Raising the Standards: Software for Lifting Projects

This article reports on new developments in software that provide engineers with extensive support for deploying complex lifting and launching techniques. These construction techniques make it possible for bridge designers to prefabricate superstructure in either a workshop or yard environment rather than on site. To make such prefabrication cost effective, special software has been designed to analyze the stresses that occur throughout the process of moving superstructure and installing equipment. One software product in particular, the RM2006 program suite from TDV, is prominently featured in this article. The author discusses the versatility of RM2006 – from investigating the stress states of superstructure to supplying solutions for the layout of equipment and choice of the design procedure to apply. The author also discusses in detail how TDV has successfully applied the RM2006 program to numerous projects worldwide.