enh51.pdf

Release 5.1 Enhancements


ENGINEERING DYNAMICS, INC.

2113 38TH STREET

KENNER, LOUISIANA 70065

U.S.A.

No part of this document may bereproduced in any form, in anelectronic retrieval system orotherwise, without the prior

written permission of the publisher.

Copyright ©2001 by

ENGINEERING DYNAMICS, INC.

Printed in U.S.A.



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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SACS Release 5.1 Overview 1.............................................................................................................System Interface 1..........................................................................................................................Interactive Programs 1...................................................................................................................General System Enhancements 2...................................................................................................

PROGRAM UPDATE DETAILS 3.....................................................................................................Collapse 3.......................................................................................................................................Collvue 3........................................................................................................................................Combine 3......................................................................................................................................Data Generator 3............................................................................................................................Dynamic Response 4......................................................................................................................Dynpac 4........................................................................................................................................Edit Key 4......................................................................................................................................Executive 4.....................................................................................................................................Fatigue 5.........................................................................................................................................Flotation 5......................................................................................................................................Gap 5..............................................................................................................................................Interactive Fatigue 6......................................................................................................................Joint Can 6.....................................................................................................................................Launch 6.........................................................................................................................................MTO 6............................................................................................................................................Pile 7..............................................................................................................................................Post Processor 7.............................................................................................................................Postvue 7........................................................................................................................................Pre Processor 7...............................................................................................................................Precede 8........................................................................................................................................Prevue 10.........................................................................................................................................PSI 10...............................................................................................................................................SACS/WAMIT 10...........................................................................................................................Seastate 10.......................................................................................................................................Tow 11.............................................................................................................................................Wave Response 11...........................................................................................................................


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SACS Release 5.1 Overview

With the release of version 5, the SACSTM system was redeveloped for the WindowsTM

environment. Release 5.1 concentrates on improving the usability and efficiency of thesystem by providing a new more recognizable interface, giving new selectioncapabilities, more file naming flexibility, improved project features and elimination ofancillary input files.

In addition, the system has been expanded to accept alpha-numeric joint names which, inconjunction with the alpha-numeric load case names added in Release 5.0, allows forunlimited model sizes. The following is an overview of some of the changes made to thesystem:

System Interface• The SACS front end has been redesigned to use an interface found in most

Windows applications.• New file naming capabilities allows for unlimited number of characters for file

types, program names and file ID. See the File Naming dialog under the Settingsmenu.

• Project data is now readily accessible and allows for modification and deletionof project and task data.

• Sub-tasks which allow items to be further grouped within a task have been addedto the project capabilities.

• Input files for many items such as joint connection check, extracting modeshapes, wave response, earthquake, etc. have been made optional.

• Output listing files can be created in HTML format and may be viewed with theHTML viewer shipped with the SACS system. See the Runfile tab underSettings/Executive.

• Plot Soil icon has been added which allows plotting soil data by selecting ordragging PSI or Pile input file.

• The new System Accessories pane contains utilities to view system installationdata, e-mail EDI directly, update keys and view key contents.

• System installation information such module versions, sizes and dates can beobtained by clicking on the System Info icon under the System Accessories panein the Icon bar.

• E-mail queries can be sent directly from the SACS system using the Send Mailicon on the System Accessories pane or the Send Mail to EDI feature under theHelp menu.

• Key update code file can now be identified in the system and can be draggedover the Edit Key icon in the System Accessories pane.

• The run file wizard now verifies that input files specified by the user are theproper type of file required.

Interactive Programs• The selection capabilities have been expanded to allow for selection by selected

elements, elements in a window, on the screen, all elements or elements in agroup.

• Details and properties of an element is available by right clicking on the element.• Tool tips that show the joint, plate or member name are available.


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• Interactive programs now support shell and solid elements.• X-brace and K-brace code check buckling data per API recommendations can be

generated automatically upon creation of the brace members.• Files created by interactive programs automatically appear in the system file

explorer and can be optionally registered to the project upon saving.• Toolbars in the interactive modules are completely customizable by right

clicking on the toolbar and selecting the Customize menu.• Data Generator now color codes lines based on line type and content.

General System Enhancements• Alpha-numeric joint names allow more versatility in naming nodes as well as

allows for unlimited model size.• System supports long filenames as well as filenames with blanks. Filename

lengths are supported up to 256 characters.• Added the ability to convert SACS solution file to a Femsys view file.• Gap element data can be specified directly in the model file. Dummy load cases

are not required for gap elements specified in the model.• Ring spacing can be specified directly on the member.• Enhanced tee and angle sections to allow the user to designate that the stem or

leg is fulling braced against buckling.• The latest Norsok N-004 code issued by the Norwegian Technology Standards

Institute has been included.• Added new plate temperature load capabilities that allow plate uniform

temperature, temperature at the joints, and/or temperature at the surfaces to bespecified.

