Other improvements and corrections made to structural analysis programs

CYPECAD

Version 2027.a of CYPECAD includes the following improvements and corrections for some specific cases:

• The process for generating lightening elements in lightweight slabs has been optimised, improving performance and reducing the time required to generate them, particularly in large-area floor slabs.
• The generation of solid zones in lightweight slabs has been improved (using the "Generate solid zones" tool).
• The COBIAX manufacturer’s catalogue for lightening elements in lightweight slabs has been incorporated, available via the "Open BIM Database".
• The ‘Generic section’ type column section editor has been improved. Now, if consecutive points are entered with very close but not identical X or Y coordinates, the program displays a warning prompting you to check whether the value is correct or if there has been an input error. The warning is displayed when the distance between points does not exceed 1 mm. Similarly, a warning is issued if the "Main axes" angle is very close to, but not equal to, 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270° or 315°. The warning is displayed when the difference does not exceed 0.5°. These inaccuracies can cause instability in the calculation algorithms. Therefore, the program detects them and issues a warning to facilitate their review and correction.
• The reconstruction of beam-to-column connections has been improved following the addition of columns or changes to their cross-section or position. In such cases, when switching from the "Column definition" tab to the "Beam definition" tab, a message such as the following is displayed: "The position of a column has been modified in groups '...'. If beams intersect with these columns, the intersections must be recreated to be able to analyse the project. The program can try and recreate these intersections, but, depending on how complex they are, the task may not be accomplished successfully. Do you want the program to try and recreate these intersections?" If you answer "Yes", the program performs the necessary operations to recalculate the connections. On some occasions, this may cause an internal error; if this occurs, the program returns to the "Column definition" tab without having re-created the connections. In that case, you can return to the "Beam definition" tab, answer “No” to the question, and manually re-create the beam connections with those columns. Depending on the geometry entered, in most cases simply use the ‘Beams – Move’ option with a value of 0 for the affected beams. In other cases, the beams must be trimmed and reconnected to the column.
• The process for saving the project has been improved. Now, before saving, the system checks that the directory exists and is writable. If either check fails, users can select an alternative directory, ensuring that any changes made are not lost.
• The "Surface loads on slabs" tool has been improved. When selecting a panel that contains another inner panel, the surface load is now automatically broken down into several loads to prevent it from being applied to the inner panel.
• The "Loads - Loads" tool has been improved so that, when adding new loads, or editing, assigning, deleting and moving loads, the selected views are maintained as far as possible (for example, if linear loads are not visible and a linear load is added, these will be visible during the addition process).
• The "Search references" tool has been improved. Now, in some warnings, the internal identifier is displayed as a reference to locate elements. These references are of the type idc# (for columns), idw# (for walls), idb# (for beams), ids# (for slabs).
• The process for obtaining reinforcement for shear stresses has been improved. Although there may still be cases where, due to an internal error, it is not possible to obtain the reinforcement for a particular group of floors, the reinforcement for the remaining groups will be calculated correctly.
• An error that occurred when checking the integrity of defined walls has been resolved. In some cases, the program might display the following message "You need to check the pressure laws on walls "...". These walls have a pressure law applied that has been removed from the list.’, when in fact no pressure laws had been deleted from the walls.
• The "List of integrated 3D structures" tool has been improved. It is now possible to edit the name of any integrated 3D structure.
• Export to IFC has been improved. Information regarding the connectors of composite beams has been added.
• The process of deleting sections of walls has been improved, preventing internal errors that sometimes occurred during this operation.
• An error that occurred when viewing the 3D view of a project whilst the "Forms" option was enabled has been resolved.
• The design of anchor plates for columns that start on top of another column has been improved. In these cases, the program could display an error related to the minimum bolt length.
• The check performed when saving floor plans of beams overlapping columns has been improved. In some very rare cases, the program could report a non-existent overlap.
• Several errors that occurred when inserting straight horizontal spans in a ramp have been resolved.
• An error that could occur when designing columns has been resolved. This error occurred when, in the Column reinforcement tables, diameters were selected in "Available diameters - Rectangular columns - Faces" that were not selected in "Available diameters - Rectangular columns - Corners".
• A considerable number of errors reported by users of the program via CYPE Crash Reporter have been resolved. Some of these have been fully resolved, whilst others have been resolved only within the scope in which they were detected.

CYPE Connect

Version 2027.a of CYPE Connect includes the following improvements and new features:

The part references of a section are now displayed in the 3D view when using connection editing operations. This numbering system facilitates the location and selection of the corresponding elements.

It is now possible to define more than one bar with the "Bearing" property within the same connection.

New section types have been implemented and are now supported by the connection editor: reinforced box section, double-webbed box section with plates, and double-T section with side plates.

Two new tools have been implemented to add or remove sections from a connection.