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• Improvements in the 2012.h version update patch (26th December 2011)
• Improvements in the 2012.g version update patch (1st December 2011)
• Improvements in the 2012.f version update patch (21st November 2011)
• Improvements in the 2012.e version update patch (14th November 2011)
• Improvements in the 2012.d version update patch (10th October 2011)
• Improvements in the 2012.c version update patch (5th August 2011)
• Improvements in the 2012.b version update patch (23rd June 2011)
• Other versions

Improvements in the 2012.h version update patch (26th December 2011)

INDEX

• Plane stress walls (new CYPECAD module)
• Code implementation and improvements in its application
• Code regarding loads on structures. Wind loads
• Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads
• CYPECAD

Plane stress walls (new CYPECAD module)

CYPECAD’s new module: Plane stress walls, designs reduced thickness reinforced concrete walls with a single reinforcement plane, which are used as load bearing walls to support vertical loads and also resist horizontal forces acting in the plane of the wall. They are commonly used in some countries: Columbia, Ecuador, India or Peru.

More information on this module can be found at the Plane stress walls webpage.

Code implementation and improvements in its application

Code regarding loads on structures. Wind loads

• COVENIN 2003-89 (Venezuela)
  Acciones del viento sobre construcciones.
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Portal frame generator
• NC 285: 2003 (Cuba)
  Carga de viento. Método de cálculo.
  
  This code is already implemented in CYPECAD as of the 2010.e version. As of the 2012.h version, it is also implemented in the Portal frame generator.

Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads

• 2011 PRBC (Puerto Rico)
  
  2011 Puerto Rico Building Code. Section: 1613 Earthquake Loads.
  
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.

CYPECAD

• Bill of quantities of the structure designed in CYPECAD for the French version
  
  The French version of CYPECAD generates and exports the bill of quantities of the designed structure to Arquimedes.
• Assign foundations to walls
  
  The option, Assign foundations, has been implemented in the Assign walls dialogue (Beams/Walls > Assign walls). This option assigns foundations to a previously introduced wall without the need of having to edit it.

Improvements in the 2012.g version update patch (1st December 2011)

INDEX

• Code implementation
• Rolled and welded steel code
• Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads
• CYPECAD and Metal 3D. Joints
• New types of joints
• Column-beam connections with continuous beam at the node
• Splice connection with bolted cover plates
• More code implementations for joint design
• Arquimedes
• Add a unit item to the concept decomposition of a price bank
• Add indirect expenses to a price bank when exported in HTML format
• Connection with Allplan 2012 (32-bits)
• Connection with ArchiCAD 15 (32-bits)

Code implementation

Rolled and welded steel code

• ANSI/AISC 360-10 (LRFD) (USA – International)
  Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.
  
  This code was implemented in the 2012.e version for the design of rolled and welded steel sections in CYPECAD, Metal 3D and the Portal Frame Generator. As of the 2012.g version, the code has been implemented in the five joints modules (Joints I, Joints II, Joints III, Joints IV and Joints V).
• NTC: 14-01-2008 (Italy)
  Norme tecniche per le construzioni (14 gennaio 2008).
  
  This code was implemented in the 2011.h version for the design of rolled and welded steel sections in CYPECAD, Metal 3D and the Portal Frame Generator. As of the 2012.g version, the code has been implemented in the five joints modules (Joints I, Joints II, Joints III, Joints IV and Joints V).

Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads

• PS-92 (version révisée 2010) France
  Règles de Construction Parasismique
  Règles PS applicables aux batiments – PS 92 (version révisée 2010)
  
  Code implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D

CYPECAD and Metal 3D. Joints

New types of joints

Column-beam connections with continuous beam at the node

New types of column-beam connections have been implemented in the Joints I, Joints II, Joints III and Joints IV modules, in which the beam is continuous at the node and the column is interrupted.

