Sam Integrated Bridge Design Software

Design Software for Today's Bridge Engineers

Sam is a unique integrated suite of software modules for the loading, analysis and design of small to medium span bridges.

Section Design

The Section Design Modules are the platform on which the Sam system is built. Both section definition and results are reflected graphically so that numeric data is more readily understood.

Beam Design

The Beam Design Modules takes the design of bridge components to the next level by considering the whole length of the beam, not just a single section.

Bridge Loading and Analysis

These modules analyse bridge structures in order to determine the moments and shears they should be designed to resist.

Complete Eurocode Solution

Complies with many Global design standards including the Eurocodes

Sam can be used to design bridges to many Global Standards including:

Eurocodes
British Standards
AASHTO LRFD 4th Edition
AS5100
New Zealand Standards

These codes are fully integrated within the Sam system and can be invaluable when implementing a new code such as the Eurocodes.

Sam offers a unique, integrated approach to Bridge Design

One of the biggest features of Sam is the way it closes the design loop of bridge analysis and bridge deck design.

The ability to integrate all stages of the design process from loading to analysis to beam design is unique.

Using a single system without the need to import, export or convert data and providing quick and easy iterative tools can deliver real savings not only in time but also in providing the ability to look deeper and develop the most economical solution.

As Sam is an integrated system other savings can also be made in producing output by generating calculations straight from the system that require little if any editing for the whole project.

Fully Detailed Design Reports

A major benefit of the Sam system is the quality and content of the output.

Sam is able to produce detailed design calculation sheets in a very concise format with full formulae and code referencing just like an Engineer's hand written calcluations.

This makes it very easy for the Engineer to interrogate the results and see what is happening with the design in detail and make the necessary changes if required.

Screen graphics are automatically embedded within the calculation sheet to add professionalism to the finished product and aid in the checking process.

Find out how Bestech can help you

Training Courses

We run training courses at our premises or yours on:

Bridge design
Maximising benefits of Sam
Eurocodes for bridges

Technical Support

We pride ourselves on the level of support provided by the Bestech Help Desk.

What we do

Benefits & Capabilities

User Conference 2012
"BIM for Bridges"

Sam 6.50h Software Update

Bestech is a European company made up almost entirely of bridge engineers. We are passionate about bridges, and even more passionate about making our software as good as it can be for the design of bridges.

We have customers worldwide, from Japan in the East to the United States in the West, taking in Australia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Middle East, Nigeria and Europe.

Sam is designed for use with all the usual bridge construction types and takes into account the different construction sequences that each construction type requires.

Sam provides a full bridge design environment that enables Engineers to not only load and analyse bridge decks but also to design the sections and bridge beams to a variety of National Standards including the Eurocodes, BS 5400, AS5100 and AASHTO LRFD.

Sam closes the design loop of bridge analysis and bridge deck design.

The benefits that derive from this are:

Speed
Accuracy
Consistent data across project
Reliability

Bestech will be holding the 2012 Sam User Conference on Tuesday 15th May at The National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.

The core theme of this year's conference will be 'BIM for Bridges' and will include a number of interesting presentations on a variety of subjects including the BIM. This information will be presented not only by Bestech but also by Sam users and Autodesk who will also be attending.

Public Training Courses

We will be holding two 3-day training courses on concrete bridge design to Eurocodes at our Knutsford Training Centre on the following dates:

21^st-23^rd May
18^th-20^th June

CBDG Annual Conference

We will attending the Concrete Bridge Development Group Annual Dinner and Conference on 27^th and 29^th June in Oxford.

We are pleased to announce the issue of Sam 6.50h. This latest release of our integrated bridge design and analysis software includes 9 software enhancements which are detailed in full here.

Sam 6.50c Now Available

We are pleased to announce the release of Sam 6.50c.

The new version introduces 3D graphics in the beam modules, support for the Eurocode Swedish National Annex, other Eurocode enhancements such as EN1992-2 Annex KK Time Dependent Effects and EN1992-2 Annex QQ Web Shear Cracking calculations for pre-tensioned beams and Web Shear Cracking at web / flange interface for Australian Standards.

Full details of the new release can be found here.