Concrete Building Design from Concept to Construction [Webinar Recording]

Posted on November 30th, 2023 in Webinars

Summary

This video from MasterSeries Software provides a comprehensive demonstration of designing a concrete building, emphasising the integrated use of their software modules. The core of the process revolves around the MasterFrame for initial 2D and 3D structural analysis, including modelling, loading, and load combination generation according to standards like Eurocode. Following this, add-on modules like MasterKey Concrete Member Design and MasterKey Concrete Slab and Wall Design are utilised to specify and check reinforcement for all concrete elements, with features such as "attached beams" for composite action and auto-design options for optimising reinforcement. The demonstration showcases how users can efficiently analyse deflections and internal forces, then move into detailed design for beams, columns, slabs, and walls, with the flexibility to graphically manipulate reinforcement or use automated design optimisations within a user-friendly interface.

Key Topics

• Structural Analysis
• Concrete Design
• Reinforcement Optimisation
• Slab Design
• Wall Design

Description

This MasterSeries webinar provides a comprehensive overview of designing a concrete building from concept to construction using Eurocode 2 (EC2) within the MasterSeries software suite. The presentation highlights the integrated workflow between the main analysis program and specialised concrete design modules.

Key Components of MasterSeries for Concrete Design:

• MasterFrame: This is the main program for 2D and 3D structural analysis and design.

    ◦ It handles modeling, loading, and load combination generation according to various standards.

    ◦ It performs a full analysis of the model, including deflection, internal forces, and stresses.

    ◦ It offers BIM integrations with software like Revit and Tekla Structures.

    ◦ The program can auto-generate load cases according to Eurocode.

    ◦ It presents graphical results for deflections, member internal forces (bending moment, shear force), and shell element results (displacement, membrane forces, Wood and Armer moments, stress components).

    ◦ A notable feature is the "attached beam" option for concrete members. This allows line elements (ribs) to act compositely with finite element (FE) surfaces (slabs), assuming shear transfer between them. It also enables defining the exact position of the rib relative to the FE surface and using combined plate results to calculate bending moments based on axial force and centroid offset.

• MasterKey Concrete Member Design: This add-on module is used for designing concrete beams and columns.

    ◦ Default Settings: A crucial aspect is setting up basic data and defaults for design, auto-design, and labelling, with options to override or save these settings for future projects. Settings include aggregate size, concrete grade (e.g., C25/30 by default for beams), reinforcement steel grade (e.g., 500B by default), and covers.

    ◦ Beam Design:

        ▪ It can auto-design members and propose reinforcement, including curtailment, based on defined minimum/maximum bar parameters.

        ▪ Curtailment styles include one zone (no curtailment), two zones (left/right), or three zones (left/right/middle). Methods range from simple (BS 8110 rules) to detailed (based on bending moment diagram).

        ▪ Users can manipulate reinforcement graphically on the beam elevation or via editor tabs, changing bar quantities, diameters, and lengths. New layers of reinforcement can also be added.

        ▪ Link design allows manipulation of link diameter and pitch, with real-time checks for dimensional errors.

        ▪ The program intelligently creates T-cross sections for "attached beams" in slabs, even if originally defined as square sections.

    ◦ Column Design:

        ▪ The user interface is simpler than beam design, showing detailed design output and a column section graphic (not interactive).

        ▪ Reinforcement manipulation (corner, side, links) is done via data tabs.

        ▪ It considers slenderness and determines if the frame is braced or unbraced.

        ▪ Options for detailing columns include using splice bars instead of crank bars for different column dimensions across lifts, and using single-leg internal links or hoops in circular columns.

    ◦ Path Foundations: The module also has settings and options for designing path foundations for column bases, though this was not covered in the demonstration.

    ◦ Failure Detection: An option to scan all members for design failures, stopping at the first issue.

    ◦ Export: Designed beams and columns with reinforcement can be exported to AutoCAD for further detailing.

• MasterKey Concrete Slab and Wall Design: This add-on module focuses on slab and wall design.

    ◦ Slab Design:

        ▪ Design Philosophy: Involves three main reinforcement tools: basic reinforcement (applied generally), peak zones (enhanced reinforcement in areas of peak bending moments), and strip reinforcement (enhanced reinforcement along lines like column strips). The process typically starts with basic reinforcement, then adds peak/strip reinforcement where needed.

        ▪ Reinforcement Layout: The program shows unity ratio counter surfaces to identify failing zones (hogging/sagging moments).

        ▪ Optimisation: Users can adjust basic reinforcement (e.g., changing bar diameter) and add peak reinforcement zones (e.g., around column heads) to resolve failures. Peak reinforcement can be additional or can replace basic rebar within its zone.

        ▪ Punching Shear Design: This feature automatically designs punching shear reinforcement around column points, showing proposed layouts (e.g., 12mm bars, equally spaced) and indicating where additional reinforcement is required.

        ▪ Export: Slab reinforcement can be exported to DXF/DWG for drawing.

    ◦ Wall Design:

        ▪ Similar to slab design, it has basic data settings for steel grade, cover, bar sizes, spacing, and design method.

        ▪ It designs wall piers and coupler beams.

        ▪ Design Methodology: By default, it uses the Eurocode strips fixed FE method, splitting the wall into design strips (e.g., 1-meter wide).

        ▪ Users can define and adjust vertical and horizontal reinforcement for each strip.

        ▪ The auto-design option optimises both horizontal and vertical bars.

        ▪ The program can auto-generate pier zones around openings.

        ▪ Coupler Beam Design: Designs reinforcement (top/bottom bars, side bars, shear reinforcement) and allows for optimisation.

        ▪ Export: Designed wall reinforcement can be exported to DXF/DWG.

Additional Capabilities: The MasterSeries software can also calculate long-term deflections and crack controls, including crack widths. It has options to calculate tie-ups.

MasterSeries offers free trials and demos for those interested in trying the software