CALCULATING MODES AND FREQUENCIES

In STAAD, there are 2 methods for obtaining the frequencies of a structure.

• The Rayleigh method using the CALCULATE RAYLEIGH FREQUENCY command

• The elaborate method which involves extracting eigenvalues from a matrix based on the structure stiffness and lumped masses in the model.

BASIC PRINCIPLE

The Rayleigh method in STAAD is a one-iteration approximate method from which a single frequency is obtained. It uses the displaced shape of the model to obtain the frequency. Needless to say, it is extremely important that the displaced shape that the calculation is based on, resemble one of the vibration modes. If one is interested in the fundamental mode, the loading on the model should cause it to displace in a manner which resembles the fundamental mode. For example, the fundamental mode of vibration of a tall building would be a cantilever style mode, where the building sways from side to side with the base remaining stationary. The type of loading which creates a displaced shape which resembles this mode is a lateral force such as a wind force. Hence, if one were to use the Rayleigh method, the loads which should be applied are lateral loads, not vertical loads. For the Eigen solution method, the user is required to specify all the masses in the model along with the directions they are capable of vibrating in. If this data is correctly provided, the program extracts as many modes as the user requests (default value is 6) in ascending order of strain energy. The mode shapes can be viewed graphically to verify that they make sense.

Eigenvalue extraction method

This method is based on extracting eigen values and eigenvectors using the stiffness and mass matrices of the structure. If the stiffness and mass data are specified correctly, this is a far more reliable method than the Rayleigh method. In modal analysis we solve:

l= w² and = mode shapevector. On doing a modal analysis, we get frequency of a mode and corresponding mode shape

To obtain the natural frequency  using the RAYLEIGH METHOD, you have to specify the command CALCULATE RAYLEIGH FREQUENCY in the load case in which the load data which produce a mode-shape type deflected shape are specified.

To use the Eigen value method, specify the command MODAL CALCULATION REQUESTED in the load case in which the load data for the mass matrix are specified. For an example which illustrates this method, please go to Help-Contents-Application Examples-British Examples-Example 28.

Also, the Rayleigh cases should not have the MODAL CALC or dynamics in the same case.  Remember to leave these Rayleigh cases out of the Load List for design.

Release Date: October 1, 2015

Full Version Number: 06.00.00.30

Download Instructions:

Current and past RAM Concept releases can be downloaded from Bentley Cloud Services at http://connect.bentley.com.

After signing in to the personal portal, select Software Downloads under My Support. Once on the Software Fulfillment page, RAM Concept installers can be located by performing a search on "RAM Concept", or by selecting Brand -> RAM. Note that although there are multiple listings for RAM Concept (RAM Concept, RAM Concept Post Tension Module, etc.), each of these takes the user to the same list of installers as all features of RAM Concept require only one installation.

Installation Instructions:

RAM Concept CONNECT Edition can be installed side-by-side with previous release versions of Concept. There is no need to uninstall previous versions. If using the RAM Concept integration with RAM Structural System, both products must be either the x86 or x64 version. For example, the use of RAM Concept x86 within RAM Structural System x64 is not supported.

Recommendations:

RAM Concept CONNECT Edition is recommended for all projects, except those that are nearing final design.

New Features in RAM Concept CONNECT Edition

In addition to minor error corrections and enhancements, RAM Concept CONNECT Edition introduces the new features discussed below.

Warnings and Errors Management Tool

This release features a new set of graphical tools dedicated to identifying, locating, and resolving errors and warnings produced during the meshing, analysis, and design process. In previous versions of RAM Concept, errors and warnings were stored in the calculation log, which was simply a text file. Querying details on a specific error or warning could only be done by word searches within the calculation log.

The new graphical features could potentially save hours of design time per project locating and resolving warnings and errors.

The feature offers several key capabilities:

• All warnings and errors are displayed on screen in a sortable list immediately after the calculation process has completed.
• The plan on which the warning or error can be corrected is opened simply by double clicking on the warning item.
• Where applicable, the object requiring modification is selected automatically.
• The user can zoom to the specific location on plan where the warning occurs.

A wiki introducing this feature in detail is available at the following link:

http://communities.bentley.com/products/structural/structural_analysis___design/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/24127.warnings-and-errors-management-tool

Bentley CONNECT Integration

The CONNECT Edition is a new Bentley software generation offering a set of features and services that will better connect project team members within and across organizations and enable easier access to resources such as learning materials. This collective set of services is called Bentley Cloud Services. The portal to this can be accessed from the Bentley Cloud Services menu in the RAM Concept CONNECT Edition interface. The set of cloud-based services available in the first CONNECT Edition releases will represent just a fraction of what will become available over the coming months and years.

An introduction to your personal portal on Bentley Cloud Services is available at the following link:

http://communities.bentley.com/communities/other_communities/sign-in_assistance_and_web_services/w/wiki/23738.personal-portal

A comprehensive introduction to Bentley CONNECT is available at the following link:

http://bit.ly/CONNECT-Overview

Effective Depth Calculation Enhancement

There are situations in both post-tensioned and reinforced concrete slabs and beams where the traditional method of determining the effective depth of reinforcement results in an overly conservative shear strength and shear reinforcement spacing. Specifically, this can happen when calculating the effective depth using all tension reinforcement and where reinforcement in the compression half of the member goes into tension. One common example of this is near the ends of post-tensioned members where the CGS of strands is placed at the centroid of the concrete section. To overcome this limitation, RAM Concept now permits the user to choose between two methods of calculating the effective depth: the method just described, and a new method which maximizes the effective depth using a set of logical assumptions.

Post-Tension Licensing Restrictions

RAM Concept now has a means of disabling all post-tensioning features within the program. This ensures that use of only a RAM Concept license, and not use of a RAM Concept Post Tension Module license, is logged.

