Tower design re-imagined
Structural modeling, analysis, and design solution for communication towers
We are proud to announce the release of OpenTower CONNECT, a leading structural solution for telecommunication towers. This purpose-built application captures real-life analysis workflows, including modifications, multiple scenario evaluations, foundation checks, and connection designs. It can connect with equipment databases to automatically generate wind and seismic loadings, analyze the structure and produce custom reports. The application’s advanced graphics offer a realistic view of the tower as modeled, including 3D rendering of equipment and feedlines on the tower. The program is offered through’s Bentley’s consumption-based visa licensing program and known as OpenTower Comms Visa.
OpenTower Designer is the next generation of Bentley's Tower product and users of that product will find OpenTower ease to use and follow the tower engineer daily workflow in detail.
OpenTower was developed with an open architecture. Considering changing business trends on modifying existing structures, the application is designed to work with external catalogs and libraries, which can be edited and extended throughout the lifecycle of tower management and re-analysis.
OpenTower includes comprehensive databases, such as appurtenances catalog, bracing library, and truss-leg library. A custom tower catalog is provided for built-up sections, typically used for reinforcing towers. This catalog can be extended by adding new sections and new section profiles. User-provided table (UPT), is an innovative method to create and use user-defined materials, sections, and appurtenances.
With state-of-the art technology and graphics, OpenTower is designed for its openness and user-friendliness.
Engineers can now model lattice towers faster than ever using physical model generation utilities thorough parametric wizards. This includes automatic orientations of all members. It is a physical modeling system, where geometry is defined as a combination of multiple panels, starting from the top.
Discrete and linear appurtenances can be easily attached and viewed through built-in catalogs and an intuitive user interface. OpenTower automatically generates wind, ice, and seismic loads based on TIA 222- Rev F, Rev G, and Rev H standards along with ASCE 07.
The application was designed by practicing engineers and encompasses engineers’ desired workflow and best practices. All the inputs were cleverly structured and screens were reimagined to optimize your work. Discrete appurtenances can be attached through mounts, and feedlines are provided in reference to linear attachments, such as ladders and banjo brackets.
A OpenTower model essentially becomes a living history of a tower’s lifecycle management through its modification layer and scenario analysis capabilities. The application’s multilayered approach to separate modification layers from the base model, enables users to combine installed model with hierarchical proposed modifications. All modifications are saved for future use.
The application separates loading layer from geometry layer. Users can create any number of load definitions, groups, and configurations with appropriate classifications. A loading layer can then be combined with a geometric layer to create an analysis scenario. Users can analyze and compare as many scenarios as needed to deduce the optimum configuration.
OpenTower adopted “Wysiwyg” philosophy. It promotes precision modeling and offers many powerful capabilities to achieve it. All section profiles, including built-up sections like split-pipe are drawn to scale with appropriate rotation of its major and minor axes. Any object, including discrete and linear appurtenances can be clicked to review its properties. Feedline Tool helps to position the feedlines along the height of the tower by forming and moving feedline stacks on a grid system. The application can automatically form clusters and calculate the effects of shielding. Visualization shows realistic 3D graphics of all modeled equipment on the tower along with geometry.
OpenTower provides an exhaustive set of post-processing features that includes results and diagrams. It renders leg compression curves, deflection, tilts, twists, axial forces, moments, torsion, and stress diagrams along with dynamic browsing facility for member forces and member stresses at any point of the cross-section on any member at any location for any load case. It displays tables for member-end forces, joint displacements, and support reactions. Users can customize report format through intuitive report generator and export to various formats, including PDF and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
OpenTower can import any RISA Tower or tnxTower model (.eri files). The application generates a STAAD.Pro file that can be used for advanced analysis, like dynamic and buckling analysis, as well as flexible Mat foundation design.
Engineers can now easily design/check tower foundations with program’s built-in foundation design functionality. It automatically iterates through support reactions for all load combinations to find the critical load combinations for all possible design criterion, including serviceability and ultimate design. Current version of the program supports, pad &pier (isolated) foundation, block foundation, drilled pier foundation, and guy anchor foundation. It greatly increases tower design efficiency.
Processor: Intel ® Core i7 or similar
Operating System: Windows 10 x64
RAM: 16 GB minimum, 32 GB recommended
Available Languages: English
Complementary Products: STAAD.Pro