ProtaStructure 2016

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Welcome to ProtaStructure Help

ProtaStructure is a dedicated analysis, design and drafting solution for reinforced concrete building

structures. Detailed calculations, material quantities, structural layout plans, beam and slab elevations and column schedules are all produced automatically from one central model.

Main Topics

 Introduction

 Project Management

 Settings and Parameters

 Import and Export

 Graphic Editor Basics

 Structural Modelling

 Building Parameters, Loading and Materials

 Building Analysis

 Analysis and Design of Slabs

 FE Analysis of Floors

 FE Analysis of Foundations

 Column and Wall Design

 Beam Section Design

 Foundation Modelling and Design

 Reports and Quantity Extraction  Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

ProtaStructure is a structural analysis, design and drafting program developed for the design of

building systems. The program consists of several modules for performing the following tasks:  3-D Analysis of the structural model of the building

 Column, Wall and Beam Reinforcement Design  Column, Wall and Beam Detailing

 Foundation Design

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 Concrete and Formwork Quantity Extractions

The analysis module has been specifically developed to model building type structures. The integrated Graphic Editor accelerates the model creation process, minimising possible user errors and thus yields a more reliable design.

ProtaStructure covers the general characteristics of a building system which can be summarised as follows:

 Building geometry generally consists of horizontal (or inclined) beams and vertical (or battered) columns.

 Most of the beams and columns in the model have similar section properties. Therefore, they can be grouped into different types and size of the data input files can be shrunk significantly. It is possible to model all type of column sections (with or without holes).

 Slabs with relatively higher in-plane stiffnesses, are utilised to form separate or complete rigid diaphragms at the same floor level.

 Vertical loads (dead and imposed loadings) and floor level horizontal loads (wind and earthquake or notional horizontal loads) act to the model. For special cases, individual columns or walls may be exposed to nodal loading (force and moment) in all directions. Besides these, direction dependent dead and live loads is accounted for in the usual building systems.

 Member sizes are considered during analysis phase and all effects are calculated at member faces.

 Rigid zones at column-beam connections can be modelled in detail together with possible symmetric or asymmetric hinges.

 Wall members have a significant effect on building behaviour. Therefore, care should be taken to model walls accurately. Walls can be analysed as mid-pier or finite element shell.

Most of engineers’ time is spent checking the output reports and finding member results in the analysis outputs. Analysis results generated by ProtaStructure’s Analysis Module are summarised and transferred automatically to design modules after the analysis stage.

ProtaStructure includes the code of practice requirements for each supported region. In all stages, necessary checks are carried out automatically by the program.

ProtaStructure should only be used by Structural Engineers who have considerable knowledge of:  Codes of practice and regulations used in their region

 Analysis and design of building type structures

ProtaStructure has been tested on numerous structural models before being released. However, the user is the sole person responsible for the results generated by the program. The user must therefore exercise due diligence and check the program output thoroughly.

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Project Management

A structure modelled in ProtaStructure is saved with its related settings and parameters as a “Project”. Once you have a project open, ProtaStructure’s automatic backup system can periodically make a copy of it to prevent accidental loss of data. Open projects can be archived at any stage - the resulting zip file being an efficient format for transferring the project to other computers. These and other project management topics are explained in detail in the following sections.

Open Project

Each time you load ProtaStructure, the “Open Project” form isopen displayed, allowing you to open an existing project, or start a new project, (in which case the Settings Center form is displayed).

The project to be opened can be selected using the project list which shows all the existing projects in the current data folder.

If you press the “OK” button having selected an existing project, the selected project will be loaded to the Graphic Editor.

If you press “Delete Project” the currently selected project will be permanently deleted.

At any time, you can also open an existing project using the “Open Project” option in “File” pulldown. The most recently used projects are listed at the bottom of the "File" menu. Selecting a project from this list with a different data folder will set the data folder of the selected project as current for the next "Open Project" operation

New Project

If you want to create a new project, you can click the “New Project” button on the “Open Project” form and type-in the “Project Code” that will identify the new project.

The Project Code can be up to 80 characters in length. Each project should have a different project code. These characters should be alphanumeric.

Settings Center

When you create a new project, the “Settings Control Center ” form is displayed. This form is used to rapidly establish default model parameters: design codes; analysis type; material properties; member design settings etc.

Some of these settings can subsequently be accessed from the “Parameters” form option in the “Building” pulldown menu; others are accessed from the “Settings” pulldown menu.

The “Settings Center” also provides a means of easily transferring settings and preferences from one project to another, e.g. beam detailing preferences for different drawing scales can be saved/retrieved from templates etc.

ProtaStructure Data File Structure

ProtaStructure stores all the files of a project in a folder named after the unique Project Code.

Each project folder is created under a parent folder called the ProtaStructure “Data Folder”. There can be more than one data folder for grouping the different projects.

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ProtaStructure Data Folders Arrangement

You can change the current ProtaStructure Data Folder by clicking the “Data Folder” button on the “Open Project” form.

Only when the correct “Data Folder” is selected will the project be listed and can be opened. TIP: If you are a new user, for simplicity, use just one data folder for all projects.

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Managing Project Model via File Menu General Settings

Managing Project Model via File Menu

Once a project is started, project management can be done via the the “File” pulldown at the top menu. In addition to “New Project” & “Open Project, the following are the available project tools :

Save Project As

You can create a copy of the active project using the “Save Project As” option in “File” pulldown. A copy of the active project with the provided project code will be created and set as the active project.

By modifying the "Data Folder" in the "Save Project As" dialog you can save the new project to a different data folder location. Note that, when Data Folder is modified, it will be set as current for the next "Open Project" operation.

Archiving the Project Files with Compression

In order to create an archive of the project data and/or output files using standard ZIP compression format, you can use "Archive Project" from the "File" pulldown.

After selecting the file groups to be included in the archive you can use the "Start" button to create the ZIP file or press the "Cancel" button to unload the form.

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Archived files can be retrieved at a later date using Load Project From Archive. "Project Archive" comprises the following options:

File Groups

The project files are grouped in this section in order to facilitate the selection of files to be included in the archive. Files to be included in the archive can be selected by checking the groups in this part.

Zip File Name

The name of the ZIP file to be created must be included here. By default, the name of this file is set identical to the project code.

