Case Study: Penn State University achieves improved bridge performance prediction with Dassault Systèmes (Abaqus)

Improving Bridge Performance with Finite Element Analysis Software

Penn State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, led by Associate Professor Daniel Linzell, needed to move beyond traditional linear FEA to predict the real-world, nonlinear stresses and long‑term behaviors (traffic, wind, temperature, corrosion, creep) that govern bridge performance and service life. To tackle overdesign and inform maintenance and construction decisions, they used Dassault Systemes’ simulation tools, notably Abaqus/Standard and its creep module, to build high‑fidelity finite element models of bridges.

Using Dassault Systemes’ Abaqus, the team created detailed virtual bridge models—choosing appropriate elements and material models, defining contacts and restraints, and applying realistic loads—to pinpoint trouble spots, evaluate residual life, and test design or construction changes before they were built. The approach produced substantially more accurate predictions of deformation and time‑dependent effects, enabling iterative optimization that reduces excess material use, improves maintenance prioritization, and supports forensic analysis and cost‑effective bridge design.

Penn State University

Daniel Linzell

Professor and Department Chair