FEMFAN3D &

NON-LINEAR COMPLEX STEEL JOINTS CHECKER

FEMFAN3DBIM ENABLEMENT & SS EN DESIGNS

Part 1

BACKGROUND• What is FEMFAN3D?

• Fully developed and maintained by PTRC, NTU in Singapore

• The one-of-its-kind finite element software for the investigation of building robustness against progressive collapse due to man-made or natural hazards

• Provide super element formulation that cut down analysis time needed from days to hours

BACKGROUND• FEMFAN3D GUI

• Project completed in 2011• Fully developed in Singapore• Point-and-click modeling to simplify structural

robustness checking against progressive collapse• Seamless modeling, analysis and review of FEMFAN3D

results• Parametric material

definition• Parametric member

modeling

Why FEMFAN3D ? No equivalent commercial software

THE CHALLENGES• New SS EN (replacing British Standard completely by1 Apr

2015) calls for non-linear analysis and design of critical structures (members + joints)

• Mandatory seismic design for buildings in selected areas

• We need an “all-in-one” and “well tested” solution for daily production use

ENHANCING FEMFAN3D TO MEET THE NEEDS

• Support Steel and Composite materials and members• Support model import/export with

• BIM platform(s)• 3rd party engineering software

• Support member design to • Eurocode 2 (concrete)• Eurocode 3 (steel)• Eurocode 4 (composite) • Eurocode 8 (seismic)

• To include fire checking in solver• Support checking of complex joints*

*see also Part 2: Non-linear Complex Steel Joints Checker

Pt 1. FEMFAN3DConcrete Design

Steel Design

Composite Design

Fire Safety Assessment

Joints Check

Pt 2. Non-linear Complex Steel Joints Checker

Impo

rt/ex

port

Structural RobustnessAssessment

impo

rt import

Conc

rete

on

ly fo

r now

Seismic Assessment

NON-LINEAR COMPLEX STEEL JOINTS CHECKER

Part 2

THE PROBLEM• Complex steel joints exist in many

modern building and off-shore structures

• Such joints can only be checked using non-linear finite element method, which is costly, requires high level of expertise, and time consuming

• EC3 Pt. 1-8• Since it is costly, most likely the

checking is non-exhaustive

Image credit : Parsons Brinkerhoff Pte. Ltd.

MAKING THINGS WORSE

1. Engineer may not aware that their favorite Linear Analysis tools doesn't fit the job

2. New design code• British Standard : Silent (and we just take it for

granted for years)• Eurocode: Explicitly calls for Non-linear Analysis

3. Advanced Non-linear Analysis Packages (eg.ABACUS)• Expensive !• Require high-lever of expertise (choice of element,

making assumptions, interpreting results, …)• Typically very tedious and time consuming process

?

Image credit : Parsons Brinkerhoff Pte. Ltd.

LINEAR VS. NON-LINEAR

SOLUTION?• A standalone application to

• Create finite element sub-model of complex steel joints from BIM/Structural analysis software package (like Tekla/Revit & ETABS/Staad.PRO)

• Transfer member end forces from those package to the FE model for all the load combinations

• Perform and report issue with simple one click of button Automate the joint

model creations and load

applicationsEquivale

nt loads

Equi

valen

t loa

ds

Equivale

nt loads

Full 3D BIM model

Report failure

based on Von-

misses stress

resultants

Non-linear

Analysis

Extract resultants from 3rd party

structural analysis software

[e.g. ETABS/StaadPro]

Mesh into 3D

triangular/quadril

ateral meshes

Extract Joint

Geometry from 3rd

Party BIM/structural software

[e.g. Tekla/Revit/

ETABS/StaadPro]

PROPOSED WORKFLOW

BENEFITS• Significant time saving in modeling, loading input• Reduced input errors• Speedy revisions and alterations• Enabling exhaustive checking of all complex steel

joints • Enabling average engineer to perform advanced non-

linear analysis• Elevating local industry standards• Prepare engineers for global marketplace

KEY COMPONENTS• The Pre-processor (from Advance Contech)• The Revit/StaadPro/ETABS/SAP2000 bridge (from Advance)• The Mesher (from NTU?)• The Solver (from NTU?)• The Post-processor (from Advance Contech)• Others?