modeling stacked beamsdecks
 

modeling stacked beams\decks?
what are the thoughts on modeling stacked or "pancake" decks where the stringers sit on top of the girders:
1) just use member offsets and have stringer frame into girder
2) use a dummy column with moment releases on one end so torsion of girder does not contribute to bending resistance of stringer
obviously #1 is easiest to model, but is it accurate?
pong
check out our whitepaper library.
my first choice : method #2.
otherwise method #1 with a pin on the end of the stringer.