Error Corrections in RAM Concept CONNECT Edition

This release of RAM Concept contains minor error corrections discussed below.

AS 3600-2009 ductility design

In the ductility design according to the AS 3600-2009 standard, clause 8.1.5, it was determined that ku was incorrectly being used in lieu of kuo. The correction was made to use kuo for the limitation of neutral axis depth ratio in accordance with clause 8.1.5. kuo is limited to 0.36.

Selection of open shear reinforcement where closed shear reinforcement is required

In certain instances where the shear reinforcement density requirement was greatest within a region of "open" shear reinforcement, the detailing of this "open" reinforcement could have extended into regions of lower shear reinforcement density requirements without consideration of possible "closed" requirements within these regions. This has been corrected so that "closed" shear reinforcement is detailed in regions that require it.

Depth of pan joists imported from RAM Structural System

Pan joists defined in RAM Structural System were being imported into RAM Concept with the pan joist depth as the total beam depth. In RAM Structural System the pan joist depth represents the depth of the pan/web, excluding the slab thickness. This has been corrected such that the total beam depth imported into RAM Concept is the pan joist depth plus the flange thickness.

Incorrect SSR system reported on Reinforcement Layer when Ancon systems used

When Ancon systems were specified and designed, the correct SSR system would be displayed on the "Design Summary" layer. However, when the SSR objects were created on the "Reinforcement" layer, the default SSR system would be shown, as opposed to the Ancon system. This has been corrected so that the correct SSR system is also be shown on the "Reinforcement" layer.

CAD import

Several rare defects related to the import of dwg/dxf files were corrected.

Release Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Version: RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1
Version Number: 6.1.0 

Download Instructions:

Current and past RAM Concept releases can be downloaded from Bentley Cloud Services at:

http://connect.bentley.com

After signing in to the personal portal, select Software Downloads under My Support. Once on the Software Fulfillment page, RAM Concept installers can be located by performing a search on "RAM Concept", or by selecting Brand -> RAM. Note that although there are multiple listings for RAM Concept (RAM Concept, RAM Concept Post Tension Module, etc.), each of these takes the user to the same list of installers as all features of RAM Concept require only one installation.

Special Installation Instructions:

The installation of RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1 will automatically uninstall previous CONNECT Edition versions (releases 6.0.0 and 6.0.1). V8i releases (version 5.2 and earlier) will not be automatically uninstalled and can remain side-by-side with RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1. If using the RAM Concept integration with RAM Structural System, both products must be either the x86 or x64 version. For example, the use of RAM Concept x86 within RAM Structural System x64 is not supported.

Recommendations:

RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1 is recommended for all projects, except those that are nearing final design.

New Features in RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1:

In addition to minor error corrections and enhancements, RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1 has the new features discussed below.

Referencing of Tendons and Reinforcing to Slab Mid-Depth

The vertical elevations of tendon and reinforcing objects (including manual tendons, profile polylines, and reinforcing) can now be referenced to the mid-depth of the slab.

Delete Multiple Criteria Items at Once

It is now possible to select and delete multiple criteria items at once as opposed to deleting items one at a time. This includes entities under the Criteria menu such as materials, loadings, load combos, design rules, etc.

Ability to Import or Ignore Crack Factors from RAM Structural System

When importing a floor from RAM Structural System, the user now has two choices in setting the element stiffness factors in RAM Concept. The crack factors set in RAM Modeler can be imported into RAM Concept and used for all elements, or the RAM Modeler crack factors can be ignored, allowing all of the stiffness factors in RAM Concept to default to 1.0.

Add Node Functionality Added for Span Boundary Polyline and Column Strip Boundary Polylines

It is now possible to add nodes to and delete nodes from span boundary polylines and column strip boundary polylines.

Overlapping Profile Polylines with Differing Properties

A warning is now delivered when two or more profile polylines with differing properties intersect at a tendon location.

Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) version 5.0

RAM Concept is now compliant with version 5.0 of the ISM framework.

Error Corrections in RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1:

This release of RAM Concept contains numerous corrections to defects, many of which are small or occur very infrequently. For clarity, only the more significant fixes are discussed below.

Drawn Area Load Not Included

In a very rare condition, a surface load polygon could be excluded from the analysis. This defect resulted from a very specific and rare polygon geometry. Details on the defect can be found here.A visual indication as to whether this condition is present is given by the hatching within the surface load polygon. Specifically, the hatching is drawn within only a portion of the affected polygon.

Punching Shear Critical Sections Incorrect

A problem that prevented Concept from generating critical sections that include projections to slab edges that resulted in points outside the punch check has been corrected.

Wall Outlines

When walls had "Outline Only" set on the Element Layer, the outline was not drawn until “Calc All” was performed.

Program Hang if CONNECTION Client Stops Working

If CONNECTION Client stopped working but had not yet closed, RAM Concept would experience a hang.

Pre-Concept 6.1.0 File Compatibility Warning:

RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1 Release 6.1.0 can read all previous file formats, but writes files in a format that cannot be read by previous versions.

The spectrum data consists of pairs of values which are Period vs. Accn.  or Period vs. Displacement. The acceleration or displacement values that you obtain from the geological data for that site may have been provided to you as normalized values or un-normalized values. Normalization means that the values of acceleration or displacement have been divided by a  number (called normalization factor) which represents some reference value.  One of the commonly used normalization factors is 'g', the acceleration due  to gravity.

If the spectrum data you specify in STAAD is a normalized spectrum data,   you should provide the NORMALIZATION FACTOR as the SCALE FACTOR. If  your spectrum data is un-normalized, there is no need to provide a scale factor(Another way of putting it is that if you provide un-normalized spectrum values, the scale factor is 1, which happens to be the default value also.) Make sure that the value you provide for the SCALE FACTOR is in accordance with the length units you have specified. (A common error is that if the scale factor is 'g', users erroneously provide 32.2 when the length unit is in INCHES.)

