Getting Started – Demonstration Version

Installation

CADEcomp 2000 is loaded onto your computer from the distribution diskettes or the CD-ROM provided. (Refer to the disks for basic Set-up instructions) The installation program offers several options to allow for the correct set up of the program and its data files.

The default directory suggested may be changed to suit your requirements. If you specify a directory that does not exist, the installation program can create it, if required.

Three types of set up are then offered. Compact, Custom and Typical. The compact option is used when you with to update the program files only. This option would normally be used when updates are to be installed. The option ‘typical’ is intended for new or first time installations of the program. This option installs all of the program and data files required for the system to operate in the first instance. The ‘custom’ option allows for the selective installation of program and/or data files. This option is offered so that data files updated or expanded by the user are not over written.

Click Finish to complete the installation.

(CADEcomp may be uninstalled at any time using the Start, Settings, Control Panel – Add/remove programs task available under the Windows 95-98 or NT4 operating systems)

Running CADEcomp for the first time – A guided Tour

After completing the installation process, CADEcomp can be run by accessing the program through Start, Programs, CADEcomp 2000, CADEcomp 2000.

As this is a demonstration version of CADEcomp, the software can only be run a maximum of 10 times but with an unrestricted access to all features. Also the title block of printed pages contains the words ‘Demonstration copy’ with the word ‘DEMONSTRATION’ printed across diagonally across the results.

You will then be greeted by a display that gives basic information on the first time operation of the program. This screen can be disabled for future runs if required.

The next screen offers optional paths to follow. If this is the very first run, the option of selecting a previous run will be disabled (greyed out), so select the Create a new Job option.

The following outlines the program flow that would normally be taken to set up a new job and enter details for a member design.

To set up the system the first time, you are prompted for a job reference number and other details relevant to that job. Fill in as little or as much as you require - be sure to include a reference number or name in the top most entry. (This number/code is used to define a file name for the job data to be entered).

(If you don’t enter a job number, CADEcomp will continue to request a valid entry – If you really want to exit the program at this stage, press the Ctrl-Alt-Del keys to bring up the Close Program dialogue, then select CADEcomp and press the End Task button)

Click OK to continue.

To permit each job to have a unique reference name you can enter a long description in the File name edit box. You will notice that the reference number entered earlier is automatically passed through. Any existing jobs in this directory are shown here also.

Click Save to create the file or Cancel to return to the previous screen.

The next screen requests data for a new member.

Firstly, enter a member Mark or label. The mark of the member is used to distinguish this member from others in the same job. Every member in the job must have a unique mark. Enter the mark (up to a maximum of 8 alphanumeric characters), a brief description of the member and any notes relevant.

(Note: There are other buttons on this screen, but don’t be too concerned with them at this stage.)

Click OK to continue.

In this example, we will set up a simply supported floor beam of span 4500, run through some of the various input options and arrive at a size that meets all structural requirements.

CADEcomp Main screen – A Worked Example

After this, CADEcomp displays it main screen, which can take one of two formats. Initially, a simplified screen layout is presented prompting access to the various options of input and calculation. These input options are shown on the left side of the screen. (The second, more comprehensive screen is outlined later – you can switch to the detailed screen by using the option in the task bar).

You will find that each of the options is marked with a tick or cross. The tick indicates that valid data has been entered for this option.

At any time you can re-enter the option to update previous data by clicking on it again.

The options marked with a cross indicate that additional data is required. Click on each option to open an input screen and complete the necessary details. You can enter the data in any order but all data must be entered before the full analysis and design calculation can proceed.

On the display shown above, the Edit Description and type is already ticked. This is because this option was passed through for this first time run of the program.

Click now, on the Set Member Geometry button.

For this example, we are to design a floor beam of span 4500 (the span is entered in millimetres)

Notice also that th is screen gives the option of setting spacing, pitch, number off (forming a grid) and various restraint conditions. For this example, leave the other inputs at their defaults.

By default, the restraints are set to the full span of the member (SPN) - the most conservative of solutions. There is also provision for assigning various variables, their description and a value which can be accessed later in compiling load cases and combinations.

Click on OK to return to the main screen where the set member geometry is now ticked in green.

Click now on the Select Material to Design button.

If not already, select the Timber option. The screen should be similar to that shown at left. Use the drop down list for each of the Member, Depth, Grade and Width values to set up the dialog as shown.

