STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

The General Structural Engineering software considers restrained warping for the torsion of thin-wall open sections. Notice that this phenomenon is not included in most commonly used frame analysis programs. Almost all frame programs in practice use St-Venant torsion theory ignoring the effects of restrained warping.

•Automated simplified method of the building codes (NBCC and IBC)
•Seismic response spectrum, seismic time-history and dynamic time-history analysis
•Customized response spectrums and accelerograms
•Fully customizable analysis parameters
•Maximal response using CQC and SRSS methods
•Automated or user defined damping
•Graphical display of response spectrums and accelerograms
•User defined incidence angle of seismic loads and vertical components
•Customized analysis and output time steps
•Time refined results can be provided for selected parts of the models
•Automated or custom determination of the signs of deformations provided by the maximum response methods
•Additional masses can be added to the model by way of static loads
•Seismic loads (spectrum or accelerogram) and dynamic loads (sinusoidal, general load functions and random load functions)
•Multiple seismic and dynamic loads can be combined together in a single analysis
•Base shear calibration according to the selected building code
•Possibility to define several seismic loads and account for eccentricities between the center of stiffness and the center of mass
•Graphical display of the center of stiffness and the center of mass and seismic forces at floors
•Account for accidental eccentricities
•Account for the I, F and R coefficients of the NBCC and IBC code in spectral and time-history analysis

The software allows the user to create load combinations. A load combination results in an algebric combination of distinct basic loads. Each basic load is multiplied by a load factor. The resulting load combination acts on the structure to generate a specific structural response.
The load combination wizard in the program also allows creating load patterns.

The load combination wizard generates load combinations according to NBCC, UBC, ASCE 7, BOCA, Eurocode and ECC.

•Loading for joints, members including concentrated, uniform, trapezoidal and thermal loads.
•Pressure or concentrated floor loads with two-way, one-way and truss distribution using triangular or quadrilateral surfaces.
•Pressure or concentrated loads on finite element plates.
•Gravity loads in any global direction calculated by the program.
•Imposed displacements at any joint.
•User defined load combinations.

PHYSICAL MEMBER LOADS
The user can apply uniform, concentrated and variable loads to physical members (continuous sequence of members).

Standard sections (CISC, AISC and European)
Custom section libraries
Non-standard sections (over 30 shapes available)
Truss and pre-tensioned cable sections
User defined section properties
Composite sections are available

GEOMETRIC CALCULATOR

Wizard based geometry generation

Large number of pre-defined frames
Over 30 pre-defined trusses
Circular and parabolic arches
Cylinders and cones composed of beams and/or plates

The catenary cable element is a highly non-linear element used to model the catenary behavior of a cable suspended between two points under the effect of its self-weight. This formulation accounts for the non-linearity due to large displacements.

A cable has no bending, shear, compression or torsion stiffness. Due to this fact, the fixities at the ends are ignored; the cable is always treated as member acting in tension only.

In the interface of the GSE, the user can create a catenary cable by associating a cable type section to a member.

*Requires the Advanced Analysis Application.

Spatial objects are used to model non-structural secondary elements attached to the structure. These elements add no stiffness to the existing model. Loads applied to spatial objects are transferred to the structure through one or more attach joints. The loads are transferred using a “rigid plate” approach.

Concentrated, pressure and wind loads may be applied to spatial objects. The figures below shows a spatial object loaded vertically and horizontally attached to a cantilever column. Also, it shows the deformations and biaxial moments induced by the loads transferred by the spatial object.

*Requires the Advanced Analysis Application.

This option is available for AISC 360-16 and AISC 360-10 standards.

The options for the Stability Design Method are Direct Analysis Method (DAM) and Effective Length Method (kL).