Zip File Folder

The name of the folder to save the ZIP file must be selected using this field. By default, the archive file is saved to the standard data directory.

Files to be Zipped

Selected files will be listed in this section based on the checked file groups.

Load Project From Archive

You can use the "Load Project from Archive…" selection from the "File" pulldown to unzip a previously archived project.

The selected archive file is unzipped from its source location to create a project in the current data folder.

The project can then be opened in the usual way by going to “Open Project”.

Backup and AutoSave

Backups and AutoSaves of the project can both be activated from the “Save” tab of "General Settings" which is located on the "Settings" pulldown menu.

Backup Structural Model

By checking the "Backup Structural Model" option you are electing to automatically backup the old files for a project each time you manually save it.

You can specify up to a maximum of 5 backups to be retained for each project – (when the maximum is reached, the next backup created overwrites the oldest previous backup file).

Backup files can be retrieved using Open Previous Backup

AutoSave

By setting a non-zero "Automatic Save Interval" you can have the program automatically save the project at regular intervals while you are working on it.

Open Previous Backup

You can use the "Open Previous Backup" selection from the "File" pulldown to unzip a previous backup of the current project.

A list of the backups, (including the time each backup was made and its model revision number) is displayed.

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Caution: If you choose to retrieve one of the backup files, the existing model is replaced by a version of the model as it was at the time the backup was made.

Project Properties

Simple statistics about the project (such as total number of columns, beams, slabs etc) can be seen by using “Project Properties” option in “File” pulldown.

Model revision numbers can also be assigned here and revision notes added.

Title Information

If you fill out the fields in the “Title” page, this information will be shown at the top of each output report page.

Licence

Your licence information will be displayed here.

Company Logo

You can choose you company logo in one of bmp, jpg, gif or png formats. The logo will be displayed in design report headers.

Project Title

A title describing the project can be entered in this field.

Calculated by

Name of the design engineer can be entered in this field.

Controlled by

Name of the checking engineer can be entered in this field.

Project No

You can enter an alphanumeric project number to your project in this field.

Project Date

Date of the project can be given in this field.

Note: The project parameters you specify will automatically be reloaded the next time you start

a new project.

Revision Notes

You can record notes here concerning what has been completed and what you still need to do. You can also assign a model revision number here.

Project Statistics

Charts are used to display various project statistics. Click the “Text File” button to output the same data in tabular format.

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Project Management General Settings

Settings and Parameters (Contents)

ProtaStructure has a very flexible architecture with settings that can be adjusted to suit your particular way of working. To facilitate access, settings affecting all parts of the program have been centralised in the Settings and Parameters Manager, from where it is also possible to transfer settings between projects and to save preferred settings as templates.

Related settings are grouped together on the “Settings” menu under specific headings:  General settings control the system based settings

 Unit and Format settings control the units and number of decimal places used.

 Member and Steel bar label settings can be used to control the format and display of member and steel bar labels

 Display settings control the general display and graphic settings of graphical editor namely colors, background grid, line type and object snap.

 Layer settings control the display of information in the Form Plan.

 Toolbars on the Graphic Editor, can be customized by the “Toolbar Customize” form.

 Column Design Settings control the design parameters, detailing and steel bar selection methods for columns and walls.

 Beam Design Settings control the design parameters, detailing, curtailment and steel bar selection methods for beams, ribs and foundation beams.

 Slab Design Settings control the design parameters and detailing for slabs.

 Foundation Design Settings control the design parameters and detailing for pad footing and pile foundation.

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The “Settings Center” is displayed by selecting “Settings and Parameters Manager” from the “Settings” pulldown menu.

It can be used to:

1. Establish the initial settings in a new project 2. Review and modify settings in the current project 3. Swap settings between projects

4. Save preferred settings as templates

Settings are divided into two main categories in ProtaStructure: 1. System based settings

2. Project based settings

System based settings can be displayed by selecting “General Settings” under the “Settings” pulldown menu. Other settings are considered as project based settings and can be shared between projects.

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Whenever you create a new project the “Settings Center” form will be displayed so that initial settings can be defined by importing from another “Project” or from a “Template”.

1. Select the project or template to import from. (If you choose the former, you can navigate to a different "Data Folder" to locate the project required.)

2. Click the “Import” button.

3. All the settings from the chosen project or template are then imported.

Once imported, the settings are permanently saved with the model. They can subsequently be reviewed/modified by redisplaying the “Settings Center”.

To review and modify settings

You can use the “Settings Center” to review/modify all the settings in the current project. 1. Select the settings group to review.

2. Click on the “View” button at the bottom. 3. Make any changes as required.

To swap settings between projects

You can use the “Settings Center” to replace settings in the current project by importing from another project or template.

1. Select the project or template to import from.

2. Choose individual setting groups to be imported, by checking the appropriate box, or boxes. Unchecked settings are retained.

3. Click the “Import” button.

4. After settings have been imported the “Current Project” text is replaced with the name of the project/template used in the import.

To save preferred settings as templates

If you have adjusted the settings (possibly to establish a set of company defaults) you can select to “Export” them permanently to a template so that they can be easily applied to future projects.

1. Open the project that contains the settings to be exported. 2. Display the “Settings Center”.

3. Click the “Select All” button if all the settings are to be exported. Alternatively, select the individual setting groups to be exported by checking the appropriate boxes.

4. If you want to overwrite the settings in an existing template, ensure the “Template” option is selected, and then select the template name from the list on the left.

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5. Alternatively, if you want to create a new template, ensure the “Template” option is selected. Click the “New Template” button and type the template name in the box provided.

6. Click the “Export” button to copy the selected settings into the template.

General Settings

System based settings can be modified in this form. These settings may be different for another ProtaStructure installation on a different computer.

View

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Don’t Check Model During Member Insertion

Integrity and correctness of the model is very important. A dialog is provided in Building Analysis form for checking any existing overlapping of members and stability problems.

ProtaStructure can check overlapping of members during insertion as well. If this option is checked, member overlapping check is disabled during insertion.

Member Tooltip Window Options

You can control the visibility and content of the member tooltip window using the options included in this section.

A tooltip will only be displayed if one or more of the options in this section is checked.

Angle Step

While dragging two points, “Angle Step” will be effective when “Ctrl” key is pressed. The rubber band line will snap to the multiples of the value entered in this field.

