Bridge Hinge (Expansion Joint) Data Form

Access the Bridge Hinge (Expansion Joint) Data form, with the Bridge Modeler license enabled, as follows:

Click the Bridge menu > Hinges (Expansion Joints) command, or on the Bridge Wizard form select the Hinge Definitions item and click the Define/Show Hinge button, to display the Define Bridge Hinges (Expansion Joints) form.
Click the Add New Bridge Hinge button or select a previously defined hinge and click the Add Copy of Bridge Hinge or Modify/Show Bridge Hinge button.

After the hinge has been defined, assign it to the bridge model using Bridge Objects.

Use the Bridge Hinge (Expansion Joint) Data form to define bridge hinges (expansion joints) for your model.

Bridge Hinge Name edit box. Use the default or specify another name for the bridge hinge definition.
Units drop-down list. Use the displayed units or select new units from the drop-down list.
Bridge Hinge Is Defined By: Specify how the bridge hinge is to be defined.

Link/Support Property option. When this option is chosen, use the drop-down list to select a previously defined link/support property for the bridge hinge definition.
User Definition option. When this option is chosen, SAP2000 will define the hinges using the entries in the User Hinge spreadsheet area of the form:

User Hinge spreadsheet area. Use the cells in this area of the form to specify translational and rotational releases as free, fixed, or with partial fixity. Click in a cell in the Release Type column and select the appropriate type from the drop-down list. If partial fixity is selected, also specify a stiffness value in the cells in the Stiffness column.

Link/Support Property option. When this option is chosen, use the drop-down list to select a previously defined section property for the bridge restrainer definition.
User Definition option. When this option is chosen, SAP2000 will define the hinges using the entries in the three edit boxes in the User Restrainer area of the form:

Restrainer Length edit box. Specify the length of the restrainer in current model units.
Restrainer Area edit box. Specify the area of the restrainer in current model units.
Restrainer Modulus E edit box. Specify the Modulus E of the restrainer.

Include Vertical Diaphragm check box. When this check box is checked, SAP2000 will close the ends of the hinges. Use the Diaphragm Property drop-down list to select a previously defined diaphragm property for the vertical diaphragm. This closure is applicable only to area object and solid object models. It does not apply to spine models.

Horizontal Location of Hinge Objects. Choose the horizontal placement of the hinges (expansion joints):

At Reference Line Location option. The hinges are placed at the reference line. The reference line passes through the reference point in the bridge section.
At Each Girder Location option. The hinges are placed at each girder location.
Equally Spaced Over Bridge Width option. When this option is chosen, specify the number of hinges in the Number of Objects edit box. SAP2000 will then place that number of hinges at equal intervals over the width of the bridge.

Vertical Location of Hinge Objects. Choose the vertical placement of the hinges (expansion joints).

At Centroid option. When this option is selected, the hinge will be located at the centroid of the section.
At User Specified Vert. Offset from Reference Point option. When this option is chosen, the vertical location of the hinges will be relative to the reference point of the section. Use the Vertical Offset edit box to specify the distance that the hinge will be offset from the reference point.