PIER (Version 2.0.1) Readme.

pdf
07/06/2004

INTRODUCTION
This Readme file contains information about the current production version of PIER.
As the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) for PIER, Timothy E. Bradberry, P.E., Bridge
Division Support Branch Manager, is available to assist bridge design engineers working on
TxDOT projects should they have technical questions about the program. If you are working on a
TxDOT bridge design project and have any problems with this software, please contact Mr.
Bradberry (tbradber@dot.state.tx.us; 512-416-2179).
This software, upon execution, will display an issue date of September 2003. This product and
other TxDOT developed software and supporting end user documentation may be downloaded for
no-fee from the TxDOT Internet web site using the following link:
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/isd/software/software.htm

DESCRIPTION
Non-linear Analysis of Concrete PiersSpecialized program which performs non-linear analysis of
slender, non-prismatic, and hollow core concrete columns. The program's non-linearity extends to
both geometric and material aspects.

INSTALLATION
Minimum system requirementsInstallation and operation of the PIER executable requires
approximately 513 K of hard disk space. This version is 32-bit console application for the Win 32
platform (Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT 4.0, Me, XP). Approximately 864 K of available RAM is
required for execution and the minimum recommended processor is a Pentium 133 MHz.

To install this program, simply copy the executable file into a directory of your choice on a hard
drive or network drive accessible to your computer and create a shortcut to the executable file (i.e.
use create shortcut function of your OS or simply drag and drop the file from its directory to your
computer's desktop). You may want to configure the shortcut to read input files and write output
files in a directory other than that containing the executable. To do this you must modify the
properties of the shortcut by selecting the "Shortcut" tab and typing the desired path to the input
and output files in the box labeled "Start in".

ABOUT THE USER DOCUMENTATION

The PIER user documentation provided on the TxDOT web site contains two separate
downloadable archives: 1) an archive of this Readme file and an input guide describing how to
create an input file for the program, and 2) reference documents consisting of PDF images of two

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 PIER (Version 2.0.1) Readme.pdf
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research reports describing the theory, development and verification of the program, along with an
example input file and companion output listing.

Files
The archived file <PIER.exe> is the executable file for PIER (XP Version 2.0.1 September 2003).
The archived file <PIER Guide.pdf> is the programs User Guide. The archive files <PIER
Reference A.pdf>, <PIER Reference B.pdf >, <example.dat> and <example.lis> are the research
report describing the background and analytical basis of the PIER program, a research report
verifying the PIER program, an example input file, and the corresponding output file, respectively.
The archived file <PIER Readme.pdf> contains this Readme document.

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