Bentley Systems Inc. has produced new software for the design, analysis, load rating and 3D modeling of "everyday" steel bridges. It complements another Bentley product for designing similar bridges in concrete. One early user of the new tool for steel says her firm already has used the pair to create a bridge proposal using alternative materials.
The products use technology Bentley acquired in 2008, with the purchase of concrete bridge modeler and analyzer LEAP Software, now sold as LEAP Bridge Enterprise V8i. It's a parametric modeler with built-in analysis, design, code-checking and load-rating applications. It integrates concrete bridge design components, from foundation to superstructure, in one interface.