📄 Getting Started with MasterKey Concrete Design
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Getting Started with MasterKey Concrete Design

 The MasterSeries Concrete Design programs enable the Engineer to detail as part of the design process, thus integrating the analysis, design, detailing and drafting processes into a single operation. 

As the element is detailed the program automatically checks the proposed cage of reinforcement against the design requirements of BS 8110 or EC2.  Non-compliance is graphically highlighted on the screen enabling the engineer to change the reinforcement accordingly.

Using the automatic design options, a multi-storey plane or space frame with alternate loading can be set up, analysed, designed and detailed in a few minutes.  There are automated options for design, lapping and curtailment as well as an option to match the reinforcement over column heads.

The programs are easy to use, extremely reliable, very flexible and will lead to considerable savings in a busy design office.

 Programs covered in this chapter

  1. MasterKey Concrete Beams and Slabs
  2. MasterKey Concrete Columns
  3. MasterKey Concrete Pad Foundations
  4. MasterBeam Concrete Beam Designer

 Notes:

  1. .This version of the manual is written for version 2025 of the MasterSeries.  Any subsequent versions of the MasterSeries will have additional features but the general procedure will be the same.
  2. .All Code of Practice References shall be made to the British Standard and Euro Codes.
  3. Should you feel any area needs clarification or is missing then please email help@masterseries.com with your comments, suggestions or prose stating the sub section in the manual.  


MasterKey Concrete versus MasterBeam Concrete Beam Designer

MasterKey Concrete Beam Design is a general concrete beam design program. It is one of 3 concrete design programs that interface with MasterFrame, MasterPort and MasterFrame Flat Slab Construction. These programs are namely Beams (and slabs), Columns and Pad Foundations. These frames may be multi-storey, grillage, portal or 3 dimensional in nature.

MasterBeam Concrete Beam Designer is an entry level integrated suite that Analyses, Designs, Drafts and Schedules beams. It can only do continuous and single span beams. The input method is simpler, but less flexible, than using MasterFrame.      

The use of the Concrete design part of the MasterBeam Concrete Beam designer is identical to MasterKey Concrete Beam Design.  In this manual no distinction shall be made between the two programs as the interface and use are the same (excepted where specifically noted). 


MasterKey Concrete Design Methodology

The procedure for using MasterKey Concrete is as follows;

  1. Generate frame defining appropriate conc section properties, loading etc using:
    1. MasterFrame; or
    2. MasterFrame Flat slab Construction; or
    3. MasterPort; or
    4. MasterBeam Concrete Beam Designer
  3. Analyse frame.
  4. Load Concrete Design from the Design menu of the program.
  5. Set default Options for grades, bars, methods etc.
  6. Close the Basic Data & Defaults window.
  7. Select to automatically design all members.
  8. View and modify member designs as required.
  9. Print out results.
  10. Export drawings.


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Note - The direction of members is critical.  All members are displayed with the lower node number on the left-hand side of the screen.  It is advisable to ensure that all nodes are numbered as follows.

  • X-Axis: Left to Right           
  • Y-Axis: Bottom to Top           
  • Z-Axis: Front to Back            

Beams must be horizontal and loaded in the major, vertical axis, i.e. no bi-axial bending.


Common Features

  • User friendly
  • Short learning curve
  • Intuitive operation
  • Excellent editing facilities
  • Quick automatic design to user defined bar sizes, numbers and pitches
  • Freedom to change and refine automatically designed structures
  • Interactive design of complete frames
  • Recta-parabolic stress block
  • Dimensional checks on reinforcement percentages, gaps and covers
  • Customised bar labelling method for use in different countries
  • Screen optimised for all resolutions from 1024x768 upwards
  • Detailed design calculations


Detailing and Exporting Features

  • Intelligent re-use of bar marks for identical bars
  • User defined minimum crank lengths
  • User defined minimum crank offsets
  • User defined kicker height
  • Printout of elevations for each member or group of members.
  • DXF export of continuous beams, columns and pad foundations
  • Export to MasterRC for full detailing and scheduling of members
  • User definable scales and text sizes
  • Automatic breaking of long beam runs at user defined lengths
  • Printed and DXF exported drawings may be scheduled using the MasterRC Scheduler
  • MasterRC drawings may be edited with all changes automatically reflected in the bar schedule
  • Tabular output of Pad foundation reinforcement details to the ICE standard method of detailing structural concrete