For example, while dragging two points for inserting an axis, if “Angle Step” is defined as 30, then the rubber band line will snap to directions like 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 etc.

This option is active during all operations requiring two points to be dragged, like axis, section and slab strip insertion.

Length Step

While dragging two points, “Length Step” will be effective when “Ctrl” key is pressed. The rubber band line’s length will snap to the multiples of the value entered in this field.

For example, while dragging two points for inserting an axis, if “Length Step” is defined as 1000 (with units set to millimetres), then the rubber band line’s length will snap to values like 1000, 2000, 3000 etc. This option is active during all operations requiring two points to be dragged, like axis, section and slab strip insertion.

Member Section Eccentricity Step

You can modify the member eccentricity values by pressing one of the arrow keys in the keyboard when the member properties window is visible.

Every time one of the arrow keys are pressed the member eccentricity value along that direction is modified by the amount provided in this field.

For example, when a column is selected and the “Properties” window is visible, you can modify “e1” property by pressing left or right arrow keys, and “e2” property by pressing up or down arrow keys.

Plan View Direction (Project Based)

Plans created in the Graphic Editor can be viewed from the current storey (bottom) or from the upper storey (top). If you check the “Top” option as the “Plan View Direction”, then the edges of the beams under the slab will be drawn with dash lines.

If you select to view from the current storey, by checking the “Bottom” option, then the beams will be drawn using solid lines as the other members.

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Save

You can control the automatic save options using the fields in this tab.

Automatic Save Interval

You can set the automatic save interval (in minutes) in this field.

Backup Structural Model

With this option checked a backup of the Graphic Editor data files will be created in a "DataBackup" folder under the Data Folder when the project is first saved.

This backup is then updated every time the "Save Project" option is invoked within the same hour. In each subsequent hour a new backup file is created when the model is saved, until the specified ‘Number of Backups to Save’ has been reached, after which point the first backup file will be overwritten.

Units and Format Settings

ProtaStructure has a fully integrated unit conversion system to facilitate working with various units in different modules. For example, you may have unit of moments in “kN.m” and stresses in “N/mm2”.

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All parameters are being stored independent of the units that are being used. Therefore, at any instance, you can modify the active units without having to re-start the project.

The process that creates the output reports must be repeated after modifying the units that are used in the process. For example, if you modify the unit of force from “kN” to “N”, then you have to re-analyse the structure to produce new outputs.

Following are the unit groups that are used in various modules:

Editor

“Length” unit that is used in the Graphic Editor drawing area can be controlled using this field. All members are expressed in the unit specified in this field.

Analysis

“Force” and “Displacement” units that are used in the Building Analysis module can be controlled using these fields. All output results are expressed in the units specified in these fields.

All units in this group are derived from the basic “Force” and “Displacement” units. For example, if force unit is “kN”, the displacement unit is “m”, then the unit of moments will be derived as “kNm” and the unit of inertia used in analysis will be “m4 ”.

Design

Units that are used in the section design modules can be controlled using these fields. Primary units that are included in this group are “Section Dimension” and “Steel Diameter”.

“Steel Spacing” and “Steel Area” will be derived from the “Section Dimension” unit. For example, if section dimension unit is “mm”, then the unit of steel area will be derived as “mm2” and the unit of steel spacing will be “mm”.

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Units that are used for material properties in all modules can be controlled using these fields. All units are primary in this group.

For example, when the unit of modulus of elasticity is set as “N/mm2” then it will appear in all reports created by various modules.

The editable columns in the “Units and Format Settings” are as follows:

Field Widths

Width of the format strings that will be used in report tables can be controlled using the “Field Widths” column.

The values provided in this column are in number of characters units.

Number of Decimals

Number of the decimal digits that will be used in report tables can be controlled using the “Number of Decimals” column.

The values provided in this column are in number of characters units.

Format Control

The codes provided in this table column will control the format of the values wherever they appear in the report. Available options are:

0 (Standard: F, Large: E): The values that fit in the reserve field width will be presented in standard decimal format while the ones that cannot fit are presented in exponential format.

1 (Standard: F, Large/Small: E): The values that fit in the reserve field width will be presented in standard decimal format while the ones that are too large which cannot fit or are too small that so cannot be expressed are presented in exponential format.

2 (Standard: E): All values will be presented in exponential format.

Layer and Color Settings

Layer and color settings are controlled from here. The “Layers” form can be loaded by clicking the “Layers and Color Settings” option under the “Settings” pull down menu.

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 Individual layers can be switched on or off.

 In the Graphic Editor, members are automatically defined in specified layers according to their member types.

 Different layers for different member types help to improve the readability of the drawing.  At the same time, different layers yield to view only some of the member types by freezing the

rest of them.

 In the “Layer Settings Table”, you can freeze or thaw a layer by clicking the check box column at the beginning of each layer line. The layers frozen will neither show on the screen nor send to printer or plotter.

 When you export a drawing to a CAD program, the names defined in the “Layer Description” column will be the layer names in the CAD environment.

 Colors of the drawing elements (such as text, line, or circle), can be modified in the “Color” column. When you select a cell on the colour column of the table, a colour list will be displayed with the colour choices available.

 Different line thickness values can be assigned to different layers in the “Line Width” column.  Similar to line width, different line types can be assigned to different layers. When you click a

cell on the “Line Type” column, a list showing various line types will be displayed. You can use the “Line Type Scale” field in “Display Settings” dialog to define the drawing scale of the lines.  Text font and height can be modified in the “Layer Settings Table” as well. When you click a cell

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 If you want to save changes, close the “Layer Settings Table” by clicking the “OK” button.

 You can search for a specific layer by typing into the serach box provided at the bottom of the layers dialog.

Member and Steel Bar Label Settings

The format and display of member and steel bar labels is controlled from here.

View

General controls on how the labels appear in the plan view.

Display Beam Labels in Plan

If you check the “Display Beam Labels in Plan” option, then the labels will be displayed for each beam in plan views.

You may occasionally like to suppress the display of the beam labels by unchecking this option.

Display Beam Dimensions in Plan

If you check the “Display Beam Dimension in Plan” option, then the beam dimension texts will be displayed for each beam in plan views.

