Graitec announces Advance Design 2015

May 13, 2014 / graitecgroup / 1 Comment

GRAITEC, European BIM software developer for the construction industry, announces the release of Advance Design 2015 dedicated to structural engineering.

Advance Design® is specifically dedicated to structural engineers who require a professional and easy-to-use BIM solution for structural FEM simulation and optimization according to specific design standards (Concrete, Steel or Wood).

Advance Design 2015 is articulated around 3 main subjects:

Concrete deflection calculation: new options for the reinforced concrete design according EC2
New starting screen for easier use
The implementation of the new NTC2008 Italian codes
And also: numerous improvements and adjustments

ADVANCE DESIGN 2015: concrete deflection calculation

Graitec announces Advance Design 2015

When designing a reinforced concrete structure, engineers must check limit deflections, especially on beams and floors. This is achieved by taking into account the cracked inertia of the reinforced concrete section. However, in FEM calculation, this leads to specific modelling and iterative processes which are tedious and time-consuming tasks for engineers.
Advance Design 2015 now automatically performs concrete deflection calculation based on theoretical or real reinforcement computed by the software.

Process: Successive design steps are performed, with concrete inertia being automatically calculated at each iteration. Concrete inertia is actually given by interpolation between a fully cracked state and a non-cracked state, in accordance with article 7.4.3 from EN1992-1-1.
Graphical results and reports allow for a quick and easy post-processing of all intermediate values: cracked inertia, non-cracked inertia, interpolated value, deflection for each mesh…

ADVANCE DESIGN 2015: New starting screen for easier use

Graitec announces Advance Design 2015

In order to simplify (for the new users) the first steps with Advance Design, the 2015 release comes with a brand-new starting wizard from where the user can access many types of information:
Several project samples for each type of structure: the user can open the models he is interested in to see how to model, define the main assumption, assign design templates…

Several other help tools are available: online videos, Graitec Web pages, quick access to the documentation, software configuration… All those tools are specific to each country, depending on the configuration settings.

ADVANCE DESIGN 2015: entering the Italian market

Graitec announces Advance Design 2015 Advance Design 2015 now features the NTC 2008 Italian codes for:

Actions combinations automatic generation
Seismic loads
Climatic loads (Wind & Snow)
Reinforced concrete design
Steel members design.

ADVANCE DESIGN 2015: and also…

The 2015 version brings a number of new features and adjustments based on feedback from thousands of users:

New solver option for improved torsor calculation on walls using T6-Q9 elements
Uniform diagrams for linear support actions for easier post-processing
Improved export of a meshed model through a .TXT file format
Update of the SRSS modal summation method for faster seismical analysis on simple models.

Advance Design 2015 is part of the GRAITEC Advance 2015 Suite that also consists of GRAITEC Advance BIM Connect 2015 and Advance CAD 2015.

GRAITEC BIM Connect 2015 allows sharing and synchronization with Autodesk Revit® 2015 models.
Advance CAD 2015 is a 2D / 3D CAD software that enables engineers and detailers to modify or create DWG drawings. The 2015 version brings many functional enhancements such as new toolboxes, angular dimensions on dynamic blocks, new dimension styles… as well as improved performance.

Advance Design Performance Benchmark

March 25, 2013 / graitecgroup / Leave a comment

The Advance Design finite element analysis engine is evaluated in this study.

The Advance Design FEM (Finite Element Method) analysis engine is a powerful tool that allows users to study complex structures, by dividing them into mesh units, where for each of the deformations, efforts and stresses can be solved by using known equations of elasticity.

Considering different sized models (real projects from customers), a timing comparison of mesh operations and the FEM engine is made between:

Advance Design 2010 version (with Service Pack 3) and
Advance Design 2012 version (with Service Pack 2).

As it can be seen from the following table, Advance Design 2012 (with Service Pack 2) has better times for mesh operations, but also for the total duration of the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) than Advance Design 2010 (with Service Pack 3) – see the “Deviation” columns which show the decrease of times.

Between the chosen Advance Design versions, differences in the analysis model may appear (especially regarding the number of loadings) due to revisions made in the windwalls rupture algorithm.