STAAD will multiply the spectral acceleration or spectral displacement values by the scale factor. Hence, if you provide a normalized acceleration value of 0.5 and a scale factor of 386.4 inch/sq.sec., it has the same effect as providing an un-normalized acceleration value of   193.2 inch/sq.sec. and a scale factor of 1.0.

Problem Description

1. After installing RAM Connection v9.0, converted v8 stand-alone .cnx files originally designed using the AISC-05 ASD code are switched to AISC-05 LRFD without notice.

2. Changes to the design code in Ram Connection Stand-Alone do not affect existing joints in the file.

3. Changing the design code in one file affects the design code for future connections in existing files. In other words, the design code setting is per user, not per file.

4. Changes to the either the main Hot-rolled Steel design code or the Connection design code in Ram Elements do not affect the design code used for existing connections in the model.

Explanation

The connection templates associated with different codes are not interchangeable, so switching the design code could invalidate existing connections. Rather than break the existing connections in that way, it was decided to keep the original assigned code for each connection even when the assigned code is changed.

A change request has been logged to allow changes in the design code for the 4 US codes to retroactively alter existing connections, however. 

Steps to Resolve

Install Ram Connection 10.0 or later in order to change design codes for existing joints. Note, changing countries may still invalidate connections where there is not an equivalent connection type in both codes. 

In all three cases, the design code must be set to the desired code and then new connections assign to the joints. The following article shows where to set the codes: Ram Connection Codes

See Also

Structural Product TechNotes And FAQs

Users may start with Scenario Services in two ways;

1. By directly typing the Scenario Services URL, or

2. By first Logging in to CONNECT portal, selecting a project and then clicking on Scenario Services icon from the bottom of that page.

Scenario Services Landing page:

When the user directly types the Scenario Services URL, a “landing page” is shown. This page shows an overview of Bentley Scenario Services (Technology Preview) along with various features as well as featured applications such as STAAD.Pro, SACS Wind Turbine Analysis and AutoPipe Support Optimization.

The Overview section shows various information about Scenario Services in general and describes specific solution types. The topics in the right side of the Overview section have a rotating selector that changes selection every 15 seconds. As the selection changes, corresponding description shows up on the main panel. If the user clicks on one of the topics, the rotation stops allowing the user to read the topic description.

What’s New section shows the latest feature that has been added to Scenario Services in chronologically reverse order.

Clicking on More button on Featured Applications panel shall open up a window describing specific use of Scenario Services for these disciplines.

Clicking on the Close (X) icon at the top right of the detail panel closes the panel.

Users need to click on the Sign up for Technology Preview button for using the Scenario Services site. Clicking on this button redirects users to Bentley CONNECT portal page for logging in.

When User clicks on the button, Sign up for Technology Preview, a notification appears informing the user that he will be redirected to CONNECT site for logging in. The user then needs to select a project (or create one) and click on Scenario Services icon from the bottom of the page to return to Scenario Services.

As the user confirms redirection by clicking on the Continue button, the user is redirected to CONNECT portal site, which asks the user to sign in using Bentley credentials (IMS credentials).

Signing in and Selecting project in CONNECT portal:

After a successful login, user is redirected to the Personal Portal page. (Note that this is not a part of Scenario Services).

The user must select an existing CONNECT project or create a new CONNECT project. Once the project is selected, a tile appears at the bottom of the page (ProjectWise Scenario Services Technology Preview). User should click on this tile to return to Scenario Services.

Description of CONNECT Portal page or the process of creating a Project is not part of Scenario Services. However, relevant parts of these screens are shown below with brief description.

The following section describes how to select an existing project or create a new CONNECT project.

A set of projects the user have used in recent past will appear in the above list. User may select one of these projects by clicking on it or click on More to view other projects created under the same organization. Note that all users of an organization have access to the projects created under the organization but users cannot access projects across organizations.

To create a new project, user may click on Register a Project from the Projects page (shown above) or click on New from the Personal portal.

Once the Project is selected, ProjectWise Scenario Services (Technology Preview) panel should appear near the bottom of the screen.

From the Services List at the bottom of the image above, the user needs to click on the ProjectWise Scenario Services (Technology Preview) link to return to the Scenario Services Home Page.

Scenario Services Home Page:

The Home page of Scenario Services provides an overview about the site, details of Featured applications and a link for the Solution Dashboard page. Note that the content of the Home page is essentially the same as the Landing page, except that it shows a button to view the Solution Dashboard instead of Sign Up button.

Technology Preview only a limited set of Bentley users have access to the Scenario Services site. If an unauthorized user lands on this page and clicks on the Solution Dashboard button, a message will be shown on the Dashboard Recent tab saying;

Sorry, you are not authorized to use this service. To request access, please contact support@bentley.com and ask your request to be forwarded to Bentley Scenario Services team.

Scenario Service User Settings:

When a user clicks on the User Settings icon, the User Settings for Scenario Services appears with the following information;

• Engineering Convention: Default Engineering convention to be while creating a Solution.

• Communication language: Language in which the pages will be displayed. Note that irrespective of User’s own language setting, Scenario Services will only display the languages currently available. The user needs to select from one of these languages. EN (English) is default language for all users.

• PWSS Role: Role of the User in Scenario Services. This is reserved for later use when Administrative user will be able to perform certain functions which will not be available for regular users.

User can click on the Edit Settings icon  to change the Engineering Convention and Communication Language dropdowns.

After saving the profile user must click Home to return to Scenario Services Home page.

Scenario Services Solution Dashboard (Recent Solution Tab):

The Solution Dashboard page is shown below. This page contains three tabs, of which the Recent solution tab is shown by default.

