FEMFAN3D
&
NON-LINEAR COMPLEX
STEEL JOINTS CHECKER
Part 1
FEMFAN3D
BIM ENABLEMENT & SS EN DESIGNS
BACKGROUND
• What is FEMFAN3D?
• Fully developed and maintained by PTRC, NTU in
Singapore
• The one-of-its-kind finite element software for the
investigation of building robustness against progressive
collapse due to man-made or natural hazards
• Provide super element formulation that cut down analysis
time needed from days to hours
BACKGROUND
• FEMFAN3D GUI
• Project completed in 2011
• Fully developed in Singapore
• Point-and-click modeling to simplify structural robustness
checking against progressive collapse
• Seamless modeling, analysis and review of FEMFAN3D
results
• Parametric material
definition
• Parametric member
modeling
Why FEMFAN3D ?
 No equivalent commercial software
THE CHALLENGES
• New SS EN (replacing British Standard completely by1 Apr
2015) calls for non-linear analysis and design of critical
structures (members + joints)
• Mandatory seismic design for buildings in selected areas
• We need an “all-in-one” and “well tested” solution for daily production use
ENHANCING FEMFAN3D TO MEET THE NEEDS
• Support Steel and Composite materials and members
• Support model import/export with
• BIM platform(s)
• 3rd party engineering software
• Support member design to
•
•
•
•
Eurocode 2 (concrete)
Eurocode 3 (steel)
Eurocode 4 (composite)
Eurocode 8 (seismic)
• To include fire checking in solver
• Support checking of complex joints*
*see also Part 2: Non-linear Complex Steel Joints Checker
Import/export
Concrete
only for now
Pt 1. FEMFAN3D
Structural
Robustness
Assessment
Concrete
Design
Steel Design
Composite
Design
Fire Safety
Assessment
Seismic
Assessment
Joints Check
Pt 2. Non-linear Complex Steel Joints Checker
Part 2
NON-LINEAR COMPLEX
STEEL JOINTS CHECKER
THE PROBLEM
• Complex steel joints exist in many modern
building and off-shore structures
• Such joints can only be checked using
non-linear finite element method, which is
costly, requires high level of expertise, and
time consuming
• EC3 Pt. 1-8
• Since it is costly, most likely the checking is
non-exhaustive
Image credit : Parsons Brinkerhoff Pte. Ltd.
MAKING THINGS WORSE
LINEAR VS. NON-LINEAR
1.
Engineer may not aware that their favorite Linear
Analysis tools doesn't fit the job
2.
New design code
3.
Advanced Non-linear Analysis Packages
(eg.ABACUS)
• British Standard : Silent (and we just take it for
granted for years)
• Eurocode: Explicitly calls for Non-linear Analysis
• Expensive !
• Require high-lever of expertise (choice of element,
making assumptions, interpreting results, …)
• Typically very tedious and time consuming process
Image credit : Parsons Brinkerhoff Pte. Ltd.
SOLUTION?
• A standalone application to
• Create finite element sub-model of complex
steel joints from BIM/Structural analysis
software package (like Tekla/Revit &
ETABS/Staad.PRO)
• Transfer member end forces from those
package to the FE model for all the load
combinations
• Perform and report issue with simple one click
of button
Automate the joint
model
creations and load
applications
Full 3D BIM model
PROPOSED WORKFLOW
Extract Joint
Geometry
from 3rd Party
BIM/structural
software [e.g.
Tekla/Revit/
ETABS/
StaadPro]
Mesh into
3D
triangular/
quadrilate
ral meshes
Extract
resultants
from 3rd party
structural
analysis
software [e.g.
ETABS/
StaadPro]
Non-linear
Analysis
Report
failure
based on
Von-misses
stress
resultants
BENEFITS
• Significant time saving in modeling, loading input
• Reduced input errors
• Speedy revisions and alterations
• Enabling exhaustive checking of all complex steel joints
• Enabling average engineer to perform advanced nonlinear analysis
• Elevating local industry standards
• Prepare engineers for global marketplace
KEY COMPONENTS
• The Pre-processor (from Advance Contech)
• The Revit/StaadPro/ETABS/SAP2000 bridge (from Advance)
• The Mesher (from NTU?)
• The Solver (from NTU?)
• The Post-processor (from Advance Contech)
• Others?