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Last modified by Casper Egholm Hougaard on 2023/09/19 18:21

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Improved PREFAB connection

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PREFAB is a powerful extension to FEM-Design that is developed to give a quick overview of the analysis results from FEM-Design 3D Structure projects, and at the same time be able to compile a report to the precast concrete supplier. By using the software a uniform structure and high level of quality of the results can be maintained for your precast concrete models.

The purpose of the program is to display the loads and the resulting forces on the structure storey by storey down to the foundation and present a documentation of stabilizing forces for the precast concrete supplier in a simple and standardized way in a smart PDF-document. The file format gives any supplier the possibility to see the results, even though they are not using FEM-Design.

The major benefits of PREFAB:

  • Quick and easy load take down and stability check
  • Easy-to-read report with a uniform setup
  • Visual overview of the loads on each concrete element
     

In order to get correct results in PREFAB from FEM-Design models, a special modeling of prefabricated elements is required from the users. However, FEM-Design 20 provides an output for PREFAB that automatically satisfies the modeling requirements of our current project. So, there is no need for us to make multiple repetitive manual adjustments, as we had to do with an earlier version of this connection.

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Automatic model preparation for data transfer

The automatic model correction functions provided by FEM-Design 20 are the followings:

  • Automatic division of shell edges taking into account adjacent element
  • Automatic creation and division of Edge connections where shells are connected to each other or to line supports
  • Automatic separation of End points (of Edge connections) from environment
  • Automatic assignment of point forces to bars and shells that they act on
  • Automatic splitting and assignment of line forces to bars or shells they act on
     

Auto-corrections are performed after Analysis, if the next Settings option is active:
 

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  • The correction steps mentioned before are listed at Details.
  • Limitations:
    • Truss member and Wall foundation are not considered as a bar.
    • Foundation slab is not considered as a shell.
    • If load is acting at the border of more bars or shells, it will be assigned randomly to one of them.
    • If load is acting at the border of a bar and a shell, it will be assigned to the bar.

One of the major modeling requirements is that edge connection must exist on each shell edge, where the shell connects to other structural objects. Missing edge connections can be created:

  • manually, after receiving warning message about them, or
  • let the program create them automatically (Create edge connection option).

For automatic generation and distribution of Edge connections, we can set the type of all newly created items to a default type (e.g. "hinged") or let the program to apply adjacent edge connection data by items, if available.

Examples:

  • Processing Edge connections:

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In case of two perpendicular Walls, the edge of the wall into which the other joins is automatically split into two by the connecting wall’s edge connection.

  • Processing Loads:

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The originally one line load is split into two and the new load parts are assigned to Wall W.13 and W.15.

Direct access to PREFAB

After the automatic correct model preparation and an analysis run, PREFAB can be started directly from FEM-Design and can load FEM-Design models within seconds. Then, the result printing is also a few moments.

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Parent topic: FEM-Design 20 New Features

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