The dashboard displays last six solutions used by the user as well as a all solutions “pinned” by the user with following details:

• Name of the solution.

• Type of the solution (e.g. Optioneering, QA, or Optimization) denoted by icon

• Percentage completion of an active solution using a Pie chart. The Pie shows Completed scenarios in Green, Pending scenarios in white, Processing scenarios in blue, Failed scenarios in Red and Cancelled scenarios in Orange. User can view the number of scenarios with their state on mouse hover upon the pie chart.

• Number of scenarios being processed

• Number of scenarios completed

• Number of scenarios failed

• Total number of scenarios associated with the solution

• Number of Users who have access to this solution

• Number of Notifications received

By clicking on any solution, user can navigate to the solution details page.

If the user adds a scenario or otherwise alter configuration of a job or task, performs a design or creates an output, the corresponding solution is considered “Recent” for that user.

• Other functionalities on the Solution page:

• "Create new solution": This button allows user to create a new solution.

Pinned solutions: Users may designate any Solution as “Pinned”. There is no restriction on the number of Pinned Solutions. These solutions also appear on the first page along with the most recent solutions (max 6) accessed by the user. Solutions can also be unpinned from the panel as required.

Active Solution Tab:

Active tab displays Solutions that are Active for the for the user’s organization. The list contains solutions under the current project as well as other projects. User may select the check box “Only show solutions under currently selected project” to filter the list to solutions under the current project.

When no recent solution exists for a project, a message displays asking the user to create a new solution.

Initially the first 100 solutions are displayed. As the user scrolls down more solutions are dynamically added to the display (100 solutions at a time).

Active Solution table displays the following details:

• Name of the active solution. User may click on the name to view Scenario dashboard containing details of this solution.

• Description of the solution.

• Connect Project Name.

• Name of the user who last modified the solution. If not modified, shows the username who created it.

• Date and time of last modification. If not modified, it shows the time it was created. Note that the date and time are displayed according to the time zone specified in users’ CONNECT profile. Internally the date and time are stored in GMT.

• Solution Type

• Template selected.

 Archived solution tab:

This tab is used to display all archived solutions for the selected CONNECTed Project. User can navigate to this page by clicking on the Archived tab in Home page.

• Archived Solutions tab displays the same columns as in Active Solutions tab.

• Any Archived solution can be selected from the list and moved to Active list by clicking on “Restore solution” icon. Note that only one archived solution can be activated at a time. If no archived Solution is checked or more than one archived Solution is checked, the following message appears: Please select only one solution.

Creating a Solution:

Creating a Solution is the starting point of performing any cloud-based computation in Scenario Services. Currently Scenario Services only offers Optioneering Solution, which allows users to manually optimize an engineering design by running a set of alternatives or Scenarios and comparing them using a set of performance indicators.

QA Solution and Optimization Solution have been conceived but not fully designed as of Dec 2015. Therefore, discussions on these are left out for now. Note that there may be many more types of Solutions available in future.

Solutions are always created under the currently selected CONNECT project.

Users need navigate through a succession of pages for creating a Solution. At any point user may click on previous button to go back to the previous page.

Define Solution:

CONNECT Project: Shows the following information about current CONNECTed Project:

Project ID, Description, Project Number, Last Modification Date, Location, Longitude. Note that these information simply comes from CONNECT profile and the user may not change anything here.

Solution: Users need to specify the following to create a Solution.

• Solution Name, unique for a project. (Limit: 128 characters)
• Solution Description: Optional description of the solution. (Limit: 512 characters)

Engineering Convention: Available conventions such as Structural-US, Structural-Metric etc. Default is taken from the Engineering Convention stored in the User settings.

Solution Type: Select Solution type. At this point (Dec 2015) only Optioneering Solutions are available.

If the user enters a Solution name that already exists in the project, or enters a name or description that is too large, the offending edit box is highlighted in red border and the user is not allowed to proceed without fixing the error. Hovering over the erroneous edit box shows the error message.

Select Engineering Discipline:

Engineering Discipline refers to a specific type of Engineering analysis and/or design. The users will typically deal with a single Engineering Discipline – such as Structural, Offshore, Energy, etc. However, it is possible to run and optimize models across multiple Engineering Disciplines – such as a large building that needs to be optimized for Structural, Energy and Acoustics.

User may not proceed without selecting the Engineering Discipline. An error is displayed if no Engineering Discipline is selected.

Select App Version and template:

users need to first select Application and Version. Then click  button to search available Templates. Once the Template is selected, list of available Template Versions appears and the user must select one of these to proceed to the next stage.

Note that after selecting an Application Version and perhaps a Solution Template if the user goes back and selects another Application Version, Search Template button must be pressed again to find Templates containing the selected version of the Application.

Select Cluster type:

User must select the default cluster type to run Scenarios. Typically, if a Solution has, say 30 Scenarios, a Medium cluster (with 32 nodes) should be selected and all the Scenarios should be run in parallel.

Select Indicators and Files:

Optioneering Solutions are mainly used to compare performance of various Scenarios. The comparison is done using pre-defined Performance Indicators. Users need to select the Performance Indicators that will be used to compare Scenarios.

Performance Indicators: Performance Indicators are used to evaluate the overall performance of an engineering model. For example, in a tall building, the Story deflection will be one Indicator. The engineer will try to minimize the story deflection. Utilization Index may be another Indicator. The engineer will try to maximize the utilization of material used. A group of such Indicators need to be evaluated to arrive at the most optimal design. User may use Select All to select all the indicators in one shot.

Detailed Input/Output Data: Detailed Data harvested from application outputs, typically used in QA solutions to compare results between two application versions. These have no use for Optioneering solution for now.

App Output Files: Users should specify the output files produced by the application that need to be stored and downloaded later on demand.