Note: Tests were realised on a desktop computer with the following configuration: Intel Core i5 3.2 GHz, 16 GB RAM, Win 7 x64

On larger models, notice the improvements with the meshing operation, as the necessary time for it was decreased by 86.2 %. Also, the total time necessary for running the FEA analysis has been reduced by 22.9%.

In conclusion, Advance Design has succeeded to manage large models with over 214 000 mesh nodes and over 1 285 000 degrees of freedom (DOF), and its possibilities are extended.

Concrete Design according to Eurocode 2 – Video

September 21, 2012 / graitecgroup / Leave a comment

Discover in few minutes the EC2 implementation in Advance Design 2012.
This video demonstrates the EC2 design capabilities in Advance Design: real reinforcement definition on beams-columns and plates and cracking detailed analysis. See also how you can get a detailed report with all intermediate values and formulas.

Jean BOUIN Rugby Stadium, done with ADVANCE Design

June 14, 2012 / graitecgroup / 1 Comment

The Jean BOUIN Stadium is a 20000 seater stadium, home to the Stade Français rugby team. More specifically, it hosts the Stade Français office, various sports facilities, reception halls, boxes and shops.

Main challenges of the project:

The control of the strain bracing is complex, with strain ground pressure in the infrastructure (5 blocks separated by expansion joints), and wind strain in the superstructure (3 blocks separated by expansion joints). The tilted north side also produces strains in the bracing system. Finally, the bracing is provided by shear walls in the basement and by shear walls and the portal frames in the superstructure bearing in mind the necessity to manage the interface between steel framework and concrete stand.
Stands are organized on several levels and are covered by an ultra high performance fiber concrete net (BFUHP).
The roofing is supported by a steel framework canopy.
The North stand, to a large extent, is based on an infrastructure, with 3 levels of basement (up to 10m of depth) which goes well beyond the stand area.
The structure is based on piles, peripheral walls in the infrastructure are “Parisian walls” (piles + thrown concrete) and the last basement is tanked.

Advance Design solution:

The conception of a 3D finite element model makes it possible to tacklesome of the project difficulties. In addition to the “traditional” calculation method, it allows the taking into consideration of the strain of bracing in the calculations, which remains difficult to integrate by other methods, given the complexity of the project.
The relative stiffness between hanging frames and walls make allowances for the strain spreading of these elements.
Simplification of the interface steel framework/stand concrete due to a more complete modeling from the beginning of the project. The structure has been modeled with precision and speed thanks to imported dxf files. Wind loads have been analyzed in a wind tunnel study and the lists of values from the study have been imported as text files from Excel

“For a project as big and complex as the Jean Bouin Stadium, with interfaces between different materials and numerous loadcases, a global 3D finite element model becomes virtually essential for facingtime constraints and optimization. Advance Design places itself as an ergonomic and reliable tool from the modeling to the results post-processing step.” Mr Laurent Mahé, Civil engineer – CTE Strasbourg

Advance Design webinar

May 10, 2012May 11, 2012 / graitecgroup / Leave a comment

Structural Engineers:
Do you need to use Eurocodes and reduce project time?

on Thursday, May 15^th, 2012 from 09:00 to 09:30 CET or 17:00 to 17:30 CET

Register online for this webinar

Advance Design® is specifically dedicated to structural engineers who require a professional and easy-to-use solution for simulating and optimizing all their projects. Advance Design® 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, and efficient result post-processing and automatic report generators. It automatically updates all reports, including graphical results when modifications are made to the model.

Advance Design TOP 5 benefits:

1 – Powerful modeling system dedicated to engineers: realistic rendering, floors managements for buildings, complete library of user-definable structural elements, load generator, etc.

2 – Advanced analysis features: automatic mesher, time history analysis, static, dynamic, non linear analysis, etc.

3 – Latest versions of Eurocodes implemented: automatic design of concrete and steel elements according to EC1, EC2, EC3, EC8, with 3D interaction curves, deflections checking, buckling and lateral buckling checking, connections design, etc.

4 – “Result Memory” technology: avoid repetitive tasks by updating automatically all the post-processing documents (views and reports) when changing the 3D model.