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Use the options in this field to determine whether beam dimensions will be written as "B x H" or "H x B".

For example, when "H x B" is selected and if width (B) of the beam is "250 mm" and height (H) is "500 mm", then dimensions will be displayed "500 x 250" in the output reports and plan drawings.

Beam Label and Size Text Position Control

An active beam illustration graphic exists that shows how the label will be positioned in beams. By clicking this graphics, available display options will be cycled.

Beam Label Format Field and Beam Illustration

Use Insertion Axes as Label

For columns, instead of using labels showing the member number and storey, insertion axes can be used to specify the member.

If you check the “Use Insertion Axes as Label” option then the labels of the two axes at the insertion point of the column will form the column label.

Note that, internally a proper column label will be kept no matter if this option is checked or not.

Display Column Labels in Plan

If you check the “Display Column Labels in Plan” option, then the labels will be displayed near each column in plan views.

You may occasionally like to suppress the display of the column labels by unchecking this option.

Display Column Dimension in Plan

If you check the “Display Column Dimension in Plan” option, then the column dimensions will be displayed near each column next to the column label in plan views.

Display Slab Labels in Plan

If you check the “Display Slab Labels in Plan” option, then the labels will be displayed for each slab in plan views.

You may occasionally like to suppress the display of the slab labels by unchecking this option.

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A slab label illustration exists to the right of the “Slab Label” format definition field that shows the type of slab label that will be used. By choosing the graphics available, slab label options will be changed.

Slab Label Format Selection Picture

Slab Depth Prefix Characters

You may like to display a couple of letters to the left of the slab depth text printed in the slab label block. For example, if you enter "h=" in this field, "h=150" will be displayed as the slab depth for a 150 mm depth slab in the label block.

Label to Slab Center

If you check the “Label to Slab Center” option, slab labels will be displayed at the center of each slab. Otherwise, you can specify a slab corner to position for the label using the “Slab Properties”.

Lowered Slab Mark

You may like to display a couple of letters to mark the lowered slabs. The characters entered in this field will be printed at the lower right corner of the slab label blocks in plan window of Graphic Editor.

Member and Steel bar Labels

Member Labels

Each member defined in the Graphic Editor must have a unique identifying member label. Member label formats can be modified by the user for each member group.

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Type Character and Label Format

A typical member label is composed of the following format specifiers: X: Type

Character

Every member group will have a different type character that identifies the group. For example, type character for columns may be “C” and beams may be “B”.

n: Member

Number Each member of the same kind must have a distinct membernumber at every floor level. s: Storey

Number

This is the storey number that is used for defining the floor that the member belongs.

Member labels are formed using the formats specified in the “Format” field. For example, if the beam label format is defined as “sXn” and the type character is “B”, then the label of the beam number 20 in 3rd floor will be “3B20”.

Note that, a trailing character is also allowed at the end of the label to discriminate the members that have the same member number, like 1B20 and 1B20a or 1B20’.

Size Separator

 Wherever member dimensions are to be displayed in the drawings, you can set the character that will be used as separator for width and height of the rectangular sections.

 For example, if the size separator is set as “x” then the dimensions of a typical beam will be displayed as “250x600”.

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Steel Bar Labels

Reinforcement steel bar label formatting can be customised using the parameters provided in the “Steel Bar Labels” page.

Steel Label Template

By arranging the specifiers that compose the “Steel Label Template” in the “Format” field, the appearance of the bar labels can be customised.

A typical steel bar label is composed of the following format specifiers: X: Steel Bar

Character

Every steel grade has its own identification character. For example, “T” is used for Grade 460 (type 2). “X” is for the type character of the steel grade.

n: No. of

Steel Bars The character “n” is the format specifier for the steel barquantity. d: Steel

Diameter

The character “d” is the format specifier for the steel bar diameter text.

s: Steel Spacing

The character “s” is the format specifier for the steel bar spacing. Spacing text will be used only in steel labels that have spacing information.

p: Bar Mark

The character “p” is the format specifier for the steel bar positions. The position numbers of the steel bars will be displayed separately in circles when this character is not included in the format string.

Steel bar labels are formed using the format string specified in the “Format” field. For example, the label of 28 bars of 16 mm diameter Grade 460 (type 2) bars placed in 250mm centers will be displayed as “28T14-250” when the format string is set as “nXd-s”.

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When the format string includes the “p” specifier as well, then the same bars with position number “45” will be labelled as “28T14-45-250” when the format string is set as “nXd-p-s”.

Bar Group Quantity Separator

If there are groups of the same bars, then the number of groups will be displayed such as “2x5T14-37”. For this type of presentation, the separator character can be defined in the “Bar Group Quantity Separator” field.

Steel Spacing Separator

If there is more than one spacing to be specified for the same reinforcement, then the spacing will be written next to each other separated by the “Steel Spacing Separator”.

Display Steel Bar Layer Information

A steel bar in a slab can be on the top or bottom of the section. Similarly, according to its direction the same bar can be on the first or second layer from the top or the bottom. If you check the “Display Steel Bar Layer Information” option, then the position and the layer of the reinforcement will be indicated. If the reinforcement is on the top of the section, this situation will be indicated with “T”, and if it is on the bottom of the section this will be indicated with “B”. “B1” shows that the reinforcement is in the first layer from the bottom of the section, and similarly “T1” shows that the reinforcement is in the first layer from the top of the section.

Steel Bar Positions

If you check the “Display Steel Bar Layer Information” option, in the “Slab RBar Layer Text Separator” field, you can also specify the text separator to be used in the label

Slab Rbar Layer Text Separator

This field is used in conjunction with the “Display Steel Bar Layer Information” option. When the former option is checked you can select the character to be used to separate the steel bar layer text from the steel bar label text.

If you enter a “(“ character in this field, a “)” character is automatically added to the end of the label.

Display Settings

Colors

General display and graphics settings for the graphic editor are set from here.

Colors

You can choose between “Solid” or “Linear Gradient” background styles. Background bottom color will be used for gradient transition.

“Selection Color” is used to paint the selected members in user interface. “Highlight Color” is used to emphasis a member when mouse cursor is on it.

When a member is selected or highlighted, their insertion line and insertion points will automatically be shown on the screen. You can customize these colors by changing “Insertion Point Color” and “Insertion Line Color”. Insertion line thickness can also be changed.

