SCIA Engineer 18.0

 

SCIA Engineer 18: streamlined usability, advanced material design and extended BIM links

SCIA Engineer 18 moves the software to the next level in terms of usability, material design and interoperability. We have enhanced usability with streamlined basic operations and more automatic workflows, improved integration into BIM workflows with upgraded Revit and Tekla links and added new design capabilities for advanced materials and construction systems.

More than ever before, we engaged our users in developing and testing SCIA Engineer 18; from getting user feedback at conferences, through customer service and surveys, to having users directly select their top three enhancements for version 18. What’s more, users participating in our SCIA Insider program reviewed and tested some the new functionalities, providing valuable feedback and shaping this new release together with our development team.

SCIA Engineer 18 brings you:

  • Enhanced usability with streamlined workflows for more effective work and faster learning of the software
  • Advanced materials and floor systems expanding the array of possibilities for multi-material design (steel fibre reinforced concrete, autodesign of composite floors, structural glass design…)
  • Extended information flow in BIM with upgraded roundtrip links to Revit and Tekla Structures
 

Enhanced usability with streamlined workflows

Whether you are an experienced user or new to SCIA Engineer, the simplified workflows, default settings and other usability improvements will help you get started on new projects fast, make your work more efficient and save you time.

SCIA Engineer, being a comprehensive solution, offers a large number of functionalities. In order not to overwhelm the users with extremely long menus and complex dialogues, individual functions are linked to specific functionalities that may be switched on or off (enabling or hiding the corresponding menu items), depending on the project type. We have analysed the usage of individual functionalities among our clients and optimised the settings accordingly:

  • Commonly used functionalities are enabled by default

  • Individual functionalities have been regrouped and resorted to reflect the most frequent scenarios

(read more)

Many steps have to be taken in (almost) every project. In addition, certain actions are performed frequently and can be anticipated in most projects. In SCIA Engineer 18, such actions are now performed automatically to save effort and time. At the same time, the user retains full control for optional manual modification.

  • A default cross-section is available for each material selected in the project
  • A self-weight load case is created automatically, allowing the users to directly verify their model by calculating the response to the self-weight
  • Code-based combinations are generated automatically in accordance with the selected building code
  • Nonlinear combinations can be easily and directly derived from an existing linear envelope combination, dramatically reducing the manual work. Users keep control over the number of generated nonlinear combinations as they decide whether all or just dangerous combinations are created

(read more)

The SCIA Engineer tree-menu has been modified in terms of both look and behaviour to provide easier access to individual functions including simultaneous access to the main tree and a specific service (e.g. concrete, steel, etc.).

The Project Manager, which opens at the start of SCIA Engineer, now offers direct access to numerous learning materials:

  • Learning videos
  • Step-by-step tutorials accompanied by their sample project

(read more)

One of the essential aspects of working with a structural analysis software is the navigation in the 3D model on the screen. SCIA Engineer 18 introduces a new graphical control for its 3D window – the NaviCube - featuring:

  • Simpler and more flexible view/pan/zoom controls
  • Direct access in the 3D window to minimize mouse travels
  • One click "zoom-all" and “perspective view”
  • Precise navigation to all sides and corners of the project

(read more)

This enhancement enables you to easily differentiate the types of loads in a model: point loads, line loads and surface loads, by assigning a specific colour. This brings clarity and transparency and is especially useful when working with complex models. (read more)

Input of buckling lengths and related data is a crucial step for the accurate design of the structure. With the simplified and centralised workflow introduced in SCIA Engineer 18, you are able to handle this task more intuitively and much faster, minimising the chance of making a mistake:

  • All inputs related to spans, buckling and deflections have been consolidated in one place
  • Immediate graphical response to changes in buckling settings
  • Effective input using buckling groups

.(read more)

The post-processing environment introduced last year has been equipped with additional functions in version 18 to support more of your engineering tasks. The new possibilities include:

  • Extended integration strips on 2D members
  • Much faster, simplified visualisation of deformations
  • Export of results to an XML file
  • Adjustable limits for checks of 1D members
  • Transparent determination of support eccentricity

.(read more)

Advanced materials and floor systems

Ready to deliver economical, clearly documented designs for new materials and floor systems? The new extensions to concrete and composite design will help you. Moreover, SCIA Engineer is the first 3D structural analysis software to provide an integrated solution for steel-fibre reinforced concrete design.

SCIA Engineer 18 features numerous extensions to the design of steel-concrete composite beams in accordance with EN 1994, including:

  • Use of steel beams with large openings based on an SCI publication
  • Automatic design of studs and cross-sections
  • Result labels summarising the design on a plan view
  • Camber design
  • Detailed and transparent reporting

(read more)

In addition, SCIA Engineer also offers floor vibration checks for composite beams according to the (American) 2016 AISC Design Guide 11. (read more)

SCIA Engineer is the first structural analysis software that offers a smart and sophisticated solution for the design and calculation of steel fibre reinforced concrete. The solution was developed in a close collaboration with Bekaert, a leading global wire producer.

  • Support of Bekaert’s Dramix® steel fibres
  • Automatic calculation of the steel fibre dosage
  • ULS and SLS checks: capacity, shear, crack width, stress limitation
  • Advanced material and geometrical nonlinear analysis
  • Ability to expand the built-in material library by other steel fibres

(read more)

SCIA Engineer 18 increases its coverage of supported building codes by the SIA 262:2013 code, enabling:

  • Calculation of internal forces.
  • ULS design of 2D members.
  • ULS and SLS checks.
  • Section checks
  • Detailing provision.

(read more)

Punching shear design introduced in the recent SCIA Engineer versions has been further extended to offer a comprehensive solution:

  • Punching shear design can be performed using the user-reinforcement
  • Punching shear design is compatible with nonlinear combinations
  • Concrete stress is taken into account while evaluating VRd,c

(read more)

The modules for the design of 1D and 2D concrete members introduce a few improvements that increase the users' productivity, extend the code coverage and save time thanks to the optimised memory efficiency.

  • New default settings reflect the most frequent scenarios and speed up the workflow
  • The extended library of manufactured steel reinforcement meshes allows users to incorporate those from their preferred supplier
  • The optimised memory management makes the concrete design more robust and stable even for very large models

(read more)

SCIA Engineer introduces new design opportunities, delivered through links with 3rd party applications:

  • Integrated design of structural glass elements using a module developed by ALLBIM NET company.
  • Link to the external FD+ application for the design of foundation pads developed by FRILO Software.

Extended information flow in BIM

The upgraded Revit and Tekla links now boast an extended information support to bridge the gap to concrete and steel detailing.

A new interface with Tekla Structures supports the complete roundtrip via direct data-exchange or using a file. The upgraded link includes:

  • Bi-directional exchange of data enabling users to smoothly follow the BIM workflow from the concept (Tekla Structures) to analysis and code design (SCIA Engineer) to final detailing (Tekla Structures)
  • Improved material and cross-section mapping
  • Support for complex beams such as curves, polylines
  • Export of end reactions to support the detailing of connections in Tekla Structures

(read more)

The Revit link has been extended to support the following:

  • Export of reinforcement for 1D and 2D members
  • Export of load panels
  • Support of storeys
  • Mapping improvements

(read more)

25/05/2018