• System enhanced to allow P-delta analysis in conjunction with a PSI analysis.• Includes option to include buoyancy of elements below the mudline when

generating self weight and buoyancy.• X-brace and K-brace facilities contain option to create code check buckling

length parameters per API recommendations automatically.• Incorporated ABS 2000 wind load generation.• Added the ability to ignore the self weight of the structure when generating

inertia loading using the Tow program module.• Friction gap elements where the lateral capacity is determined from the

coefficient of friction and reference load have been added.


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PROGRAM UPDATE DETAILS

Each of the SACS programs has been greatly enhanced and improved. The followingpages detail changes and enhancements by program:

Collapse• The collapse history is now saved to a log file as well as echoed to the SACS

analysis status window while executing.• Added a joint strength report which allows reporting of joints with unity check

greater than a user specified amount. The unity check cutoff is entered incolumns 31-35 on the JSOPT line.

• Grouted legs (concentric tubular elements) are now supported.• Non-linear springs between joints have been added and are input using the

NLSPJJ line.• The program now supports adhesion data in the foundation soil.• Output now lists the load step when reporting the occurrence of plasticity.

Collvue• Display capabilities have been improved to include the same functionality as

other interactive programs (i.e. rows, plans, rotate display, hiding disconnectedjoints, drawing joint symbols, joint range, etc.).

• Fixed plotting so that plot contents are no longer clipped. • Fixed problem where resizing a window after two line drawing was causing a

green screen.• Corrected problem where program terminated when plotting member Von Mises

stress.• The load step graph now reflects the minimum and maximum values set for

plotting.• Plots are shown on the screen automatically if plot options are set by the user.• Pile pullout and punch through are now included in the history report.• Reports now allow selecting members by member property group.• Improved load step animation to make it smoother and allow user to terminate

with <Esc> key.• Added joint capacity and non-linear springs to the output reports.

Combine• Program now supports combination of solution files containing shell and solid

elements.

Data Generator• Line blocking capabilities have been improved to allow using the up and down

cursors along with <Page up> and <Page Down> keys.• Supports the <Delete> key functionality when lines are highlighted as well as

supports shortcut keystrokes such as <CTRL> V, <CTRL> X, etc. • Program identifies a Section library file in both English and Metric units.• Added support of the numeric keypad on the keyboard.• The ability to insert comment lines has been added.• Supports double click on a line to bring up the line contents dialog box.


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Dynamic Response• Made Dynamic Response input file for spectral earthquake analyses optional.• Added ability to turn off the spatial auto correlation coefficient for spectral wind

analysis, thus resulting in the Harris spectrum being considered constant over thelength of the structure.

• Spectral wind analysis now supports alpha-numeric load case names.• Added CQC Base Shear and Moment direction report when generating

equivalent static loads.• Fluid damping no longer cause the program to terminate for a spectral

earthquake analysis.

Dynpac• Made Dynpac input file optional.• Now supports unlimited number of free degrees of freedom.• Added a new Weight and Center of Gravity report that summarizes the mass

used.

Edit Key• Keys can be updated from the System Accessories pane. Key update files can be

selected or dragged over the Edit Key icon.• Keys can be updated by dragging the update code file over the Edit Key icon

under the System Accessories pane.

Executive• Now supports execution of Seastate as part of a large deflection analysis.• Added a member section library type to the filename filter in the file open

dialog. • All modules required in a runfile are checked out prior to executing ensuring that

if an analysis starts it will not encounter any key related problems duringexecution.

• Allows analysis to be executed if a Postvue database is open in the samedirectory.

• Added the ability to define a default worksheet file to be used when no project isactive.

• Ability to run multiple runfiles located in different directories has been added.• System can now ignore a local key so that a network key can be accessed

without removing the local key. See the General tab under Settings/SystemConfiguration.

• Project tasks can contain sub or child tasks which allows task data to be furthergrouped.

• Projects and tasks can be modified and deleted.• When a file is copied when a project is active, the user is prompted if they want

to register the file to the project as part of the copy procedure.• System environmental variables are no longer required in the config.sys or

autoexec.bat file.• Input files for many program modules including Dynpac, Dynamic Response,

Wave Response, Gap and Joint Can have been made optional. Settings can be


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designated using the Analysis Opts button in the Runfile Wizard.• Output files can be generated in HTML format by setting the option on the

Runfile tab under Settings/Executive.• User is prompted to supply new worksheet filename if the worksheet file path is

not found. If the path is valid but the file does not exist, it is createdautomatically.

