Concrete Planar Elements Properties - EC 2

 

By default, each concrete element is calculated using the global concrete design assumptions, in conformity with the current standard. However, the reinforced concrete assumptions can be defined locally for each element using the options available in the properties window.

 

 

Access the Concrete Design Properties

To display only the concrete design properties of the selected element(s), from the Properties filter drop-down list select Reinforced Concrete Properties.

 

Properties window 

 

Properties window for Concrete Planar Elements - Overview

In the properties window, you can view and modify the properties of concrete planar elements, allowing for detailed customization and management.

Concrete Design

• Design Module Template: Selection of the template used by Design Module. List of available templates depends on type of element (beam, column, etc.). The number of available default templates depends on your location (country).

• To calculate: when this option is enabled, the element is considered in the reinforced concrete calculation. When disabled, the concerned elements are not calculated.

• Design Results: Shows if for specified element design calculations inside Advance Design were made and are available for the user.

• Design Module Result: Shows if for specified element design calculations inside Advance Design with Design Module were made and are available for the user.

• Structural usage: The property of the walls (AUTO/ Bearing/ Shear) is strictly related to the Advance Design -> Advance Design Module workflow. Since the concepts of wall, bearing, and shear do not exist in Advance Design, these conventions were established to ensure compatibility. A new option will be added in Advance Design, which will be directly related to the export of the wall module. This will define whether data is exported to the Shear or Bearing module, ensuring proper categorization. 

• General Design Template: you can assign a design template that defines the element design properties. Select one of the available templates from the drop-down list.

• Minimal reinforcement ratio: defines the minimal reinforcement ratio.

• Minimal shear force reinforcement: check if you want to enable the minimal shear force reinforcement.

• Steel ductility: allows the selection of the ductility class.

• Minimal longitudinal reinforcement: check if you want to enable the minimal longitudinal reinforcement.

• Coverage of minimal reinforcement: allows you to choose if the coverage of minimal reinforcement is applied on the entire element or only on tensioned areas (where A>0).

 

Concrete cover

Definition of the distances from the gravity center of the reinforcement to the to the fibers extremities (lower and higher) along y and z local axes.

• Ehx: the distance from the gravity center of the reinforcement to the higher exterior fiber along the local x axis

• Ebx: the distance from the gravity center of the reinforcement to the lower exterior fiber along the local x axis

• Ehy: the distance from the gravity center of the reinforcement to the higher exterior fiber along the local y axis

• Eby: the distance from the gravity center of the reinforcement to the lower exterior fiber along the local y axis

• Exposure class: Affects the calculation of cmin,dur - The minimum cover values for reinforcement according to EN 10080 in normal weight concrete taking account the exposure classes and the structural classes.

• DCdur,st: Where stainless steel is used or where other special measures have been taken, the minimum cover may be reduced by Δcdur,st.

• DCdev: An addition to the minimum cover shall be made in design to allow for the deviation Δcdev. The required minimum cover shall be increased by the accepted negative deviation given in the standard for execution.

 

Cracking

• SLS types for stress limitation: SLS types of stress limitation: used for deciding which SLS load combination types are used for the verification of maximum stresses. When more than one SLS combination type is selected, stresses are calculated for each selected type and check against the corresponding limit.

 

Note

When converting old models, all SLS types are activated to maintain the same condition from previous versions of Advance Design, where all SLS combination types were used to check stresses.

 

• Stresses: Input the reinforcement stress values along the local x and y axes in the corresponding fields:

• Axt: Superior reinforcement along local x axis
• Axb: Inferior reinforcement along local x axis
• Ayt: Superior reinforcement along local y axis
• Ayb: Inferior reinforcement along local y axis

• Magnification: defines the magnification of the calculated theoretical reinforcement sections along x and y local axes:

• Axt: Superior magnification along local x axis
• Axb: Inferior magnification along local x axis
• Ayt: Superior magnification along local y axis
• Ayb: Inferior magnification along local y axis

• Reinforcement definition: This opens the Reinforcement definition dialog box, which allows you to define global reinforcement and additional reinforcement in specific areas.
• Wmax: the crack width can be automatically calculated or user defined.
• Value: allows the user to enter a custom crack width.
• Correction of cracking: enable for correction of cracking by increasing the reinforcement area.
• Equivalent diameter at bottom / at top: Øeq - equivalent diameter at bottom / at top according to EN 1992-1-1 (7.12).

 

 

Øeq - equivalent diameter at bottom

 

 

Øeq - equivalent diameter at top

 

 

Note

If one of the diameters is 0, we will make it equal to the one different from 0 and give a warning in the command line.

