BIM technology
The EdiLus BIM technology allows the user to design graphically and with the advantage of focusing on the dimensional and geometric characteristics of the whole structure and not on individual input data (nodes, rods, shell, loads…).
By adopting BIM, furthermore, the graphical input of the structure’s geometry coincides with the FEM input calculation model, which allows you to start the static or dynamic tests at any time, continuing with the analysis phases that lead to making improvements or changes to the structure or simply proceed to printing your construction documents.
The revolutionary EdiLus BIM technology allows you to design structural elements in two-dimensional or three-dimensional shapes by selecting object characteristics at any time during the design phase.
Every object viewed graphically together with a database of information that it is identified by with dimensional, geometric and physical characteristics (material, resistance, etc.). Data characteristics assigned to an object constitute the an input element for the calculation and every modification immediately becomes a new check condition.
The input allows you to insert, edit and delete objects by keeping under control the structure’s floor plan, cross-section or isometric views.
All data is stored in a single database and a single file, with endless advantages.
Integrated Solver
The finite element solver in linear analysis is integrated into the software and solves structures of various shapes and sizes. Verifications are exclusively in limit state. The calculation is based on the use of high-performance elements such as:
- the HP-SHELL element, triangular shaped and provided with the “drilling” degree of freedom;
- HP-BEAM element, with flexible beam, 2 hinges per end, oriented rigid arms on elastic foundation in the flexible section.
An even more powerful solver thanks to the automatic discretization function of shell elements, allowing to analyse the actual disalignments between the various structural elements and to define variable thickenings between the edges and the inside of the shell mesh.
Dynamic calculation at any structural design stage
EdiLus-RC proceeds to the calculation of stresses and to the verification of sections automatically, offering the designer with the most suitable reinforcement for all sections of the structure. The designer can freely intervene to change reinforcements directly in EdiLus with a huge time saving advantage and consistency of results. For example, a simple change after the calculation of a beam reinforcement (eg. after adding an extra rebar) can obviously cause consequences on the verification of the entire pillared right down to the building’s sub-structure. EdiLus’ advanced technology manages design and calculation as an integrated process: the input, the structural model, the calculation results and working drawings all influence each other so that each change, and at every stage, represents a new design situation to verify.
Handling exceptions
In order to bring greater flexibility to the calculation phase and optimize results, specific structural members can be excluded from certain tests:
- capacity design tests for beam-column by nodes
- bending-shear capacity design tests for beams and columns
- curvature ductility tests for beams
- beam torsion testing
- limit load checks for foundation beam elements
- node confinement tests
Viewing results
The object technology allows you to immediately read the calculation results directly on the model: loads, stresses, and even deformations become new object characteristics displayed in diagrams or by means of a 3D deformation simulation directly on the object and also color mapped.
Displacements animation for a more detailed analysis of the structure
When analysing the calculation results, you can also view the deformed configuration of the structure (even with color mapping) both for static loads and seismic forces and create a displacements animation showing how they affect the structure.
Interactive Diagnostics
Once the calculation process has terminated a powerful diagnostics tool, reports any modelling errors or failure to comply with regulatory requirements. Clicking on the error message you are automatically re-directed to the structural element in error in order to solve the problem. The diagnostics tool is active at every stage of design: at every change it checks to see if errors have been corrected or new errors introduced.
Play-structure Technology
Once the calculation process has terminated a powerful diagnostics tool, reports any modelling errors or failureWith the playstructure technology you can go inside the designed structure and walkthrough the various environments in 3D using simple keyboard commands or a joypad and visually check what’s being designed.
Integrated design and cost estimating
The Structural design and the relating bill of quantities are completely integrated in a single work phase. The design and calculation of the structure, with reinforcement definition, automatically produce the project cost estimate and bill of quantities thanks to specific features that are directly integrated in EdiLus-RC. Design changes are immediately reflected in the estimate so that every choice or modification is consistent and immediately integrated into the design and the cost estimate documents. For more advanced bill of quantities tools, the BoQ data can be exported to PriMus.
Printing the project construction documents
EdiLus-RC produces an entire set of construction documents: the structural frameworks of the various levels, the general technical report, calculation printouts, the geotechnical report, working drawings and a detailed cost estimate of the designed structure (with PriMus-DCF).
The limit load calculation – Geotechnical Report
With EdiLus-RC it is also possible to prepare a geotechnical report. Following the indications provided by the embedded wizard, you’ll be able to draw up detailed information about the sediment, the presence of groundwater, the stratigraphy configuration, etc. In addition to the specified data, the geotechnical report contains all of the limit load data too. Three-dimensional views with chromatic scale mapping for viewing ground tension values, load limits, absolute subsidence, differential subsidence, offer a simple reading of the geotechnical behaviour of the structure and identifies possible critical situations.
Drawings and diagrams for result synthesis
During the printing process, not only are the numeric results shown (tabulated) but are also represented graphically with the structural frameworks on which the various quantities are shown: loads, stresses, displacements, safety factors etc.
