Question
“My team and I were wondering what exactly tributary area was and how to implement it. We have been attempting to do it, but we do not feel comfortable that we are going about it the right way in question 6. If at all possible, could you provide us some information as to how to calculate the tributary area and perform the calculations for question 6.”
Response
The tributary area is the portion of the bridge that contributes to the load on the pier. In a symmetrical situation such as this it’s everything that’s from the centerline to the outer edge of the bridge, and everything to halfway to the next pier on each side. In plan it’s a big rectangle, and in elevation it includes everything that is carried by the pier.
Jim Mitchell
I understand the "big rectangle" part of the definition for tributary area, however I am still confused by the elevation part of it. How do the members factor into the tributary area, do i need to add the cross sectional areas of all the members to the area of the rectangle? Then after I find this tributary area, how would I go about finding the force exerted on Pier H, is that the load?
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