Cracking: The bars on the bottom face of the planar element have a null equivalent diameter. The calculation uses the equivalent diameter from the opposite face.

 

 

 

Both diameters are nule

 

 

Note

If both diameters are 0, the calculation should stop, and an error message should appear in the command line.

Cracking: The bars on the bottom and top faces of the planar element have a null equivalent diameter. Please impose at least one of the different diameters of 0.

 

Real deflection

• Calculate deflection: check this option to enable the deflection calculation on the selected element(s).

 

Real deflection settings showing
the calculate deflection option and reference plane

 

 

• Reference plane with options for: Undeformed (Dz) - default, Undeformed (D), Smallest displacement node, and Deformed local planes.

• Undeformed (Dz) - default option: The deflection at each mesh calculation point is equal to the local Dz displacement component obtained from the Finite Element analysis. The reference surface is the initial, undeformed geometry of the planar element (i.e., the flat plane before any loads are applied). Only the Dz component (perpendicular to the element local plane) is considered. In-plane displacements (Dx, Dy) are ignored. This is appropriate for most practical slab deflection assessments where the dominant movement is out-of-plane.
• Undeformed (D): The deflection at each mesh calculation point is equal to the total displacement magnitude D obtained from the Finite Element analysis, measured relative to the initial undeformed geometry. Unlike the Dz option, this method considers all three displacement components.
• Smallest displacement node: The deflection at each mesh calculation point is measured relative to the vertex (corner node) of the planar element that has the smallest absolute displacement. In other words, the reference plane is shifted so that it passes through the least-displaced support or corner point of the element.
• Deformed local planes: The deflection at each mesh calculation point is measured relative to a set of deformed triangular reference planes that pass through the displaced positions of the element's vertex (corner) nodes. 

 

Punching shear

To activate the option, you must go to RC Settings > Calculation Sequence > Punching verification

 

Punching verification option

 

 

• Verification: allows you to deactivate the punching verification on specific elements, even though the punching verification is checked in the RC design settings.

• Method: select one of the available methods:

  • With longitudinal reinforcement (default);

  • Without longitudinal reinforcement.

• Correction of long. reinforcement: automatically increases longitudinal reinforcement when checked.

• Punching reinforcement design: enable to use the punching reinforcement.

Note

If both Correction of longitudinal reinforcement and Punching reinforcement design options are enabled, Advance Design will first try to satisfy the punching verification by increasing the longitudinal reinforcement.

 

• Punching reinforcement angle: enable to use the punching reinforcement angle.

• Provided reinforcement:

  • Tangential spacing (st) imposed - Set st and let Advance Design find out the diameter and the number of link legs;

  • Link leg diameter imposed - Set link leg diameter and letting Advance Design find out their number and spacings (st).

• Tangential spacing (st): In case you want to impose s_t, it allows you to set st as the max allowable value or a user value.

• Value (st): allows you to enter your own value for s_t.  

• Link diameter: the available options are Auto (the software will use the smallest possible diameter), Ha6, Ha8, Ha10, Ha12.

 

Reinforcement orientation

• Angle / x: define the angle of reinforcement orientation in relation to x local axis.

• Angle / y: define the angle of reinforcement orientation in relation to y local axis.

 

 

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What are Concrete Planar Elements Properties used for?

A: These properties allow you to define and adjust reinforced concrete design parameters locally for each planar element.

 

Can I exclude an element from reinforced concrete calculation?

A: Yes, by disabling the To calculate option, the selected element is excluded from the reinforced concrete design.

 

What does the real deflection option control?

A: It enables deflection calculation and allows you to choose the reference plane used to evaluate displacements.

 

How are crack width and reinforcement defined?

A: Crack width can be calculated automatically or defined manually, while reinforcement is configured using predefined parameters or the reinforcement definition tool.

 

 

Glossary

Concrete planar element

A surface structural element such as a slab or wall used in reinforced concrete design.

 

To calculate

An option that determines whether the element is included in reinforced concrete calculations.

 

Concrete cover

The distance between the reinforcement and the outer surface of the concrete element.

 

Real deflection

The displacement of a structural element calculated based on FEM results and a selected reference plane.

 

Crack width

The calculated or defined width of cracks used for serviceability verification.

 

 

Related Topics

• How to define the global real reinforcement in a planar element for cracking control

• Planar Elements

• Finite Planar Elements Properties

• Real Deflection for Concrete Planar Elements - 4 methods

• Analysing Deflection of RC Slab by Using a New Mode: Deformed Local Planes