CYPECAD version 2024.a includes the following program improvements and corrections for some specific cases:

• It is now easier to enter panels such as "Waffle slabs", "Flat slabs" and "Mat foundations". In the case of waffle slabs, the "Direction of the longitudinal ribs" must be defined and in the case of slabs, the "Direction of the longitudinal reinforcement". In both cases, users can choose between three options: "Parallel to a beam", "Perpendicular to a beam" and "Two pass-through points". This allows users to have more control over the reinforcement layout. Previously, the program automatically determined which direction the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement should face from the direction of a beam or two pass-through points.
  
  
• The "Forces and reinforcement of columns, shear walls and walls" report has been improved. The chapter "Starts of columns, shear walls and walls by loadcase" is divided into 3 tables: "Starts at foundations", "Floating starts" and "Column and wall starts that begin on other columns and walls".
  
  
• In version 2024.a, the export of tangential stress reinforcement bars to be read by StruBIM Rebar has been implemented.
  
  
• The "Panel data" option has been improved. When selecting a panel by entering its number, it is marked in yellow and will flash beforehand. This improves the visual localisation of panels that have a small outline in relation to the total floor plan. Additionally, openings can now also be selected.
  
  
• An error that occurred when drawing reinforcement detail drawings if there are hollow core slabs in the job with a different top reinforcement steel than the one selected in the job has been solved.
  
  
• The installation of example jobs has been improved. Now, before installing an example job that has been modified, all files in the job are deleted. This avoids certain errors that could have occurred if, for example, integrated 3D structures had been added.
  
  
• The maximum range of "Beam options - Design - Beam reinforcement - Maximum number of bars per layer - Maximum number of bars" has been increased to 20.
  
  
• An error that could occur in some cases when exporting the reinforcement of concrete walls has been fixed.
  
  
• The drawing of disconnected "Bearing walls" with columns has been improved. These disconnections cannot be made on the floor where the column starts, but in some particular cases, the disconnection symbol was shown although it was not taken into account in the design model.
  
  
• The export of beam portal frame bars has been improved. In some cases, when there was an unevenness in the portal frame, reinforcement was generated outside the portal frame.
  
  
• The export of sloped beam reinforcement bars has been improved. After a first export, they are re-exported with the same identifier so that they can be updated correctly in StruBIM Rebar.
  
  
• The export of reinforcement bars from punching shear reinforcement has been improved. After a first export, they are re-exported with the same identifier so that they can be updated correctly in StruBIM Rebar.
  
  
• The export of reinforcement bars for punching shear reinforcement of the "Reinforcement inclined at 45°" type has been improved. In mat foundation, they are generated in an inverted form.
  
  
• An error that could occur when adding a new fire resistance zone when the codes for checking the fire resistance of rolled steel and cold-formed steel sections were different, has been fixed.
  
  
• An error that occurred after assigning "Consider soil-structure interaction" to wall footings in contact with columns whose base had a "With external fixity" type has been fixed.
  
  
• An error has been corrected in the 3D views of elements with a height of 0. Furthermore, it is now no longer possible to enter elements with a height equal to 0.
  
  
• An error in the "Match" option in the column reinforcement editing that prevented the selection of the columns to which the geometry and reinforcement of the selected column were to be copied has been fixed.

As of version 2024.a, layers can be defined and configured in the editing resources menu. Objects entered using the tools in this menu now have the "Layer" attribute, allowing users to choose from any of the previously defined layers. If this feature is not required, there is no need to define layers as there is always one selected by default. Layers can be individually activated or deactivated both for display on screen and when generating floor plans. Furthermore, defined and selected layers are retained as such when drawings are exported to DXF and DWG formats.

In CYPECAD version 2024.a, users can set assembly options other than the general ones defined in the job for any desired portal frame. The particular options are taken into account when redesigning the portal frames. When a portal frame has been previously designed with the "At workshop" option if it is changed to "On-site", the program automatically adapts the types of bars arranged in the portal frame. As a result, users can carry out modifications to the reinforcement bars that are not possible with the "At workshop" option but are possible with the "On-site" option.

An example would be a portal frame where the top base reinforcement is to be continuous. This is not possible if the selected option is "At workshop" (Fig. 1), but becomes possible when changing to "On-site" (Fig.2).

Making changes other than the one mentioned above may require the portal frame to be redesigned in order to obtain reinforcement according to the new options selected. This may happen, for example, when changing from "On-site" to "At workshop".

For the Spanish structural code "Código Estructural" and Eurocode 2, the calculation of the load increase factor β, in the general case of columns with eccentricities in both directions, has been improved by applying the criterion from the German National Annex (DIN EN 1992-1-1/NA:2015-12).

General information

The new CYPECAD ramp module analyses and designs slabs for ramps as isolated elements of the structure. Depending on the geometry, type and layout of the supports and applied gravity loads, the program determines the reactions and applies them as loads on the main structure, resulting in linear loads in the loadcases of dead loads and live loads.

The program resolves ramp cores formed by spans arranged between floors. Each span is made up of one or several elements of one of the types listed below:

• Straight flight
• Curved flight
• Horizontal span - Quarter turn
• Horizontal span - Half turn

Defining ramp cores

A ramp core is defined by indicating the data common to the core (width, rotation direction, loads) and the particular data of each span.

Ramp spans are fractions of the ramp core that run from one floor to the next. Each span is made up of a succession of straight or curved spans and, optionally, half-turn and quarter-turn intermediate horizontal spans.

Placing in the structure

The start of the first span and a crossing point of the axis of its first run must be specified in order to place the ramp core in the structure. CYPECAD will enter the core with all the spans on the corresponding floors. To help locate these two points, DXF or DWG snaps can be used.

Analysis, results, reports and drawings

The program analyses the ramps separately and using the finite element method, considering the two load cases of dead loads (self-weight and dead loads) and live loads.

CYPECAD displays the reinforcement of each of the spans making up the ramp core on screen. Users can also consult the contour plots of displacements and forces in a 3D view, including the total shear, as well as visualise the deformed shape of each span.

Considering the shear strength criteria of the selected concrete code, the need for shear reinforcement in some areas and the required ratio is determined. If shear reinforcement is required at any point of a ramp, a warning is displayed. The ratio can be found in the "Forces and displacements - Contour plots - Checks" option.

When the job is analysed, all ramp cores are also analysed and their reactions are applied to the main structure as loads.

Each ramp core can also be analysed individually. To do this, the program only needs to be prompted to display the reinforcement, forces and displacements of the ramps. If the job has not been analysed or if changes have been made since the last analysis, only the selected core will be analysed.

The program provides a warning if changes are made to a ramp core after the job has been analysed, as these changes affect the value of the reactions. In this case, the job must be re-analysed in order to take the new reactions into account.

A report of the ramps with general information about the job and specific information for each core can be obtained, including the results obtained for the forces and reinforcements of each span.

The drawings show all the information required for the ramp reinforcements to be defined: longitudinal and transverse sections, tables of characteristics of each span with their geometric data, loads and materials. The reinforcement quantities tables are also included (by cores, spans and total steel summaries).

Configuring the ramp module (materials, reinforcement tables and analysis options)

The concrete used in the ramp cores is the same as the one selected for the floor slabs. The type of steel used in their reinforcement, on the other hand, can be specified separately. The program has two reinforcement tables (longitudinal and transverse) and a series of analysis options for ramps, which can be configured to suit personal preferences.