Advance Design
Advance Design was specifically developed for industry professionals that require a superior solution for the structural analysis and design of Reinforced Concrete and Steel structures according to the latest versions of Eurocodes (EC0, EC1, EC2, EC3 and EC8).
Advance Design features include easy modeling, a powerful FEM analysis engine, top-level design wizards, automated post-processing of results and automated reports. Achieve a new level of computer-assisted engineering with Advance Design!
Fast and easy modeling
- Display mode of elements as "linear contour", "hidden faces" or "realistic rendering"
- Elements snap points enable different actions: stretch, trim or extend, copy, move, etc.
- Use of multiple viewports enable simultaneous work in several viewpoints and visualization modes
- Ability to input elements in a 2D workplane or in a user defined coordinate system (Cartesian or polar)
- Level concept: input a column using a single click, a wall using two
Competitive meshing and finite elements calculation
- Wide range of linear element types: pre-stressed cables, ties, gaps, etc.
- Advanced meshing engine: "grid" or Delaunay mesh algorithm, finite elements with 3, 4, 6 or 9 nodes, progressive meshing, refinement tools, global mesh parameters
- Static, dynamic, non-linear analyses, large displacements, generalized buckling, etc.
- Extended solver capabilities due to enhanced memory management
Results processing
- Automated post-processing and updating of all result types (finite elements, reinforced concrete, steelwork) within a fully integrated environment
- Several post-processing methods: graphical results, result curves, stresses diagrams, calculation reports
- Recording of graphical animation, either of the input model or the analysis model
- Fully customizable design reports: styles, tables and graphical images, cover sheet, user input text, linked documents, etc.
Reinforced Concrete Dimensioning
- The "design template" concept allows for the grouping of elements by their design properties: concrete quality, cracking hypotheses, concrete cover, etc.
- Calculation of theoretical reinforcement sections of linear and planar elements
- Determination of 3D interaction curves on an arbitrary section
- Obtainment of the theoretical reinforcement ratios
- Global design reports include the "concrete" results
Steel Dimensioning
- The "design template" concept allows for the grouping of elements by their design properties: buckling hypotheses, lateral-buckling restraints, deflections verification, etc.
- Shapes optimization starting from a predefined shapes library and using an automated calculation cycle: FE calculations and successive optimizations
- Shape sheets
- Global design reports include the "steel" results
Result Memory technology. How does it work?
When a graphical view is stored in memory, Advance Design not only saves the current image, but also the context that generated this image: view angle, zoom, filter of displayed elements, colors and display characteristics, nature of results (iso-values of displacements, values of theoretical reinforcement, magnified stresses), load cases, units, etc.
The views saved, using this technology, may be inserted in a design report, whose global content (current hypotheses, results, graphical views) may also be stored in memory. During each calculation iteration, Advance Design automatically recreates all the graphical views and rewrites the design report using the specified criteria.
Innovative interface
- Advanced options for workspace customization
- Dock and undock the different environment components using docking guides
- Display, hide and auto-hide options for the interface components
- Enhanced icon caption readability
Advantages
Discover the Advance Design work process from the modeling step to the post-processing of results in the following set of videos.
The images quality has been reduced (small size and compressed) for Internet compatibility. A high-speed connection is recommended.
Advance Design: Introduction (1:24)
This video offers a preview of the Advance Design user interface, from the modeling step to the generation of a design report.
Advance Design: Modeling and meshing (3:18)
This video illustrates several Advance Design modeling and meshing functions while demonstrating the creation of a model.
Advance Design: Post-processing of results (3:52)
This video illustrates post-processing functions and the updated results.
Overview
This interactive demo describes the main user interface objects. Moving the mouse over a red context-sensitive box will display a description of the corresponding feature.
Animation
Create a movie (AVI format) of the results by placing cameras around the model.
Rapid results display
All available results are readily accessible from the toolbar. Rotate the model in 3D and the real-time results remain displayed on the screen.
Mesher / Solver
Refined progressive meshing, density specified for each side…Advance Design speeds up the meshing step of your projects. The solver’s new memory management allows the handling of very complex designs.
Advanced design reports
The desired design report, containing concise result tables and images, can be obtained with little effort and can be edited in Word or Excel. All of the report’s parameters are stored in memory and the report is recreated after each design calculation.
Level concept
Specify, as needed, the level parameters and work with a 2D drawing: a column with 1 click, a slab with 2!
Post-processing Methods
Store genuine post-processing methods. In addition to the design calculations, the stored post-processing methods will be re-applied and the design documents will be automatically updated.
Dynamic properties window
When selecting several elements, the common properties of these elements will be displayed and can be modified simultaneously.
Context menu
Each object has a context menu accessed using a single click and offering different functions: copy, move, change local axes, and generate a load or support.
Customizable user interface
Customize the user interface by modifying the content and the position of menus, icons, toolbars, etc.
Dynamic model manipulation
Using this simple toolbar, move, zoom, and rotate around the model.
Realistic rendering
Design elements can be rendered using linear contour or realistic display modes regardless of design complexity!
Compliancies
Microsoft
Since version 2009, Advance Design is available for Windows XP® and/or Windows Vista x64®. This allows users to calculate large models in memory and to dramatically reduce the calculation time.
ArcelorMittal
GRAITEC and ArcelorMittal signed a strategic partnership agreement to enhance GRAITEC's engineering solutions and to facilitate access of design offices and steel structural workers to ARCELOR-MITTAL products.
Advance Design provides the option to define cellular beams in the 3D model (with a real OpenGL rendering) and to design them according to EC3 with the Arcelor’s module.
BIM technology : GRAITEC software interoperability and integration
All Graitec programs can now easily communicate with the new BIM format, that allows the exchange of models between applications and also the models synchronization, with no data loss and no need to re-input data!
Discover how Advance Design is compatible with Autodesk Revit Structure.