Update history​

StruBIM Steel

Improvements to ease the entry of additional bars at joints

The "Bar" operation includes a new option to position additional bars in the direction of another bar. This improvement makes it easier to align bars.

New operation "Modify corners"

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.

New types of sections: T-section and 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.

Butt welds

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.

SPIT brand mechanical anchors for concrete fixings

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

Buckling analysis (local stability) (new module)

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.

Graphical editing of the reference system of the model

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.

Model update during editing

Automatic model update during the editing of bars (linear elements) has been implemented. As of version 2023.d, once a bar has been edited, any affected connections will be updated automatically.

New menu option for exporting to DSTV and STEP formats

Up until version 2023.d, the options for exporting to DSTV and STEP formats were found in the "Share" tool located in the BIMserver.center tool group.

As of version 2023.d, these options are also available from the "Export" button at the top left of the screen.

New report types

New report types have been added for connections:

  • Codes
  • Code check, summary
  • Checks

Editing the connection reference

A connection reference editing feature has been added. This reference can be either automatic or user-defined. The automatic reference is composed of the prefix defined in the sheet generation options.

Options for grouping and generating nodes

Options for managing groups of matching nodes have been added. Groups of nodes will be assigned the same connection.

The connection assigned to a group of nodes will read the bar forces from all the nodes in the group from the BIM project. The combination filtering carried out from "Generate from BIM model" is based on the sum of the combinations of all the nodes.


The options for managing these groups are:

  • Group
    Allows matching nodes to be grouped together. When a node is selected, all matching nodes will light up in yellow.
  • Ungroup
    Allows previously grouped nodes to be ungrouped.
  • Generate connections
    Generates nodes and groups them automatically if they match.