General Vehicle Data

Access the General Vehicle Data form as follows:

Click the (a) Define menu > Bridge Loads > Vehicle command or (b) the Bridge menu > Define Vehicle command, or (c) select the Vehicle Definition item on the Bridge Wizard and click the Define/Show Vehicle button, each to display the Define Vehicle form. Then do one of the following:

Select "Add General Vehicle" in the Choose Vehicle Type to Add drop-down list and click the Add Vehicle button.
Highlight a General Vehicle definition in the Vehicle display area and then click the Modify/Show Vehicle button.

Note: The General Vehicle Data form also appears when the Show As General Vehicle button is clicked on the Standard Vehicle Data form. In that case, the form will be "pre-loaded" with the data that defines the standard vehicle definition and the data cannot be changed. Use the Convert to General Vehicle button on the Standard Vehicle Data form to convert the definition to a general vehicle, and then if necessary, redisplay the General Vehicle Data form by highlighting the definition on the Define Vehicle form and clicking the Modify/Show Vehicle button; when the General Vehicle Data form appears, modify the definition as necessary.

Use the General Vehicle Data form to specify the various loads associated with a named general vehicle.

Vehicle Name edit box. Enter a Vehicle Name or accept the default.
Usage options. Check the appropriate check boxes to select the responses calculated during the analysis process. More than one option can be selected for a Vehicle definition.
Floating Axle Loads

Value edit boxes. Enter a total value for the floating axle load for Lane Moments or Other Responses or both.
Width Type drop-down lists. Select how the floating axle load is to be distributed.

Axle Width edit boxes. If the Width Type has been selected as something other than One Point or Lane Width Line, enter a value for the axle width in the current units.

Double the Lane Moment Load when Calculating the Negative Span Moments check box. When this box is checked, the lane moment load will be doubled when calculating negative span moments.

Loads

Load Length Type drop-down list. Use the drop-down list to select the type of load length (leading or trailing load or fixed or variable length).

Minimum and Maximum Distance edit boxes. Enter a minimum and maximum distance between the current and previous axle.

Note: A value of Zero for Max Distance indicates an infinite distance. Only one intermediate axle may have a value of Max Distance > Min Distance. The remaining intermediate axles must have values of Max Distance = Min Distance.

Uniform Load edit box. Enter uniform load values in load/length units.
Uniform Width Type drop-down list. Select the type of width for the uniform load.

Uniform Width edit box. If the Uniform Width Type has been selected as Fixed Width, enter a width for the uniform load in the current units.

Axle Load edit box. Enter an axle load in the edit box; this is the total load for the axle.
Axle Width Type drop-down box. Select how the axle load is to be distributed.

Axle Width edit box. If the Axle Width Type has been selected as something other than One Point or Lane Width Line, enter a value for the axle width in the current units.

Add button. After the parameters in the Loads area of the form have been specified, click the Add button to add the parameters to the Vehicle definition.
Insert button. After the parameters in the Loads area of the form have been specified, click the Insert button to insert the parameters to the Vehicle definition above any selected parameters in the Loads display area.
Modify button. Select parameters in the Loads area of the form to be modified and use the drop-down lists and edit boxes to specify the modifications. Then click the Modify button to make the changes.
Delete button. Select the load definition in the Loads area of the form to be deleted. Then click the Delete button to delete the load definition.
Use BD 37/01 (2002) for Uniform Load Length Effects check box. When this check box is checked, SAP2000 will apply the parameters of the Standard in the design of the uniform load length effects.
Vehicle Applies to Straddle (Adjacent) Lanes Only check box. When this box is checked, the vehicle will straddle adjacent lanes as described in the above British Standard.

Straddle Reduction Factor edit box. SAP will display a default value for the factor to be used to reduce the response from the straddle vehicle. Type a new value in the edit box if necessary.

Load Plan and Load Elevation display areas. Graphically displays the uniform and axle loads defined for the vehicle in both plan and elevation views.