• For Joints I, Joints II, Joints III and Joints IV
  • Column below continuous beam
  • Column above continuous beam
• For Joints III and Joints IV (as well as the types stated above)
  
  • Column above and below continuous beam

The nodes must have the following properties so they can be resolved with the new types of continuous beam joints:

• Coplanar webs
  The webs of the columns and beam must be coplanar.
• Without any perpendicular sections
  The joint is not designed if there are sections reaching the node perpendicularly to the plane defined by the columns and the beam.
• Slope of the beam
  The beam can be inclined.
• Fixity of the columns to the beam
  For the Joints II and Joints IV (bolted) modules, columns must be fixed (moment connection) to the beam, whereas in the case of the Joints I and Joints III (welded) modules, the columns can be fixed or simply connected to the beam.
• Flange width of the beam with fixed column
  • At end frame nodes
    The width of the flange, for columns situated at the end frame nodes, has to be greater than the flange of the column.
  • At intermediate frame nodes
    For columns situated at intermediate frame nodes (with continuous beam at the node), the width of the flange of the beam must be greater than or equal to the width of the flange of the column.

Splice connection with bolted cover plates

Splice connections of two sections using bolted cover plates have been implemented in the Joints II and Joints IV (bolted) modules. They can be designed in accordance with any of the codes used by these modules (implemented codes for Joints II and implemented codes for Joints IV).

The nodes must have the following properties so the splice connection can be resolved with bolted cover plates:

• Coplanar webs and parallel axes
  Both sections must have coplanar webs and parallel axes.
• Section depths and packs
  The sections do not have to have the same depth or their axes aligned. The program uses packs if they are required, as long as the required thickness for a pack is greater than or equal to 2mm. Otherwise a gap is left.
• Column connections
  The program tries to design the splice connections between columns using cover plates. If this is not possible, it will design them using front plates (if the column sections are the same).
• Non-vertical section connections
  The design sequence is the opposite to the columns’ design sequence. In other words, the program tries to design the splice connection of the two sections using front plates (if the sections are the same). If it is not possible, it tries to design them using cover plates.
• Cover plate design
  Web cover plates are designed to resist the shear acting perpendicular to the axes of the sections, whereas the flange cover plates are designed to support the remaining five forces.
  
• Cover plate layout
  • Sections with the same internal depth
    Initially, the program only provides internal cover plates at the flanges. If it fails, external cover plates are added.
  • Sections with different internal depth
    Initially, the program provides an external cover plate. If it fails, internal cover plates are added.
• Connection stiffness
  Section splice connections resolved using cover plates are considered rigid, hence the rotational stiffness at the ends of both sections need not be defined.

More code implementations for joint design

The codes indicated below were implemented in a previous version for the design of rolled and welded steel sections in CYPECAD, Metal 3D and the Portal Frame Generator. As of the 2012.g version, the code has been implemented for the design of welded and bolted connections in the five joints modules (Joints I, Joints II, Joints III, Joints IV and Joints V).

• ANSI/AISC 360-10 (LRFD) (USA – International)
  Specification for Structural Steel Buildings
• NTC: 14-01-2008 (Italy)
  Norme tecniche per le construzioni (14 gennaio 2008).

Arquimedes

Add a unit item to the concept decomposition of a price bank

The option Add a unit concept to the concept decomposition for price banks has been implemented in the program (Concept list > Show > Concept list). This option was already available in previous versions for bills of quantities.

In a price bank, this option opens the Add a unit concept to the concept decomposition dialogue box, in which the user selects the types of concepts with decomposition (job items with decomposition and unjustified job items) to which a unit item selected from the same dialogue can be added. This unit item will be included in the decomposition of concepts present in the Concept list window which are of the selected type or types.

This option is useful for adding the same unit concept to a group of decomposed prices or unclassified simple prices in a price bank.

Add indirect expenses to a price bank when exported in HTML format

As of previous versions, it is possible to export a price bank in HTML format, so to publish it as a web-page (File > Export > Publish price bank in HTML format). In the 2012.g version, this export can be carried out including the indirect expenses of a specific chapter. The indirect expenses percentage and the chapter to which it is applied are indicated in the Publish price bank in HTML format dialogue box which appears when the option mentioned in File > Export. 

Connection with Allplan 2012 (32-bits)

Arquimedes has been updated to adapt to the changes introduced in the 2012 (32-bit) version of Allplan so to maintain the connection between both applications.

Connection with ArchiCAD 15 (32-bits)

Arquimedes has been updated to adapt to the changes introduced in ArchiCAD 15 (32-bit) so to maintain the connection between both applications.

Improvements in the 2012.f version update patch (21st November 2011)

INDEX

• Arquimedes
• Code implementation
  • Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads
• CYPECAD
  • Improvements in the configuration options of the Column schedule drawing
  • Improvements in layer organisation of the Column schedule drawing

Arquimedes

CYPE’s Project Management program is now available to our users in English. Create, manage and control bills of quantities, project certifications and specifications with this highly versatile tool.

For more information on Arquimedes and its features please click here.

Code implementation

Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads

• 2009 IBC (USA International): International Building Code
  Code implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D
• RPS 2011 (Morocco): Règlement de Construction Parasismique (version révisée 2011)
  Code implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D

CYPECAD

Improvements have been included for when generating the Column schedule drawing obtained once the job has been analysed using codes which provide users with detailed ultimate limit state reports. These improvements are detailed below:

Improvements in the configuration options of the Column schedule drawing

The following options have been implemented, providing the user with further configuration options for the Column schedule drawing of the job:

• Draw stirrup lengths
• Detailing of stirrups
• Label the number of shear stirrups

Improvements in layer organisation of the Column schedule drawing

Improvements have been implemented in the organisation of the layers used in the Column schedule drawing:

• The longitudinal reinforcement and transverse reinforcement belong to different layers.
• The labels of the longitudinal reinforcement and labels of the transverse reinforcement belong to different layers.
• The text and lines of the Column schedule and the text and lines of the table containing the reinforcement data belong to different layers.
• Concrete column sections and steel column sections belong to different layers.
• Dimension text of the column transverse sections and their corresponding lines belong to different layers.

Improvements in the 2012.e version update patch (14th November 2011)

INDEX

• Code implementation and improvements in its application
• Concrete code
• Rolled and welded steel code
• Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads

Code implementation and improvements in its application

Concrete code

• IS 456:2000 (India) and NBR 6118:2007 (Brazil)
  The following features have been implemented for IS 456:2000 (India) and NBR 6118:2007 (Brazil):
• Detailed Ultimate Limit State reports for concrete columns in CYPECAD’s new column editor
• New column editor of CYPECAD
• Automatic generation of column reinforcement tables

CYPECAD's new column editor offers extensive and thorough information on the data, checks, details and results of all the reinforced concrete and steel columns of the job, including detailed Ultimate Limit State (U.L.S.) reports. The U.L.S. reports allow the user to verify, justify and optimise column design in CYPECAD.

These tools were already available in CYPECAD, as of the 2012.c version, for the EHE-08 code (Spain) and as of the 2012.d version for Eurocode 2 (International and Portugal).

More information on this tool can be found at the Detailed reports on the Ultimate Limit State checks of concrete columns in CYPECAD’s new column editor in the New Features section.

Rolled and welded steel code

• ANSI/AISC 360-10 (LRFD) (USA – International): Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.

Code implemented in CYPECAD, Metal 3D and Portal frame generator for the design of rolled and welded steel using the ultimate limit state method (load and resistance factor design).

Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads

• COVENIN 1756-1:2001 (Venezuela): Norma Venezolana COVENIN 1756-1:2001. Edificaciones sismorresistentes.
  
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.

 

Improvements in the 2012.d version update patch (10th October 2011)

INDEX

• Code implementation and improvements in its application
• Concrete code
• Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads
• Uninstalling CYPE programs

Code implementation and improvements in its application

Concrete code

• Eurocode 2 (EU International) and Eurocode 2 (Portugal)

The following features have been implemented for Eurocode 2 (EU International and Portugal):

• Detailed Ultimate Limit State reports for concrete columns in CYPECAD’s new column editor
• New column editor of CYPECAD
• Automatic generation of column reinforcement tables

CYPECAD's new column editor offers  extensive and thorough information on the data, checks, details and results of all the reinforced concrete and steel columns of the job, including detailed Ultimate Limit State (U.L.S.) reports. The U.L.S. reports allow the user to verify, justify and optimise column design in CYPECAD.

