BrDR 7.5 Release Distribution – COMPLETED

November 28, 2023

The AASHTOWare Bridge Design and Rating 7.5.0 Release distribution was completed on November 7^th. The distribution was processed based on the information provided by the organization when the software was licensed. The 7.5.0 release download package, with Bridge Design (BrD), Bridge Rating (BrR), or the combined Bridge Design and Rating (BrDR), was distributed to the organization’s shipping and end-user designee. Please contact BrDR Technical Support at BrDR@promiles.com for any questions with the 7.5.0 release delivery.

The 7.5.0 release adds the following capabilities and features:

Click on the links below to directly access the learning resources and tutorials posted on the AASHTOWare Bridge Technical Support website’s Training page at https://www.aashtowarebridge.com/bridge-rating-and-design/training/.

1. Next Generation of Report Tool Phase 1 – New reporting framework and report editor. The Phase 1 objective is to establish the foundation for the new Report Tool and include reporting for prestressed concrete bridges. Other bridge types and output data reporting will be implemented in future phases.
   (Open Report|RT2 Report Tool 2.0 PDF file)
2. AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation updates (3^rd Edition, 2023 Interim Revisions)
   • MBE 6A.4.2.1 and 6A.5.8 – Changes to 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 MBE 6A.4.2.1 and 6A.5.8 – Changes to concrete shear and evaluation of shear load rating
       (Open Feature|Concrete Shear LRFR Rating Iteration With BrDR 7.5.0 PDF file)
3. Improvements to existing capabilities and features
   • Consistent Rating Method Naming with MBE – Rename LFD rating to LFR and ASD rating to ASR.
   • Support Copy and Paste Functionality for All UI Grids
     (Open Efficient Data Transfer – Copying and Pasting Between BrDR and Excel – AASHTOWare Tutorial  video)
   • New Additions to General Preferences – New preferences for LRFR Condition factor, LRFR System factor, and Additional self-load (kip/ft and %).
   • Enhance License Mechanism and Cryptographically Secure Bridge Data
     (Open Enhanced BrDR License Mechanism BrDR Newsletter article)
   • BrDR Database Maintenance and Usability Improvements – Support connection pooling, reconnection after disruption, encrypted connection, and Azure multi-factor authentication and integrated active directory.
   • Analysis Results Comparison (ARC) Tool Usability Improvements – New user interface for configuration settings, provide additional information in the Dataset Explorer, and relocate dataset storage to the Documents folder.
     (Open Feature|ARC1 – Arc Tool PDF file)
4. AASHTO Analysis Engine Maintenance tasksBSSD-1581 Add Net Area Deduction for Truss LRFR
   • BSSD-1581 Add Net Area Deduction for Truss LRFR
     (Open Truss System|T7 – Truss LRFD Net Area Deduction In LRFR Truss Rating With BrDR 7.5.0 PDF file)
   • BSSD-1606 and 1707 Truss Member and Gusset Plate Adjacent Vehicle Analysis
   • BSSD-1617 Provide Std and LRFD Inputs for Modulus of Rupture
   • BSSD-1622 Use Concurrent Moments in C_b Calculation
     (Open Steel|STL14 – LRFD C_b Calculation using Concurrent Moments in LRFR Rating with BrDR 7.5.0 PDF file)
   • BSSD-1880 Provide Input for Maximum Aggregate Size
   • BSSD-1940 Improve 3D Mesh Generation to Limit Small Elements
     (Open 3D FEM Analysis|3DFEM5 – Mesh Generation and Dead Load Analysis Example PDF file)
   • BSSD-2370, 2708, and 2738 Truss Gusset Plate Shear Analysis Improvements
   • BSSD-3333 Consider Variable Axle Spacing for LRFR Permit Loads
5. Top voted RADBUG enhancements
   • BSSD-1585 Modeling and Analysis with Square Rebars
   • BSSD-1824 Allow LFR of Curved Steel Spans Greater Than 300 feet
   • BSSD-3109 Improve Culvert Design Tool Final Iteration Reporting
   • BSSD-3223 Improve Load Rating Tool Precomputed Data Window
   • BSSD-3552 Concrete LRFR Moment Redistribution
     (Open Feature|LRFR Concrete Moment Redistribution with BrDR 7.5.0 PDF file)