Graphical processing for summarised calculation results
The working drawings can be generated manually, by simple Drag and Drop actions from the project navigator to the title block, or automatically with the appropriate working drawings wizard; you can even export these drawings in DXF and DWG CAD file formats.
Integration with Edificius
If the BIM model, created with Edificius, is opened in the EdiLus Structural Calculations environment, it is also possible to continue the design phase making Architecture and Structural Engineering interact by deigning and calculating all the structural members.
Floor Slabs design
EdiLus-RC allows you to design any type of clay-cement mix slab: prepared in-situ, with prestressed beams, joists and prefabricated lattice panels (pre-stressed slabs). By simply defining the floor’s spanning direction, the “continuous beam” calculation scheme is automatically obtained together with the generation of all load combinations. The generated reinforcements are then customizable by the user with a specific editor. By simply setting of a number of design parameters, full bands, cross-piece joists, partition reinforcements and all of the necessary technical documentation 100% ready for the building site.
Modelling deep foundations
EdiLus-RC even allows you to model deep foundations. Reinforced concrete piles can be modelled for any type of foundation (plinths, foundation slabs and beams).
EdiLus-RC is capable of performing vertical and horizontal load limit checks and compressive-bending and shear checks at Ultimate Limit State for each single pole.
The software also provides the “foundation socket” object for both direct and plinths on poles configuration types, allowing to model structures with foundation socket plinths.
Settlements and consolidation analysis
Starting from the terrain stratigraphy and foundation composition data, EdiLus-RC calculates the instantaneous collapse potential and the consolidation settlement (Skempton-Bjerrum method), as well as the Oedometric Modulus (edometric method). The software also allows:
- verification of differential settlements in order to assess the effect of any shifts and distortions in the foundation for super-structures;
- Sliding checks for the laying of shallow foundations.
Conservation of changes made to the reinforcment schedules in case of structure recalculation
EdiLus allows, during a calculation reset, to preserve any changes and customizations made by the structural engineer to the reinforcement schedules.
Custom identification of the plane starting from which to apply the seismic action even at different levels in the same structure
In the case of a partially underground configured building, EdiLus-RC allows you to define the Seismic Zero Plane or the plane starting from which to apply the seismic action without considering the seismic forces acting on the underground section. With this method the seismic model will include the entire structure, while the masses below the seismic plane will be considered as null.
Representation in nodes
To calculate stresses correctly, the Analytical Model structural member connections between the various elements is shown schematically: EdiLus-RC is able so to obtain rigorous results, without the approximations deriving from less appropriate analytical schematizations.
Load combinations – “Snow Load” calculation
When addressing load analysis on floor slabs, balconies, floors, and vaults, EdiLus-RC automatically calculates the surface load due to the weight of snow.
Pressures on walls and additional loads
A revolutionary input feature allows you to define actions related to hydrostatic and soil pressure on the walls. In addition, specific objects allow the user to apply additional loads (concentrated forces, linear forces, surface forces, concentrated moments and linear moments) directly on the various structural elements (beams, columns, walls, floors, and foundation slabs).
Infinitely rigid floors
With EdiLus-RC you can also define the infinitely rigid behavior of the entire deck for each floor independently, in order to model the structure to its actual behavior as in the case of openings in the slabs, stair cases, split level floors, etc.
Defining custom sections and generic materials
EdiLus-RC allows you to define and add, in addition to a vast archive of predefined sections, your own custom sized profile sections for beams and columns of any shape by using specific editing tools.
Each section can be assigned with the mechanical characteristics of a generic material different to the characteristics of generic reinforced concrete.
This means that you can easily model, inside a reinforced concrete building, beams and pillars in steel, aluminium, wood or other material types.
Reinforcement customization
A transparent pen allows the user to freely customize their own reinforcements defining diameters, lengths and rebar position as well as the rebar shapes. While rebar editing progresses, the reinforcement diagrams (bending, shear, torsion) are updated dynamically.
Choosing the rebar layout criterion
EdiLus-RC allows you to choose between different rebar arrangements some of which allow you to define reinforcements with maximum reduction at the support ends. The user, however, still has the maximum freedom to customize reinforcements.
Structural analysis of timber elements integrated in reinforced concrete structures
Roofs, porches, and other timber components present in a mixed reinforced concrete structure can be modelled and calculated in an integrated manner to the entire structure to obtain results and construction documents for the different materials and with a single input.
EdiLus-RC calculates solid and laminated wood through a quick and easy object-oriented modelling process. Items can only be one-dimensional (beams and pillars) with rectangular and circular section types.
Complex timber elements become simple
To the very simple elements, present in a structure, complex objects such as trusses, designed through effective parametric input, can also be added; a wizard lets you change the model, composition, geometry, sizes and all the relevant parameters that define a truss to respond to every need… And all very quickly.
