How do I simulate a bridge girder?

Open this page and use the live Shallow Foundation Designer tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.

Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.

Can I use my own numbers?

Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a bridge girder from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Shallow Foundation Designer

Shallow Foundation Designer for a bridge girder

Simulate a bridge girder live in your browser. This runs the real Shallow Foundation Designer solver — adjust the inputs, watch it respond instantly, and export the result. No install, no account.

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Soil Bearing

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Soil Bearing Capacity (Terzaghi)Live

foundation design

Allowable bearing pressure

400kPa

Allowable load ≈ 801 kN per metre of footing

Controls

Presets

Cohesion c (kPa)

Friction angle φ (°)

Unit weight γ (kN/m³)

Footing width B (m)

Embedment depth (m)

Factor of safety

Terzaghi's equation predicts the ultimate bearing capacity of a shallow footing as the sum of cohesion, surcharge, and self-weight terms, each with a bearing-capacity factor that grows sharply with the soil friction angle. Dividing by a factor of safety gives the allowable pressure. Educational tool, not a geotechnical design.

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Data Inspector

Nc30.1

Nq18.4

Nγ22.4

Ultimate qult1201 kPa

Governing equation

q_{u} = c N_{c} + γ D_{f} N_{q} + \frac{1}{2} γ B N_{γ} = 10 (30.1) + 27 (18.4) + \frac{1}{2} (18) (2) (22.4) = 1201 kPa

Reading this result: Mixed c-φ soil: all three terms contribute — deeper embedment and a wider footing both push the ultimate capacity higher.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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Groundwater

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Groundwater Well DrawdownLive

Thiem steady-state cone of depression

Controls

Presets

Pumping rate Q (m³/day)

Transmissivity T (m²/day)

Radius of influence R (m)

Pumping a well lowers the water table into a cone of depression. Under the Thiem steady-state solution the drawdown is s(r) = Q/(2πT)·ln(R/r): more pumping deepens the cone, higher transmissivity flattens it. Fundamental to well design, water supply, and contaminant capture.

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Data Inspector

Drawdown at well4.7 m

Drawdown at 50 m1.47 m

Radius of influence500 m

Governing equation

s (r) = \frac{Q}{2 π T} ln \frac{R}{r} = \frac{2000}{2 π \cdot 500} ln \frac{500}{r}

Reading this result: Drawdown is Q/(2πT)·ln(R/r): here it is about 4.7 m at the well and falls off logarithmically, so most of the depression sits in the first tens of metres.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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About this simulation

The full Shallow Foundation Designer tool models a bridge girder with the same numerics engineers and scientists use — running entirely client-side. Change any parameter and the result updates in real time, so you can build intuition, check a design, or teach the concept without spreadsheets or installs.

More you can do with Shallow Foundation Designer

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Other ways to simulate a bridge girder

2D Fluid (CFD) for a bridge girder 3D CFD for a bridge girder 3D FEA Space Frame for a bridge girder FEA Truss for a bridge girder Meshing + BCs for a bridge girder RLC Circuit for a bridge girder

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a bridge girder?: Open this page and use the live Shallow Foundation Designer tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.
Is it free?: Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.
Can I use my own numbers?: Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a bridge girder from your own measurements.