Precise and intuitive steelwork functions are the result of over 25 years of experience in structural analysis. When it comes to modeling, analyzing and optimizing steel structures, Advance Design is a high-end solution that integrates all these processes within the same modern and easy-to-use interface.

Available standards

The Steel Design Expert performs an advanced analysis and optimization of steel elements according to the selected standards. The available steelwork standards are CM66 (France), NTC 2008 (Italy), ANSI/AISC 360-10 (USA), CAN/CSA S16-14 (Canada) and Eurocodes 3 with several national appendixes:

• France
• United Kingdom
• Romania
• Germany
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Czech Republic
• General

Complete libraries of materials and cross sections

Advance Design provides complete libraries of materials (e. g., EN 10025-2, EN 10210-1, EN 10219-1) according to chapter 3 of EN 1993-1-1 and the possibility to define materials with custom properties. For cross sections, libraries such as European Profiles, Otua, UK Steel Sections and Autodesk Advance Steel Profiles are available. Also, you have the option to define libraries with customized cross-sections and even compound cross sections.

For advanced editing, visualization and calculation of geometrical characteristics of any type of cross section, Advance Design provides a specialized module: Cross Sections. This module can base the calculation (including torsionnal inertias and shear reduced sections) either on analytical formulas or on finite element analysis depending on the complexity of the cross section.

Advanced modeling

A large number of CAD functions are available for the easy modeling of steel structures. In addition, it is possible to automatically create trusses, portal frames and vaults which are available in Advance Design libraries. Using the corresponding structure generator, you can define the origin and the dimensions of the structure, the material and cross section of the elements, etc.

Since the version 2017, Advance Design includes the Steel Structure Designer. The Steel Structure Designer  incorporates an extensive range of building definitions and tools enabling users to configure complete structures in seconds, from standard building shapes used in industry (platforms, steel halls), to more complex models, such as office buildings or structures with curved roofs, in seconds.

Complete customization of steel elements properties

The properties list for steel elements includes all the required parameters for deflection, buckling and lateral-torsional buckling verification. Castellated beams can be defined and designed with the ACB+ module (Arcelor Cellular Beams).

Detailed calculation assumptions

The calculation assumptions referring to the steel elements attributes can be defined for each element or selection of elements, using the corresponding element(s) properties list.
For a fast definition of the steel elements properties, you can define design templates that can be applied on a selection of elements. Several design templates can be used in the same model. The design templates can be saved as XML files and imported in different projects.

The calculation assumptions referring to the calculation type, the steel optimization, the buckling parameters, the calculation sequences, etc. can be globally defined through a single operation, for all steel elements of the model:

The design assumptions can be modified at any time, in the modeling step and in the analysis step (when modifying the assumptions during the analysis step, it is necessary to rerun the steel calculation).

Accurate steel verification

The steel expert performs the steel verification, including the automatic buckling length computation and the automatic classification of cross sections according to Eurocodes 3. It provides access to results concerning the deflections verification, the cross section resistance, the element stability (buckling and lateral-torsional buckling) and the optimization of the steel shapes.

The command line informs about each step of the process. If errors are found during the calculation, the verification messages are displayed on the command line along with the IDs of the elements to which the messages refer.
When the calculation process is completed, you have access to advanced result verification and a multitude of tools for customizing the display of the graphic results in the most suitable way.

Reliable fire verification

Advance Design can perform the fire verification of steel elements according to §4.2 (simplified method) of EN 1993-1-2 as fire resistance (§4.2.3) and critical temperature (§4.2.4).
The software compares efforts given by frequent combinations with the maximum effort the element can handle at a given temperature.
The definition of the fire verification conditions is a fast and easy process. You only have to:

• Specify the fire exposure period:

• Select the number of faces exposed to fire:

When the calculation is completed, the work ratios given by the fire verification are displayed on a specific tab of the shape sheet.

Maximize the efficiency of the materials consumption

The optimization process offers solutions for an efficient management of the materials consumption.
You have full control of the optimization conditions: you can define the optimization mode, the suggestions process, the iteration process, etc.

The Stored shapes command allows you to configure the list of available shapes from which the steel expert may choose the optimal ones.

The steel expert compares the work ratio of the steel elements and suggests (if necessary) more adequate cross sections, that would correspond to the defined conditions.