As you click onto each drop down list, you will see all of the available options (Most of these options are able to be updated and expanded – refer to the Users manual for more detail)

Enter the bearing lengths for the external and internal supports by directly keying in the value or by using the up-down buttons.

Next, click the K1 Values button to open the dialog shown below.

Use the drop down list (button) beside each of the load case titles to set the appropriate load case factors.

If we were designing only in steel, we don’t need this data, but as we require alternative sizes in timber and steel then set the K1 values as required.

Click OK to exit and return to the Material selection screen.

Leave the other settings as shown for this example. (If you like though, you can select each of the other options to see what additional settings are available – just cancel out of the options without making any changes for this example.)

Once satisfied the entries are correct, click OK to proceed (or click Cancel to ignore any changes and return to the main screen).

The next step is to click on the Set Member Loads to define the loads to be applied.

There are 2 methods of defining the loading pattern using CADEcomp. The first – which will be explained in full in this example – permits the automatic generation of load combinations.

To achieve this, it is always assumed by the program that the first load case is always a dead or permanent load. In this example, we are designing a floor beam supporting upper floor loads. We know that the DL is 0.5Kpa and the LL is 1.5Kpa.

We enter these values in to the UDL list 1 row as the first and second columns.

Using the loads about the X-axis (major axis) tab, we then enter an ‘A’ (which means All) in the LC column. Press the ‘tab’ key on the keyboard to move to the Type column. In this instance, assume our beam is supporting floor joists at regular close intervals – so we can assume a uniformly distributed load. Therefore, in the type column, enter ‘U’ and then hit the tab key again.

When we enter the UDL List column, the Select UDL screen shown left will pop up.

Initially, the lower portion of the screen is blank, but click on to the variable name ‘UDL1’. The values entered previously will be shown for each of the load cases.

Click OK to close and move on.

We should now have returned to the Set Loads Dialog shown above with UDL1 as the UDL list.

We can add further load cases by pressing the Add Load Combination button or we can delete a load case by pressing the pressing the Delete Current Load Combination button (Be sure to have the cursor or active cell on the load case that you wish to delete first)

At this time we can also modify details relating to the loads by pressing the Load Combination Data button.

In this dialog, various parameters can be set, including the load combination headings and deflection limits.

As stated earlier, Case 1 is assumed a DL case and hence the heading is set to DL. The second case can be changed and in this case has been labelled ‘DL+LL’. (We only need 2 load cases for this example)

As this example assumes a horizontal member, no entry is required in the Modify Load by Pitch column. Load Modification factors can be set. As this is a Working Stress solution, leave the dead and live load factors set to 1. The deflection limit and ratio may also be modified if required.

(Note that all of the data entered or revised relates only to the member being input at this time - in our example case, B1. For other members in the same job, these values may need to be revised – but there are short cuts to achieving this.) After we have exited from this dialog, the Set Loads dialog will be updated to reflect all changes made.

Two further options are available from the Set Loads Dialog. The first is the Enter Loads using DLD option and the other the Analyse Load only option.

Selecting the Enter Loads using DLD option changes the way the load cases are set up. This method involves the setting of each individual base load case and then the combination factors applicable.

If you select this option now you should see the following (after a warning message)

We now have the option of the loads about the X and/or Y-axis as well as the load combination data (see above).

At this point we can return to the previous Set Loads dialog by de-selecting the Enter Loads Using DLD check box.

If we continue, by pressing the Set Loads about the X-axis we can view the base loads and combinations created using the automatic method.

You can use this screen to see how the loads have been automatically combined or add further loads to form complex load cases.

Be aware though, that if you change any of the data displayed on this screen, you cannot return to the simplified input for this member without losing both the simple and complex data.

You can though, return from this point by hitting the Cancel key and then de-selecting the complex load option.

After returning from the Set Load screen, the calculations for the member are carried out.

At this stage we should see the following result.

Obviously this member is over stressed for both strength and serviceability.

The results shown are a summary of the calculation process. The results of the analysis include the Axial, Shear, moments (positive & negative), the ratio of the critical stress conditions, the elastic deflections, deflection ratios and reactions for each of the load cases considered.

Various warnings are given (in red) but the member design check is not suspended because of any of these.

It is up to you, as the Engineer, to decide the appropriateness of the design.

To select a member type and size that better suits the loading conditions, we can return to the Select Material to Design option to update the material, size or number off.

In this case we have increased the depth to the maximum commercial solid section combination available

- 4 off 290x45 KDHW.

Even with this combination, we can see that, on exiting this dialog, the serviceability requirements are not met for the LL condition. The total deflection for DL+LL = 11.73mm

In this case, notice that the deflection for the DL+LL case is just that – the sum of the DL deflection modified for creep plus the elastic LL deflection.

When carrying out timber design, it is usual practice to consider the live load deflection independently of the dead loads. So, to cater for this, CADEcomp has a system flag

to allow checking of the live load deflection in this manner.

Referring to the main menu bar at the top of the screen, select the Set, System Option to set System Values.

The dialog displayed should look something like this.

Flick through the various tab options to view other systems values, but return to the Design Options to select the Design method, Max Stress Ratio and LL Deflection Only values.

In this example we should be using the Working Stress design option with a Max Stress Ratio of 1.0

Select the checkbox for LL deflection Only, then click OK to return to the to the main screen. Now that the deflection limit is not exceeded – that is, the member size checked is suitable.

To save this design in the Job file created earlier, select from the main menu items – at the top of the screen, File, Save.

Alternatively, press the button in the toolbar at the top of the screen.

Job data can be saved at any time during data entry. All of the members in a job are saved when this button is pressed and at the time of adding a new member to the file.

Viewing the Results

CADEcomp offer several additional screens for viewing the results of the input and analysis. At the completion of the example just generated, the main screen should look as below.

Firstly, if loads are applied about both the X and Y axis of the member then the analysis for each axis can be viewed using the View Results radio boxes

The critical stress case (f/F) shown is the critical for each of the X or Y-axes or the combined stress condition. Deflections and reactions are for the respective load direction.

To view the loading and stress diagrams, select the View Stress Diagrams button.

Again the axis about which the load conditions act can be selected using the radio buttons shown.

To view the detail more fully, doubly click onto the portion of the screen of interest. The rectangle shown will be enlarged to a full screen display.

You can use this screen to check the loading conditions applied as well as get a feel for the correctness of the shear, moment and deflection diagrams.

Select EXIT to close the screen and return.

To view a comprehensive break down of the design procedure used, click on the View Design Calcs button.

A portion of the screen display is shown below. Use the scroll bars to move around the page to view items of interest.

On this screen you can select the load case to view, as well as the axis as well as select a discrete point of interest along the member.

To print the page, press the print button.

Alternative Screen Layout

Once familiar with the basics, the alternative, more comprehensive screen layout can be invoked.

This is done by selecting the View Detailed Screen from the main Menu shortcut list.

The following will be displayed.

All of the data previously entered and more is shown on this screen as it is intended to keep you fully informed as to the current status of the design in progress.

All of the input options work similarly as for the simple screen layout.

To Switch back to the simple layout, click the View Simplified Screen.

Selecting an optional size

One of the major benefits in using CADEcomp is the ability to offer clients alternative sizes. With the current member on the screen, use the main menu’s Member, Design Alternate Size for Current Mark option. (or right click on the list of Marks in Current Job, and select Alternative Size).

In this case we will select a steel beam as an alternative.

Using the Simple input screen, press the Select Material to Design from the main screen. Then Select Steel.

Using the member drop down list, select Parallel Flange Channels.

A scale view of the cross section will be displayed. Use the size and grade drop down lists to select a trial size.

(Trial and error can be used as the calculation occurs immediately with the results displayed on exiting this dialog.)

If you are using the complex screen layout, you can press the auto select button which leads to the data file being scanned for the optimum size.

Because of the generic nature of the loading pattern entered, the results for the steel beam are as accurate as that for the timber.

If needed, this design can be fine-tuned for items such as restraints and general notes etc. All of the data relevant to this optional design is saved in the job data file.

After the design is complete, save the member details into the data file and continue with the next member in the job. You should now have 2 beam marks in the Mark List for this Job. The first is mark B1 and the second B1-1. The implication of the ‘-1’ is that it is an alternative to B1. (The ‘-1’ is added automatically by CADEcomp and is used internally to distinguish the alternative sizes created. Up to 4 alternative sizes can be created for a given design)

Member Schedule

During the entry and calculation of beams for a job, the data for the member schedule is being accumulated. To view the member schedule, press any of the button items that indicate access to the schedule.

