Structural Newsletter October 2011

We are excited to share some info on our exciting new software releases, events, activities, and new technology partnerships.

Our newsletter has four sections for easy navigation. The 'Product News' section will provide news on new product launches, as well as highlighted updates and enhancements. 'Tips, Tricks and Tutorials' will help you get the most out of the Bentley applications you're already using, and 'Events' will let you know where and what we've exhibited or presented, and where we're coming soon. Lastly, 'News You Can Use' will highlight news from Bentley, our users or other industry resources that could help you in your efforts.

Want to stay connected and up to date? Follow us on Twitter at @BentleyBIM, or sign up for the
Be Communities site to stay in touch and let us know how we are doing.

We hope you find this Structural Analysis and Design Newsletter a useful source for news and resources related to technology for building design, analysis, documentation, construction and delivery.

Best Regards,
Bentley Structural Team

Click here to view previous editions of the Structural Analysis and Design Newsletter.

IN THIS ISSUE!

Product News
- RAM Structural System V8i (SELECTseries 4)
- RAM Structural System – Revit Link
- RAM Elements V8i (SELECTseries 3)
- STAAD.Pro V8i (SELECTseries 3)
- STAAD(X) Tower V8i (SELECTseries 3)
- New STAAD Foundation Advanced V8i

Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials
- RAM Structural System: Hanging Columns
- New STAAD Foundation Advanced: Overview

Events
- ACI’s Convention
- PCI Convention
- ACI’s Strategic Development Council
- 2011 SEAOC Convention
- Highlighted Upcoming Events

News You Can Use
- Hot Product Awards
- New Structural Case Studies
- Blog and Social Media Updates
- New Help Documents
- Special Structural Training Offer
- FREE RAM Training
- The 2011 Be Inspired Awards
- News Coverage & Press Releases

Product News

RAM Structural System V8i (SELECTseries 4) Released

Allen Adams, Product Manager for RAM Structural System, Bentley Systems, Inc.

RAM Structural System V8i SELECTseries 4 Release 14.04.02 is a patch version, resolves issues in V14.04. It also includes some enhancements, most notably the ability to graphically edit the reinforcing bars in the RAM Concrete Beam module and the ability to display column axial loads in the 3D view in RAM Concrete Column module. Some refinements were also made to the SidePlate connection design feature.

The Release Notes for V14.04.02 can be found here. This new version is now available for download from the Bentley SELECTserver.

RAM Structural System – Revit Link V3.06.01 Released

The link between the RAM Structural System and Revit has been updated. The link provides powerful two-way integration between the two programs. The RAM Structural System – Revit Link V3.06.01 is now available for download from Bentley SELECTservices.

This version is compatible with Revit 2012, and both 32 bit and 64 bit versions are available. This version provides a more robust and complete interface between the RAM Structural System and Revit, and several transformation issues were improved, providing a smoother exchange between models.

Several valuable resources, including the Release Notes, User Guide and Tutorial can be found on the
Be Communities site. This new version is now available for download from the Bentley SELECTserver.

RAM Elements V8i (SELECTseries 3) V12.5 Released

Francisco Diego, Product Manager for RAM Elements & RAM Connection,
Bentley Systems, Inc.

RAM Elements V8i SELECTseries 3 Release 12.05.00 is an update that resolves issues found in v12.00.00. It also includes some nice enhancements like the update to the Masonry Design Specification TMS 402-08/ACI 530-08/ASCE 5-08. This update to the masonry standard, includes Strength Design, Allowable Stress Design and Seismic Provisions. Additional features include better selection tools for nodes, members and shells, besides a refinement to the integration between the 3D model and the wall design modules.

The Release Notes will be posted soon. This new version will be available for download from the
Bentley SELECTserver in the first week of October.

STAAD.Pro V8i (SELECTseries 3) Released

Carlos Aguera, Product Manager for STAAD.Pro, Bentley Systems, Inc.

The latest commercial release of STAAD.Pro V8i (SELECTseries 3) is focused on integration and enhancements on a number of key design codes. The Revision History document in the ReadMe file lists all the updates and modifications implemented in this release. The key set of new features includes the following:

• Integration
  • ISM Integration through StructLink
  • STAAD.foundation design using a STAAD.Pro license
  • Export to SACS
• Enhanced design codes
  • Eurocode 3 shear buckling, slender circular hollow section design, user defined section design and additional National Annexes
  • IS 1800:2007-Working Stress
  • API 2A WSD 21st Ed. Update
  • Eurocode 2 Slab Design in RC Designer
• Wind Load Generation per ASCE 7-10
• Eurocode Load Combination Generator macro
• Single Mass Model
• Rigid floor diaphragm command
• Self weight loading for Surface Objects
• Additional steel databases, European cold formed and Japanese tubes

This new version is now available for download from the Bentley SELECTserver.

STAAD(X) Tower V8i (SELECTseries 3) Released

Pankaj Taneja, Product Manager for STAAD(X) Tower, Bentley Systems, Inc.

STAAD(X) Tower V8i SELECTseries 3 release has added several new features to the Self-supporting Tower module including the Self-supporting Tower modeling using section configuration, revised wind load generation per TIA standards, ability to include hip members in bracing patterns, automatic calculation of effective buckling length and slenderness ratio of bracing members, easy usage of geometry table to modify and revise structural geometry, and improved report tables.