Displaying Axis Labels Around the Plan View

Axis labels are automatically displayed around the plan window if the crosses the window boundaries. You can select the axis label text color to using the "Axis Indicator Color" button.

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Grids

ProtaStructure graphical user interface makes use of a smart customizable grid which automatically shrinks or expands as the model boundaries change. The automatic grid also facilitates a “Grid Snap” feature which greatly enhances the modelling process.

Grid Step

Minor grid spacing can be specified by the user in corresponding modelling units.

Major Lines at every

This option specifies the number of minor grids at which a major line will be displayed.

Minor and major grid line colors

Grid colors can be customized using the color picker controls on the dialog.

Automatic Grid in New Views

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Line Type

Line Type Scale

Different linetypes displayed on the graphical user interface can be scaled by this factor. Smaller values will result in finer (smaller) display of linetypes.

Toolbar Customize

Toolbars on the Graphic Editor, can be customized by the “Toolbar Customize” form. The form can be loaded by clicking the “Toolbar Customize” option either under the “Settings” pull down menu or from the toolbar. You can also right click any toolbar to load the Customization form.

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By using “Toolbar Customize” you can create a new toolbar or modify an existing one.

Any modification and customisation made in the toolbar layout is saved on exit from the program.

Column Design Settings

Design

The “Settings and Parameters” form can be displayed by clicking the “Column Design Settings” option under the “Settings” pulldown menu or in the “Column Reinforcement Design” form.

Column design and drafting can be easily controlled with the help of the parameters in this form.

Min Steel Percentages

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Min. Column Steel

 Minimum steel percentage to be used in a column is given on this page. If the steel area required in a column section is less than the minimum steel area required then the minimum steel percentage given in this field will be used automatically.

Max. Column Steel

 Maximum steel percentage that can be used in a column section is given in this field. If the required steel area in a column exceeds this value, than the section will be considered as insufficient and a warning message will be displayed.

Min. Wall Longitudinal Steel

 Minimum steel percentage to be used in walls is given using this field. If the steel area required in a wall section is less than the minimum steel area required then the minimum steel percentage given in this field will be used automatically.

Max. Wall Longitudinal Steel

 Maximum steel percentage to be used in walls is given using this field. Steel area exceeding the value provided here is not permitted.

Min. Wall Horizontal Steel

 Minimum steel percentage for horizontal steel area to be used in a wall is given on this page. If the steel area required in the horizontal direction in a wall section is less than the minimum

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steel area required then the minimum steel percentage given in this field will be used automatically.

Use Plain Wall Design

 When this option is checked the program will use plain wall design (i.e. design based on no reinforcement) where it is applicable, resulting in a reduced mimimum area of steel.

Moment Capacity Tolerance

 In some cases, you may want to use less steel than required in the column sections. By introducing a percent “positive” tolerance in this field, you may accept a higher moment capacity for the concrete section and thus make the program put less steel than required. Likewise, negative values will yield greater steel areas than required.

Parameters (BS8110, CP65 & HK codes only)

On this sub-page you can specify the design clause to be applied where alternatives are offered in the design code.

Bi-axial Bending Method

 The method that will be used for bi-axial bending of columns can be selected using the available option in this field.

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 Ultimate Strength Bi-axial Bending method will be used if "Bi-axial" is selected. Alternatively, moment combination method described in "BS8110 (Cl 3.8.4.5)" or "CP65 (Cl 3.8.4.5)" may be used.

 When this option is checked, an effective moment will be calculated based on the x and y direction design moments and uni-axial bending is applied in this direction.

Design Ultimate Axial Load

 Maximum axial load that can be carried by the columns and walls in the structure can be determined using one of these options.

Steel Bars Selection Method

Selection Method

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Fixed Bar Layout Method

Program does not modify the steel bar layout in this method. Only the bar sizes are determined based on the given layout during design process.

The initial bar layout is determined based on the maximum bar spacing allowed by the current concrete codes.

Bar Spacing Maximisation Method

In this method, program modifies the layout so that the steel bar sizes are maximised to achieve the biggest possible spacing (within the spacing range specified in settings) between the bars.

Bar Size Minimisation Method

In this method, program modifies the layout so that the steel bar spacing is minimised (within the spacing range specified in settings) to achieve the smallest possible bar sizes to be selected.

Column Confinement

On this sub-page you can indicate your preference for the link pattern(s) you want to be considered in order to meet column confinement requirements when in design mode.

The program will select from the considered patterns the one which best matches the number of bars and bar spacing in each direction. It will also add tie bars where they are required.

For square columns and rectangular columns of reasonably equal side (b/h < 1.8) you can apply different preferences to those for rectangular columns of un-equal side b/h > 1.8).

Up to four link patterns can be considered from the following list:  Single Link (this pattern is always considered).

 Double Link  Triple Link.  Cross Link

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Basic Column Confinement Requirements

In the BS8110 cl 3.12.7.2 requirements there are two cases to consider (EC2, CP65 and HK-2004 are similar):

1. Where bar spacing exceeds 150mm: Every bar should be restrained by the corner of a link or by a tie.

2. Where bar spacing is less than 150mm: Corner Bars should be restrained by the corner of a link or by a tie. Every alternate bar should be restrained by the corner of a link or by a tie

 The maximum vertical spacing of these links and ties is 12 times the smallest main (vert) bar diameter.

 Note that the limits on the vertical spacing of containment steel are different in EC2 which allows for closer spacing near supports and increased spacing in the span.

Wall Confinement

In design mode the program will attempt to satisfy the code requirements for wall confinement by adopting the link and tie pattern you choose on this sub-page.

Any one of four patterns can be specified in order to satisfy the containment requirements.

You can specify a particular pattern for short walls (Length/Thickness < 6) and a different one for long walls (Length/Thickness > 6).

The following patterns are available:  Wall

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 Single Layer Wall

 Single Layer Wall with End Zones

Max. Width for Single Layer Walls

A single layer of reinforcement may be appropriate in thinner walls.

You can use this setting to specify the maximum thickness of wall in which a single layer of reinforcement is to be used. The single layer may be either mesh or loose bars and it may be used in conjunction with end zone reinforcement.