A specific function automates inserting and connecting purlins: building up even a complex timber roof becomes extremely easy!
Calculating and connecting timber members
The various timber members are checked for bending, shear and instability also taking into account the possible inclination of stress actions in relation to the wood grain.
Particular attention has been put into the design of wooden member connections. In the contact areas, the software proceeds to shape the members so as to define notches and support areas in great detail allowing the user to run a Contact Point Verification.
Existing reinforced concrete building verifications
The program allows you to schematize generic-strength materials and existing reinforcement to simulate structures built in different historical/legal contexts and guides the engineer to perform diagnostic tests on the structure in order to better understand its characteristics.
The checks immediately return the analysed structure’s degree of seismic vulnerability and help to understand the possible interventions necessary for seismic resistance upgrading. You can intuitively add new roofs, elevations, floors, etc., to the existing structure and then proceed to an overall verification.
The program also allows a graphical and numerical input to define measures for strengthening the building (jacket linings, plating, FRP grouting, etc.) with specific tests to evaluate the effects of such reinforcements. Behaviour checks, conducted on the existing structure and the achieved structural improvements, can be simulated with in linear calculation mode.
Tools that allow the structural engineer to have a clear comparative framework between the current de-facto stage and the design stage with the proven evidence of increased global resistance.
Drawings, calculation reports and the structure’s bill of quantities, accompany the analysis of the structure and the improvement interventions.
Guide to the level of knowledge and the level of resistance of materials
EdiLus-RC helps the technician to build the safety factors to be used in the calculation by means of a guide to the knowledge of the structure and its materials.
If we can gain a high level of knowledge of the used materials, reinforcements, load analysis, etc. the analytical model will be more likely to simulate reality and therefore more precautionary safety factors may be adopted. When the level of knowledge of the structure is low, the safety factors must be higher.
The user can directly indicate the level of knowledge of the structure to check or use a special wizard that, with an automatic user guided procedure, allows you to provide the software with all the geometry information, construction details, material properties or the data deriving from investigation and testing. Based on the information provided, the program automatically identifies the level of knowledge.
Even for the definition of material resistance, EdiLus-RC offers a wizard for data input. You can indicate the type of conducted tests (for example, a core drilling or sclerometric testing) and the test results. Once the tests are characterized, you simply then need to select them as specified in the wizard to get the resistance calculation to be adopted in the following verification.
Reinforcement insertion and re-building
Inserting the existing reinforcements can be addressed in a quick and accurate manner using the EdiLus-RC rebars insertion mode; a powerful input procedure that includes typical “copy and paste” and “duplication” functions and with which you can easily copy the reinforcements used in a beam to any other beam or group of beams.
Verifying the current De-Facto stage
Once the structure’s characteristics are defined and calculated, the software offers various ways to control the results of the de-facto stage checking.
Thanks to detailed result tables, collapse accelerations for each element and for each mechanism are provided so as to easily identify the most critical points of the structure.
Design and evaluation of interventions for improvements or adjustments
EdiLus-RC enables you to design interventions for improvement or adjustment in which you can apply both reinforcements on existing elements, and therefore referred to as “de facto”, or add new structural elements, therefore defined in the design phase, such as new columns, walls, shear walls, etc.
The structural engineer has the opportunity to choose the most appropriate type of intervention from a menu among which:
- FRP plating for Bending
- FRP plating for Shear
- Height increases
- Steel jacket linings
- FRP wrapping
- Node Confinement
- Reinforcement mortar for on Wall repairs
- Wall reinforcements with FRP
- Sub-Foundations
Thanks to automatic recalculation functions, structural improvement interventions prove to be simple and well focused on specific design aspects.
Once the calculations are completed, the engineer has all the elements to assess the effectiveness of the proposed intervention; the software automatically produces reinforcements for the new elements and, above all, a comparison report between the current de-fact stage and the design stage with reference to the risk indicator.
Detailed drawings and schedules of interventions and the relating cost estimate
In addition to performing all the necessary calculations in checking the de-fact stage and the evaluation of planned improvements and adjustments, EdiLus-RC automatically generates the construction documents too (calculation report, geotechnical report, vulnerability data, comparison reports, summary charts, frameworks, working drawings, calculation tables, etc.), together with the relating project cost estimate.
Other Features
EdiLus-CA also supports:
- resistance tests and checks
- geotechnical testing and ground tensions (with the limit load calculation)
- automatic generation of beam sections with reinforcement schedules
- visualisation, for any selected structural element, of the local reference axes system
- insertion and management of seismic shear walls in accordance with all verification criteria and reinforcements required by law
- insertion, management and verification of slanted columns and deep beams
- calculation and design of reinforcements for stairs and balconies
- the development of envelope diagrams of the calculated stresses acting on the foundation beams (both for the bending moment and for shear) and the moments calculation for foundation slabs, specified according to direction (main and secondary) and side (upper and lower)