Advance Design Ribbon - Design Modules Tab

The Design Modules tab of the Advance Design Ribbon offers the possibility to access design modules. This tab empowers you to access specialized design modules tailored to various engineering needs. From automating the design of structural elements to creating detailed reinforcement drawings for reinforced concrete (RC) elements, this tab equips you with the tools needed to elevate the quality and accuracy of your work.

Design Modules tab on the Advance Design Ribbon

Design Modules tab of the Advance Design Ribbon

Detailed Description of the Design Modules Tab

The Design Modules tab contains the following panels and commands:

1. About panel

contains the Advance Design Modules button, which opens a drop-down list with options related to Help access, licensing and other useful information about these modules.

About panel

	Launches the Advance Modules Help, which provides all the necessary information about using the program.
	Displays a window containing copyright information, the software version number and license information. You can also access the Graitec email and web page.
	Launches the GRAITEC License Utility tool, which is used for managing Graitec software licenses.

2. General panel

General panel on the Design Modules Ribbon tab in Advance Design

General panel

	Opens the Save as dialog box where you can save the current element template in Graitec Exchange Model Files format (.gtcx).
	Opens the Localization Settings dialog, for reference only (none of the settings in this dialog can be changed).
	Opens a dialog box allowing you to enter and define the project's data.
	Close All command - exits the Design Modules mode. Close and Update All command - closes the Design Modules mode and updates the Advance Design model.

3. Settings panel

Enables you to access and manage the selected element's geometry and the associated assumptions.

Settings panel on the Design Modules Ribbon tab in Advance Design

Settings panel

	Allows you to define the grid.
	Allows you to select the desired type of element (available only for isolated footings).
	Soil Profile - opens the Soil Profile dialog box, helping you manage the soil layer properties, the minimum/maximum ground water level and the appearance of the soil water levels in viewports. Soil Database - opens the Soil library which loads the data from an .xml file containing the default soil types.
	Helps you manage the geometry of a selected structural element. Depending on what type of structural element you select (footing, column, beam or connection) different option tabs are available in the dialog box that is opened, according to the element’s geometry.
	Check Collisions command (available within Steel Connection Designer module) - helps you verify the connection's geometry by identifying and displaying the collisions between joint elements.
	Opens the corresponding design settings dialog for the selected element.
	Wall Section opens Section Definition dialog box, where details about the wall section can be defined (leaves, cavity, piers, units size). Wall Sections Database opens a dialog box where multiple wall sections can be defined. Units List opens the dialog box with the in-use units and allows you to import masonry units from a database or create new ones. Mortars List opens the dialog box with the in-use mortars and allows you to import masonry mortars from a database or create new ones.
	Opens the Reinforcement Diameters dialog, where you can select the bar diameters to be available for certain elements.
	Opens the Reinforcement Settings dialog, enabling you to define all the reinforcement assumptions for three categories of RC members: beams, columns and footings.
	Allows you to define loads, load cases and combinations for the selected element.

4. Calculations panel

Allows you to access commands used for elements' verification.

Calculations panel on the Design Modules Ribbon tab in Advance Design

Calculations panel

	Available only for footing elements, the Foundation Sizing command adjusts the structural element geometry considering only some constructive dispositions, and generates a rebar cage accordingly.
	When pressing Calculate for concrete elements, the program starts to establish the appropriate dimensions for rebar sections and generates the necessary rebar quantity according to the defined assumptions. In the case of connections, the Calculate command verifies if the connection complies with the Eurocode 3 regulations.
	It generates a full 3d reinforcement cage is generated in the element which is compliant with the current program reinforcement settings and meets all minimum requirements (available for concrete elements).
	This command significantly facilitates the process of verification of an element with the existing reinforcement, by quickly restoring the previously generated reinforcement. For example if you want to verify the load capacity of an existing reinforced concrete beam with known reinforcement for a new load, you can model the beam in a first step and generate the reinforcement by calculation and/or manual modification of the reinforcement cage. Then we can make changes in the load, which will make the data obsolete, and the reinforcement will be automatically removed. Now you can use the new Restore Reinforcement command to restore the previously generated reinforcement and you can start the verification of the element using the Verify command.
	It performs all verifications that are carried out during calculations, considering all settings and set loads as well as modeled reinforcement. After verification, all diagrams, drawings and reports are available. If any conditions are not met, appropriate warnings appear on the Errors and warnings tab (available for concrete elements).