If the user does not select any Performance Indicator and/or App Output File, relevant warning or error messages are shown. Note that user must select at least one Performance Indicator or one App Output File to create the Solution. (Otherwise there is no point running the Scenario as no result will be available for use.)

Scenario Services is a cloud based service that allows engineers to run engineering design simulations on the cloud. There are three types of use cases, representing a specific Solution Type in Scenario Services:

• Optioneering Solutions involve designing multiple options (or Scenarios) of the same engineering model (such as a designing a specific bridge) and manually comparing performance of these scenarios to attain the best design. Scenario Services offers tools for comparing the performance of multiple scenarios.

• QA Solutions are used to compare results produced by two versions of a software. The same set of models are run on both versions and differences in design results are highlighted when the difference exceed a pre-set threshold.

• Optimization Solutions (not offered in first version of Scenario Services) involve automatic parametric generation of different scenarios by varying a set of “decision variables” to attain one or more “objectives”.

Definitions and concepts

• CONNECTed Project is a project created by an Organization administrator or Project administrator using Bentley CONNECT portal or desktop interface. Note that Scenario Services does not offer ability to create or manage CONNECTed projects. However, a Scenario Services Solution must be associated with a CONNECTed project. A CONNECTed project is not limited to Scenario Services, but can contain other services such as PW Transmittal service, Project Sharing service, Content Services and so on.

• Solution refers to a specific problem the user is trying to solve, such as designing a hospital building, or designing a stadium with curved roof. There may be three types of Solutions: Optioneering, QA, Optimization.

• Scenario represents a specific configuration or option of an engineering model, which will be compared with other configurations. For example, a plant building model with less number of bays but more bay width can represent one scenario; and another model with more bays but less bay width can represent another scenario. A scenario is “run” using a specified type of Cluster on the cloud. We shall use the term “job” and “scenario” interchangeably in this document. 

• Cluster refers to a group of virtual machines on the cloud together performing a specific set of tasks – such that the whole cluster behaves as a single machine, providing increased redundancy and reliability. In Scenario Services, machines in a cluster have the same hardware and OS configuration. Scenario Services mainly uses two types of clusters: Default Cluster, Dedicated Clusters.

• Solution Template, Discipline, Application and Version: Solution Templates determine the exact computational workflow to be used to run a Design Simulation job. In other words, Templates tell Scenario Services which specific executables need to be run and in what sequence. Template also determines the type and number of Inputs needed to run these executables and outputs that are produced by these executables. Note that output of an executable can be taken as Input for the next executable.

• Storing Results: Scenario Services must “prepare” data so these are readily (and persistently) available for comparison, visualization or downloading. SPS runs engineering analysis and design tasks on the cloud using Virtual Machines (or Nodes). These Nodes are transient in nature, i.e. these are taken down after a specific job is done. Therefore, results produced by the application must be moved to a permanent storage from where user can access it later.

• Currently Scenario Services uses two strategies to store results. The results, which need to be compared or visualized, are stored in Azure tables, formatted in a way that is optimized for quick retrieval and display. The raw output files produced by the application are stored as-is on Azure Blob allowing the users to download these files later on demand.

• Users must specify which comparison results and which output files will be needed in future. All other data are lost once the Scenario run is completed.

• Performance Indicators: Performance Indicators are used to evaluate the overall performance of an engineering model. For example, in a tall building, the Story deflection will be one Indicator. The engineer will try to minimize the story deflection. Utilization Index, which denotes how effectively material is used in a model, may be another Indicator. The engineer will try to maximize the Utilization Index. User needs to evaluate a group of such Indicators needs to arrive at the most optimal design.
  
  Note that Performance Indicators are retrieved from the results produced by the application and stored in tables for easy retrieval. Sometimes a bit of data mining is needed to produce an indicator. For example, in a structural model, to get the number and length of all W12x26 beams, individual beam number and lengths need to be added up. This type of data mining or post-processing is done by the “wrapper” application for the specific discipline and forms an integral part of a Scenario run. Scenario Services does not perform any type of data mining at this point.

• Detailed Input/Output Data: Detailed Data harvested from application outputs, typically used in QA solutions to compare results between two application versions. 
  Example for a structural model will be nodal deflections for specific load combinations. This result set may store Node number, Nodal coordinates, load combination number and deflections for three axial directions.

• App Output Files: These are the result files produced by the application(s) and stored as-is in Blob storage so these can be retrieved later on demand. For example, STAAD.Pro produces .anl file, which contains the basic analysis steps and some output tables, .bmd file contains the bending moment values of members. User may download these files for post processing using desktop version of STAAD.Pro.

Scenarios page:

Scenario page displays the scenarios under the current Solution. There are two tabs in this page – Scenarios and Files. Files tab allows the user to download files created as a result of running Scenarios on the cloud. All other functionalities such as creation of a scenario, running a scenario, comparing selected scenarios etc. are offered under the Scenarios tab. We shall also refer to this tab as Scenario List.

Users are directed to Scenarios page when they click on a Solution from the Recent Solution dashboard or from the Active Solution list.

The users see a blank Scenarios page when a Solution has just been created but no scenario has been added.

For existing Solutions which already have one or more Scenarios added, the dashboard shows the list of Scenarios with checkbox for selection. By clicking on any of them, user can view the detail Result page for that Scenario.

Scenario tab functionalities:

Following functionalities are offered in Scenarios tab. These functionalities are described in details in subsequent sections as noted.

• Pin Solution : The current Solution can be pinned from this page by clicking on the Click to Pin icon. Note that this icon is not used to pin a Scenario and hence there is no effect of pinning on Scenario list.

• Create New Scenario: Allows user to create new Scenario(s).

  View Summary Result: Displays selected single –value Performance Indicators for all scenarios that have been completed in this solution.

