Post on 18-Dec-2015
FEMFAN3D &
NON-LINEAR COMPLEX STEEL JOINTS CHECKER
FEMFAN3DBIM ENABLEMENT & SS EN DESIGNS
Part 1
BACKGROUND
• What is FEMFAN3D?• Fully developed and maintained by PTRC, NTU in
Singapore• The one-of-its-kind finite element software for the
investigation of building robustness against progressive collapse due to man-made or natural hazards
• Provide super element formulation that cut down analysis time needed from days to hours
BACKGROUND• FEMFAN3D GUI
• Project completed in 2011• Fully developed in Singapore• Point-and-click modeling to simplify structural
robustness checking against progressive collapse• Seamless modeling, analysis and review of FEMFAN3D
results• Parametric material
definition• Parametric member
modeling
Why FEMFAN3D ? No equivalent commercial software
THE CHALLENGES• New SS EN (replacing British Standard completely by1
Apr 2015) calls for non-linear analysis and design of critical structures (members + joints)
• Mandatory seismic design for buildings in selected areas
• We need an “all-in-one” and “well tested” solution for daily production use
ENHANCING FEMFAN3D TO MEET THE NEEDS
• Support Steel and Composite materials and members
• Support model import/export with• BIM platform(s)• 3rd party engineering software
• Support member design to • Eurocode 2 (concrete)• Eurocode 3 (steel)• Eurocode 4 (composite) • Eurocode 8 (seismic)
• To include fire checking in solver
• Support checking of complex joints* *see also Part 2: Non-linear Complex Steel Joints Checker
Pt 1. FEMFAN3DConcrete Design
Steel Design
Composite Design
Fire Safety Assessment
Joints Check
Pt 2. Non-linear Complex Steel Joints Checker
Imp
ort
/export
Structural RobustnessAssessment
impo
rt import
Concr
ete
only
for
now
Seismic Assessment
NON-LINEAR COMPLEX STEEL JOINTS CHECKER
Part 2
THE PROBLEM• Complex steel joints exist in many
modern building and off-shore structures
• Such joints can only be checked using non-linear finite element method, which is costly, requires high level of expertise, and time consuming
• EC3 Pt. 1-8
• Since it is costly, most likely the checking is non-exhaustive
Image credit : Parsons Brinkerhoff Pte. Ltd.
MAKING THINGS WORSE
1. Engineer may not aware that their favorite Linear Analysis tools doesn't fit the job
2. New design code• British Standard : Silent (and we just take it for
granted for years)• Eurocode: Explicitly calls for Non-linear Analysis
3. Advanced Non-linear Analysis Packages (eg.ABACUS)• Expensive !• Require high-lever of expertise (choice of element,
making assumptions, interpreting results, …)• Typically very tedious and time consuming process
?
Image credit : Parsons Brinkerhoff Pte. Ltd.
LINEAR VS. NON-LINEAR
SOLUTION?
• A standalone application to • Create finite element sub-model of complex
steel joints from BIM/Structural analysis software package (like Tekla/Revit & ETABS/Staad.PRO)
• Transfer member end forces from those package to the FE model for all the load combinations
• Perform and report issue with simple one click of button Automate the joint
model creations and load
applications
Equivale
nt loads
Equiv
ale
nt
load
s
Equivale
nt loads
Full 3D BIM model
Report failure
based on Von-
misses stress
resultants
Non-linear
Analysis
Extract resultants from 3rd party
structural analysis software
[e.g. ETABS/StaadPro]
Mesh into 3D
triangular/quadril
ateral meshes
Extract Joint
Geometry from 3rd
Party BIM/structural software
[e.g. Tekla/Revit/
ETABS/StaadPro]
PROPOSED WORKFLOW
BENEFITS
• Significant time saving in modeling, loading input
• Reduced input errors
• Speedy revisions and alterations
• Enabling exhaustive checking of all complex steel joints
• Enabling average engineer to perform advanced non-linear analysis
• Elevating local industry standards
• Prepare engineers for global marketplace
KEY COMPONENTS
• The Pre-processor (from Advance Contech)
• The Revit/StaadPro/ETABS/SAP2000 bridge (from Advance)
• The Mesher (from NTU?)
• The Solver (from NTU?)
• The Post-processor (from Advance Contech)
• Others?