CYPE Connect

Update history

As of version 2023.f, curved segments of rectangular hollow sections or cold-formed sections can be discretised, distinguishing them from the adjacent straight segments. When discretising curved segments, the number of sides can be defined in "Modelling options" by selecting "Users" or the program can calculate an optimal number of sides by selecting "Calculated".

In versions before 2023.f, the program could work with rectangular timber bars (CYPE Connect) and rolled steel I sections, C sections, angle sections, T sections, plates and rectangular hollow sections (CYPE Connect and StruBIM Steel). In version 2023.f, six new types of cold-formed sections have been implemented for both CYPE Connect and StruBIM Steel:

  • U
  • C
  • Unstiffened Z
  • Stiffened Z
  • Unstiffened L
  • Stiffened L

These sections are available both as the node's own bars and as additional bars in the "Bar" operation.

Version 2023.f includes measurement tools for the work area. In the StruBIM Steel work area, these tools allow users to measure lengths, areas, and angles and to count elements. In CYPE Connect these tools allow users to measure lengths, areas and angles.

As of version 2023.e, some CYPE applications have a new dockable window system that replaces the main screen user interface. As a result, users can now customise the workspace to suit their needs.

The list of applications that have this dockable window system appears at the end of this new feature. In future versions, the number of applications with this window system will be increased.

Dockable windows can be moved and resized. They can be either floating windows, pinned to a location within the application's main dialogue box, dragged outside of it, or even moved to another monitor.

  • Move windows
    A docked window can be moved by clicking on the title bar at the top of the window and dragging it.

    When dragging a dockable window, several visual aids are displayed to make its relocation easier. Next to the cursor, a text box appears containing the title of the dockable window being moved. Whenever the cursor approaches the edge of another window, a box appears showing a preview of the space it would occupy.

    It is possible to leave a window as a floating window without docking it to another window, and it is also possible to dock windows within a floating window. Holding down the CTRL key can prevent a floating window from being docked while it is being moved.

  • Group windows
    It is possible to group several windows in the same space by dragging one window to the top left-hand corner or to the bottom left-hand corner of another window. When this is carried out, tabs will appear at the bottom or top of the group, allowing users to alternate between the grouped windows. If the tabs are at the bottom, the title of the group of windows corresponds to the active window. On the other hand, if the tabs are at the top, they will be used as the title.

  • Show/Hide windows
    The icon to close the window can be found in the top right-hand corner of each dockable window.

    To manage the display of the dockable windows in the user interface, a "Window" button () has been added to the application environment, next to the "General Settings" button (icons on the top right-hand side of the program). By clicking on it, a drop-down menu appears with the available dockable windows and users are able to change their status. In addition, there is the "Reset Window Layout" option which allows users to restore the default workspace.

    In some cases, such as the "Work area" of applications with a 3D environment, the window cannot be hidden. In these cases, the icon for closing the window is not displayed and, in the "Window" menu (), the "Work area" will be locked.

  • Collapse windows
    When several dockable windows are arranged vertically, an icon is displayed, next to the close icon, which allows each window to be expanded or collapsed. When the window is collapsed, it will return to its previous size.

The window layout and display settings are saved when closing the application.

It is important to note that not all floating windows in an application are dockable windows. In order to tell them apart, the icon has been added to the title bar of windows that are dockable.

The following applications now include the new floating window environment in version 2023.e:

  • AcouBAT by CYPE
  • CYPE Architecture
  • CYPE Connect
  • CYPEFIRE
  • CYPEHVAC Hydronics 3D
  • CYPEPLUMBING Water Systems
  • CYPESOUND
  • CYPETHERM LOADS
  • Open BIM Analytical Model
  • Open BIM Construction Systems
  • Open BIM COVID-19
  • Open BIM Layout
  • Open BIM Lightning
  • Open BIM Quantities
  • Open BIM Site
  • StruBIM Steel
  • The floating window environment also includes the "Bill of Quantities" tab in all applications that have this tab.

There is a new operation available: "Edit corners". This operation allows users to edit the corners of plates. Bevel, chamfer, notch, round and arc cuts can be defined.

When the operation is added and the plate is selected, the corner indices are marked on the screen. A cut can be added to each corner of the selected plate.

Up until version 2023.e, the program could work with rectangular section timber bars (CYPE Connect) and double T, C, angle and rectangular hollow section steel sections (CYPE Connect and StruBIM Steel). In version 2023.e, two new types of sections have been implemented for both CYPE Connect and StruBIM Steel:

  • Steel T sections
  • Plates

These sections will be available both as the node's own bars and as additional bars in the "Bar" operation.