The SELECTseries 3 release also includes the automatic wind load generation of discrete appurtenances for both monopoles and self-supporting tower based on both TIA standards and allows users to consider feed lines inside monopoles. The RFS and Swedcom antenna catalogs are included in this release. The next release will include support for Indian design standards and the following features:

• Monopole
  • Design calculations per TIA-222-G addendum 2
• Self-Supporting Tower
  • Feedline Ladder
  • Cluster feedlines wind load calculations
  • Auto Load combination generator per both EIA/TIA-222-F and TIA-222-G standards
• Indian Design
  • Metric units
  • Revise “Wind Definition” feature to calculate wind load per IS875
  • Optimization
  • Report Tables

This new version is now available for download from the Bentley SELECTserver.

New STAAD Foundation Advanced V8i Released

Apurba Tribedi, Product Manager for STAAD Foundation Advanced,
Bentley Systems, Inc.

Bentley is pleased to announce the release of our new product STAAD Foundation Advanced V8i. It is an advanced version of the STAAD.foundation with major improvements to features and additional capabilities. Some of the new modules included are the annular ring tank foundation, drilled pier foundation, octagonal footing in general mode, and strap footing which are two isolated footings connected by a grade beam. The version includes improved interoperability with Microsoft Excel and enhanced drawing and calculation outputs.

To learn more about STAAD Foundation Advanced, click here.

This new version is now available for download from the Bentley SELECTserver.

Tips, Tricks and Tutorials

RAM Structural System: Hanging Columns

Allen Adams, Product Manager for RAM Structural System, Bentley Systems, Inc.

The ability to model, analyze and design hanging columns has been added to the RAM Structural System V8i Release 14.04. Hanging columns can be wide flange shapes, HSS, double and single angles, channels, round bars or flat bar shapes. The same functionality that is available for columns such as modeling, designing, viewing, etc., is also available for hanging columns. Just like regular columns, hanging columns can be sloped.

See it in action on YouTube. Click here to view a brief video demonstration of hanging columns.

New STAAD Foundation Advanced: Overview

Apurba Tribedi, Product Manager for STAAD Foundation Advanced,
Bentley Systems, Inc.

Get a quick overview of the new STAAD Foundation Advanced interface and plant foundation types. See the new ribbon bar interface, foundation design wizards and improved interoperability capabilities.

See it in action. Click here to view a video demonstration of STAAD Foundation Advanced.

Events

Bentley to Present at ACI Convention

Bentley’s Development Manager, Jonathan Hirsch will present Practical Deflection Prediction of Concrete Slabs at the American Concrete Institute’s Fall Convention on October 18 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Today's slab designers face a quandary - Economic efficiency demands the use of very thin slabs, however the deflection performance of these slabs is difficult to predict. Exacerbating this situation is that the construction methods and sequences to be utilized are unknown at the time of design. This paper looks at the predictions of several deflection calculation methods and then compares them to actual measured deflections in both the laboratory and field. The variability of deflections and the reasonable range of predictions are also discussed concluding with recommendations for design practice utilizing off-the-shelf software.

To learn more about ACI or to register for this convention, please visit here.

Bentley to Present at the 57th Annual PCI Convention and National Bridge Conference

Bentley Presented at ACI’s Strategic Development Council

Bentley’s Director of Product Management, Jim Barr presented Software Interoperability Framework for Reinforced Concrete to the American Concrete Institute’s Strategic Development Council (SDC) on September 21 in Chicago.

SDC provides a first-of-its-kind forum for the leaders in the concrete industry, government, academia, and customers to discuss the key issues and challenges that impact the concrete industry. The organization then develops the initiatives and framework by recognizing industry critical technologies, identifying barriers to technology acceptance and implementation, and acting as a catalyst to remove those barriers.

To learn more about SDC, please visit here.

Bentley Presented at 2011 SEAOC Convention

Bentley’s Software Research Engineer, Dr. Rakesh Pathak, presented his latest study at the 2011 SEAOC Convention on September 21 to 24 in Las Vegas. His study addresses various “Sources of Nonlinear Deformations in Light Frame Wood Shear Walls”. His work extends the popular virtual work based displacement participation approach in a nonlinear analysis framework. Dr. Rakesh Pathak graduated from Virginia Tech. His past research involves advanced structural analysis with focus on nonlinear dynamic analysis of light frame wood structures.

To view the manuscript, click here. To learn more about SEAOC, please visit here.

Highlighted Upcoming Events

Free eSeminar: AutoPIPE vs. CAESAR II, Why should an expert in Stress Analysis switch to AutoPIPE?

News You Can Use

Bentley Receives Three Hot Product Awards

Modern Steel Construction magazine recently announced the winners of their 2011 Hot Product awards. The RAM Structural System V8i Release 14.04 is a recipient of the Hot Product Merit award, while Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) and ProStructures are recipients of Hot Product Honorable Mention awards. These awards are given out annually to products that provide a significant benefit to the steel construction industry, including fabrication equipment, machinery, tools, hardware and software.

Bentley Systems is honored to be recognized for its influence and impact on and contribution to the construction industry. To read more about the awards, click here.

New Structural Case Studies

Here are some of the new case studies we published this quarter: