Latest Eurocode News

Well, the Eurocodes are with us. Unlike earlier national code changes, the Eurocodes bring major opportunities for Engineers and construction companies to work across borders using common standards. This should be good for the UK construction industry but we must grasp the opportunity and adopt the codes promptly.  We've already supplied Eurocode software to countries far and wide, not just the EU. Unless the UK gets its act together, we may well be overtaken by the overseas competition, especially on EC3. EC2 and EC7 are already in use and expected to 'take-off' quite rapidly.

STRAP, BEAMD and GEO5 are already Eurocode (EC2/EC3/EC7) compliant and where applicable can be loaded with National Annex (NAD) values for any country. quikEC3 and other QUIKSOFT software is currently ready to go but is awaiting publication of the UK NAD (expected at the end of this month or shortly afterwards).

To ease the transition to the Eurocodes, why not buy a copy of the quikEC3 steel section calculator now for just £65 + vat. It's currently using assumed NAD values but will be updated FREE as soon as the NAD is published. It really is an excellent training program and a useful tool thereafter. See below for full details.

To further reduce transition costs, we've got special upgrade policies for existing customers and realistically priced software for new customers. Plus, we have a no-risk policy allowing customers to swap codes during the transition period. Contact us for further details.

Useful Eurocode links:-

Eurocodes Expert (www.eurocodes.co.uk)

JRC (EU) Eurocode News  eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu

NOTE: All references to Eurocodes refer to the currently published EN 1993n versions. All software has the ability to accommodate NAD values for any country. If following publication of the UK NAD any special provisions are required, these will be incorporated.

GEO5 Price Increases

Owing to exchange rate fluctuations, it has become necessary to raise GEO5 software prices. The software still represents unbeatable value for money often offering more functionality than software costing many times its price. For example, most programs are just £325 (was £295) with the powerful and fully-functioned Slope Stability program costing only £450 (was £425).

Officially the prices came into effect on 1st January but we will continue to honour the old price list and existing quotations for all orders placed by 31st January.

New Price List

Old Price List

GTS Support Forum

1st December 2007. We are pleased to announce our new support forum intended primarily for customers but with sections open to other construction industry professionals. We hope this new initiative will help us to provide an even better customer support service and to obtain useful feedback for our program of continuous improvement. In addition to an ever-expanding 24/7 knowledge base, the forum will be a focal point for updates, downloads, technical information and customer feedback. To have full use of the forum, you must register. On registration you will be allocated privileges according to your status as a non-customer, customer or maintained customer. Only maintained customers will have full access to the whole of the site. Note that you need provide only basic details to register but we must be able to identify whether you are a customer. All details are held on a secure server and use heavily encrypted passwords. GTS never releases any customer information to third parties except where required to fulfil legal obligations.

Forum Registration

Go to FORUM

NOTE: Users who register outside our normal office hours will not be validated until the offices re-open.

An ideal training tool for the forthcoming introduction of EN 1993-1-1 (EC3), quikEC3 is a very useful 'electronic blue book' which can calculate properties, section classifications and structural capacities for a wide range of section shapes, using EC3 terminology. A database of all major worldwide steel sections is included but custom tables are easily built for non-standard sections.

In addition, the program calculates the following:

Section classifications for axial, y bending, z bending : (for non-symmetrical sections, classification is carried out for either top, bottom, left or right of section in compression depending upon section orientation).

Calculation of effective section properties for class4 (slender) sections including any shift in neutral axis.

Section capacity checks: axial tension, axial compression, moment, low shear, high shear, moment and shear, moment with axial, moment axial and shear for both Y and Z axis bending. Class1, 2, 3 and 4 (slender) sections are covered.

Combined axial, X moment and Y moment capacity checks.

Download this innovative program now and try it free for up to thirty days (registration required). Buy it for just £65 + vat HERE or by calling 01509 260559 with your credit card details for immediate unlock code.

Program Datasheet [PDF]

Sample calculations [PDF]

Download free evaluation copy

Buy on-line

New Geotechnical Program

We are pleased to announce a new program from FINE Ltd, developers of the popular GEO4 and GEO5 geotechnical toolkits. GROUNDLOSS is a program for the prediction of building damage due to tunnelling. The UK price for this major new program is just £695 (+vat and delivery) with express shipping from our Loughborough offices. (note: £30 rebate for existing GEO4/GEO5 users)

Find out more about software for assessment of risk of building damage due to tunnelling at the special GROUNDLOSS website www.groundloss.com. 

Advance Sections

All current GTS steel design software now has the Corus Advance sections included. Currently, all sections are included in STRAP. The new sections can be loaded into QUIKPORT xp, QUIKFRAME xp, QUIKJOINT and MERLIN. If you have MERLIN you can generate your own Advance tables for any version of any QUIKSOFT program.

(c) Corus

Version 12.5 of our flagship structural package was launched on 31st March 2007. Following on from the major improvements in V12.0, V12.5 also introduces two new optional modules: RC Slab detailing and Steel Connection design. Includes EC3 design with full Eurocode user-configurable NAD support.

We're sure you will agree that it's a real 'bumper-bundle' of new features and improvements. Importantly, the design modules are now completely Eurocode compliant including provision for the 'National Annexes' (NAD's). The many detailed improvements are the result of a vigorous on-going development program driven by a customer 'wish-list'. All feedback from customers and support staff is actively considered, prioritised and incorporated wherever possible. Each improvement is designed to increase STRAP's productivity and versatility without compromising its outstanding ease-of-use.

New Features:-
Concrete slab deflections: The program now calculates short-term and long-term deflections based on the cracked section properties.
Element offsets: An offset perpendicular to the element may now be defined. The option is useful when modelling floor slabs with variable depth, e.g. drop panels.
RC Column design: The user can now design any column defined as a 'solid section' (including openings) in the STRAP section generator (CROSEC).
RC Slab detailing and drafting:  Working from the FE results, the program calculates and details the slab reinforcement, either as an arrangement of individual bars, a pattern of prefabricated meshes, or a combination of both.

Note: Optional Module
Steel Connection Design: Working directly from the steel design module and from pre-defined user preferences, the program automatically designs and details a range of connection types. Includes a drawing and, if required, a 3D rendered view of the connection.  All connections in a structure may be designed in one run. (See left)

Section generator (CROSEC): This can now import a closed perimeter from a DXF file.  For example, an odd-shaped column could be imported from AutoCAD and then designed in the concrete module. (See above). Standard sections may now be defined according to parameters, e.g. standard pre-stressed bridge sections.
 

Detailed Improvements:
General: Output to Word (RTF) file: the company logo (bitmap) may now be printed in the Word format file.
Display a plane: a new option has been added to rotate the plane to the screen plane.

The mouse wheel can now be used to Zoom and Pan
Print/edit a saved drawing: New options have been added to revise drawing names, delete drawings and to revise the order of the drawing list.  Several drawings may now be printed simultaneously on a single page; the program automatically arranges the drawings. Multi-line text may now be edited.
Grid lines: The grid lines for the entire model are now defined in the Geometry module.  These grid lines can then be added to the current display in other STRAP modules (loads, steel, etc.). Lines may be removed or relocated in the current display without modifying the original grid lines as defined in Geometry.
Dimension lines: the repositioning of existing lines when the model is rotated has been improved.
Main menu: A 'note' may be entered for each model. The note is defined/displayed adjacent to the small model drawing at the base of the screen. The option allows the user to maintain a log of all information relevant to the model.
Setup: the following options have been added: dimension line options, covers for reinforcement calculations, Code-related factors, e.g. EC National Annexe factors for individual countries, arrow parameters for loads and text.
Print: the following may now be printed from the main screen: load case and combination lists, wall results, spring stress results.
Toolbar: toolbars may now be arranged for the results, steel and concrete modules. New options are now available in all toolbars.
Geometry: Element offset: an offset perpendicular to the element may now be defined:
Stages:  Different releases and offsets may now be defined in each stage.
Rigid links: A new option is available to rigidly connect nodes that have two identical coordinates. For example, two parallel planes may now be rigidly linked with one command.
Nodes:Cylindrical coordinate system; the height axis may now be in any non-global direction. Perpendicular from a node to a line: multiple nodes may now be selected. Intersection of a plane and a line: Additional nodes may now be selected; the program creates lines parallel to the defined one passing through the additional nodes and generates nodes at their intersections with the plane. Intersection of a cylinder and a line: Additional nodes may now be selected; the program creates lines parallel to the defined one passing through the additional nodes and generates nodes at their intersections with the cylinder.  Nodes may now be defined at the intersection of grid lines. Move nodes: a single co-ordinate for a group of nodes may now be moved. Unify: a 'tolerance' value may now be defined; two nodes will be unified if the distance between them is less than this value.

Beams: the property may now be selected from a 'list' when defining new beams. Properties - dimensions: the property number is now displayed in the dialog box header and the schematic section sketch has been improved. Releases: a release at one end only may now be defined for multiple beams.
Springs: Spring constants may now be deleted in one direction without affecting existing values in other directions. Radial springs may now be defined along an arc.
Copy: the program now displays the distance from the original reference node location when defining its new location. Springs may now be copied.
Walls: Section definition: a segment perpendicular to another segment may now be defined.
DXF drawing: the drawing may be displayed with the original DXF file colours and with all text.
Loads: Pre-stress: variable cable force and eccentricity may now be defined along a line of beams (or arc)
Output: Slab deflections:The program now calculates short-term and long-term deflections based on the cracked section properties and the reinforcement in both directions:
Slab reinforcement: a new option to calculate minimum reinforcement according to the Code has been added.
Wall results: new option to display results for the entire wall (M,P,V) and not only for the component segments.
Deflections - graphic: the component deflection for a selected global direction may now be drawn.
Concrete Design: the user can now design any column defined as a 'solid section' (including openings) in the STRAP section generator (CROSEC). Options are available for defining 'corner bars' and reinforcement 'lines' and 'groups' for these sections. These reinforcement patterns may be saved in a library and recalled later for similar sections with different dimensions. Walls: Different effective length factors and moment magnifier values may now be defined for each segment in a wall. Beam detailing (BEAMD):  All beams may now be detailed at the same time; the program display a parameters menu and the specified values are used for detailing all of the beams. Concrete volumes and reinforcement weights may be displayed for projects and/or beams. Eurocode 2: factors may be revised according to National Annex.
Steel Design: AISC: the program has been updated according to the revised 2006 version of the Code. Eurocode 3: factors may be revised according to National Annex.
CROSEC: DXF Import: A closed perimeter from selected layers in a DXF file may now be imported into the program. Additional interior perimeters are treated as openings. Sections defined by parameters: standard sections may now be defined according to parameters, e.g. standard pre-stressed bridge sections, I sections with holes, etc.

STRAP V12.5 literature [PDF]     STRAP web pages     RC slab flyer    Steel Connections flyer

Switch instantly between input screens.

Switch instantly between display modes. Analysis is automatically run when necessary so your results are always valid for the current frame model.

The popular INPUT wizard is retained so that data entry for standard frames is extremely simple with frame loadings, including wind and snow loadings, being automatically calculated for all frames in a building. Purlin and sheeting layout tools complete the picture.

The DESIGN and CHECK wizards have substantially increased speed. Unlike other programs, QUIKPORT xp automatically considers all aspects of a frame including capacity, stability, in-plane stability, second-order effects and the addition of stays. Elastic, elastic-plastic, rigorous minimum weight, advanced second-order refined hinge analysis, elastic critical load (for any geometry) are just some of the methods in use. However, the Engineer always has control over the final design.

There are no built-in limits in QUIKPORT xp, only the limits of your computer. A wider range of steel sections may be used although there are some restrictions on certain members.

Finally, QUIKPORT xp is Eurocode ready. Once the national annexe is published, a 'plug-in' module will be available.

QUIKPORT xp web page

QUIKPORT xp literature [PDF] click here

An evaluation copy is available from our download area (17MB)

We've compared Geotechnical programs and we have to say that GEO5 offers exceptional software at an exceptional price. We invite you to undertake your own comparison between GEO5 and software costing much more.

GEO5 v. GEO4 comparison [PDF]      (Also gives an indication of its very advanced features)

GEO5 Evaluation Download

The following modules are available now: Slope Stability, Cantilever wall, Gabion Wall, Gravity Wall, Block Wall, Prefab Wall, Sheet Pile check (FEM), Sheet Pile design (classical), Spread Footings, Pile design, Settlement, Earth Pressures.

*** FEATURE ***

Cold Formed/Light gauge Steel Design

STRAP's sophisticated steel design module now has a cold-formed (light gauge) steel design option to BS5950:Part 5. This addition reflects the increasing popularity of this form of construction in the UK. Previously only USA and EC versions were available. STRAP models may contain both light gauge and normal HR sections. A library of common shapes is included but the STRAP CROSEC program may also be used to draw sections which are then added to the sections table. All necessary properties are calculated automatically. The program can either check specified sections or search for the lightest sections which comply with code requirements, subject to constraints defined by the user. Calculations use effective section properties and take account of the strength increase due to cold-forming. Reduced section properties due to web holes are calculated and used where appropriate.

For more details, contact our Sales Office now