Basic Wall Confinement Requirements

In the BS8110 cl 3.12.7.4&5 requirements there are two cases to consider (EC2, CP65 and HK-2004 are similar):

1. When the main steel requirement < 2%, then only horizontal reinforcement is required. 2. When the main steel requirement > 2%, then additional containment ties must be introduced.  Where bar spacing exceeds 150mm: Every bar should be restrained by the corner of a link or by

a tie.

 Where bar spacing is less than 150mm: Corner Bars should be restrained by the corner of a link or by a tie. Every alternate bar should be restrained by the corner of a link or by a tie

The maximum vertical spacing of these ties is twice the wall dimension or 16 times the smallest main (vert) bar diameter.

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Note that the limits on the vertical spacing of containment steel are different in EC2, being 0.6 times the wall dimension or 12 times the smallest main (vert) bar diameter.

The EC2 requirement in this instance seem onerous so that it may be preferable to limit main steel to 2% and adjust wall sizing if this is not adequate.

Longitudinal Steel

The parameters on this sub-page control the steel bar selection in design mode.

Column Min/Max Bar Sizes

The minimum and maximum longitudinal bar diameters that can be used in columns can be entered using these fields. When a bar greater than the maximum size specified here is used for any reason, then a warning message will be issued.

Wall Min/Max Bar Sizes

The minimum and maximum longitudinal bar diameters that can be used in walls can be entered using these fields. When a bar greater than the maximum size specified here is used for any reason, then a warning message will be issued.

Min. Bar Spacing

Minimum bar spacing that can be used in columns can be entered in this field.

The value specified here should be greater and equal to the requirements stated in the codes. In cases that smaller values than "Min. Bar Spacing" is to be used, the program will automatically assume the code minimums.

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Max. Bar Spacing

Maximum bar spacing that can be used in columns can be entered in this field.

Steel Bar Spacing Step

“Bar Spacing Step” is used in bar selection methods other than "Fixed Bar Layout Method" to increase and decrease bar spacing by the amount specified here.

Smaller values used as "Bar Spacing Step" may increase the design time considerably. A typical value of "5 mm" can be used in most cases.

Use Similar Bars as Web Bars for Walls Without EndZones

When this option is checked corner bars will have the same diameter as the web bars in the design of the walls without endzones.

Concrete Cover

Concrete cover is measured from the outside edge of the column to outside edge of the links. If the value in this field is zero, the concrete cover will be calculated according to the requirements in the current concrete codes.

When this value is modified, a message will appear that will propose modifying all the columns in the building. If a filtering option is active in the column table, the modification will affect only the filtered columns.

Links

The parameters on this sub-page control the link bar selection in design mode.

Layout methods can be set using the options provided in these pages. Furthermore, by using the options in “Links” page you can control the shear design, and selection of links.

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Min. Link Bar Size

Minimum bar size to be used for column and wall links can be defined in these fields. Greater bars sizes will be selected when necessary by the program.

Min. and Max. Link Spacing

Minimum and maximum link spacing to be used in columns can be defined in this field. A greater link bar size will be selected when the minimum link spacing is encountered during shear design.

Link Spacing Step

Link spacing values will be rounded up according to the “Link Spacing Step”. For example, if the Link Spacing Step is “25 mm”, spacing values calculated will be rounded up as 150, 175, 200-mm etc.

Also, while selecting the proper link spacing, the program increments the spacing by the “Link Spacing Step” defined in this field.

Create Support Regions for Links

If you check the “Create Support Regions for Links” option, link spacing for the supports and the span are calculated separately. In order to use same spacing for both span and supports, you must uncheck this checkbox.

Provide Links Through Beam Depth

If this field is checked, links in support regions will continue to be used inside the beam-column intersection (joint) in order to provide better confinement and shear resistance.

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Mesh Steel

The parameters on this sub-page control the mesh bar selection in design mode.

Use Loose Bars When Mesh Size Not Sufficient

In the cases where design cannot be done with the largest mesh in the mesh library for a particular wall, program will automatically switch to loose bar pattern if this field is checked. User, in further design phases, can specify program to revert and “try using mesh steel” during batch mode design if loose bar pattern is automatically used.

Min. Wall Length for Mesh Steel

If wall length is shorter than the value entered to this field then mesh steel would not be used in the design.

Mesh Width

Standard mesh panel width values can be entered in this field. Mesh panels will be drawn and cut where necessary according to the value entered here. If special production meshes or single mesh panels are used through the wall length, A value of “0” must be entered. Cut meshes are overlapped with a distance specified in “Mesh Lap/Anchorage Length” field.

Mesh Lap/ Anchorage Length

If a standard mesh width is specified in “Mesh Width” field, then mesh panels will be used at this width. Adjacent meshes will be lapped using the value entered in “Mesh Lap/Anchorage Length” field. Mesh panels will also be extended into wall end zones using this value.

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If checked, mesh panels will be extended and drawn through the length of the wall end zone. Mesh bars inside the end zone are ignored during the design calculations.

Detail Drawings

General

General parameters controlling the column drawings can be set using the options provided on this subpage.

Print Column Links Segment Lengths

Column links can be drawn either with all the segment lengths printed or with only the total length. If you check the “Print Column Links Segment Lengths” option, then all the segment lengths of the links will be displayed on the drawing.

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Bob length for longitudinal reinforcement in the column application plan is controlled by using this field.

Column Bars Kicker Depth

In each storey level, column longitudinal bars start in a small distance above the slab level. This distance can be defined as the “Column Bars Kicker Depth” field.

Mesh Steel Kicker Depth

In order to account for the kicker concrete in tunnel form constructions, “Mesh Steel Kicker Depth” value can be entered in this field. Mesh panels will be offset from the bottom of the wall by an amount of kicker depth and drawn accordingly.

Width of Links Block in Column Application Plan

All link details for all columns/walls can be expanded automatically in batch mode next to the drawing sheet in column application plan. This field determines the width to be allocated for link details drawing block.

Single Link Type (Columns and Walls)

You can use the available options in this field for the type of the single links that will be plotted in columns and walls.

Column Details

Further parameters controlling the column drawings can be set using the options provided on this subpage.

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Column Detail Drawings Scale

You can enter the scale factor that will be used in the column detail drawings. This Drawing Scale will only affect the size of the text entities and the special marks.

