Verification is a case-specific process due to varying and unique
framing plan characteristics and/or complicated dimensional and property
details. Independent checking of results is part of the engineers' role in
using the software. The program generates extensive output to help with
the user's independent checking of results. The program has features that
can be used to generate more information to help verify results. We do
what we can to encourage this practice through providing technical support to
users' inquiries about results they are trying to verify.
Since
the program handles line girder analysis projects and girder system analysis
(aka refined analysis) projects, the following is divided into two parts:
(1) information relevant to all projects, and (2) additional information
relevant to girder system projects.
THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO ALL PROJECTS:
Different types of results require different verification methods:
-Section properties (requires independent checking with spreadsheet or hand calcs)
-Moments, shears, deflections, reactions (line girder projects require independent continuous beam analyses to check, however girder system projects have a way to generate models that can be run through a general analysis software program, GT STRUDL, and the generated input may be adapted by the user to similar general analysis software. The modeling input can both be reviewed and the output compared to the results generated by the MDX program.
-Specific live load results can be checked using the influence output
(DISPLAY INFLUENCE LINES in line girder projects, DISPLAY INFLUENCE SURFACES in
girder system projects).
-Stress checks (there are many detailed output reports that are generated and there are some commands available to generate even more info, e.g. the DETAILED CALCS command).
-Interpolated results (can be checked with independent calcs, and can be inspected in relation to the other values in the table for credibility)
-Geometry generation (can be checked using independent programs/calcs)
GIRDER SYSTEM ANALYSIS PROJECTS CORE ANALYSIS RESULTS CAN BE CHECKED INDEPENDENTLY:
Features are available for independently verifying the core analysis results of girder system projects, i.e. moments, shears, deflections, reactions through the generation of general analysis input files (in GT STRUDL format, but these generated files can problably be adapted by the user for use with other similar general analysis programs.) The generated general analysis inputs can be reviewed for accuracy and the analysis runs made through general analysis software.
Dead load core analysis results are easily verifiable, but live load results are based on influence surfaces and movable loading and are therefore fairly complex and time consuming. However, the user does have the ability to verify the influence surface values with the general analysis live load model that is generated and perform their own hand calculations to check specific live load results as needed. These features are available to the user and should routinely be used to verify results as standard practice. (See the DEAD LOAD 1 NODAL OUTPUT, DEAD LOAD 2 NODAL OUTPUT, and UNIT LOAD NODAL OUTPUT commands.)