These tools were already available in CYPECAD, as of the 2012.c version, for the EHE-08 code (Spain).

More information on this tool can be found at the Detailed reports on the Ultimate Limit State checks of concrete columns in CYPECAD’s new column editor in the New Features section.

Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads

• CHOC-04 (Honduras): Código Hondureño de la Construcción. Normas Técnicas Complementarias. XII. Cargas y Fuerzas Estructurales. Diseño por Sismo.

Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.

Uninstalling CYPE programs

New as of the 2012.d version is the possibility of uninstalling CYPE programs using the Add or Remove Programs tool of Windows. The way in which the tool is executed depends on the Windows operating system in use:

• Windows XP, 2000 and 2003 Server
  Windows Start button > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Find the program in the list and select it using the left mouse button > select the “Add or Remove” button of the program to uninstall.
• Windows Vista, 2008 Server and 7
  Windows Start button > Control Panel > Programs and Features > Find the program in the list > click on the program to uninstall with the right mouse button and select the Uninstall option.

With this tool, Windows will delete the following directories or elements from the drive where CYPE programs have been installed:

• Any shortcut to CYPE programs (Desktop or Programs Menu) that was created automatically by the CYPE program installation assistant. If the user modifies the location or name of this shortcut, it will not be deleted.
• The subfolder “Version …” (corresponding to the version which has been selected to uninstall) within the “CYPE Ingenieros” folder.
• The “usr” folder, if the user selects the option to also delete all CYPE program configuration files. This option is deactivated, by default, when the user selects to uninstall the program from the Windows tool. It is recommended the “usr” folder not be deleted if other CYPE program versions are installed in the same drive. Deleting the “usr” folder will cause the loss of any user-configured program options (reinforcement tables, user-defined sections…).

The subfolders contained within “CYPE Ingenieros” will never be deleted (except for the Version … subfolder), as it is within these folders that CYPE saves all its jobs and drawings. If the user wishes to delete these subfolders, it will have to be done manually and care must be taken to ensure that safety copies have been made of all the data which is to be saved.

Improvements in the 2012.c version update patch (5th August 2011)

INDEX

• Code implementation
• Improvements in code application
• CYPECAD
  • Detailed ultimate limit state check reports for concrete columns with CYPECAD's new column editor
  • Automatic generation of column reinforcement tables
  • Justification of seismic action report
  • Collective protection systems. New tools

Code implementation

• Rolled, welded and cold-formed steel codes
  
  
  • EAE (Spain)
    Instrucción de Acero Estructural.
    
    New structural steel code for Spain, published in the Official State Bulletin (BOE) on the 23rd June 2011. The code has been implemented in CYPECAD, Metal 3D and the five Joints modules (Joints I, Joints II, Joints III, Joints IV and Joints V).
• Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads
  
  
  • NSE-10 (Guatemala)
    Normas de Seguridad Estructural de Edificaciones y Obras de Infraestructura para la República de Guatemala, edición 2010.
    
    Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.

Improvements in code application

• Rolled and welded steel code
• IS 800:2007 (India)
  General Construction in Steel – Code of Practice
  
  This code was already implemented in previous versions for the design of simple rolled and welded steel sections in CYPECAD, Metal 3D, the Portal Frame Generator and the five Joints modules (Joints I, Joints II, Joints III, Joints IV and Joints V). Now, in the 2012.c version, the design of composite sections has been implemented.
• Cold-formed steel code
• ABNT NBR 14762:2010 (Brazil)
  Dimensionamento de estruturas de aço constituídas por perfis formados a frio.
  
  This code was implemented in the previous update patch (2012.b) for CYPECAD, Metal 3D and the Portal Frame Generator. Now, in the 2012.c version, a check on buckling due to distortion for cold-formed steel sections has been implemented within the ultimate limit state (U.L.S.) checks.

