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📺MasterFrame Automatic Load Case Generator

Posted on December 5th, 2017 in Analysis

For Manual Entry, visit 📄 Load Cases (with Auto Load Case Generator)

Summary

The MasterFrame Load Case Generator is a new tool designed for the rapid generation of loading cases. The software demonstrates its functionality, highlighting flexibility and ease of use in handling complex load permutations .

Prerequisites and Setup

Before using the generator, the software must be configured to use the Eurocode and UK National Annex. Historically, load cases were created manually by specifying load factors, but the new tool bypasses this manual addition.

A critical setup step is defining wind directions under "loads and wind panel loading". If only one wind direction is set, the generator will only produce one set of wind directions.

Generating and Managing Load Cases

The Load Case Generator is accessed by going into 'loading cases' and selecting the option to edit loading cases.

Default Load Cases

The system provides default loading cases. Examples demonstrated include:

• Dead plus Live: This combination uses any D0 and D1 load groups plus L1s. It generates cases for both ultimate and service limits (to 610A and B) and includes equivalent horizontal notional forces.

• Dead plus Live plus Wind: This uses D1, D0, L1, and all wind groups (W all). These are generally set as leading loads. Combinations are generated for serviceability and ultimate (610A and B), including wind internal and external components (W1, P1, and S1) .

• Dead plus Wind: This generates ultimate and service cases (to 610 A&B) . In this case, the dead load is set as favorable to ensure the minimum dead load is used .

• Other Basics: Live load only (serviceability only) and Dead load (service only) are also included in the default set .

The equivalent horizontal notional force is included only as per the wind analysis, meaning it will follow the same direction as the wind (e.g., W1, the zero direction).

Load Group and Permutation Control

Users can define specific leading loads (such as wind and live) , which allows the system to generate different permutations of those loads . Users can also instruct the generator to only include load groups that are actively used (e.g., excluding D0 if it is never used) . However, this is described as "useful but dangerous" because new load groups added later will not be included unless the cases are regenerated .

Options for Handling Existing Cases

When generating new cases, the user has three options for managing existing ones :

1. Add to the existing: Keeps existing cases and adds the newly generated ones .

2. Update all the existing: Finds and replaces older versions with new ones, and adds any new cases .

3. Replace the existing: Deletes all existing cases and replaces them entirely with the newly generated set . This option is highlighted as the most important .

Impact of Wind Direction Selection

The selection of wind directions significantly impacts the total number of loading cases generated:

• When only one wind direction was set, using the "replace" option resulted in 13 loading cases .

• When the system was configured to include all four principal directions, using the "replace" option generated 37 loading cases . These permutations included W1s through W5s, along with alternate versions and serviceability cases .

Customization and Templates

The tool is highly flexible, allowing users to create their own cases at any stage .

• Users can copy an existing case (e.g., "dead plus live plus wind") and modify it, such as setting the live load to be favorable (minimum live) to create a separate permutation .

• Customized load case sets can be saved as a default or as a template to be pulled in later . Templates are particularly useful for generating complex combinations for specific structural types, such as concrete frames (which may require specific D1/D2 max/min combinations) .

• Users can tidy up their load cases by deleting unwanted permutations or specific load effects (e.g., removing wind analysis cases if irrelevant for a concrete frame, or deleting equivalent forces) .

• Specific default settings can be turned off (e.g., turning off "dead only" if unused) .

Summary with Timestamps

The following table provides a summary of the MasterFrame Load Case Generator demonstration, including corresponding timestamps:

Time Range	Summary of Event or Feature
00:00:02,160 – 00:00:13,040	Introduction of the new MasterFrame Load Case Generator designed for the rapid generation of loading cases. Historically, users created load factors manually by accessing 'loads' and 'load cases'.
00:00:29,520 – 00:00:58,880	Prerequisites and Setup: The software must first be configured to use the Eurocode and UK National Annex. Crucially, the user must define wind directions under 'loads' and 'wind panel loading'. If only one wind direction is set, only one set of wind directions will be generated.
00:01:08,320 – 00:01:18,960	The Load Case Generator is accessed by going into 'loading cases' and selecting the option to edit loading cases.
00:01:19,960 – 00:01:47,039	Default Case: Dead plus Live: This combination uses D0 and D1 load groups plus L1s. It generates cases for both ultimate and service limits (to 610A and B) and includes equivalent horizontal notional forces.
00:01:48,000 – 00:02:07,040	Notional Forces and Basic Cases: The equivalent horizontal notional force is included only as per the wind analysis, following the W1, the zero direction. Basic serviceability cases for Live load only and Dead load only are also included.
00:02:07,760 – 00:02:40,400	Default Case: Dead plus Live plus Wind: This combination uses D1, D0, L1, and W all. Both Dead/Live and Wind are set as leading loads. It generates serviceability and ultimate (610A and B) cases, including wind components (W1, P1, and S1) and equivalent horizontal forces.
00:02:41,760 – 00:03:01,600	Default Case: Dead plus Wind: Generates ultimate and service cases (to 610 A&B). The dead load is set as favorable to ensure the minimum dead load is used.
00:03:02,000 – 00:03:17,280	Leading Load Permutations: Identifying wind and live as leading loads allows the system to generate different permutations of those loads.
00:03:23,000 – 00:03:41,520	Load Group Inclusion: Users can choose to only include load groups that are actively used (e.g., excluding D0). However, this is noted as "useful but dangerous" because newly added load groups will not be included later unless the cases are regenerated.
00:03:42,160 – 00:04:02,000	Management Options: When generating new cases, users have three options: 1) Add to the existing, 2) Update all the existing (finds and replaces old versions and adds new ones), or 3) Replace the existing. Replacing is noted as the most important option.
00:04:03,360 – 00:04:47,400	Result (Single Wind Direction): When configured for one wind direction, using the 'replace' option resulted in 13 loading cases. These cases included permutations where wind was dominant or live was dominant, and where dead was minimum/wind was maximum.
00:04:49,500 – 00:05:22,700	Configuration Change (Multiple Wind Directions): The system was reconfigured to include all four principal directions in the wind panel generation.
00:05:25,900 – 00:06:00,700	Result (Four Wind Directions): Using 'replace' with four principal directions resulted in 37 loading cases. These include permutations of W1s through W5s, alternate versions, and serviceability cases.
00:06:02,460 – 00:06:33,260	Custom Case Creation: The tool allows users to create their own cases by copying an existing case (e.g., Dead plus Live plus Wind) and modifying factors (e.g., setting the live load to be favorable/minimum live).
00:06:33,860 – 00:06:50,300	Saving Custom Sets: Customized load case sets can be saved as a default or as a template to be pulled in later, demonstrating the tool's flexibility.
00:07:11,100 – 00:07:40,060	Template Usage: Templates are useful for complex combinations, such as those required for concrete frames (e.g., D1/D2 max/min combinations).
00:07:53,340 – 00:08:35,100	Tidying Up: Users can tidy their load cases by deleting unwanted permutations or specific load effects (e.g., removing wind analysis cases or equivalent forces) to be left with standard permutations.
00:08:40,380 – 00:09:21,980	Default Reset and Configuration: The system can be reset to default settings, allowing the user to turn off specific unused cases (e.g., "dead only") and define leading/variable loads before replacing all cases.
00:09:22,620 – 00:09:30,300	Conclusion: The demonstration emphasizes how flexible and easy the MasterFrame tool is for handling loading cases.