Up until version 2023.e, sections and plates could be welded in either "Fillet" or "Lap" joint types. As of version 2023.e, welding the edges of plates as “butt” welds is also possible, i.e. the parallel edges of plates and sections can be joined end-to-end whether they are parallel or not.

In version 2023.e of CYPE Connect and StruBIM Steel, post-installed mechanical anchors from the SPIT brand catalogue can now be used as concrete fixings in baseplates. The checking of these elements is carried out in accordance with the criteria in the EN 1992-4:2018 standard, based on the data provided in the corresponding ETA (European Technical Assessment) for each fixing.

The previous version (2023.d) implemented chemical anchors from the same brand.

The SPIT brand post-installed mechanical anchors introduced in the 2023.e version are the following:

  • Torque-controlled expansion fixings
  • Drop-in fixings
  • Concrete screws

As of version 2023.e, users can now analyse the local buckling of joints in CYPE Connect and StruBIM Steel. This new type of analysis is added to those already existing in previous versions: Stress/Strain and Rotational Stiffness.

The local buckling analysis of joints in CYPE Connect and StruBIM Steel is part of the "Buckling analysis (local stability)" module (a module common to both programs). In order to carry out this analysis, users must have the required permissions for the aforementioned module in their user license.

The local buckling of a joint component occurs due to compression forces and depends, to a large extent, on the stiffness of the component and the distribution of the applied loads. A buckling analysis helps to detect the unstable configurations of a joint design under the action of a given load case, in other words, it helps to prevent unsafe designs.

There are several ways to evaluate the buckling phenomenon using finite elements. The one implemented in the analysis of joints is the "linear buckling analysis" which allows users to obtain the critical load factors of the different local buckling modes of the joint for a given load case. The smaller the first critical load factor, the closer we will be to an unstable joint configuration.

A new option for carrying out the buckling analysis has been added to the top options bar in the "Analysis" tab.

Once the analysis has been completed, the critical load factors for each of the buckling modes and their deformed shape will be obtained as a result.

By selecting the "Buckling" option in the drop-down menu of the results sidebar, a table will be displayed with the buckling modes of each load case and their corresponding critical load factors. Clicking on each mode will display the corresponding deformed shape.

In "Analysis options" the number of buckling modes to be analysed can be selected. The buckling analysis can be performed with the same loads as the "Stress/strain" analysis or with a different set of loads. This can be controlled by checking or unchecking the "Perform the instability analysis with the same loads as the Stress/Strain analysis" option.

The joint summary report includes a table showing the number of buckling modes analysed for each load case, as well as the critical load factors associated with each of them.

Since version 2022.a, the applications integrated within the Open BIM workflow via the BIMserver.center platform include a tool for managing project reference systems. This option is available from the configuration window that appears when linking or updating a BIMserver.center project via the "Geographic location and reference system" option. As of version 2023.d, the applications now allow users to run a graphical environment where they can visually define a reference system for their model. To do this, the "Geographic location and reference system" window now contains the "Visual editing of the local reference system of the model" option.

From the "Visual editing of the local reference system of the model" window, the origin and orientation of the reference system of the model can be indicated in the workspace with the "Define the reference system of the partial model" tool. Both the axes of the reference system of the model, which we have just entered and the axes of the reference system of the site can be viewed in the workspace. The latter appears with a "Site" tag.

To make it easier to define the reference system, the 3D models corresponding to the BIMserver.center project contributions selected during the linking process are displayed. The management of the visibility and object snaps of these models is carried out from the "Elements read" menu in the left sidebar of the window. The "Views" menu can also be found in the same options bar, from which different types of 2D and 3D views of the model can be generated. These tools can already be found in several CYPE applications. For more information on how they work, please refer to the User’s Manual for the 3D work environment tools available in CYPE applications.

Apart from 3D models, 2D drawings or plans can also be imported from CAD files (".dxf", ".dwg", ".dwf") or images (".jpeg", ".jpg", ".bmp", ".png", ".wmf", ".emf", ".pcx"). These files and object snaps are managed through the "DXF-DWG Template" and "Template object snaps" options accordingly.

Once the editing is complete, the coordinates and orientation of the reference system of the model with respect to the reference system of the site are moved to the corresponding fields in the "Geographic location and reference system" window.