CYPECAD

Detailed ultimate limit state check reports for concrete columns with CYPECAD's new column editor

The 2012.c version of CYPECAD incorporates a new column editor which displays all the information regarding their design including the generation of detailed ultimate limit state (U.L.S.) check reports. This new tool is available when the job is analysed using the Spanish EHE-08 concrete code and will be implemented for other concrete codes in upcoming versions.

CYPECAD, Metal 3D and the Portal Frame Generator already provide detailed U.L.S. check reports for rolled, welded and cold-formed steel, aluminium and timber.

Now, with the 2012.c version, CYPECAD provides detailed ultimate limit state (U.L.S.) check reports for concrete columns. These reports contain all the checks carried out by the program to design reinforced concrete columns. Hence, these constitute an important document with which the user can verify and justify the design of the concrete columns and optimise their design. The level of detail of these reports also informs the user of all the checks a concrete column is submitted to. The program does not just simply indicate whether the column passes or fails all the checks, it also indicates which specific checks it fails. Additionally, each check is accompanied by the code and article to which the check refers to.

More information on the detailed ultimate limit state check reports for concrete columns can be found in the Detailed ultimate limit state check reports for concrete columns with CYPECAD’s new column editor section of the New features of the 2012 version in CYPECAD page.

Automatic generation of column reinforcement tables

New to CYPECAD for the 2012.c version, as well as the new column editor and the detailed ultimate limit state check reports, is the automatic generation of column reinforcement tables for jobs analysed using the Spanish EHE-08 concrete code and will be implemented for other concrete codes in upcoming versions.

The automatic generation is a wonderful new feature for users who wish to use personalised column reinforcement tables, which will save them time and effort by them not having to undertake the usual laborious tasks, and with complete guarantee that the reinforcement table generated by CYPECAD is coherent and fulfils their expectations. Additionally, users who in previous versions rejected the idea of creating their own column reinforcement tables due to the complexity of the process, can now personalise them easily.

More information on the automatic generation of column reinforcement tables can be found in the Automatic generation of column reinforcement tables section of the New features of the 2012 version in CYPECAD page.

Justification of seismic action report

A new report has been implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D justifying the values used for the analysis of seismic loads. This substitutes the Participation coefficients report of previous versions and is referred to as the Justification of seismic action report (in CYPECAD: File> Print > Reports, and in Metal 3D: Analysis > Dynamic seismic loading).

In previous versions, the Participation coefficients report displayed the summarised results of the seismic analysis carried out by the program. 

As of the 2012.c version, the Justification of seismic action report of CYPECAD and Metal 3D provides the following information:

• Seismic general data
• Analysis spectrum
  This displays:
• The detailed development of the elastic and design spectrums used internally by the program for the analysis
• The values of the parameters required to define these spectrums
• The formulae and representation of the parameters defining the spectrums
• Reference to the seismic articles used.
• Participation coefficients
  This displays:
• The participation coefficients table
  The results displayed are justified with the data exposed in the previous section, as they establish how the design spectral accelerations are obtained based on the spectrums that have been defined, by substituting the modal periods that have been calculated.
• Modal period representation
  An image is attached displaying the range of periods covered by the modes that have been studied, indicating those where more than 30% of the mass is displaced.

Collective protection systems. New tools

New tools have been created and some of the existing options have been improved for the provision of vertical safety nets and guardrails, and for limiting stacking zones (Health and Safety tab):

• Vertical nets
  New options have been implemented: New bracket, Move bracket, Rotate bracket and Delete bracket in the Vertical nets menu. Using these tools, the brackets of the safety nets that have been generated can be added, moved, rotated and deleted.
• Guardrails
  The New option within the Guardrails menu now has two further options:
• New (on the perimeter)
  This option works in the same way as it did previously (places guardrails on the perimeters and openings indicated by the user).
• New (free)
  The program already generated guardrails at elevations changes between floor slabs represented in CYPECAD, but could not detect this change if it was not defined using structural elements. Now, using this option, guardrails can be provided at any position.
• Stacking zones
  Within the Stacking zones menu, the Trim option has been improved and the Move text option has been implemented:
• Trim
  Allows for the user to draw a closed polygonal outline so that the area of the stacking zone lying within it is deleted. In previous versions, this option only allowed the user to define a straight line to divide a stacking zone and delete the smallest of the two areas.
• Move text
  Allows for the user to move the text box in the stacking zone.