Display Steel Bars to the Right of the Detail

The steel bars are redrawn to the right of the detail if this field is checked.

Print Steel Bar Detail Lengths

The steel bar detail lengths will be added to the detail if this field is checked.

Print Steel Bar Total Lengths

The steel bar total lengths will be added to the detail if this field is checked.

Display Section Below the Detail

The section is added below the detail if this field is checked.

Foundation Penetration Depth of Links

The depth which the links are shown penetrating into the foundation can be set using this field.

Column Schedule

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Column Schedule Drawing Scale

You can enter the scale factor that will be used in the column schedules. This Drawing Scale will only affect the size of the text entities and the special marks.

Draw Column Insertion Axis

Column insertion axes will be drawn when this field is checked.

Dimension Column Insertion Axes

Column insertion axis dimensions will be drawn if this field is checked.

Dimension Column Section

Column section dimensions will be drawn if this field is checked.

Center Column Labels and Texts in Cell

The justification of the text objects in a schedule cell can be set using this field. Column labels and steel bar texts will be centred if this field is checked. Otherwise, all texts will be left justified.

Draw Separator Lines between Label Texts

Horizontal separator lines will be drawn between the text objects if this field is checked.

Print Column Insertion Axis Labels

The insertion axes of the columns will be printed below the schedule if this field is checked.

Draw Column Vertical Separator Lines

Vertical separator lines will be drawn between the columns if this option is checked.

Do Not Include the Unselected Storeys in the Table

You can select the storey to be included in the schedule using the "Storeys" list in the "Column Schedule" dialog. If this option is checked, the unselected storeys between the first and storey entered in the "Topmost Storey in the Sheet" field will not be drawn in the schedule.

Print Column Labels below the Table

If this option is checked, the label of the bottom column will be printed below the schedule. Column labels will be included in every cell if this option is not checked.

Print Storey Labels above the Column

If this option is checked, the storey labels will be printed above the row. The storey labels will be printed inside the related row (in the leftmost cell) if this option is not checked.

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You can enter the string that will be displayed for annotating the columns that are similar as the ones below. "AS BELOW" is provided as default in this field.

Beam Design Settings

Design & Parameters

You can display the “Setting and Parameters” form by using the “Beam Design Settings” option under the “Settings” pulldown menu or in the “Beam Section Design and Detailing” module.

Most of the parameters defined in this section are stored separately for storey beams, rib beams and foundation beams.

Design

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Design Shear Force Control

Based on the selection made here, design shear force may be calculated at “Column Face” or at a “d” distance from column face. Here, “d” is the effective depth of the beam.

Section Effective Depth Calculation

Effective depth of beam section will be calculated using one of the methods provided in this field. When “Centre of Gravity of Steel Bars” field is checked, the section effective depth will be determined based on the centre of gravity of the tension bars. In this method, the contribution of each tension bar in the section will be considered separately.

Alternatively, a more conservative method, "Centre of Gravity of Layers" field may be checked. The calculation of section effective depth is based on the average of the distances of the steel bar layers.

Design Using Rectangular Section

Consideration of flanges during reinforced concrete design of beam section especially in span regions may yield more economical results. You may check this option to ignore the effect of flanges and use rectangular beam section in all design calculations.

Batch Mode Design Settings

Using the options provided in this section, control the "Batch Mode" behaviour of the Beam Design Module.

When "Don't Select Bars if b-required > bw" option is checked, then steel bars will not be selected during batch mode when bars do not fit in the beam section.

Similarly, when “Don't Select Bars if Deflection Check Fails” option is checked, then steel bars will not be selected during batch mode when any of the beams in the axis does not satisfy the deflection requirements with the calculated steel. For such beams, you can use "Interactive Design" to manually increase the supplied steel until the deflection check is satisfied.

Ignorable Forces

Ignorable force values during the design process of the beams in the structure will be entered into these fields. If smaller internal forces are obtained with respect to these values, then these forces will be ignored by the program.

Beam Bottom/Top Edge Concrete Covers

You can enter the nominal concrete covers to be used at the bottom and top edges of the beams for the calculation of the effective depth of the section. These values are measured from the edge of the beam to the outer edge of the links.

Note: When this field is “0” then the calculated nominal cover based on the current concrete codes of practices will be used.

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You can enter the nominal concrete covers to be used at the sides of the beam section for the calculation of the spacing of the bars. These values are measured from the edge of the beam to the outer edge of the links.

Beam Ends Concrete Cover

You can enter the nominal concrete covers to be used at the ends of the beam section for the curtailment of the bars. These values are measured from the edge of the beam to the centre of the bars.

Parameters

This page is used to set limits on the ranges and spacings of bars used in the design.

Min. Beam Steel Diameter

You can set the minimum allowable (or desirable) steel bar size using this input field. A smaller bar size will not be used during steel bar selection.

Note that, if you modify this section, you have to re-select the steel bars to reflect the changes.

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You can set the maximum allowable (or desirable) steel bar size using this input field. A bigger bar size will not be used during steel bar selection.

Web Steel (Side Bars) Diameter

Minimum diameter that will be used for the side bars can be defined in this field.

Min. Number of Hanger Bars

Minimum number of hanger bars can be defined in this field. Note that, hanger bars will be used only in the steel patterns that make use of this bar group.

Min. Hanger Bar Diameter

Minimum diameter of hanger bars can be defined in this field. Note that, hanger bars will be used only in the steel patterns that make use of this bar group.

Minimum Top and Bottom Steel Spacing

You can set the minimum desirable steel bar spacing using this input field.

The value entered in this field must be equal or greater than the minimum allowable spacing value specified in the active reinforcement code. If you use a bigger value than the minimum requirements of the codes, the code values may still be used by the program whenever necessary.

Maximum Tension and Compression Steel Spacing

You can set the maximum desirable steel bar spacing using this input field. Maximum steel spacing can be provided separately for tension and compression bars.

Steel Bar Spacing Step

Spacing values will be incremented by the amount specified in this field during iterations.

Steel Bar Cut Length

You can enter the cut lengths of the steel bars used in this section. The length of the bars will then be checked against this value.

Max. Crack Width (Eurocode 2 only)

This is required to determine the maximum allowable tension bar spacing.

For EC2 (and BS8110) the maximum crack width in the tension zone is controlled by placing a limit on the maximum spacing of the tension reinforcement.