5. Results panel

Allows you to explore and adjust the calculated reinforcement of an element as well as generate reports.

Results panel on the Design Modules Ribbon tab in Advance Design

Results panel

	Extended command that enables the selection of dialogs for modifying the generated reinforcement. Availability of individual commands depends on the type of element being currently analyzed.
	Command available for reinforced concrete walls and used to display the fabrics schemas with the cutting info. Schemas are presented in a separate window and can be saved as images to graphic files.
	Opens the Report Settings dialog box. You can select the report type (detailed, standard, errors, etc.) and customize the chapter from a check list. You can also select the saving format, .PDF or .DOC and view a preview.
	It displays a drop-down list from you can choose to generate a report according to the previously input settings, preview a report, generate an errors and warnings report, generate a combinations report. You can also access the Report Designer tool, which allows you to create a custom report from scratch. The Result Sections option is available only for beam elements and enables you to manage the beam sections for which to display detailed calculation in the report.

6. Options panel

Allows you to adjust drawing and display settings.

Options panel on the Design Modules Ribbon tab in Advance Design

Options panel

Display Settings commands on the Design Ribbon tab in Advance Design

Display Settings - used for selecting the color to be displayed in viewports for different categories of elements, as well as for torsors depending on the load case.

Visibility Settings - opens a dialog box where you can set the visibility for certain categories.

Dimension Display Settings - allows you to customize the display of dimensions in the viewports.

7. Tools panel

Allows you to adjust drawing and display settings.

Tools panel on the Design Modules Ribbon tab in Advance Design

Tools panel

Bill of Materials command on the Design Ribbon tab in Advance Design

Generates an estimative quantity of materials and costs for the selected element.

Graphic area tabs related to the Design tab

Below the Design ribbon, the graphic area displays more tabs, depending on the type of element selected:

Graphic Area tabs in Design mode

Graphic area in Design mode

Column	It contains four commands: Model - displays the calculated model; Drawing - creates a sheet containing some sections/views of the model; Interaction curves - helps to visually verify stresses more easily than simply comparing a range of values; Diagrams - shows a set of model diagrams, with the option to view load cases, set abscissa, and then save and print the image from viewports.
Footing	It contains four commands: Model - displays the calculated model; Drawing - creates a drawing of the model; Analysis diagram - performs an analysis of the model, displays the effective compression area and the bearing capacity work ration, together with the critical combination for bearing capacity; Stability diagram - performs a stability check and displays a summary for eccentricity check, sliding and overturning check.
Beam	It contains several commands: Model - displays the calculated model in the viewports; Drawing - creates a drawing of the model; Solicitations - displays a diagram featuring different forces; Reinforcement - displays the longitudinal and transversal reinforcement diagrams; Deflection - displays a deflection diagram; Stresses - displays the concrete compressive stress, reinforcement tensile stress and crack width diagrams; Fire Resistance - generates the fire resistance analysis; Supports Verifications - generates supports verification analysis; Supports Reactions - displays the reactions on supports.
Wall	It contains four commands: Model - displays the calculated model; Drawing - creates a sheet containing some sections/views of the model; Interaction curves - helps to visually verify stresses more easily than simply comparing a range of values; Diagrams - shows a set of model diagrams, with the option to view load cases, set abscissa, and then save and print the image from viewports.
Slab	It contains several commands: Model - displays the calculated model; Drawing - creates a drawing of the model; Reinforcement Diagrams - Reinforcement Cage - Reinforcement Diagrams & Cage - Reinforcing method - allows you to choose the method used for generating the theoretical and real reinforcement: Strips based or FEM based.