Software for the Analysis and Design of structural cross sections

Arbitrary cross section analysis and reinforcement design under biaxial bending

Biaxial analysis, Moment Curvature and Interaction Diagrams, Reinforcement Design

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Cross Section Analysis & Design is a powerful application that can perform a wide range of cross section calculations, including the design of reinforced concrete sections (rebar calculator). The given cross sections are built up of one or more geometric entities and can be drawn directly using the versatile featured user interface. The user can also import standard steel sections from a complete shape library according to all major codes (AISC, Australian-New Zealand, BS, Chinese, European, Indian, Aluminum etc.)

There are no limitations regarding the shape, materials or loads of a section, since the program can handle any arbitrary cross section under biaxial bending and axial loads. Among its capabilities, Cross Section Analysis & Design can calculate all sectional properties, plot Moment – Curvature and Interaction diagrams, estimate the location of neutral axis under given sets of biaxial loads and plot the corresponding stress – strain diagrams as well as the resulting stress contours. The last-named items can also be calculated by providing the location of the neutral axis plane on the section.

Moreover, the program fully complies with these codes concerning reinforced concrete sections: AASHTO, UBC, AS 3600, IS 456, ACI 318, BS 8110, CSA A233, EC2, NZS 3101, CP 65.

The user can also perform a reinforcement design according to above listed codes, plot the matching interaction diagrams etc., or even check a given reinforcement pattern for the specified load cases.

The stress – strain curves of concrete, reinforcement and other materials are specified as per the defined Analysis Parameters Sets. Thus calculations can be performed for many design situations, such as Ultimate/Serviceability or custom defined Limit States, with an automatic adjustment of the material properties, safety factors etc.

A large material library is also available according to almost all concrete/reinforcement material specifications. Apart from concrete and reinforcement materials, the user can specify custom linear, bilinear, trilinear parabolic or fully general materials.

Analysis features

• Section properties calculations (with regard to a user defined base material or the geometric properties of the section) including inertia data, elastic and plastic elasticity moduli, etc.
• Calculation and plotting of the Moment vs. Curvature diagram for bending about a predefined axis. Accordingly, a Force vs. Axial strain diagram can be created.
• Calculation of the equivalent bilinear Moment vs. Curvature graph with predefined or no hardening, as well as reporting of yield/ultimate curvatures and moments.
• Estimation of the neutral axis, strain distribution and plotting of stress contour under given sets of biaxial applied forces. Reporting of reinforcement forces (if any) and the maximum/minimum stress locations for each material in the section.
• Estimation of the biaxial applied forces under a given neutral axis (location, orientation and curvature). As in previous case, the strain distribution and a stress contour are plotted. Moreover, the reinforcement forces (if any) are reported and the maximum/minimum stress locations for each material in the section are computed.
• Advanced Interaction Diagram Analysis. The failure surface is calculated and plotted in one of the following coordinate systems, as per user defined parameters: Moment about predefined axis vs. Axial force or Moment about first axis vs. Moment about second axis. The user can specify different values for reinforcement ratios (if rebars have been provided) or axial force values, so that a multiple graphs can be plotted in one graph. This analysis type is generic and can be used to excerpt the interaction diagram of any generic section under of any material, shape etc. Apart from this, the use of Advanced Interaction Analysis is not recommended for reinforced concrete cross sections, where the following option is more appropriate.
• Interaction diagram as per specified Reinforced Concrete Code. The program computes the interaction diagram as explained before, but applies all relative regulation checks, stress distributions, safety factors etc., according to the provided code (AASHTO, UBC, AS 3600, IS 456, ACI 318, BS 8110, CSA A233, EC2, NZS 3101 and CP 65).
• Reinforcement Design. The provided reinforcement is designed, so that the required rebar diameters are chosen from the existing reinforcement rebars defined in the project. This procedure takes place in accordance to the provided regulation (AASHTO, UBC, AS 3600, IS 456, ACI 318, BS 8110, CSA A233, EC2, NZS 3101 and CP 65).
• Reinforcement Check. The given reinforcement pattern is checked and a capacity ratio of the cross section is reported. Reinforcement check and design features make this application a unique rebar calculator as well.

Pre-processing features

• All major systems of units are supported (Metric, US, User defined)
• Top quality graphics rendering
• Full GUI including zoom, pan, grid, snap options
• Every user action can be done graphically at real time
• Library with all major steel section shapes
• Library with all major concrete and reinforcement grades, as well as other materials such as cold formed/hot rolled steel, timber etc.
• Use of linear, bilinear, trilinear and parabolic materials
• Definition of custom materials by providing a relevant stress strain curve
• Definition and use of Analysis Parameters sets. In order to simulate different limit states for the analysis/design of the cross section, the user can use the existing sets ULS (Ultimate Limit State) or SLS (Serviceability Limit State), override them or add more sets of Analysis Parameters. Each set defines the concrete stress distribution at compressive or tensile zones, the safety factors (partial or resistance) to be used and all preferences regarding the steel reinforcement behavior in the calculations. Apart from these, the user can define his preferences for the remaining non steel/reinforcement materials (if any) in the section. Each load case is assigned with an Analysis Parameters set, so that the appropriate considerations are considered in the analysis/design.
• Automatic calculation of the minimum and maximum reinforcement ratio for a given cross section as per the specified Reinforced Concrete regulation. These values are considered for Reinforcement Design.

Post-processing features

• Comprehensive and versatile reporting of the results
• Automatic creation of high-quality, editable calculation report that can be exported to Word (doc), Excel (xls) and Adobe PDF (pdf) formats. Diagrams, plots and color contours are included in the report
• Creation of fully customizable graphs (Moment vs. Curvature, Interaction etc.) as well as stress contours and strain distribution
• Reporting of neutral axis information, reinforcement forces and material stress information
• Rebar calculation results (an existing rebar pattern is checked, or needed rebars are calculated and placed automatically) for the provided Limit States (ULS, SLS and other states defined by the user)

Screenshots

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