Permanent Load Ratio (Eurocode 2 only)

Acceptable input range 0.3 to 1.0

This is the ratio of quasi-permanent load to design ultimate load. i.e. SLS/ULS = (1.0Gk + y2Qk) / (factored Gk + factored Qk)

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It is used to determine the reinforcement service stress which in turn is required to determine the maximum allowable tension bar spacing.

If Qk is taken as 0 then: SLS/ULS = (1 / 1.25) = 0.8

Hence, setting the permanent load ratio to 0.8 should provide a conservative upper bound for all cases.

Minimum and Maximum Link Diameter

You can set the minimum and maximum allowable (or desirable) link bar size using this input field. A smaller bar size will not be used during the selection of links.

Note that, if you modify this section, you have to re-design to reflect the changes.

Min. Link Spacing

You can set the minimum desirable link spacing using this input field.

Max. Link Spacing

You can set the maximum desirable link spacing using this input field.

Link Spacing Step

Link spacings will be calculated to be the multiples of the value provided in this field. For example, if "25 mm" is provided here, link spacing values will be like 150, 175, 200, 225 etc.

Link spacing will be modified by the amount provided here in the "Reinforcement Information" of the "Beam Editor", every time the spin buttons controlling the spacing of links pressed.

Steel Bar Cut Length Control

Steel cut length can be adjusted using this field.

Steel Bar Selection

Method

This page is used to apply more specific controls on the bar selection process.

Bar Spacing Maximisation Method

In this method, program modifies the steel layout so that the steel bar sizes are maximised to achieve the biggest possible spacing (within the spacing range specified in settings) between the bars.

Bar Size Minimisation Method

In this method, program modifies the layout so that the steel bar spacing is minimised (within the spacing range specified in settings) to achieve the smallest possible bar sizes to be selected.

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If this option is checked, "Beam Editor" will display "s-Bar" (the clear spacing between the bars) instead of "Min-bw" (minimum beam width that the bars will fit with minimum allowable clear spacing) during bar selection.

Steel Bar Area Tolerance

In some cases, you may want to use less steel than required in the beam sections. By introducing a percent “positive” tolerance in this field, you make the program to put less steel than required. Likewise, negative percent tolerance values will yield greater steel areas than required.

Minimum Top Steel at a Pin

If hinge mechanism is defined at the beam ends, then you can enter the area of the top steel at support regions as the percent of the steel area used in span region.

Steel Pattern

This page is used to apply specific controls to the bar pattern applied.

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You can select the default reinforcement pattern to be used for curtailment of bars using the list provided in this section.

Use At Least 2 Bars in 2nd Layer

If this option is checked, a minimum of 2 bars will be placed to 2nd layer (if 2nd layer steel is necessary).

Use Same Bar Size in 1st and 2nd Layer

If this option is checked, the same bar size used in the 1st layer will be used in the 2nd layer steel.

Use Same Number of Bars in 1st and 2nd Layer

If this option is checked, the same number of bars will be used in the 1st and 2nd layer.

Use 2nd Bottom Bars for 70% As

"2nd Bottom Bars" group may be set to be used automatically for (maximum) the 70% of the required steel just not to extend all bars along the full length of the span.

If this option is selected, the "2nd Bottom Bars" group will be utilised for maximum 70% of the required steel in interior spans and 50% for exterior spans.

Usage of Support 2nd Top Bars

Two support top bar groups are provided in patterns without bent up bars. "2nd Top Support Bars" are used for either 2nd steel layer or curtailed shorter for economy.

Use for 40% As

If you want to use the "2nd Top Support Bars" group for maximum 40% of the total required steel area, you can check this field.

Extend by 0.25L (Default: 0.15L)

By default "2nd Top Support Bars" are extended by 0.15L into the span. If you check this field, these bars will be extended to 0.25L always.

If this group bars are used in 2nd layer, then they will be curtailed to 0.25L when the total supplied area in this bar group is greater than 40% of the required steel area.

Note: the coefficient "0.25" is not constant. This value is controlled by "Steel Bar Extension Lengths" parameter in the "Steel Bars" tab page.

Links

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Link Quantity Control

Using the two data fields in this section you can control the number of links in a beam section with respect to the width of the beam, "bw".

"Max.bw For Single Links" field determines limit beam width that single links can be used. When the beam width, bw, is bigger than this value and less than (or equal to) the value defined in "Max.bw For Double Links" field, then two links will be used in the section.

When the beam width is bigger than the value defined in "Max.bw For Double Links" field, then three links will be used.

In addition the “Link Type” option enables you to choose between having a single outer link with additional inner links or equally sized links.

Rib Link Type

The type of rib links can be defined using “Link Type” field in the “Rib Links” section. The available options are illustrated below.

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Rib Link Types and Parameters

Rib Link Extension

If “Closed” or “Open” links are selected for rib links, length of the extension can be defined using “Link Extension” field in the “Rib Links” section

Design Link Spacing at Supports

If you want to have different link arrangements for supports then this option must be checked. Otherwise, same link size and spacing will be used in span and supports calculated based on the maximum design shear force.

Same bar size at supports and span

If different link arrangement option is checked for having different links at supports, you can check this option to use same bar size in supports and span regions. If this option is not checked, different bars may be used whenever necessary in supports and span region of the beam.

Select Symmetrical Links at Supports

If different link arrangement option is checked for having different links at supports, you can check this option to use same link arrangement (bar size and spacing) in both supports. If this option is not checked, different bars arrangements may be used whenever necessary in left and right support regions of the beam.

Fixed Support Region Width (2h)

If this option is not checked, the width of the support region where different link arrangements are used is calculated for left and right support regions. These values are displayed in the “x-Sup.Links” section of the Interactive Beam Reinforcement Design Editor.

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Beam Links Parameters

Min. Support Region Width

Width of the support regions may be limited so that they will not be less than a certain value. You can use this option to use a minimum support region of either “0.25L” or “2h” where “L” is the clear span and “h” is the overall section height of the beam.

Min. Span Region Width Options:

This option is useful when the support region widths are calculated to be almost equal to half beam span. In such cases, you can select a minimum value that when the span region is to be checked. When span region is less than the minimum set value here then support links are extended over the span region.