This slender timber pedestrian bridge was constructed over the Bow River in Banff. The town of Banff is Canada’s first national park located in the beautiful Canadian Rockies. At 13 ft wide and 38 ft long, the bridge is complete with a 263-foot clear span, which is perhaps the longest of its kind for a timber bridge.
The structural and dynamic analysis was performed in RFEM by StructureCraft Builders Inc., a customer of Dlubal Software
StructureCraft Builders Inc., Canada
www.structurecraft.com
3D model (top) and 1. mode shape (bottom) of the bridge in RFEM (© StructureCraft Builders Inc.)
Bow River Pedestrian Bridge in Banff, Canada
Number of Nodes | 235 |
Number of Lines | 272 |
Number of Members | 152 |
Number of Load Cases | 160 |
Dimensions (Metric) | 95.298 x 11.290 x 2.528 m |
Dimensions (Imperial) | 312.66 x 37.04 x 8.29 feet |
Program Version | 5.09.01 |
![KB 001883 | Plate Girder Design According to AISC 360-22 in RFEM 6](/en/webimage/051561/3980997/im1.png?mw=512&hash=b8237709c4f30213fac51d86d32a42bddde72f03)
![Timber Panel Wall Stiffnesses](/en/webimage/049956/3893282/49956.png?mw=512&hash=8dfc2b6d0af6ade74073e21655c6a73a34a77751)
![KB 001848 | Timber Column Design as per the 2018 NDS Standard in RFEM 6](/en/webimage/040983/3525158/Timber_Column_for_KB_1848.png?mw=512&hash=8767c3300658d77c253bb7ff632327937a04dd95)
![KB 001861 | Plate Girder Design According to AISC 360-16](/en/webimage/045361/3639107/PG1.png?mw=512&hash=9fc408f20e02e54869b23dd856e9bcc4acc1f365)
![Feature 002824 | OSB Material for USA and Canada](/en/webimage/050460/3955503/2024-06-28_10-42-39.png?mw=512&hash=5ec86ff7955d8c9a50e53301df3f21fceda009a5)
In RFEM, the oriented strand board (OSB) material is available for the USA and Canada. The material parameters are taken from the "Panel Design Specification manual".
![Feature 002792 | Timber Panel Element](/en/webimage/048109/3767848/2024-03-14_13-56-20.png?mw=512&hash=c2c60498cb42f6ae62fb1ccfea4928bacda0d865)
Using the "Beam Panel" thickness type, you can model timber panel elements in 3D space. Simply specify the surface geometry and the timber panel elements are automatically generated using an internal member-surface construct, including the element connection stiffness. The Beam Panel thickness type is defined using the Multilayer Surfaces add-on.
A "beam panel" provides you with the following advantages:
- Single-sided or double-sided sheathing
- Automatic calculation of a semi-rigid coupling between studs and sheathing
- Nailed sheathing connection
- Stapled sheathing connection
- User-defined sheathing connection
- Representation as a complete geometric 3D object (frame, studs, surface, etc.), including eccentricity and automatically calculated stiffness between elements
- Consider openings via surface cells
- Design of the individual structural elements utilizing the Timber Design add-on (full shear wall design planned for a future release)
- Other material options available (e.g., particle board, gypsum, or fiberboard sheathing with cold-formed steel sections)
![Feature 002585 | Fire Resistance Design of Surfaces for EN 1995 and SIA 265](/en/webimage/047506/3771829/2024-03-15_11-08-39.png?mw=512&hash=9825c52bdc32fc7283ab1907a9b8435abfd7054b)
You have the option to perform the fire resistance design of surfaces using the reduced cross-section method. The reduction is applied over the surface thickness. It is possible to perform the design checks for all timber materials allowed for the design.
For cross-laminated timber, depending on the type of adhesive, you can select whether it is possible for individual carbonized layer parts to fall off, and whether you can expect increased charring in certain layer areas.
![Feature 002615 | Cross-Laminated Timber Manufacturer Library for USA, Canada, and Switzerland](/en/webimage/040956/3625029/MicrosoftTeams-image_(3).png?mw=512&hash=4e74affa9ad0c7b703151c5085ac9b8e59171c23)
Among others, the following cross-laminated timber manufacturers are available in the layer structure library:
- Binderholz (USA)
- KLH (USA, CAN)
- Kalesnikoff (USA, CAN)
- Nordic Structures (USA, CAN)
- Mercer Mass Timber
- SmartLam
- Sterling Structural
- Superstructures listed in Lignatec Edition 32 "Cross-Laminated Timber of Swiss Production"
By importing a structure from the layer structure library, all relevant parameters are adopted automatically. The library is continually updated.