• Fixed problem where list file did not appear in the error log if show warnings inresults log is off and list file had warnings but no errors.

• All input files specified when creating a runfile are checked to ensure that theyare the correct file type.

• The ability to run analyses on a server if a network site license key is availablehas been added. Set the ‘Run in server directory using server CPU’ Executeoption on the Execute tab under Settings/Executive.

• Added ability to run entire analysis in a scratch directory so that when files areon a network, they are copied to a local scratch directory then executed with thefiles local. Results are copied back to current directory when analysis is finished.Set the ‘Run in dedicated server using local CPU’ Execute option on the Executetab under Settings/Executive.

• Worked around Windows 2000 problem of not having the Open dialog set to thedefault directory.

• Can view project files and/or all of the files in the current directory when aproject is being used.

• Jacket geometry files default operation has been changed to Open with Precede.• Fixed problem where information to create a suplimnetal post file was not

included in the runfile.

Fatigue• Listing file now contains the correct fatigue title specified in the input file. • Fixed problem where the program terminated if a non-existent joint was

specified or a joint name was repeated on the JSLC line.• The ability to specify a grouted joint effective thickness limit like joint can has

been added. • Program now recognizes the ‘DE’ option for in-line tubular SCF option.• Fixed round off problem when normalizing scatter diagram with occurrence

ratios specified to the third or fourth decimal place.• Corrected problem caused when JNTSEL lines are used in conjuction with JSLC

lines where some of the joint specified on the JSLC lines were not included inthe output

• Added KT load path calculation to all SCF formulations that support KTconnections.

Flotation• Added the ability to control sling length as part of a load step using the SLLENG

line.

Gap• Made Gap input file optional.• Added ability to specify allowable stress modifier for combinations defined in


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the Gap input file using the LCOMB line.• The program now passes the supplemental post file option to the Combine

program.• Gap element data can be specified in model file on the GRUP line in column 30

or on MEMBER line in column 22.• Added the ability to override the gap element type for a particular load case for

members or groups of members using the LCGAP MEM or LCGAP GRP lines,respectively.

Interactive Fatigue• Fixed units reported for effective chord length for SCF calculations for metric

models. • User defined S-N data defined using the The SN-USR line is now supported. • Fixed the Transfer function report headers.• The Response function report has been corrected so that the correct RMS stress

and zero crossing periods are reported.• Supports user defined thickness dependent S-N curves• Added KT load path calculation to all SCF’s that support KT connections.• Reports functionality has been updated to send all reports to the default editor.

Joint Can• Made Joint Can input file optional.• Corrected Load Path Report so asterisks do not appear in the joint name field.• Added option to not limit the allowable shear to 0.4Fy for API codes by entering

‘N’ in column 51 on the JCNOPT line.• Removed the requirement that the segment length for a segment representing a

joint can must be greater than zero. Allows the joint can segment to have nolength specified as long as all other segments have lengths specified.

• Added ability to sort by highest UC in the summary report (similar to fatiguesummary with life ratio) by entering ‘FL’, ‘UC’, or ‘MX’ in columns 54-55 onthe JCNOPT line and leaving the Joint Order option blank.

• Program gives warning when using a tubular SECT line for the chord or bracethat has different Iy and Iz. The message ‘Warning Section xxxxx hasasymmetric stiffness properties. Punching check is only applicable to simpletubular joints’ is printed if the difference ratio of moments of inertia is greaterthan 0.001.

• Reports AMOD or Material Factors as part of the output listing.• Ignores the title line if the title is blank.

Launch• Plot capabilities have been expanded to include full plot of the structure in the

sequence plots.• Plots now include various views of the structure on the barge during the launch

sequence.

MTO• Problem where density overrides on the GRUP, MEMBER, GRPOV and

GRPCST lines were ignored for non-tubular members has been fixed.


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• The exclude option on the GRPCST line has been fixed so that member groupsdesignated are excluded from all analysis.

Pile• Now supports PSI input file with more than one pile group and more than one

soil.• Program no longer terminates when soils defined in the input file are not

referenced by any piles.

Post Processor• The Member Detail Report has been updated so that the hydrostatic collapse

unity check ratio matches that reported in the Hydrostatic Collapse Report. • Implemented code check for tapered members. • Added option to remove the moment amplification when p-delta effects are

already included by entering ‘M’ in column 34 on the OPTIONS line. • Enhanced T and angle sections to allow the user to designate that for AISC WSD

checks, the stem of the tee or the leg of the angle is fulling braced againstbuckling by entering ‘S’ in column 15 on the SECT line.

