The user can define new materials and properties and add them to the library that saves them for future use. Specific manufacturer materials can thus be added. Custom materials can be defined with isotropic or orthotropic parameters and the associated material values assigned for each. This allows the user to select customer specified materials, which may be unique to the project. In addition, when modeling an existing structure it can be useful to assign a specific expected value to the building’s existing material, especially if the material properties were unknown at the time of construction.
The included library of common shapes can be user edited, or new shapes added. Shapes can be drawn graphically or the details imported from a dbase format supplied by an industry association, customer, or component manufacturer. Modeling structures for industrial or plant applications are simplified and the versatility of the engineering applications enhanced.
The user can define nodal support in a global reference or relative direction, input the stiffness values, and assign nonlinear resistance values. Each node’s support conditions are listed in the table browser and can be edited or found as needed for complete model control by the engineer. Further support stiffness values and end releases can be defined for columns. The engineer can confidently and accurately model buildings that include combinations of steel and concrete materials.
Rigid, spring, gap, hinge, and link elements allow highly accurate modeling of connections and supports. Depending on the element, the stiffness, resistance, mode of action (tension or compression), or reference orientation, can be defined for each type. Membrane-beam connections, bolted connections, plate contacts, girder-purlin connections are a few examples of how the engineer can use these special elements for accurate modeling. Allows for damping to be assigned to members to find the results when special devices are anticipated.
Translational and rotational, and free or fixed constraints can be defined for nodes. Default choices for typical structures assign predefined settings appropriate for plane truss girders, plane frames, grillages, membranes, and plates. The model will then include the least number of unknowns allowing for a faster analysis.
Domains can be defined for floors, walls and any other complex surface geometry and multiple domains can be used in a structural model. A domain can further be defined as a part, and the engineer can model and review the analysis on a domain-to-domain basis. Holes and meshes can be specified by the user to obtain the geometric accuracy needed for the analysis result.
Loads can be assigned to nodes, lines, domains and surfaces. Force, fluid, seismic, dynamic/time-history, thermal load and other types can be defined for modeling residential, commercial or institutional buildings, industrial structures, water tanks, towers, etc. are available to the user. Moving loads and pre-tensioned loads are included.
Load combinations can be defined by the engineer that can include one or more load cases representing different loading conditions. Load groups can be defined as permanent, incidental or exceptional. The load cases in each load combination are taken into account through the assigned load factors. Dead loads, live loads, wind, snow, ice, crane runway, earthquake, support settlement, explosion and other engineer requested static loads can be modeled The engineer can see the analysis results for an entire structure, and by using the parts and section lines and surface tools, see the results on individual elements of the structure. The engineer has a macro-analysis tool with a micro-analysis viewer. Load combinations can be auto created according to Eurocode and national annexes.
AxisVM lets you perform linear and nonlinear static, linear and nonlinear dynamic, vibration, buckling, dynamic, seismic, pushover analysis.
New analysis engine optimized to use multiple core processors and accessing physical memory over 16GB on 32/64-bit operating systems (can be 5-20 times faster)Analysis times and parameters are saved into the model. Information dialog allows a review of them
Performs a linear static analysis. The term linear means that the applied load and the computed response (displacement, internal force) is in a linear relation.
Nonlinear static analysis. Displacement or force controlled incremental iterative solution method. Includes large displacement analysis for frame and shell structures. User defined parameters include force control, displacement control, and load factors. The number of increments can also be specified. Models can be analyzed with or without reinforcement.
AxisVM generates equivalent static loads (for each vibration mode shape) which are then applied to the model in a static analysis. internal force results obtained for each mode shape are summed using the method described in design code specifications.
After defining tendon properties and the tensioning process, AxisVM determines the immediate losses and the equivalent loads for the end of tensioning (load case name-T0). After completing a static analysis it determines the time dependent losses and the long term equivalent loads from the result of quasi-permanent combinations (load case name-TI). Tendon trajectory tables can be generated with user-defined steps.
Pushover analysis. Calculates the nonlinear force-displacement relationship of the structure, gives information about the structure behavior at the predefined performance level
Buckling analysis. Determines the required number of buckling mode shapes and critical load parameters. AxisVM verifies whether the lowest eigenvalues has been determined. User determined load multipliers and and the number of mode shapes required for evaluation.
