I have great pleasure to inform you that we have launched the much awaited latest release of STAAD.Pro V8i.
This new release has been designed around enhancing the user experience of our leading general analysis and design application and still continue to expand on the technical capabilities that are the basis of the programs continuing popularity.
The following outlines some of the key developments that have been introduced with this goal in mind.
The Editor in STAAD.Pro has been a mainstay of the STAAD.Pro modelling environment, providing a parallel method for defining and tweaking the data file in order to ensure the data matches each user’s specific needs. This has a basic set of capabilities for colour coding the text to help identify comments and key words.
With SS6 we have providing a far more comprehensive new editor which now provides the following:-
Outline View, gives quick access to key features in the data structure
IntelliSense, commands are more than colour codes, but as you type, a knowledge of the data structure means you are given assistance in completing the command
Text Blocking and bookmarking, allows large chunks of the file to be hidden to allow quicker navigation through the data.
Database Link, gives direct access to the profile databases so that the correct names of profiles can be selected.
Add repetitive command blocks using code snippets
Context sensitive help, means that you can quickly investigate requirements of commands simply by clicking F1.
With the popularity of STAAD.Pro as the analysis tool for the design of so many concrete buildings in India where STAAD Planwin is used for modelling and RCDC used for the design, we have taken this process and built it directly into STAAD.Pro. This allows buildings to be quickly defined in a new modelling mode, using a set of regular plans that are constructed into a building form, analysed and the key concrete components then designed and detailed using RCDC.
Note that currently this is following the design requirements to the IS456 design code.
With the addition of the new Building Planner Mode, it was clear that we need to add clarity to the Mode Bar used to identify the different key segments of the programme. The change is subtle, but provides extra clarity. The Modes have been re-ordered into groups to better reflect recognised workflows and using colour to help identify similar capabilities:-
Modes
Process
Colour
Modelling
Building Planner
Piping
Bridge Deck
Pre Analysis
Blue
Post Processing
Foundation Design
Post Analysis
Green
Steel Design
RAM Connection
Steel
Yellow
Concrete Design
Advanced Slab Design
Concrete
Red
Earthquake
Seismic
Purple
We have continued to add more design capabilities for both steel and concrete modules and enhance some of the others currently in use to provide greater scope:-
CAN CSA S16-14. This new steel design capability has been added to the Canadian CSA specifications
SANS 10162-1:2011. Design to the South African steel code of practice for the structural use of steel, part 1. Limit states design of hot rolled steelwork.
AISC 360. Both versions of the US steel code, 2005 and 2010 have been enhanced to report the designs in metric as well as imperial units and now supports the design of web tapered sections.
AISC 341. The seismic provisions of this code can be added to the checks performed during designs to the AISC 360 code, accounting for the seismic classification, flexural strength based on frame type, and bracing requirements.
ACI 318-11. Now supports the 2011 version of this code in the batch processing module. (Inclusion of this in the Concrete Design Mode will follow later)
AIJ Steel Design codes have been updated to support the specific requirements for the Japanese designers who sometimes need to consider design of the Von Mises stresses without inclusion of torsion stresses. Additionally making the designs more conservative by reducing the effective area for bending.
Eurocode 3 steel design options have been enhanced with support of a much increased set of available steel grades.
SP 63.13330-12 concrete design to the Russian specification has been added to account for the actualized version of the SP 52 code.
Note the design codes require use of a suitable design code license. Please refer to the online help for reference for the design code pack needed for any design being carried out.
A complete redesign and restructuring of the solution algorithm in the Advanced Analysis solution (Advanced Math Solver) can result in a noticeable performance boost with some of the more complex models used with STAAD.Pro. Also the implementation of a Ritz Vector Method eigen extraction can provide improved dynamic analysis solutions when dealing with large numbers of modes.
Additionally the seismic loading defined in the IBC 2012/ASCE 7 2010 can be assigned as either response spectra or using the equivalent static seismic method.
Overall there are almost 200 issues addressed in this new release. 100 of them alone are modifications made in the analysis and design engine that results in giving you the most robust solution to date. To discover the details of every one of these updates refer to the Revision History document that is published with STAAD.Pro in the ReadMe documentation.
This valuable document gives a full insight to assist in understanding differences that may occur between versions both in value and behaviour. Along with the Help updated with details of these changes, you get the most comprehensive set of documentation.
I would recommend downloading and using this version to be the most productive you can be. I am always looking at new ideas to continue in the future development of STAAD.Pro, so feel free to reach out to me with ideas for upcoming versions.
ISM is the vehicle to analysis applications such as STAAD.Pro interoperate with the modelling applications such as ProStructures and various other third party modelling tools. The current ISM implementation in STAAD.Pro is best suited for framed models, but in future we will be looking to add surface capabilities.
In the brave new world of BIM we've not been able to find any efficient way of exchanging models between Staad Pro and Bentley's suite of CAD software. Does this release do anything to address this?
Mahesh. All new versions are available to you as part of your SELECT agreement. Just go to the downloads at selectservices.bentley.com/en-US to get the new version.
Hi, I work in a MNC, using Select Series5 of STAAD.Pro. How to upgrade it to get all these new features? Do I have to buy new SS6 version or just upgrade it?