The bridge modeler allows to model cable restrainers that connect substructure with the superstructure at a bearing location.
The restrainer properties can be defined via "Bridge > Restrainers" menu command. The user can define the restrainer properties by either specifying equivalent link properties or by specifying cable restrainer characteristics, in which case the automatically program calculates the link properties from the cable characteristics:
For each type of restrainer, the bridge modeler creates links connecting joints on the bent cap with the corresponding bearing joints as follows (please note that the restrainer links share the same location with bearing links):
- Restrainer defined by link: a single link to connect bent cap joint with bearing joint is generated.
- Restrainer defined by cable characteristic: two links connecting bent cap joint with bearing joint are created. One link has Gap property and the other link has Hook property to simulate that the cable is only effective when the superstructure moves "away" from the substructure.
