New Release - STAAD.Pro 2024 - 2 Featured

As part of our commitment to you to deliver new builds more frequently, this version which adds great new functionality to improve efficiency for engineers around the world and has resolved numerous issues that have been reported and thus highly recommend that you look to adopt this version and improve your working experience.

This release has added to the capabilities introduced in STAAD.Pro 2024 and addressed a number of defects that have been identified in order to deliver a more robust solution.

Shape Editor - Materials

There are times when the properties of a linear member in your STAAD model needs to account for multiple materials such as a wide flange which includes part of a concrete deck, or a circular column filled with concrete.

The new profile calculation tool introduced in STAAD.Pro 2024, Shape Editor has been enhanced to support the option to define multiple materials on a profile and calculate the composite section properties using the material modular ratio to determine equivalent section properties as if created from a given reference material.

Materials are currently match those defined in the STAAD.Pro default set, but in future will be expanded to support further customization. Values used in the property definitions can be modified for use in Shape Editor, but at this time do not modify the values used in the STAAD.Pro models.

Optimizing Standard Profiles

The introduction of the new Standard database system in STAAD.Pro 2023 has made life a lot easier for engineers who want to manage the profiles used in projects by giving them the opportunity to create dedicated databases for projects. However, this had one significant restriction which has now been addressed, that is the ability to perform a SELECT operation in the steel design for members that have been assigned a profile from a table in a Standard database.

Using this command, the engineer can now identify the most efficient profile to use from the table from which it has been selected.

Unlike the older Legacy databases which restricted the project to only have a single definition of profiles, the flexibility of this new system means that multiple tables of the same shape can be defined in a database. For example a project could be setup to use profiles form a customised profile database which has been organised with a table of wide flange profiles called corner columns another called edge columns, another primary beams and a further secondary beams, each with their own specific collection of profiles which would be appropriate for that part of the project and by using the design command SELECT or SELECT OPTIMZE (refer to the Technical Reference section of the help documentation for more details). STAAD.Pro then can optimize the model to use the best profiles for their part in the model to meet the specific project requirements.

Eurocode Effective Length Calculation

The effective length calculation tool that was introduced in STAAD.Pro 2024 using the method defined in the AISC 360 publications has been supplemented now with two new methods to determine the effective lengths for either beams (NCCI: SN008a) or columns (NCCI: SN009a). This means that the values of LY, LZ, KY and KZ can be determined using the arrangement of the model to help speed up configuring the data to be ready for design to EN 1993-1-1.

The AISC method has been improved to address limitations* on member release, girders with different end conditions, and connections with partial fixity, following recommendations in the AISC 360-16 Commentary on Appendix 7.

Additionally, the tool has been improved to allow selective configuration to determine if only some of the parameters are needed to be added to the parameter block.

*If the far end of a girder cannot rotate, the (EI/L)g factor is multiplied by 2.0 for braced frames and 2.0/3.0 for unbraced frames. If the far end is pinned, the factors are 1.5 for braced frames and 0.5 for unbraced frames. For connections with partial fixity, the factors are taken from existing literature (Duan and Lu 1996, Kishi et. al 1995). Girders with shear-only connections or cantilever types are no longer considered valid restraints when summing (EI/L)g.

References:

• Duan, L., & Lu, Z. G. (1996). A modified G-factor for columns in semi-rigid frames. Research Report.
• Kishi, N., Chen,W.F., & Goto, Y. (1995). Effective Length Factor of Columns in Semi-Rigid and
  Unbraced Frames. Structural Engineering Report CE-STR-95-5.

Chinese Steel Design updates

The Chinese Steel Design Workflow provides a dedicated set of design routines for the Chinese GB50017 and GB50018 design codes. This has now a method implemented that allows the model to be labelled with the not just the maximum ratio, but can alternatively use one of the key criteria in the design such as utilisation for the strength or stability conditions.

Additionally, the labels can sometimes clutter the screen, so now an option to select the range over which values are displayed can be specified.

Updated Steel Connection Design Workflow (***)

The steel connection design workflow is built around the RAM Connection application which has been updated in 2024 with a major and two minor releases. The primary updates include the AISC 360-22 design templates, that includes accounting for the relevant changes in Chapters J and K. Additionally additional HSS shear connection templates and AISC baseplate templates have been added. More details of these updates can be found here:-

RAM | STAAD | ADINA - RAM Connection 2024 (v24.0.0) Release Notes - Communities

Update 1 then added support for AISC Design Guide 39 for moment end plates and a new AISC bracing gusset connection amongst other changes. More details can be found here:-

RAM | STAAD | ADINA - RAM Connection 2024 (v24.0.1) Release Notes - Communities

Update 2 addressed a number of identified defects. Details can be found here:-

RAM | STAAD | ADINA - RAM Connection 2024 (v24.0.2) Release Notes - Communities

QA&R (****)

This release has been produced as the version for use on nuclear safety critical infrastructure as part of the QA&R programme

Additionally, for QA&R subscribers a new downloadable acceptance set installation has been produced to provide the verification that the installation produces the same results as those verified by the Bentley QA team.

A dedicated link will be provided to QA&R users to access this installation that replaces the data previously supplied on a DVD.

iTwin Updates

With the updated iTwin Services component included in the Physical Model Workflow, identified potential issues around security vulnerabilities have been addressed. This means that you can continue to use the interoperability solution to share model data using the leading Bentley technology.

Cloud Analysis (*, Tech Preview)

An early access program has been developed to provide access to a cloud analysis solution that offers substantially faster analysis for models that can take hours to solve using a sub-model/parallel analysis. Whilst still a technical preview feature, the feedback from those that participate will help in shaping the future of the ultimate commercial offering.

Additional Modules

RCDC (**)

The Advanced Concrete Design application, RCDC, has been updated to v2023-6.

Details on this release can be found here:-

RAM | STAAD | ADINA Blog - New Release - STAAD Advanced Concrete Design (RCDC) 2023 Minor 6 - Communities

STAAD Foundation Advanced (***)

The concrete foundation application included in the STAAD.Pro installation, STAAD Foundation Advanced (SFA) has been updated to STAAD Foundation Advanced 2024.

Details of this release can be found here:-

RAM | STAAD | ADINA - STAAD Foundation Advanced 2024 Release Notes - Communities

* Available as part of an EAP

** Additional license required, included with ‘STAAD.Pro Advanced’ and ‘Structural Worksuite’

*** Additional license required, included with ‘Structural Worksuite’

**** Additional license for ‘STAAD Nuclear QA & Reporting’ required

Note that if you are already using a release of STAAD.Pro 2024, you should be notified of the new build with the Bentley CONNECTION Client.

Revision History

The Revision History document details the issues that have been addressed and as with all builds is included in the ReadMe file which can be accessed from the Help section of the application and can also be found here.