Easy-to-use modeling environment
BRIGADE/Plus provides an easy-to-use environment for modeling of any type of bridge and civil structures such as tunnels, dams and towers etc. The consistent GUI integrates modeling, analysis and visualization of results and is simple to learn for new users, yet highly productive for experienced users.

Modeling Concept
BRIGADE/Plus offers a parametric, feature based modeling concept enabling fast and simple modeling of complex geometries. Model properties and attributes (material and cross-sectional properties, loads, boundary conditions etc) are named explicitly and easily assigned to selected geometry of the model.

Moving loads
BRIGADE/Plus includes a market-leading technique for evaluation of the static response of moving loads. The technique is based on influence surfaces/lines and mesh-independent traffic lane alignments. Vehicles can consist of axles with fix or variable internal distances and in combination with moving surface loads. Multiple simultaneous vehicles in different lanes are handled automatically. Vehicles can be created manually or generated from a library of design code specific vehicles e.g. Eurocode, AAASHTO, British Standard and the Scandinavian road and railroad bridge codes.
 

Dynamic Response of Moving Loads
BRIGADE/Plus offers efficient analysis of the dynamic response of moving loads. Single or multiple tracks are easily defined. Predefined HSLM vehicles are available and user-defined vehicles can be created. Vehicles are analyzed for a user-defined set of speeds. Results are automatically enveloped in order to enable efficient evaluation and reporting.

Prestressing
BRIGADE/Plus allows for the analyses of prestressing. The alignments of longitudinal and transversal tendons are easily defined. Short-term losses (friction, wobble and anchorage) are calculated automatically.

Vast Range of Analysis Procedures
BRIGADE/Plus provides a vast range of analysis procedures:

Static:

• Linear and nonlinear static response
• Eigenvalue buckling
• Unstable collapse and post buckling

Dynamic:

• Natural frequency extraction
• Modal dynamic time history
• Implicit dynamic time history (linear & nonlinear)
• Steady-state dynamic response
• Response spectrum
• Random response

Heat transfer:

• Transient heat transfer analysis
• Steady-state heat transfer analysis

Coupled:

• Sequentially coupled thermal-stress analysis

Load Combinations
BRIGADE includes a state-of-the-art load combination facility automatically taking into account whether the loads provide an adverse or relieving effect on the structure. Load combinations can be created manually or generated from a library of design code specific combinations e.g. Eurocode, AAASHTO, British Standard and the Scandinavian road and railroad bridge codes.

Non-linear Material Behaviour
BRIGADE/Plus offers the possibility to include nonlinear material behavior. The library of constitutive models includes e.g. concrete, metal, Drucker-Prager and Drucker-Prager/Cap. Material behavior may be temperature dependent.

Robust Contact Capabilities
BRIGADE/Plus offers a robust contact capability. Contact can be defined between two deformable bodies or between a deformable body and a rigid surface.

• Element-based or node-based contact surfaces
• Hard or softened contact
• Small or finite sliding formulation
• Frictional behavior may be included
• Damping may be included

ABAQUS Solver Technology
BRIGADE/Plus includes an integrated ABAQUS solver from SIMULIA, the world’s leading provider of advanced Finite Element solvers. This leads to the following valuable benefits:

• Accurate and reliable results
• Efficient solution of large problems
• Robust solution of non-linear problems

Result Visualization
BRIGADE/Plus offers a wide range of post-processing features in order to enable efficient interpretation of results:

• Contour plots (deformed or undeformed model)
• Diagram plots
• Vector plots
• Tick mark plots
• Overlay plots
• Animation of results

Report Generator
BRIGADE/Plus includes generators for automatic generation of input and result reports.

Reinforcement Design
The need for reinforcement in accordance with Eurocode can easily be calculated using an add-on module.