Live Load Dispersion on

Box Culvert
On how to use midas Civil Live Load Dispersion Tool

This extension integrates within the software which can automatically define the live load dispersion as Static
Load cases for IRC 6 vehicles, which later can be analyzed to find critical loading position.

This doc isn’t just for reading, it’s for trying too. Watch for the Try it text in red throughout this
document so you can learn by doing.

Fig.1 Image for dispersion of load along the span

Fig. 1,2 & 3 depicts the live load dispersion consideration to arrive at the magnitude of static load cases. As
per IRC 112, the dispersion of loads through fills and wearing coat has been assumed at 45o degree both
along & perpendicular to the span.

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 Fig.2 Image for effective width distribution AT CENTER OF WIDTH perpendicular to the span

Fig.3 Image for effective width distribution NEAR EDGE OF BOX WIDTH perpendicular to the span

Invoke Live Load Dispersion Generator

Try It: Open the midas Civil 2D Culvert Model you are working on. Now double click on the “IRC LL
Dispersion.exe” while to invoke the midas Civil IRC Live Load Dispersion Generator.

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Live Load Dispersion Generator
The details required to use the Live Load Dispersion Generator dialogue box is given below:

Span Axis: Specify the Global Axis along the span of the 2D box culvert.

Import Element Data: To import Element information directly form the midas Civil model opened.

Import Node Data: To import Node information directly form the midas Civil model opened.

Common Span Data: To specify span information such as depth of fill, carriage way width, slab
thickness.

Advanced: Allows to change slab thickness with span.

Compile Span Data: Compiles all the span information provided.

Road Bridge Vehicle: Choose the IRC Vehicle Load for which the dispersion must be generated.

Vehicle Type: Choose the type, whether wheeled, boggie or tracked for Class 70R IRC Vehicle.

Compile Vehicle Data: Compiles all the vehicle information provided.

Box Culvert Type: Single or multi cell culvert.

Increment: Specify the distance for the moving vehicle load increment.

Generate Vehicle Load Data: Generates the MCT file for defining the static load case depicting the
live load dispersion.

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How to Use LLD Generator?
To get started with the Live Load Dispersion Generator (LLD Generator) follow the steps below,

Try It: Make sure the midas Civil Box Culvert model file is also opened alongside the LLD Generator.

1. Set the units to tonf / m

2. Choose the Span Axis, i.e. the Global axis direction along the direction of the vehicle lane.

3. Select the Top Slab elements on which the Live Load Dispersion has to be defined.

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 4. In the Table tab of Tree menu, double click on Elements, to open the Elements table and
Copy (Ctrl +C) the selected element data.

5. To update the element data in LLD Generator, click Import Element Data, make sure to choose
‘Paste Elements From’ midas Civil and click Paste Data. Alternatively, choose ‘Other’ is information
needs to be copied from other sources, say Excel.

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 6. Repeat the same procedure to Import Node Data

7. Additionally, check on the nodes under Support Node, which will form the Start & End of the Span.

8. Click on the Common Span Data, to provide all relevant information on the dialogue box.

Vehicles only on carriage way: If ‘Yes’ is selected, then distance specified under ‘Total Width of
footpath’ is negated from the ‘Width of carriage way’ specified.

Advanced: Specify the span information & slab thickness change with span if any

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 9. Click on Compile Span Data to compile all the span information provided.

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10. Choose the Road Bridge Vehicle types for those vehicles, the LL dispersion needs to be generated.

Vehicle Type for Class 70R: Additional option is provided for Class 70R to choose if the type of
load is Wheeled or Tracked.

11. Click on Compile Vehicle Data to compile all the vehicle information provided.

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12. Specify the distance for the moving vehicle load increment under Increment.

13. Click on Generate Vehicle Load Data to generate the MCT file.

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 14. Make sure the unit system adopted is tonf/m, since the Dispersion Load generated is only for the
unit tonf/m as indicated in the dialog box below.

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Generating Static Load Case in midas Civil

Now that the live load with dispersion is generated, the following steps explains how to generate the Static
load cases in midas Civil

Try It: The file generated is the MCT file, that contains the magnitude and spacing of load calculated as
specified using the information in above steps. This file can be opened with any Text Editor.

1. Copy (Ctrl +C) the entire text data.

2. Under the Tools tab, click on MCT Command Shell.

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 3. Now paste the data previously copied in the dialog box show below and Click Run.

4. You will note all the Static Load cases will now be generated.

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