S-FRAME - S-FRAME Software for Structural Engineers

S-FRAME^® (Structural Analysis)

Release 10.0

The S-FRAME enhancements are specifically designed to support new industry trends for more advanced forms of dynamic analysis, including seismic loading analysis. and the trend towards larger and more complex models, due to more prevalent use of 'shell' finite elements (FE's) and the influence of BIM (Building Information Modeling). Such models present challenges both in terms of organization and processing. To assist, S-FRAME® R10.0 includes enhanced processing power by leveraging the potential of new 64-bit operating systems and multi-core processors. Further assistance is provided by new automated processing of FE results, enhanced organization and productivity functions and improved BIM links.

S-FRAME Structural Office includes our complete suite of analysis and design tools: S-FRAME Analysis, S-STEEL Design, S-PAD Design, S-CONCRETE Design and S-LINE Design.

S-FRAME Analysis can also be purchased as a stand alone analysis and design product available in three forms; Standard, Professional, and Enterprise.

All editions of S-FRAME^® include:

· Fast dynamic graphical input and output including rendered views.

· Updated graphical interface with many enhancements to speed model creation and editing.

· Model organizer – simple user defined grouping of input and output into folders.

· Aerial window – view models in different configurations and orientations quickly and easily.

· Enhanced clone tool for rapid generation of large repetitive structures.

· Staged construction analysis allows 4D analysis of structures with discrete changes over time.

· Physical member modeling giving a wide range of benefits including a more simplified model, better results assessment, a more simplified set of member design criteria, and better integration with drawing and fabrication tools.

· Automatic generation of trusses, multi-storey frames, arches, circles and spirals.

· User defined coordinate system – cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical to aid in the modeling process.

· Superb editing with cut, copy, paste plus mirror, rotate and move commands.

· Full undo and redo with structure and data integrity checks.

· International steel section and material database plus facilities to input tapered sections and custom sections using generic shape wizards or a simple graphical editor.

· Dynamic grid lines to aid in complex modeling.

· Supports non-sequential joint numbering.

· No practical limit on the size of the model.

· Merge files with existing structures.

· Automatic one-way (short, long, or in any direction) or two-way area load distribution.

· Free-body forces tool for calculation of storey shears.

· Automatic calculation of notional loads and storey drift to aid with code-compliance.

· Wall integration lines for automatic calculation and easy output of FE-modeled shear wall forces, which can be exported to wall design and detailing software like S-CONCRETE™.

· Powerful FE slab designer supporting various building standards.

· Integrated Structural Steel Design (S-STEEL™) and Reinforced Concrete Design (S-CONCRETE™).

· 3rd party product integration – TEDDS^®, Tekla^® Structures, Autodesk^® Revit^®, 3D+™, Orion™, Bentley Structural™, ProSteel 3D and more.

· Import from and export to AutoCAD^® via DXF files.

· Export to Microsoft Word^® and TEDDS^®.

· Fully functional spreadsheet input/output (copy/paste).

· Generate Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) compatible files for 3D viewing.

· Improved mesh generators for specified regions using triangular or quadrilateral elements or a mixture of both elements. Six new panel types have been introduced to allow triangular element meshing, quadrilateral element meshing and mixed meshing (combination of tri and quad).

· Strip integration lines for automatic calculation and output of FE modeled slab/beam sectional forces.

· Exports accelerations and velocities for time history results to .mdb files.

· Increased the maximum number of load cases per combination from 24 to 100.

· Increased the maximum number of panels from 500 to 999.

· In the Preferences dialog box, the Solver Tab includes a new option to use the “Console Version” of the solver. This option provides better performance (and necessary) for very large structures.

· Response spectrum curve generators for NBCC 2005, IBC 2006, and ASCE 7-05.

· Significant improvements in the File Merge capabilities. You can merge all geometry and all loads except time history initial conditions and tendon loads. Folders are also merged. A report can also be generated in HTML format which displays all the changes to the resulting merged model as compared to the original resident model.

· SPARSE analysis engine (potentially orders of magnitude faster than previous versions) including support for the 64-bit operating system which permits analysis of mega-structures taking advantage of memory (RAM) greater than 4GB.

· Multiple instances of S-FRAME^® can be run allowing for example instant comparison of results from multiple files for sensitivity analysis.

· Wind load generator in accordance with API Specification 4F:2008.

Standard Edition:

· Beam, truss, linear spring and inactive elements.

· 3 and 4 node plate, membrane and shell elements.

· Simple creation of panels (and holes) with automatic meshing and loading options.

· Rigid and flexible diaphragm modeling.

· Support for rigid offsets.

Professional Edition:

(in addition to the Standard Edition)

· Buckling analysis.

· Stressed and unstressed vibration (eigenvalue) analysis.

· Mode shape/deflection animation.

· P-Delta (2 cycle iterative) analysis.

· Time history analysis:

- constant or variable time step;

- import time history data;

- force or acceleration & time history functions.

· Moving load analysis:

- multiple loads on multiple lanes;

- ‘lanes’ may follow any 3D path ;

- influence line diagrams;

- definable vehicle patterns.

· Response spectrum analysis:

- equivalent static force procedure (ESFP) for NBCC 2005, IBC 2006

- equivalent lateral forces (ELF) for ASCE 7-05

- option to scale to code base shear (ESFP/ELF)

- five different modal combination methods including CQC and SRSS

- spectra can be saved for reuse and merged;

- torsional sensitivity evaluation and accidental torsion calculations.

Enterprise Edition:

(in addition to the Professional Edition)

· Advanced non-linear static and time history analyses using full Newton Raphson iterative solver with incremental loading.

· Support for both linear and non-linear base motion time history and multi-support base motion time history analysis with the ability to combine dynamic and static load cases.

· Non-linear moving load analysis.

· Sophisticated 3 and 4 node elements participate fully in P-Delta and non-linear analysis.

· Tension/compression only elements.

· True cable elements.

· Non-linear ground springs supporting hook and gap characteristics.

· Staged construction (4D analysis with discrete increments in time).

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