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New features in FEM-Design 20

Last modified by Iwona Budny Bjergø on 2023/01/10 11:08

The following section highlights all new features and changes in FEM-Design 20. For all the major features in this version, the link takes you to the relevant section in WIKI, where the feature is described in details. All the other features and improvements are sorted by the area, and described together in dedicated sections.

Major features

The major features of FEM-Design 20 are: 

IFC IMPORT

FEM-Design can now read IFC models and create native and editable FEM-Design analytical model elements from structural elements. Numerous checking and automatic adjustment tools ensure the continuity of the analytical model created during the import.

See Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)

ADJUST ANALYTICAL MODEL TOOL

Physical body geometries derived from 3D model-based workflows (such as IFC, Revit, or Tekla-link) and their automatic conversion based on their parameters do not provide a continuous analytical model. FEM-Design now gives quick tools for adjusting and connecting analytical members to each other correctly or to the structural grid.

See Adjust Analytical Model Tool

PARAMETRIC MODEL

FEM-Design 20 provides a new module for workflows and projects where the type and geometry of the structure analyzed are similar but differ mainly in their major parameters and  dimensions. The Parametric model module delivers solutions for quickly entering and modifying type structures.

See Parametric Model

BEDDING MODULUS CALCULATION

FEM-Design 20 comes with two new features in the surface support topic:

  1. Possibility to specify stiffness in points to create surface supports with variable stiffness distribution.
  2. Bedding modulus estimation by considering soil parameters applied on linear elastic 3D-solid finite elements.

See Bedding Modulus Calculation

TIME HISTORY ANALYSIS

FEM-Design 20 gives a new analysis-type calculation called linear time-history analysis (LTHA) based on 3 different methods. The dynamic load and response of the structure can be calculated from forced vibration (e.g.: time dependent excitation force) or from ground accelerations (e.g: seismic effect). The results of the structural responses primarily the dynamic amplification factor (DAF), the dynamic displacements and accelerations at different points of the structure.

See Time History Analysis

RC BAR FIRE DESIGN

In addition to steel and timber bar fire design, fire design of reinforced concrete bars is now available in FEM-Design 20. Thanks to the implemented calculation methods - the "500°C isotherm" and "Zone" - all types of RC bar cross-sections can be designed for fire. FEM-Design 20 performs a non-linear, transient finite-element heat transfer and analysis by using the "explicit time integration" scheme. 

See RC Bar Fire Design

MASONRY DESIGN MODULE

With FEM-Design 20, a new design module has been released, with which brick walls can be modeled and checked for their internal forces and utilization. The most important implemented features are the following: brick materials (including consideration of the mortar) of walls, custom settings for the connection between walls and slabs, and automatic division of walls into stripes that are used to determine internal forces and utilization.

See Masonry Design

COMPOSITE COLUMN DESIGN

FEM-Design 20 extends the design and utilization check to composite columns by using the so-called "Simplified method" (EN 1994-1-1 6.7.3). We can also check composite columns for the reinforcement given by us.

See Composite Design


Other features and improvements

Features and improvements in FEM-Design 20 sorted by the area:

User Interface
Input
Loads
Analysis
General Design
RC Design
Steel Design
Results
Documentation


Bug fixes and other changes

Bug fixes in FEM-Design 20 are added into Release notes.