STAAD Foundation Advanced 6.2 just released

STAAD Foundation Advanced (Version 6.2) is just released. The release includes new options and enhancements of isolated and combined footings along with near complete ISM implementation. To honor many users requests, the  program now supports 3 editions of ACI 318 code: 2005, 2008, and 2011. Another important enhancement is combined and octagonal footing detailed drawing which features  auto scaled views, reinforcement with true thickness, sheet management, and more.

New Features:

Aspect Ratio for Isolated Footing:

Length/Width ratio of isolated footing now can be automatically calculated based on corresponding column or pedestal dimensions. Simply enter 0 (zero) for “Length/Width Ratio”, which will prompt program to auto calculate the footing plan dimension aspect ratio.

 

Combined Footing

Sliding Check:

This version implements a much needed missing feature for combined footing. Sliding Check has now been implemented for all codes. Like isolated footing, you can now specify factor for sliding check as following.


Footing Optimization:

The optimization option takes into consideration loading and geometric eccentricities. So the increments will follow the load directions. Another additional intelligence is the consideration of yield line theory. Depending on the load eccentricity position the program will try to increment plan dimensions proportionately. This option is new but has been tested by Beta testers. This can save huge amount of material and engineering time.

 


ACI 318 – 2005, 2008, 2011:
To cater the needs of different projects the program now supports 3 versions of ACI 318 code. Now while creating a job you have an option of choosing design code version for the US code. It now supports ACI 318-05/08/11 versions. Calculation sheet will reflect appropriate changes based on the selected code version.

 

 
Bottom Reinforcement Placement Option:

To design reinforcement of any concrete cross section, we need to calculate the effective depth. As footings have two layers (Mx and Mz) of reinforcements at the bottom, effective depth for each layer will be different. Old versions of the program assumed that reinforcement in X direction will be at the bottom but that assumption may not be correct in all cases, so there is an option given in “Global Settings” to choose the direction for bottommost reinforcement layer. This option makes design assumptions a bit more open and accurate.

 

ISM

This version of the program has near complete implementation of ISM. It supports all four functions of ISM which are…

  1. Create an ISM repository from STAAD Foundation Advanced
  2. Update an existing ISM repository with foundation design results
  3. Create a new STAAD Foundation file by importing ISM repository
  4. Update an existing STAAD Foundation file by importing ISM repository

All foundation types other than Mat are implemented in version 6.2. As ISM could be a big topic to discuss, a separate article will be posted on ISM and STAAD Foundation.

Mat GA Drawing

GA drawing is a very important tool in STAAD Foundation program to check foundation overlaps and interferences. But it didn’t include Mat foundation until this version. Now, the program will draw mat boundary and that makes GA drawing a complete tool to show and check foundation plan for whole project in just one drawing sheet. All recall that all drawings are to the scale.

 

Enhanced Detail Drawings:

Combined Footing

The detail drawing for combined footing has been greatly improved. The enhanced drawing is now construction-ready:
 

Octagonal Footing detailed drawing
 

For more details, please refer to the "what's new" document.