• Enhanced the program so that by default uses ring spacing specified on theMEMB2 line.

• Fixed problem that caused the beginning of the supplemental post file to beomitted.

• Corrected problem where Cb setting was ignored for AISC LRFD code.

Postvue• Enhanced the member review capability so that two members between the same

joints can be reviewed. • Corrected problem where Ly was being shown as ***** when reviewing by a

member group.• Fixed the moment reaction label for metric units where the values were off by a

factor of ten. • Unbraced length of compression flange designated on the group line are now

considered when labeling.• Enhanced the reporting capabilities so that all members connected to a joint are

reported when entering only that joint name in the ‘Joint Name Table’. • Corrected the metric unit label for stresses in the Joint Review feature.• Fixed problem in moment diagrams for metric unit set where the value of

negative moments was displayed incorrectly.• Corrected the member modification report so that the correct unity check ratio is

shown for a redesigned member.

Pre Processor• Fixed problem where the properties of plate stiffener properties referenced from

the ‘euronew.sec’ section library had incorrect moment or inertia and area whenusing metric units.

• Corrected problem where no reports were generated when running PSI withP-delta with out specifying load case selection with a ‘ST’ option.

• Now ignores zero entered in a joint field for a solid element.


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• Program no longer terminates when shell element pressures are included in themodel.

• Load cases are no longer deleted if no valid input loading is found for that loadcase. Invalid loading data is ignored and warning message is generated.

• Enhanced to allow P-delta analysis in conjunction with a PSI analysis.

Precede• Enhanced to open the default web browser when exporting a VRML file with the

automatic open option turned on. • Improved data check utility so that invalid input such as group data in the

loading section and invalid location on member concentrated or distributedloading is reported to the user.

• Shows a composite list of all views designated by the user when plotting selectedviews.

• Fixed problem where all joints were highlighted if the screen was minimizedafter using the Joint/Find facility.

• Enhanced the automatic joint naming capabilities so that if the next joint name tobe generated is out of the range of the system (ie. too many characters), it startsat the beginning to find the next available name.

• Corrected problem where the loading was not divided properly when a memberwas divided.

• Allows setting all properties of multiple selected members to the last memberselected by clicking the ‘Set values to last member’ check box.

• Display/Zoom Box/Delete Joints now deletes loads assigned to the deletedjoints.

• Fixed problem where the PDMS macro file was not saved if the default directoryhad a blank space in the name.

• The Load/Self Weight feature has been enhanced to consider wild cards in theDisplay selection. Also the all option has been changed to include the entirestructure regardless of the selection settings.

• Corrected the colors when exporting a plot from the connection manual designfeature.

• Now supports plates with no name.• Fixed member report so that member data is reported properly if the member was

initailly defined with out assigning it to a property group.• The load case labels are saved immediately after the LOADCN line in the model

file for basic load cases.• Display volume functionality has been changed so that the volume settings apply

to the current or active window only and are not applied to other windows. • Enhance the save view feature to include zoom information and disconnected

joint setting.• Shell and solid elements are now displayed and passed to the model file when

saving.• The Member/Find feature has been fixed so that the correct member length is

reported.• Problem with the Member Offset function deleting offset data when picking

numerous members with offset data already defined has been fixed.


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• Load summation report has been enhanced to handle member loading applied toa member when the load distance is measure from the end joint instead of thestart joint.

• Corrected problem when adding members loads on a series of members and thestarting distance is greater than the length of the first member.

• Editing a Joint Load Mx value now converts the input units ft-kip to the outputunits in-kip properly.

• Display/Labeling/Member/Lb now displays the Lb values from the membergroup if no value is specified on the MEMBER line.

• Corrected the problem where specified deflections and springs data was notbeing read when importing Seastate input or Sacs models.

• Fixed problem where offset with value greater than 40 on plate elementsgenerated using Joint/Grid feature were incremented by 0.01 when the modelwas saved.

• Joint move relative feature has been fixed to retain the fixity of the joint selectedto be moved.

• Fixed the duplicate functionality so that the structure can be duplicated morethan once if a scale factor other that 1.0 is input.

• Allows load cases containing only plate temperature loads to be included in aload combination.

• New Joint/Connection/Mesh to Beam Transition feature adds offsets from theperimeter plates of a tubular mesh to the center joint representing the transitionfrom plate elements to beam elements.