Improvements in the 2012.b version update patch (23rd June 2011)

This version revision contains improvements on the new Export to XML ADENE format module of the Portuguese version of the Building Services programs and the implementation of international codes and improvements in its application.

INDEX

• Code implementation
• Metal 3D
• IFC import
• New types of joints for the Joints V module

Code implementation

• Concrete code
• ABNT NBR 6118:2007 (Brazil)
  Projeto de estruturas de concreto – Procedimento
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.
• CBH 87 (Bolivia)
  ICS 91.080.40 Estructuras de hormigón. Año 1987
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.
• Eurocode 2 EN 1992-1-1
  The following codes have been implemented in the Embedded Retaining Walls program:
  • Eurocode 2 (UE – International). General document.
  • Eurocode 2 (Bulgaria). Document adapted to Bulgaria.
  • Eurocode 2 (Romania). Document adapted to Romania.
  • Eurocode 2 (Portugal). Document adapted to Portugal.
  These codes were already implemented in the Reinforced concrete cantilever walls program, CYPECAD and Metal 3D.
• NCh430.Of2008 (Chile)
  Hormigón armado – Requisitos de diseño y cálculo
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.
• NTCRC:2004 (Mexico)
  Normas técnicas complementarias para diseño y construcción de estructuras de concreto para el Distrto Federal
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.
• NTE E.060:2009 (Peru)
  Concreto armado
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.
• Rolled and welded steel code
• ABNT NBR 8800:2008
  Projeto de estruturas de aço e de estruturas mistas de aço e concreto de edificios
  
  As of the 2012.b version, Composite sections have been included for this Brazilian code. The ABNT NBR 8800:2008 code was implemented in previous versions for the design of welded and bolted connections resolved by the Joints I, Joints II, Joints III, Joints IV and Joints V modules, and for the design of rolled and welded simple steel sections in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.
• Cold formed steel code
• ABNT NBR 14762:2010 (Brazil)
  Dimensionamento de estruturas de aço constituídas por perfis formados a frio.
  
  This Brazilian code has been implemented for cold formed steel sections. The sections which can be used are the same as those available with the NBR 14762:2001 code, which is currently no longer in force. Both codes are implemented in CYPECAD, Metal 3D and the Portal Frame Generator.
• Code regarding loads on structures. Wind loads
• E.020 Technical Code (Peru)
  Norma técnica de edificación E.020 cargas – Apartado 5. Cargas debidas al viento.
  
  Section 5 of the E.020 technical building code of Peru regarding wind loads has been implemented in the Portal Frame Generator. This code was already implemented in previous versions of CYPECAD.
• Code regarding loads on structures. Seismic loads
• ABNT NBR 15421:2006 (Brazil)
  Projeto de estruturas resistentes a sismos – Procedimento
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D
• R-001 2011 (Dominican Republic)
  Reglamento para el Análisis y Diseño Sísmico de Estructuras
  Implemented in CYPECAD and Metal 3D.

Metal 3D

IFC import

Metal 3D now allows for structural analysis models to be imported from IFC files. IFC files which only contain the physical model and not the structural analysis model, do not contain any information which Metal 3D can read.

In IFC format files, the structural analysis model is composed of structural type entities, such as nodes, bars, loads, etc. Additionally, the relationship between nodes and bars is defined in an explicit way by means of fixity conditions. It is similar to the model a user would define in Metal 3D.

The entities Metal 3D currently imports from the IFC files are the following:

• Nodes (IFCStructuralPointConnection), with its external fixity conditions.
• Bars (IFCStructuralCurveMember), with its end fixity conditions and their descriptions.

