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AASHTOWare Bridge Design and Rating (BrDR) 7.6 – New Features and Enhancements

December 11, 2024

Scheduled for completion at the end of this month, BrDR 7.6 is currently in final stages of testing. The primary focus of the 7.6 release is to provide users with the latest updates to the AASHTO bridge specifications. The new features and enhancements included with the release include the following:

List of new features and enhancements included with the 7.6 release:

1. AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications updates (10th Edition)

The 10th edition incorporates the approved ballots at the 2021, 2022, and 2023 AASHTO Committee on Bridges & Structures Annual (COBS) Meeting.

Steel Highlights

  • Lateral-torsional buckling requirements
    • New procedures based generally on procedures given in 2nd Edition of AISC Design Guide 25
  • Cross-frame analysis and design
    • Cross-frame member stiffness modification factor to consider effects of eccentric end connections
    • Torsional bracing stiffness and strength requirements for cross-frames
  • Shear connector requirements
    • New fatigue detail category for shear connectors which also results in reformatting of Table 6.6.1.2.3-1
    • Clustered shear connectors commonly encountered in accelerated bridge construction applications

Concrete Highlights

  • Reinforcement development length requirements
    • New development length calculations
    • Headed deformed bars
  • Pretensioned anchorage zone requirements
    • New horizontal transverse tension tie reinforcement requirements
  • 0.7″ Diameter strands in precast pretensioned girders

Culvert Highlights

  • Incorporate recommendations from the research report for NCHRP Project 15-54, “Proposed Modifications to AASHTO Culvert Load Rating Specifications”
    • Removed the provision to neglect live load where depth of fill is more than 8′
    • Allow neglecting live load when the factored live load vertical pressure at the culvert surface is less than 10% of the sum of the factored vertical earth load plus factored vertical live load pressure
    • Replace lateral live load surcharge (LS) with approaching wheel (AW) load
    • Revised equivalent strip width for live load distribution

2. AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation updates (3rd Edition, 2024 Interim Revisions)

The 2024 interim revisions, MBE 3rd 2024i Spec version, incorporate the approved ballots at the 2022 and 2023 AASHTO COBS Annual Meeting. The MBE 3rd 2023i Spec version delivered with the 7.5.x releases that incorporate the approved ballots at the 2022 meeting will be migrated to MBE 3rd 2024i and the MBE 3rd 2023i Spec version will no longer be available.

LRFR evaluation – Concrete shear and evaluation of shear load rating

  • Use concurrent load effects
  • Concrete Iterative Shear Rating control option
  • Modify MCFT Strain and Ignore Size Effect control options

LRFR evaluation – Permit truck load rating

  • Consider permit truck as notional – consider only axles that contribute to the maximum force effect
  • Consider ADTT for loading lane load
  • Revise conditions for loading of lane load and actions to be considered for span 200′ to 300′ and continuous span configuration

LRFR evaluation – Gusset plate compressive resistance

  • Combine Whitmore Section and Partial Shear Plane
  • Implement Truncated Whitmore Section
  • Implement Basic Corner Check

3. New LRFR control option for compact web section Cb calculation using AISC Article F1 commentary

4. New Bridge Workspace windows for entering points of interest along the webs of standard and advanced concrete multi-cell box superstructures

5. Analysis Results Comparison (ARC) Tool Usability Improvements

A new ribbon user interface, expanded dataset comparison capabilities and flexibilities, improved feedback mechanisms, error reporting, and collaboration features.

6. Top voted RADBUG enhancements

  • BSSD-1852 Automatically Calculate Flange Effective Width
  • BSSD-2782 Saved Print Settings in BrDR
  • BSSD-2828 Bottom Flange Lateral Support Location
  • BSSD-3289 Bent Reinforcement Bar for RC Culvert Slabs and Walls
  • BSSD-3454 Enhance Rating Tool API Scenarios Functionality
  • BSSD-3707 Steel Cover Plate Development Length

7. BrDR development migration to the .NET 8 software development platform

.NET 8 is a huge technological advancement from the .NET Framework development platform. This ensures BrDR stays current with the newest technologies and best practices.