For better visualization, the elements with a higher / lower work ratio than specified are displayed in red.

Advanced calculation reports

The shape sheets command allows you to view all the available results for a selected steel element: cross section properties, deflections, strength, stability, fire resistance and cross section class according to Eurocodes 3 in one dialog box.

You can generate a report with these results starting from the element’s shape sheet. This result is complete with all verifications and also mentions the corresponding article in the Norm.

The steel verification report offers a complete diagnosis of the model in different outputs: tables, texts, graphical post-processing. The report can be customized to suit your requirements.

Advanced calculation reports

Once the report content has been defined, there is no need to recreate the calculation report when the model undergoes any modification. The report content, including post-processing views, automatically updates at each calculation iteration (if specified) while preserving all the settings previously made:

The release 2021 of Advance Design features a new concept called “super-element”. The super element is a compound object which consists in a set of individual linear elements grouped for a design purpose, for example to check the limit deflection of the rafters beams on a steel frame or the maximal deflection on a continuous column across several levels.

The definition of a super element can be done in many ways, including by using the Create command from the right-click menu or from the ribbon, as well as using the List property, available on the property list of linear elements:

When creating the super element, Advance Design will check several conditions such as materials, cross-section, orientation. Each newly created super element has its own unique ID number. It can be used, among other things, for selection or for displaying on a model view, thanks to the new type of annotation for linear elements and the possibility to display colours per super element:

The super element concept is used for the standard check of steel elements: therefore, several new options are available on design parameters of steel elements. As soon as the user enables the “Super element” verification option is the property list, the corresponding deflection group of properties is available for editing, properties which applies to the entire super element:

The results of the deflection verification can be checked separately for the element and the super element either graphically, using the postprocessing diagrams for deflections, or on the Deflection tab on the Shape sheet dialog:

In a similar way the list of available options for the calculation of the Lateral-torsional buckling length (on the Lateral-torsional buckling dialog) has been updated. Note, that the content on the list depends on whether the dialog is opened for a super element or an element that is not a part of any super element. When opened for a super element, the list contains only two items Auto calc and super element ratio.

You can have more details about this new feature on the technical what’s new document available on your Graitec Advantage account (advantage.graitec.com).

Advance Design BIM system is dedicated to structural engineers who require a comprehensive solution for simulating and optimizing all their projects. It includes a user-friendly structural modeler, automatic load and combination generators, a powerful FEM analysis engine (static, dynamic, time history, non linear, buckling, large displacement analysis, etc.), comprehensive wizards for designing concrete and steel members according to Eurocodes, efficient result post-processing, and automatic report generators.

Some of the features of Advance Design are a new design module for timber frames to Eurocode 5 (German, English, French, Romanian and Czech National Appendices), calculation of cracked inertia for linear and planar elements, implementation of the Baumann method for reinforcement plates to Eurocode 2, verification of stresses and crack openings as a function of the real reinforcement implemented in the element for Eurocode 2 (EN 1992-1-1).

Main information regarding stresses and crack openings

Seismic design of structures is mainly focused on developing a favorable plastic mechanism to render the structure strength, ductility, and stability.

The behavior of a structure regarding the action of a major earthquake is anything but ductile, taking into account the oscillating nature of the seismic action and the fact that plastic hinges appear rather randomly. To achieve the requirements of ductility, structural elements, and thus the entire structural system must be able to dissipate the energy induced by the seismic action, without substantial reduction of resistance.

Both Romanian seismic design code P100-1/2006 and Romanian standard SR EN 1998-1, provide a method for prioritizing structural resilience (“capacity design method”) in order to better choose the necessary mechanism for dissipation ofenergy. Determination of the design efforts and the efforts for elements will be in accordance to the rules of this method.

Discover more technical details here

Flat slabs are more and more used nowadays, given their structural, architectural and MEP benefits. Of course, this comes with a list of design particularities – negligible in typical framing structures (such as punching shear) – that the structural engineer must address in order to achieve safeness and performance.

Some of the main benefits of using flat-slabs:

•    Reduced manual labour for concrete formwork
•    Reduced quantities of formwork
•    Smooth interior surface that serves architects and also mechanical engineers

Discover more technical details here