Various options are available to format the layout of the schedule.

Clicking the mouse in the description column will permit editing of the details shown. If required, the final result can be printed as a supplement to the computation pages or output as a ‘DXF’ file for inclusion directly on to a structural layout drawing.

Member Summary

To aid in the compilation of a complete set of computations, a summary of the members in a job can be viewed at any time.

This report is a comprehensive summary of all of the members and can be printed at any time.

This list can be used to view all of the members in the current job with the length and reactions shown. This report is useful for keeping track of other members in the project.

Adding More members

Individual members can be added to or deleted from a job at any time.

Delete this member using the Member, Delete Current from the main menu. There are other methods of deleting members from the job – these are covered in the Users Manual.

Now we are able to add another beam to the job. For this guided tour, we will add a beam 5000 long, which supports the left reaction of beam B1 at a distance of 2000mm from the left-hand end.

To do this, use the Members, New Member option from the main menu.

Complete the input screen as shown. The description and notes are intended to convey basic information about the member, connections etc and are included on the schedule.

Click OK to continue.

The main screen will now have been updated to show this mark as belonging to the job in hand.

Now, enter the geometry details using the Set Member Geometry Button.

Key in the value for the span of the new beam (5000) and set the top and bottom restraints to 2000.

Leave the other values as the defaults.

Press OK to return to the main screen

Now, enter the Set Material to Design screen to select the new material.

Select Steel as the preferred material, then select Universal Beams from the Member drop down list – Use the side scroll bar to move up and down the list to the one required.

Select then, the trial size from the Size drop down list – Similarly for the Grade.

Press OK to continue.

Now we use the Set Member Load option to assign the loads to this member.

When we add a point load, which is derived from the reaction of another member, we must use in the LC column the letter ‘A’.

In the Type column, enter a ‘P’ to indicate that a point load is to be applied.

For the UDL list, select NONE.

In the magnitude column we can use the ‘R>’ input sequence to open the reaction selection screen.

In the reactions screen, a list of all of the Marks in the job are shown on the left.

To select the reaction to use, click in column 1 – the Left hand end reaction – of beam B1.

The character, ‘ * ‘ will be placed in this cell to indicate that this reaction has been selected.

You will notice that only one reaction at a time can be selected.

Press OK to exit, and return to the screen above where the sequence ‘R>1B1’ is now shown in the Magnitude column.

We now move to the Locations column by pressing the Tab key.

In this column, key in 2000, the distance from the left-hand end. By doing this, we are able to transfer the reactions from beam B1 to beam B2. Keep in mind that the reactions of B1 are not stored with the B2 data, only a cross-reference to them. Thus, if you update the loads or span of B1, then we only need to re-load beam B2 and recalculate to check B2 for the revised load conditions. Press OK to exit this screen and check the results.

Although we are still operating on the simple screen layout, we can quickly swap to the detailed screen layout to check our progress.

The diagram of the member with the applied load can be readily seen. This confirms the location of the load and reactions of B2 resulting.

The last thing we need to do is save this member to the job file.

Click the (save) button to do this.

If we review the schedule at this time, we can see that both members are included.

Click OK to return to the main screen or print.

Printing the results

After the completion of the design of all members in a project, we can then choose to print all of the results. In most cases, a summary of the results is all that is required.

To do this, select from the main menu the Print, Report option.

Using the print options, select the reports that are required.

(Attached are the actual printouts created from our worked example)

You can also select whether members designed are printed or not and alter various page layout options.

Click the OK button to print.

This concludes our Getting Started worked example.

To exit the program click the Exit button at the top of the screen, or if you with to experiment further delete one of the members and try again. Alternatively, add more elaborate load patterns and /or combinations.

After exiting the program and the restarting, you will find that the last job entered will be loaded. A new job can then be created using the File menu option.

We trust that this brief introduction to CADEcomp allows you to proceed further. Many of the capabilities of CADEcomp have been touched only lightly. For more information refer to the Users Manual.

If you are still having problems, phone CADE Systems P/L on 03 5997 1860 for more assistance, or for a full working copy of CADEcomp 2000, forward your check along with the registration form.