Vibration analysis. Determines the lowest natural frequencies and mode shapes corresponding to the free vibration of an undamped linear structure with no external loads. AxisVM verifies whether the lowest eigenvalues has been determined. The system mass matrix has a diagonal structure and includes only translational mass components.
AxisVM performs static, vibration and buckling analysis. The structural engineer can study the behavior of the structure by viewing the graphic displays and considering the tables of results.
he user can view any of the analysis results by selecting the type of analysis, envelope or critical values with Min/Max definition, undeformed or deformed shapes; diagram, section line, isoline or isosurface display. The engineer can view the results in 2D or 3D.
The actual result of the load combinations and chosen node, line or surface element result can be displayed. Labels of these results can be assigned to the corresponding entities. The engineer can see the graphic view and note the result label detail concurrently. Changing from view to view, component to component, or using multiple windows to view the results of different result components allow the engineer to quickly grasp the behavior of the structure.
Displacements, internal forces, stresses and influence lines are result components that the user can select. A min/max value can be requested for each of these components and the location of these min/max conditions will be highlighted graphically. The user can zoom on a specific area and then move to the elements tab to inspect the possible factors that influenced the result.
Concrete plate, beam/column or steel beam/column design based on the results of the analysis; integrate the results of the calculations from the AxisVM Model. Modifications based on the design results can be made directly on the model for an interactive design process.
Reinforcement for membranes, plates and shells is based on the 3rd stress condition. The engineer can specify the type of concrete, the steel rebar properties, and the top and bottom concrete cover. Calculations are related to the load cases and combinations. The engineer has access to an accurate and fast design process.
Engineers can verify that the potential crack opening of the concrete element meets the requirements of the design code or user defined values. The designer can specify the long/short duration of the requirements and find the appropriate value.
Graphic and tabular numeric values of the load-moment diagram as compared to the design internal forces produces a reinforcement value that is safe and in compliance with the selected design code. The parameters for calculation of the load-moment strength interaction diagram can be user defined. Display modes for the interaction diagram can be set by the user in the column check mode.
Longitudinal reinforcement about the y or z-axis and the spacing of vertical stirrups considering the shear forces are included in the beam design function. The user can select the cross-section; the concrete and steel rebar materials and the concrete cover for the top and bottom. Tension, compression and minimum reinforcement is displayed.
A selection of cross-section shapes is available for design, and the program calculates the member resistances. The user can input the flexural, lateral-torsional, web shear/buckling and other parameters. The results are displayed graphically and in the results tables. The user can input the joint geometry for plates, bolt types, rows and spacing, and specify the materials. The efficiency diagrams based on the obtained results of the design, allow the engineer to easily identify the critical parts of the members.
The complete model details, locations and values of the materials, cross-sections, references, nodes, finite elements, domains …and the complete result details, locations and values for the displacements, internal forces and stresses are included in the Table browser. The engineer can view the model graphically and review the components and results of the model on an item-by-item basis. Complete understanding of the model and the analysis results is easy.
Model data and result data can be limited by selection of a part or other current graphic selection. The engineer can review only what he needs to review.
The data from a selected table can be exported in Dbase, HTML, TXT or RTP format. These exported files can be incorporated into any compatible software, database or report. Times consuming reporting tasks are eliminated.
The user can change the values of loads, supports, materials, cross-sections easily. After an analysis, the user might globally change all columns to a different cross-section, if results show that a different size would meet the demands and offer economy.
The integrated report maker provides the engineer with the ability to create custom reports by selecting only those model data tables and graphic results needed. Users can define a style template required by regulatory authorities or contractor, saving time and enhancing cooperation.
Model changes automatically update tables exported from the Table Browser and incorporated in the report, with the updated model data and results. The user has confidence that the report submitted is the most recent and accurate.
The user can see a result table or graphic image and simply one-button click to save it to the report maker. Tables and graphic views from any step of the modeling process can be saved to the report maker. Benchmark increments like post geometry import, final geometry design, definitions of finite elements, loading conditions, and final results are all available to save as result tables and images. And of course, user defined part or section views and their independent parameters or results can be saved too. The engineer can build a report that includes the tables and images from every important step as he finishes it, and can later edit the final report to reflect only the values needed. The report can include bitmap images (.BMP, .JPG) and Windows Metafiles (.WMF)
