Tuesday, December 16, 2014

FEM-Design 14 - What's new?



FEM-Design 14 is officially released

All our customers with valid subscription can now upgrade the program. As usually, all the new features and changes in existing functionality are described in details in the "New features guide" document available in the program (Help --> New features). 

Here is a list of the most important features and changes that have been introduced in FEM-Design 14:

  • FD 14 is now a full 64-bit software so all memory of the computer can be utilized.
  • The list dialog improved in several ways (elements shown in the list can now be filtered, the list can now be send to documentation and Excel file).
  • In RC design the User has the possibility to place single layer surface reinforcement. 
  • A new object, the Fictitious shell is added to the Structure tab.
  • Detailed result for line support group reaction and connection forces are now available.
  • In FD 14 local stability results can be displayed. After calculating the load combinations the Local stability results (Overturning of walls and Sliding) are available in Display results dialog. 
  • In Material settings dialog different creep coefficients can be specified for Serviceability Limit State (SLS) and Ultimate Limit State (ULS). It has some consequences in load case calculation and results.
  • In Load groups dialog the User has the opportunity to choose one of the combination methods offered by Eurocode 0. Two methods of determining the combination of actions are allowed for the STR Ultimate Limit States.
  • The calculation of the load combinations can be run with different options. They can be set in Calculations dialog by selecting the Load combination items and clicking on Setup by load combinations. The User has the opportunity to choose: Non-linear calculation (NL), Cracked-section analysis (CS), Second order analysis (2ND), Imperfection calculation (IS) for each Load combinations.
  • The graphical performance is increased and more development is expected in future versions. In FD 14 the DirectX graphic engine is faster than OpenGL on most of the computers. 
  • User interface is improved.