5 – BIM and Collaborative work: DXF / DWG / Revit imports, multi-user technology, BIM approach for data synchronization, interoperability with industry standards (SDNF, CIS/2, IFC), etc.

Advance Design: Professional Finite Element Analysis Software according to European standards Internationalization is a major theme of version 2012 of Advance Design® with the implementation of several new National Appendices to the Eurocodes 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8.

This version also allows users to go further in the application of the Eurocodes with its many additional features: management of buildings open to the wind, design of timber structures to EC5 or calculation of cracks as a function of applied reinforcement to EC2.

Advance Design® is the indispensable tool for the design of large scale projects.

GRAITEC will be exhibiting at NASCC 2012 in Dallas, Texas, April 18-20, 2012

March 30, 2012 / graitecgroup / Leave a comment

March 22nd, 2012. GRAITEC is pleased to announce that the GRAITEC North American team will be exhibiting at NASCC, the steel conference in Dallas, Texas, on April 18-20, 2012 at booth #610.

The GRAITEC team will be demonstrating Advance Steel 2012, the powerful and user-friendly 3D structural steel detailing and fabrication software that automatically creates drawings, BOMs and NC files, and that communicates with Autodesk® Revit® among other systems.

Version 2012 of Advance Steel provides the user with the choice of CAD platform, AutoCAD or the GRAITEC CAD platform. The team will be demonstrating Advance Steel with both platforms at the NASCC.

GRAITEC will also be demonstrating Advance Design 2012, a superior solution for the structural analysis and design of Reinforced Concrete, Steel and Timber structures according to the latest versions of Eurocodes and North American codes.

During the NASCC, GRAITEC is offering

3 workshops on Thursday, April 19:

Speed up your BIM 3D modeling for miscellaneous steel and plate work with Advance Steel
7:00 am – 7:45 am – Ft. Worth 1-2
Register Now

Accelerate your steel detailing with Advance Steel easy to use BIM solution
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Dallas 1
Register Now

BIM structural steel for the energy industry with Advance Steel
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm – Dallas 1
Register Now

SuperSTRESS gets Advance Design Cross Section module

February 29, 2012March 1, 2012 / graitecgroup / Leave a comment

SuperSTRESS continues to be a favorite among UK engineers offering simplicity to complex problems. With the release of SuperSTRESS 8.0C, as well as speed and performance improvements, SuperSTRESS gets a major update and now includes a new Cross Section Module expanding the functionality of the already ‘feature rich’ program. The new Cross Section module is already in use since several years in Advance Design (the structural analysis and design GRAITEC solution) and was proven and acknowledged by the market.

The new Cross Section Module calculates the section properties of any shape you wish to create, this can be done from an arbitrary contour, using standard circular, square, rectangular and polygonal shapes or even using any section from the Steel Section library. The lx torsional calculation can be done using an analytical or numerical method so any section’s torsional property can be calculated. These sections can then be independently saved and brought back into SuperSTRESS for inclusion in the analysis.
The Cross Section module is able to calculate the section’s characteristics for any composed section (multiple contours), having an option to consider the relative rigidity in case of heterogeneous cross sections (multiple materials), ex. standard reinforced concrete or mixed steel – concrete sections.

For reinforced concrete sections, the module is going further, providing the option to define manually / automatically the reinforcement for any concrete shape, including user defined polygonal shapes. The sections defined in this way can then be verified with interaction curves, or simply used in FEM analysis on linear elements with corrected rigidity. For steel sections, the user is able to define calculations points for normal stress (Sigma XX) in a simple and intuitive interface.

If you would like to find out more about SuperSTRESS 8.0c or upgrade your license speak to a member of the Graitec UK team on 0844 543 8888.

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Advance Design Service Pack 1

November 17, 2011 / graitecgroup / 2 Comments

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.

Service Pack 1 of Advance Design 2011 has been released and includes many corrections and enhancements for the implementation of the Eurocodes:

Eurocode 1

Improvements to combination management: option to group several load cases, Psi coefficients in the property list of families, option to define several live load types in the same model…