STAAD Foundation Advanced 2023


Enhancements:

The following lists some important enhancements in STAAD Foundation Advanced 2023 over the corresponding capabilities in SFA V9. SFA 2023 is a new generation foundation design software that has significant advantages over the V9 versions. This is the first major release of this new generation foundation analysis and design tool and currently handles the mat type of foundations to the ACI 318-14 and ACI 318-19 codes.

  1. Physical Modelling

STAAD Foundation Advanced 2023 is equipped with physical modelling capabilities for mat foundations to represent the as-built physical object. This includes modelling the pedestals, regions that can be elevated or sunk from the mat surface, openings etc. The user can also model soil and/or pile supported mats. The different modelling tools and assistive prompts in the program help to generate models quickly and efficiently and make the experience with the software more realistic and enjoyable.

 

  1. Import of Models

 STAAD Foundation Advanced 2023 can import STAAD.Pro analytical models and stitch the various analytical elements to form a physical model. Structural engineers can use this functionality to model their mats with more accurate references to the imported superstructure. They can now visualize the superstructure and substructure holistically within the same model.

 The feature also includes the import of loads, load combinations, repeat loads and reference loads from the STAAD.Pro model.

 Analytical models of mat foundations created in STAAD.Pro along with any supported superstructure elements can be seamlessly imported into SFA 2023 and converted to physical elements.  The user can then use the existing mat foundation analysis results for design and detailing. This will be extremely useful for the users who intend to consider soil structure interaction in the superstructure analysis.

SFA 2023 can also import the relevant model data from the SFA V9 software and copy the mat geometry table or re-create the mat to subsequently proceed with the meshing, analysis and design process.

 

  1. Soil Models

 The user can define soil models in the program which will be used to auto-generate the soil springs for analysis and consider the specified soil bearing capacity data for post analysis checks. As part of the post analysis checks, the program will report the ratio of the soil pressure to the bearing capacity to serve as an indicator of any possible bearing failures.

 The soil models can consist of both the service limit state and ultimate limit state data. The program can automatically create two different analytical models to analyze the SLS and ULS boundary conditions and perform the appropriate stability checks.

 

  1. Multiple mat foundation models in one single file

 One file in STAAD Foundation Advanced represents the mat foundation substructures of the whole project, rather than a single foundation substructure of the project. Thus, one single file can contain multiple mat elements, each with sets of different meshing analysis, and design criteria. This will help the structural engineers reduce their bookkeeping by having the total structural data related to mats in a single place.

 

  1. Parallel processing

 The program can perform meshing, analysis, post-analysis checks and design parallelly for multiple mat models, thus helping to save operational time and increase the efficiency of projects. Parallel runs are also initiated for the SLS and ULS boundary soil conditions and/or load combinations thus saving considerable operational time.

 

  1. Design to ACI 318-19 code

 In addition to the implementation of design to ACI 318-14 codes for mats and pedestals, the ACI 318-19 design has also been implemented for the same. This includes the design of one-way shear of mats, which will add value to the design workflow for a lot of user organizations. This also includes punching shear check for complicated punching boundaries to ACI 421. The pedestals are designed as columns.

 

  1. Reinforcement Rationalization and Smoothening

 The reinforcement rationalization algorithm that has been implemented in STAAD Foundation Advanced 2023 helps minimize the number of separate bar arrangements, thus ensuring a clean and crisp arrangement of the bars. The smoothening function ensures that the lengths of the extra bars provided are consistent with the practical requirements.

 

  1. Design Optimization

 It is possible to create multiple criteria for meshing, analysis, design and detailing and assign to multiple scenarios of the same mat. The “Bill of Quantities” feature can help identify the most optimized solution.

 

  1. Bill of Quantities

 The “Bill of Quantities” option reports the consumption quantity of steel, concrete and formwork. The user can prefer to enter the rate of the materials consumed which will result in calculations of the cost. Currently, this excludes the bar bends, splices, anchorage etc.

 

  1. Live Reports

 Live Reports is an advanced way of creating customized user reports. The reports reflect the live status of the given element with the appropriate report options being made available for report generation. There are advanced image capturing and/or document inclusion capabilities within the reporting workflow. A user can choose to export the reports in multiple formats like pdf, word or excel.