other way of doing is by using
smart combination. Go to analysis <
smart combinations. We can add max
and min effects together in one
combinations and LUSAS gives both
max and min effects in one click.
Step 5: Defining
Combinations…contd
1. Smart Combinations
Step 5: Defining
Combinations…contd
1. Now we have to take combinations of
all the loads together for the
maximum effects. To do this, double
click on the SLS Rare 1 (without Live
Load) and add Combination (Class A +
70R) (Max) and rename the
combination as SLS Rare-1 (With Live
Load)-Hogging. and repeat the same
by adding the Combination (Class A +
70R) (Min) and rename the
combination as SLS Rare-1 (With Live
Load)-Sagging.
2. Repeat the above steps for all SLS,
QPC and ULS cases as well.
3. Remember that the approach can be Finally all the max effects for ULS, SLS and QPC can be enveloped
user choice on how one wants to individually for getting the design effects.
arrive at the total effect.
4. One other way of doing is by using
smart combination. Go to analysis <
smart combinations. We can add max
and min effects together in one
combinations and LUSAS gives both
max and min effects in one click. Refer to the attached model. Post processing for combinations
Step 6: Results
1. Now that we have created all the
required combinations.
2. Go to Layers. Right click on the mesh
and turn off the view. Do the same to
the geometry and attributes. Turn on
deformed mesh, it will display
deformed mesh for load case set
active.
Step 6: Results…contd
1. Go to Layers. Right click on the mesh
and turn off the view. Do the same to
the geometry and attributes. Turn on
deformed mesh, it will display
deformed mesh for load case set
active.
2. Change the active load case in analysis
tree view to show the deformed mesh
other load cases as well.
3. Layer properties may be displayed by
double-clicking the layer in the
Treeview. Layers may be added or
removed from the current window
using the View > Insert Layer menu, or
by right-clicking in the graphics area.
The display of layers in the current
window can be turned on or off by
right-clicking on the layer name in the
Treeview and selecting / deselecting
the On/Off option.
Step 6: Results…Section
Slicing
1. Section Slicing of a 3D Shell: This uses
Resultants Beams/Shells facility to
investigate the behavior of the
structure at any desired position.
2. To use this option we need to define a
non structural reference line as we did
while assigning the moving load. In
this example we have defined lines in
middle of the culvert as shown.
3. Go to utilities < Slice Resultants
Beams/Shells with the reference line
in the top slab being selected, with
the option absolute distances from
start of the path selected enter
0;0.25;0.5;0.75;1;1.25;1.5;1.75;2;2.25;
2.5;2.75;3.
4. In the slice options check the slice
width and set it to 1m, and in extent
tab select top slab and click OK.
5. Repeat the same for the walls and the
bottom slab. This will add Beamshell1
to 4 in the Beam/Shell slicing utility
treeview.
Step 6: Results…Section
Slicing
1. With none being selected right click
on the graphics window and select
diagrams. it will then display
properties window as shown.
2. In the entity option select Beam/Shell
slice resultants, My component and
click OK. This will add Diagrams: My
(Beam/Shell Slice Resultants) in the
layers treeview.
3. The forces are visualized as shown for
the loadcase active. This will be typical
Bending Moment diagram. This option
can be used in Girder Bridges as well.

4. Similarly you can add as many slices as

you can to know the variation of
forces in the elements.
Step 6: Results…Contours
1. With none being selected right click
on the graphics window and select
Contours. it will then display
properties window as shown.
2. In the entity option select Beam/Shell
slice resultants, My component and
click OK. This will add Contours: My
(Force/Moment – Thick Shell) in the
layers treeview.
3. The conyours are visualized as shown
for the loadcase active.
Step 6: Results…Print result
wizard
1. The Print Results Wizard allows
selected results values, from one or
more loadcases, to be assembled,
ordered and displayed in a tabular
listing format.
2. Go to Utilities < Print result wizard
3. In the displayed window, select the
loadcase/combination, entity type and
in reported components check the
required forces and name the utility as
desired. This will add to the tree view
in the utility wizard.
4. By right clicking on the each result
utility and click to add report, and also
if you want to view and export to
spreadsheets you can click show
results.
Step 6: Results…Report
Generation
1. After adding the generated results to
the report. In the report tree view you
can see all the chapters added as
shown.
2. At anytime you can right click on the
graphic window without selecting
anything and save view and name
accordingly and you can add it to the
report and rearrange just by dragging
the chapters in the report treeview.
3. You can right click on the Report on
the title part of the report and select
view report to generate in PDF format.

This Ends the Example.