• Compare scenarios: Compare relative performances of two or more scenarios using Performance Indicators selected while creating this Solution.

• Run: Execute (or run) selected Scenarios.

• Stop execution: Stop execution of a running scenario.

• Delete Scenario: Delete a scenario.

• Search: Search scenarios by entering partial Scenario names

Using Column headers: Sort, filter and show/hide columns of the Scenario List.

The Scenario List:

Scenario List shows scenarios in the current Solution along with some basic information and the status of each Scenario. Status is refreshed every few seconds and a counter shows the seconds remaining for the next refresh. The Status message can be one of the following:

• Pending – Scenario was not executed

• Queued – Scenario execution was requested but it has not been taken up. Typically a Scenario will be stuck in this stage if a new cluster is being provisioned or the current cluster is overloaded.

• Processing – Scenario is currently running

• Successful – Scenario has been successfully executed

• Failed – Scenario run has failed.

• Cancelled – Scenario has been cancelled at user’s request

• Cancelling – A Stop scenario request has been sent but the scenario has not been cancelled yet. 

Run Scenario:

User can select to Run or Execute Scenarios by clicking on the  “Run” scenario icon. If no Scenario is selected, or the Scenario is Queued or Processing, error messages are displayed.

User needs to select a Cluster to run the Scenario. The choices are the same as explained under Create New Scenarios section.

Stop Scenario:

Users can stop a running or queued Scenario by clicking on the Stop icon . If any other type of scenario is selected and Stop icon is pressed, an error message will appear: Can not stop a scenario which is not in progress.

Delete Scenario:

Existing Scenarios can be permanently deleted by selecting the Scenarios and clicking on the Delete icon . Only one Scenario may be deleted at a time. If more than one Scenario is selected for deletion, the following error is shown: Please select only one Scenario

If not Scenario is selected, an error message is displayed as well.

User must confirm that this Scenario needs to be deleted, as there is no way to retrieve the Scenario after it is deleted. A Warning message is shown.

The user may Cancel the deletion at this point or click Continue to delete the selected Scenario.

Search Scenarios:

Scenarios may be searched by partial name (Contains) as shown:

Use Column headers to Sort, Filter and Hide/Unhide:

In any data table in Scenario Services Web UI, context menu in the column headers may be used to sort, filter, or show/hide columns. While Sort Ascending, Sort Descending and Filter options work on the specific column. Columns menu can be used to show or hide columns in the current table.

User can click on the  button to create a new scenario under the selected Solution.

User must specify a Scenario Name that is unique for this Solution. For each Scenario, user must upload necessary files to cloud storage and provide other (textual) inputs. The Solution Template determines which type of files or inputs are needed to run this specific type of problem. Note that files can also be selected from existing storage on the cloud.

If the user enters a Scenario name that already exists for this Solution, an error is generated.

Error messages are also generated if the user enters a value more than the allowable limit of Scenario Name or Scenario Description.

The Upload section is used for uploading files from user’s local machine to cloud storage or for selecting files already existing on cloud storage. Note that in either case, a separate copy of the file is created for this specific scenario.

While uploading files from the local machine, a progress bar is displayed until the file uploading is complete. After successful upload, the file name shows up in the Browse for files area.

User must specify or upload the mandatory files needed to run a Scenario. Otherwise, an error appears showing that the Scenario cannot be created.

Before creating the scenario, the user can choose to delete the uploaded file by clicking on the delete icon on the right side of the uploaded file name. The icon shows up when the user hovers over the file name edit box. After confirming for file deletion, user should select another file to be used for this Scenario.

User may run the scenario immediately on submission by clicking on Run Scenario on Submission check box.

User must select the type of cluster to run this Scenario. Default Clusters are readily available, small sized clusters but these are shared by every user of Scenario Services. Small, Medium and Large clusters are dedicated for this specific job – but these take time to be provisioned. If the user does not select a cluster to run the Scenario immediately, it will show up with a Pending status in the Scenario List.

After successful creation of a new Scenario, it will show up on the Scenario List.

Edit Scenario:

Users may edit Scenario name or file(s). In the Scenario List page, select the Scenario to be edited and click on Edit Scenario icon from top.

Editing a Scenario causes all the files produced by the previous scenario to be deleted. Effectively, the old scenario gets deleted and new one is created. No result from the precious scenario is retained.

User may decide to run the edited Scenario as soon as it is created, or run it later from the Scenario list page.

View Summary Result:

Summary Result page display the overall performance of the Scenarios in a Solution using a set of “single-value” Performance Indicators. Single-value Performance Indicators are those, which have only one value per Scenario, and can be treated as representative of overall performance of the Scenario. For example, the Overall Utilization Index, the Maximum Deflection, or Total Member Weight, Max Deflection, Max Base Reaction force and Moment - are all single-value Indicators for a Structural Scenario. Indicators shown in the Summary result page are dependent on the Solution Template.

Users can view the summary result page by clicking on the View summary result button .

Note that selection of specific Scenarios in the Scenario List has no bearing on the Summary Result output. Also, only the Completed Scenarios are included in the Summary Result. If some Scenarios are in in Pending or Queued or Processing states, these will not be included in the Summary Result.

User may click on legends to turn on/off specific charts.

Users may click on the context menu icon on the graph to download the graph as an image. Clicking on Export to Excel allows users to download the tabular data in Excel. These are explained in details in View Detail Scenario Data section.

Compare Scenarios :

Performance of Scenarios can be compared using Performance Indicators. Users may select multiple Scenarios and click on Compare Scenarios icon . Note that at least two Scenarios must be selected for comparison, otherwise an error message appears as shown below:

Comparison page shows single-value indicators by default.

User may change the selected Scenarios or the Indicators being displayed by clicking on the

Note that different Performance Indicators are displayed in different ways as shown below. The style and type of outputs for displaying the Performance Indicators are determined by the Subject Matter Experts.