• The Load/ Member Group option has been expanded to include the same loadtypes as Load/Member.

• Expanded the plate offset report to include offsets from plate groups.• Plate report has been improved to include thickness, stiffener section label and

stiffener spacing. Additional header information has been added to differentiate1st stiffener & spacing and 2nd stiffener & spacing.

• Program can optionally save the display view settings when the model is closedso that the last views are shown when the model is reopened.

• Options to reset labeling, reset selection criteria and reset volume settings havebeen added when opening a new window for viewing.

• Program now checks for existing joint names when adding a new leg.• Increased the number of selected items allowed to 200.• Warning is given if a segmented member is divided so that the user is informed

that group properties may not be valid.• Joint/Design/Manual Set Gap Longitudinal feature now allows the user to select

the braces with the mouse.• The mudline elevation specified in the New Structure Wizard is automatically

put on the LDOPT line if generate Seastate hydrodynamic loading switch isselected.

• Added tool tip for joints, plates and members which allows a right click to getdrop down menu features.

• Added the capability to draw a bubble line when dimensioning.• Enhanced the Display volume features to allow user to set volume extremities by

selecting a joint.• Added ability to import Seastate input file into the model.


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• Warns when importing a model if duplicate member groups, sections, plategroups, plate stiffeners, etc are encountered.

• The capability to rename load conditions has been added.• Implemented the ability to define shell offsets and thickness in addition to solid

offsets.• X-brace and K-brace facilities contain option to create code check buckling

length parameters per API recommendations.• The average joint thickness is now handled correctly when generating dead loads

or load summations.• Fixed problem where reordering of joints when the new joint names conflict

with the original names resulted in joint and members loads having an incorrectjoint name.

Prevue• Added a print option under Settings so that the user can print color plots in black

and white.• Enhanced plot routine so that zoomed views are plotted as shown on the screen.• Fixed problem where screen was blanked out after printing a plot.

PSI• Corrected the critical load reported in the pile capacity report where the critical

load of the previous load case was being used if the maximum load in the pilewas less than the critical load of the previous load case.

• Enhanced to handle instability in the axial solution due to the negative slopes inthe T-Z data.

• Enhanced error trapping to notify the user if the number of piles defined in thesoil data does not match the number of pileheads.

SACS/WAMIT• Enhanced to handle extraneous crane connection joints on the CRANE line that

are also specified on the CRNJNT line.

Seastate• Outputs hydrostatic end forces obtained from the rational buoyancy method on

members with end release as joint forces instead of member end forces. • Allows input of user defined wave data by specifying the wave type as ‘CARD’

or ‘LINE’.• Enhanced program so LCSEL lines are passed through when running PSI

analysis with P-delta option.• Fixed the units label for the ‘Parameters Used for Hydrodynamic Loads’ report

when using metric units.• Corrected problem where the model was not passed to the OCI file when the

CMB option was used in conjunction with dynamic options.• Added a report to show wind shield elevations.• Incorporated ABS 2000 wind load generation.• Fixed problem where the hydrostatic option was not compatible with dynamic

options.


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• Enhanced error trapping so that invalid data within a load case causes an errorinstead of terminating the program.

• The Center or Gravity report enhanced to include moment couples.• Corrected problem where error message that segment had a zero length was

given for tapered members that were not segmented.• The cross section area for plate girders now uses the height specified as the total

height instead of the inside of flange distance.• Loading from wave or current near or below the mudline with magnitude of 0.0

has been eliminated.• LOADCN header is no longer required before the first GNTRF line used to

generate transfer function data.• Allows plotting transfer functions at the same time transfer function wave forces

are generated for static analysis. Use the ‘TRL’ option on the LDOPT line ofselect under the Seastate tab in the runfile wizard.

• Corrected problem where the plate group input was not recognizing the "SECM"data in metric member library file.

• The marine growth Cd and Cm data now overrides coefficient of drag and massdata specified as member overrides.

Tow• Corrected problem where the inertia loading for plates with Z offsets on the plate

group was not generated properly.• Enhanced program so the weight of grout can be optionally considered by

entering ‘GR’ in columns 25-26 on TOWOPT line. • Added the ability to ignore the self weight of the structure when generating

inertia loading by specifying ‘LO’ in columns 27-28 on the TOWOPT line.

Wave Response• Fixed problem where program terminated when damping values for individual

modes were input.• Program corrected to support time selection using the TMSEL line.• Incorporated wave kinematics (spreading) for random wave on the WAVTIM

line.• Implemented current blocking on the CURR line.

Documents

enh51.pdf