These basic features regarding the import of IFC files do not require any special permits in the user license, hence any user whose license includes the 2012 version of Metal 3D will be able to import IFC files with the indicated properties.

Metal 3D carries out the import of IFC files into a new job with the aid of a data introduction assistant. When a new job is created (File > New) the program allows to choose between two options:

• New job
  This is the default option that was executed when a new job was created in previous versions. Upon choosing it, the data introduction assistant of Metal 3D opens so the general data of the job can be defined.
• Automatic introduction IFC
  This option is used to import the structural analysis models from IFC files. Upon selecting it, the same assistant as in the previous option (New job) opens but with two additional steps:
• IFC file selection
  In this step the user can select:
• The IFC file where the information to import is located
• The view of the IFC file to be imported
  
  This option will be available if the IFC file has different views available. The IFC format allows for different groups of structural elements to be defined within the same file, with the aim to be able to analyse specific zones of the structure without the need of having to create a new file containing only that region of interest. For example, the IFC file containing the structure of a warehouse and an intermediate floor slab could contain two views, on with only the intermediate floor and the other with all the elements.
• Section library
  This step of the program displays the Library selection dialogue box of Metal 3D. Within this dialogue box, the sections each library contains can be visualised, new libraries can be created and the default library to be used by Metal 3D can be selected which will be used by this assistant, in the following stage, to assign them to the section types of the IFC file.
• Sections
  Metal 3D imports Bar type entities (IFCStructuralCurveMember). At this stage, the program automatically assigns each section defined in the IFC file with the sections available in the default library (selected in the previous step), whose name coincides with the references of the IFC sections. If the same reference is not found in the default library, the corresponding type of section remains as undefined and the user can assign any section within the available libraries of Metal 3D. The manual assigning can be done on all the section types which were assigned automatically.
  
  At the end of the import process, a list is displayed with all incidences that were incurred, if any.

New types of joints for the Joints V module

In the Joints V, Flat trusses with hollow structural sections module, three new types of joints are designed: Bolted splice connection with two CHS elements, Bolted splice connection with two RHS elements, Knee KT joint.

The design of these joints has been implemented for all the available codes in the Joints V module taking into account the design criteria of CIDECT (Comité International pour le Développement et l’Etude de la Construction Tubulaire).

For the program to design truss splice connections, the joints must be analysed using the option Resolve all nodes with bolted connections with the choice of ordinary or prestressed bolts. Using this option, welded connections of the truss will be designed as welded.

• Bolted splice connection of two CHS
  This consists of a bolted splice connection of two circular hollow sections using a front plate. They must be aligned and have the same external diameter.
  
  The program provides stiffeners around the plates if required, depending on the acting forces and the dimensions of the elements. It also trims the plates automatically transforming them into a circular flange depending on the dimensions of the elements to join.
• Bolted splice connection of two RHS
  This consists of a bolted splice connection of two rectangular hollow sections (or square hollow sections or two rolled channels welded together in a box with a continuous chord). They must be aligned, be of the same type and have the same external dimensions.
  
  For this splice connection, only two bolt columns are provided along the two longest sides of the elements to join. No stiffeners are provided in any case, but the front plates are trimmed concentrically and automatically with respect to the dimensions of the elements to join.
• Knee KT joint
  Joint at the end of a truss chord of 3 elements in KT arrangement.
  
  As occurs with the other joints designed by the Joints V module, the different structural hollow sections (circular hollow sections, rectangular hollow sections, square hollow sections and two rolled channels welded together in a box with a continuous chord) can be combined at the same node with the following conditions:
• If the chord of the truss consists of a rectangular hollow section, square hollow section or two channels welded together in a box; the sections of the diagonal and vertical members can be combined at the node with any of the sections implemented in the program (circular hollow sections, rectangular hollow sections, square hollow sections and two rolled channels welded together in a box with a continuous chord).
• If the chord of the truss consists of a circular hollow section, the diagonals and vertical members of the truss must also be circular hollow sections.

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