Analysis features for accurate and reliable results
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Analysis features
True analysis of global steel structures – the 7 DOF beam element
Consteel is the only structural design software that uses the special 7 degrees-of-freedom (7 DOF) beam element for all the global structural analysis types. The 7 DOF element is specially developed for thin-walled members where the warping of the cross-section is of high importance in the behavior. Modeling is always done in 3D and various number of analysis types including special and unique ones (like global buckling, buckling sensitivity or imperfection analysis) are developed to assist you to get to know the true behavior of your structure and design it optimally.
Complete second-order analysis
On a spatially deformed slender steel bar member, the acting loads cause secondary effects way more complex than the well-known P-δ effect. With Consteel’s 7 DOF finite element, the second-order effects caused by loads on every spatial deformation component can be calculated. Consequently, the effects of any kind of imperfection, eccentricity of loads, supports or joints on deformations and internal forces can be considered in the design.
Global buckling analysis
Global buckling analysis serves Consteel’s automatic stability design based on the General Method of EN 1993-1-1. It is a linear eigenvalue analysis performed on the whole structural model calculating the elastic critical load levels and connected buckling shapes showing the relevant modes of stability loss. All global buckling modes (flexural, torsional, and lateral-torsional buckling, and any interactions of these) are calculated, visualized and can be used for automatic design.
Buckling sensitivity analysis
The global model-based buckling analysis results a number of different, yet still relevant buckling shapes. For the design of individual structural members, identifying the critical buckling shapes and their associated slenderness values is essential. Buckling sensitivity analysis is an efficient tool that provides these key insights. It determines the critical structural members based on the deformation energies of the buckling mode shapes. This innovative procedure – developed by Consteel – eliminates the need for manually defining stability design parameters (buckling lengths, unrestrained lengths), while still accurately reflecting the real structural configuration.
Imperfection analysis
Direct consideration of structural imperfections is often required by the code, while in other cases, it represents a compelling alternative solution for stability design. In Consteel, any type of global imperfection – whether it’s initial bow, sway, or notional load – can be easily defined and and their effects can be precisely calculated thanks to the unique 7 DOF finite element and complete second order analysis. The appropriate definition of the amplitude of imperfections is vital, which is neither explicitly ruled in the standard nor simple to determine. Consteel provies a unique development of its own to handle this problem. The Overall Imperfection Method automatically determines imperfection amplitudes using standard buckling and lateral-torsional buckling curves combined with buckling analysis, leading the imperfection analysis to results that are completely consistent with the reduction factor method.
Exact analysis of continuous frame corner regions
Corner zones have usually significantly different behavior than the connected beam members. Since these zones are very short, the behavior is influenced dominantly by the shear effect. Frame corner regions are semi-automatically recognised in Consteel and specific methods are applied to them during analyis and design with the consideration of kinematic constraint elements between the 7. DOF displacements of the neighbouring members (warping transfer) according to the chosen frame corner topology.
Exact analysis of structural eccentricities
In Consteel, the structure can be modelled as it is in reality concerning eccentricities too. Deformations and internal forces caused by the eccentricities of loads, supports or connections are fully considered. No further action is needed after correct modelling to apply the effects in design calculations.
Load combination filtering
In nearly all structural design projects, a major challenge arises from the vast number of load cases and combinations defined by standards. While many of these combinations are neither relevant nor critical for design, it is often unclear which ones can be safely disregarded. As a result, the optimization process becomes burdened with excessive and unnecessary calculations.
To address this issue, the load combination filtering function provides a powerful solution. By leveraging the type of load combinations and prior analysis and design results, users can define a variety of filtering rules to identify only the most relevant cases. The refined list of load combinations can then be saved for different stages of the optimization process, streamlining the design workflow and significantly reducing computation time.
Immersive visualization of the true structural behavior
The key uniqueness of Consteel lies in its ability to model real structural behavior as accurately as possible, building automation and unique design procedures upon this foundation.
A crucial element of this approach is the immersive visualization, which enables a realistic representation of the deformations associated with the actual structural behavior—whether they result from applied loads or buckling shapes.
This visualization goes beyond conventional displacement components by also incorporating warping and other local deformations of structural elements, making the representation smoother and more realistic. It almost depicts the structure as if the beams and plates were analyzed using shell models.
Why is this important?
Because a visually striking and intuitive representation conveys the structural behavior far more effectively than even multiple pages of calculations or tables.
How can Consteel enhance your work?
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