Clicking on Detail Data link for a Scenario for an Indicator shows Indicator data for this specific Scenario in a pop-up window. Clicking on the Detail Data – All Scenarios link for an Indicator shows comparison data for all Scenarios for that indicator both in graphical and tabular format. These are explained in details in the next sub-section.

Some charts have an option of selecting chart types. Once the chart type is set, both individual Scenarios and All Scenario views show the selected type of chart,

 View Detail Scenario Comparison Data:

Clicking on Detail Data for a specific Scenario and a specific indicator shows the chart and tabular data for that Scenario and indicator. An example is shown below:

Clicking on Legends (DispZ, DispZ etc) will hide/show the specific indicators. The display will auto-scale.

Clicking on Zoom-in and Zoom-out icons enlarge or contract the Detail windows. This is because these windows cannot be stretched using conventional window handles. The maximum zoom level will be 90% of the current browser window size.

The context menu on the top right can be used to print the graph or to download the graphs as different image formats, or as pdf.

Clicking on Export to Excel button on the tabular data allows the user to download the data as Excel file.

Note that all detail result screens have the same functionalities. Only the data and type of graph/chart will vary.

Clicking on the Detail Data – All Scenarios link from the Indicator column displays similar graph but with all selected Scenarios.

Files:

Files tab shows all files uploaded by the users for various scenarios as well as the output files created by the application. Note that only the output files selected by the user while creating the Solution will be available. File sizes are shown in Bytes / KB / MB / GB depending on how large the file is.

Users can select and download different files uploaded for any scenario of a solution from “Files” tab and clicking on the Download files        icon. Files are always downloaded as Zip (even if only one file is selected).

Files can be sorted / filtered using the context menu located on the column header. Click on down arrow key to access the context menu.

Multiple Files can be selected for download from this tab. Returns error message if no Files are checked.

The downloaded files are arranged in folders and files inside the zip archive. Each Scenario constitutes a folder and the files belonging to a scenario appears under that folder.

Individual Scenario Details:

Users may click on a Scenario in the Scenario List page to view all indicators produced for that scenario in one page.

Clicking on Detail Data link shows the same chart(s) with tables as described under Detailed Scenario Comparison Data.

Answer: We have introduced beam design for flexure at any location along the length of the beam other than 13 predefined locations for IS456-2000 code. This is through a new concrete design parameter which will indicate whether to perform the required operation or not. The design follows the same logic as that followed to design other sections for flexure along the length of the beam.

In general, we use SFACE and EFACE parameters to tell the program the distance from that start and end at which shear check will be performed. If we use MFACE 1 parameter, the program will use the distances provided in SFACE and EFACE for design in flexure. Once these three parameters are defined and assigned to the members following input should be written in the following format.

SFACE <section distance from start node> MEMB <list>

EFACE <section distance from end node> MEMB <list>

MFACE 1 MEMB <list>

I am analyzing a mat using PLATE MAT support and getting a warning
 " **WARNING, 1 or more joints are in multiple SUPPORT commands ...". What does the warning mean ?

For models with large number of plates, the software automatically splits the PLATE MAT commands into multiple commands such that for each command, the list of plates is less than a certain number. Even if you have assigned the PLATE MAT through a single command that software may split the command as it can only support upto a certain number of entities in one list. This is not a problem but can lead to the warning in question, as explained next.

The software calculates the spring stiffness at each node in the plate mat by multilying the subgrade modulus by the influence area for the node. Each plate connected to the node contributes to this influence area calculation. If these plates are part of separate PLATE MAT commands due to the reason mentioned above, a single node may get multiple spring support assignments from multiple PLATE MAT support commands. This is not a problem as all the spring stiffness at the node would eventually be added to produce the correct spring stiffness at the node. However the software would issue a warning trying to make the user aware that some nodes are getting supports assigned thorugh multiple support commands. In situations like these, the warning may be safely ingnored.

For some other types of support assignment, there may actually be duplicate support assignments at a particular node due to oversight, which can also lead to the same warning. For example sometimes the user may inadvertertently assign two different types of support ( say PINNED and FIXED ) at the same node. In such cases it may be worth checking and fixing such modeling mistakes.

RAM Concept

Latest Major Version

• • RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 1 Release Notes (06.01.00.05)
  • RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Release Notes (06.00.01.06)
  • RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Release Notes (06.00.00.30)

Previous versions

• RAM Concept 3.1 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 3.1.1 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 3.2 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 3.3 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 3.4 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 4.0.1 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 4.1 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 4.1.1 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 4.1.2 Release Notes
• RAM Concept 4.1.3 Release Notes
• [[RAM Concept 5.0.1 Release Notes]]
• [[RAM Concept 5.0.2 Release Notes]]
• [[RAM Concept 5.1.0 Release Notes]]
• [[RAM Concept 5.1.1 Release Notes]]
• RAM Concept 5.2 Release Notes

External Links

Structural Analysis and Design Products

General purpose structural analysis and design

Microstran is a powerful general purpose structural analysis package with built-in steel member and connection design. Microstran features nonlinear and buckling analysis, integrated steel connection design, and export to a number of other engineering formats.

Visit the Microstran product page for additional information on this product.

Microstran is ISM Enabled.

• [[Microstran Images]]
• [[Microstran Awards and Certifications]]

Learn

View Microstran learning paths on Bentley's LEARNserver.

Video

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Download

You can download the latest version of Microstran from Bentley's Fullfilment Center.

Microstran is available under a Structural Enterprise License. Learn more.

Support

Visit [[Microstran Support Solutions]]

Key Features

• Master-Slave Constraints
• Elastic Critical Load Analysis
• Response Spectrum Analysis
• Caternary Cable Element
• Dynamic Analysis
• Gap & Fuse Members
• Moving Load Generator
• Steel Design
• Steel Connection Design
• Geodesic Domes
• Rigid offsets
• Export to CAD format

Related

[[STAAD.Pro]], [[STAAD(X)]], [[RAM Elements]]

Specialty software for steel tower design

MStower is special purpose software for the analysis and design of steel transmission and communication towers to a range of international standards. A comprehensive library of panel types and ancillary equipment allow quick creation of the structure.

Visit the MStower product page for additional information on this product.

[[MStower Images]]

[[MStower Key Features]]

Learn

View MStower learning paths on Benltey's LEARNserver.

Video

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Download

You can download the latest version of STAAD Foundation Advanced from Bentley's Fullfilment Center.

STAAD Foundation Advanced is available under a Structural Enterprise License. Learn more.

Support

Visit [[MStower Support Solutions]]

Related

[[STAAD(X) Tower]]

• Used by authorities for the checking of transmission line structures and communications towers and masts
• Generate geometry from commonly used panels
• Wind and ice loads on members, antennas, and ancillaries are computed automatically
• Application of gust factors
• Analysis results and member check results may be displayed graphically and reports printed
• Output to CAD format directly from analysis
• Non-linear analysis is used for masts and catenary cable element is used for guys
• Loading may be computed in accordance with:
  • BS 8100 Part 1 1986
  • BS 8100 Part 4 1995
  • AS 3995-1994
  • AS/NZS 1170.2:2002
  • Malaysian Electricity Supply Regulations 1990
  • EIA/TIA-222-F-1996
  • TIA-222-G-2005
  • Institution of Lighting Engineers Technical Report No. 7 – High Masts for Lighting and CCTV– 2000 Edition.
  • IS 875 (Part 3):1987
  • BNBC 93 – Bangladesh National Building Code
  • ANSI/ASCE 7-95
  • NSCP C101-01 – Philippines National Building Code
• Member capacities may be checked against the requirements of:
  • BS 8100 Part 3
  • BS 449
  • AS 3995-1994
  • ASCE 10-90, ASCE 10-97
  • EIA/TIA-222-F-1996
  • TIA-222-G-2005.
  • Institution of Lighting Engineers Technical Report No. 7 – High Masts for Lighting and CCTV– 2000 Edition.
  • BS 5950-1:2000 (for tubular poles)
  • IS 802 (Part 1 / Sec. 2):1992

Structural analysis and design of slabs

RAM Concept is a software application for the structural analysis and design of conventionally reinforced and post-tensioned concrete floors, mats, and rafts. RAM Concept contains an advanced feature set that allows for the design of a wide variety of floor systems including post-tensioned, reinforced concrete and hybrid systems, elevated slabs and mat/raft foundations, one-way slabs, two-way slabs, beams, and joist systems.

Historically, the vast majority of concrete floors have been analyzed by approximating a region of a slab as a frame (or design strip), and then analyzing the frame/strip using variations of conventional frame or moment distribution analysis techniques. There are two limitations to this approach. First, in irregular structures, the approximation of the real structure into a frame model could be grossly inaccurate and designing with the analysis results might not even satisfy equilibrium requirements in the real structure. The second limitation is that even in regular structures with regular loadings, the frame analysis approximates the slab/column interaction and provides no information regarding the distribution of forces across the design strip.

RAM Concept enables the engineer to design post-tensioned and reinforced concrete slabs by using a finite element model of the entire slab. RAM Concept can predict the elastic behavior of a slab much more accurately than frame models. In addition, the finite element method guarantees that the analysis satisfies all equilibrium.

Vist the RAM Concept product Page for additional information on this product.

 RAM Concept is CONNECTED. Why CONNECT?

 RAM Concept is ISM Enabled.

[[RAM Concept Key Features]]

[[RAM Concept Case Studies]]

[[RAM Concept Images]]

Learn

Visit RAM Concept learning paths on Bentley's LEARNserver.

[[RAM Concept Videos]]

Download

You can download the latest version of RAM Concept from Bentley's Fullfilment Center.

RAM Concept is available under a Structural Enterprise License. Learn more.

Support

Visit [[RAM Concept Support Solutions]]

Related

[[RAM Structural System]], [[STAAD Foundation Advanced]]

Design Software for Communication Towers

STAAD(X) Tower performs comprehensive design and analysis of various types of communication structures such as tapered monopoles, stepped poles, 3-legged or 4-legged self-supporting and guyed towers. STAAD(X) Tower helps engineers to generate the physical model using parametric setup wizards and categorizes the panels/sections, legs, horizontals, and bracing members with orientations without manual intervention. The structure can easily be edited to achieve the desired shape and configuration.

Vist the STAAD(X) Tower Product Page for additional information on this product.

STAAD(X) Tower is CONNECTED. Why CONNECT?

STAAD(X) Tower is ISM Enabled.

LEARN

View STAAD(X) Tower learning paths on Bentley's LEARNserver.

Download

You can download the latest version of STAAD(X) Tower from Bentley's Fulfillment Center.

STAAD(X) Tower is available under a Structural Enterprise License. Learn more.

Support

Visit [[STAAD(X) Tower TechNotes and FAQs]]

Related

Browse related content tagged: STAAD(X) Tower

[[STAAD(X)]], [[STAAD.Pro]], [[MStower]]

RAM Concept Tech Snippet: Working with Reinforcing

(Please visit the site to view this video)

RAM Concept Tech Snippet: Tendon Tools

(Please visit the site to view this video)

RAM Concept and RAM Concrete Updates (2013)

(Please visit the site to view this video)

RAM Concept Tech Snippet: Column Strip Option

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Building a Multi-Story Analysis and Design Model from RAM Concept

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Integration Between Ram Structural System and RAM Concept

(Please visit the site to view this video)