CYPECAD. Analysis and design of reinforced concrete and steel structures

Software for Architecture, Engineering and Construction

CYPECAD

Reliable structures, very precise drawings

CYPECAD was brought about to carry out the analysis and design of reinforced concrete and steel structures, subject to horizontal and vertical forces, for houses, buildings and civil work projects.

Its use guarantees maximum analysis reliability and the best drawing design, including the following elements:

Floor slabs

Joist floor slabs can be composed of concrete (generic), precast reinforcement, precast prestressed, in situ, steel (T and double T sections) and truss joists. The deflection is calculated in all cases.

Additionally, it allows for flat and solid slabs, waffle slabs, hollow core slabs, and composite slabs (steel deck) to be used.

Beams

The floor beams may be reinforced concrete, steel (normal or castellated) or mixed. Corbels can also be introduced.

Supports

The program allows for reinforced concrete, rectangular, circular or steel columns.

Shear walls can be rectangular or adopt on plan any shape made up of rectangles.

Walls may or may not have lateral pressures and may be reinforced concrete, generic load bearing or concrete block walls with or without reinforcement (the dimensions of the blocks are introduced by the user or from manufacturer catalogues such as NORMABLOC National Association of Concrete Blocks and Masonry Manufacturers).

Walls may contain openings. The program calculates the necessary additional reinforcement of the openings in the reinforced concrete walls (lintel, guardrail, lateral and diagonal) and the lintel reinforcement when the gaps are introduced in concrete block walls. Additionally, it is possible to obtain a report of the checks that are carried out in the analysis on this reinforcement and can be viewed on screen or printed out.

The crown beam is also designed for all types of walls as is the intermediate beam at floor level in the case of generic load bearing walls and concrete block walls.

Stairs

CYPECAD analyses and designs stair slab reinforcements as isolated elements of the structure. Depending on the geometry, type and support arrangement and the applied gravitational loads, the program establishes the reactions on the main structure, which are applied as line and surface loads (in the case of steps built on the slab) in their corresponding permanent and live loadcases.

The program calculates the stairs by finite elements, taking into account the usual two loadcases for the stair analysis: permanent loading and live loading.

CYPECAD displays on screen the reinforcement of each of the spans making up the stairwell. It is also possible to consult, in a three dimensional view, the displacements, forces and see the deformed shape of each span.

Foundations

The foundation can be fixed (by pad foundations or pile caps) or ‘floating’ (with slabs on grade and foundation beams, having to define the subgrade modulus upon applying the Winkler theory).

The foundations may also be designed by having only introduced column starts.

Isolated or combined pad foundations may be composed of reinforced concrete or mass concrete and may support multiple columns.

Pile caps can hold a multiple number of piles. A wide range of options are available:

Rectangular pile caps for one, two, four and five piles
Triangular pile caps for three piles
Strip pile caps for three to thirty piles
Rectangular pile caps for multiple piles (grid distribution from three to thirty piles per side)
Pentagonal pile caps for five to six piles
Hexagonal pile caps for six to seven piles

Both the pad foundations and pile caps allow for several columns and shear walls to be placed on them without restraining their position on the foundation element.
The strap beams also act on the pile caps and the tie beams brace the elements.

Base plate design is carried out for any steel column arrangement (simple sections and composite sections).

More information on the foundations designed by CYPECAD and Metal 3D can be found in the Foundation analysis and design section.

General data

Wind and earthquake (spectral mode analysis) loads are selected, by selecting the properties as described in the codes. In both cases second order effects (P-delta) may be taken into account.

There is no limit as to how many loadcases, line, surface or point loads can be applied and at which position.

The program automatically generates any loadcase combination defined by the user in accordance with the conditions that have been indicated (compatible, incompatible or simultaneous). For example, the loadcase combination of a load composed of a generic live load and a the action of a truck load at various positions is generated automatically. The positions of the truck are incompatible amongst one another but compatible with the generic live load and the remaining loadcases of a different nature.

Users can also define their own project situations to personalise the combinations that are going to be used in the corresponding analysis of the structural elements of the job.

This has been adapted for national and international codes.

CYPECAD has numerous analysis options, with explanations and on screen graphs, to personalise the analysis, design and reinforcement by means of tables.

Data entry (Structure geometry)

The geometrical introduction of a job in CYPECAD is carried out on plan views on each of the different levels of the structure, the same way as drawings are visualised out on site and so avoiding three dimensional data introduction which is much more complex.

With CYPECAD the data of the structure can be introduced in three different ways:

When introducing a structure you may use any of the three methods mentioned above.

Automatic job introduction: DXF, DWG and CAD/BIM models.

The module: Automatic job introduction: DXF, DWG and CAD/BIM models of CYPECAD has two options available which have been conceived to automatically generate the structure using the information from the following types of files:

Import of IFC files generated by CAD/BIM programs

Using the Automatic introduction IFC option, the Automatic job introduction: DXF, DWG and CAD/BIM models allows for the import to CYPECAD of IFC files generated by the main CAD/BIM programs (Allplan, Archicad, Revit Architecture). By means of an assistant, the user confirms and completes the information obtained from the IFC file, after which, the following elements of the structure are generated:

Floor distributions
Dead and live loads on floors
Columns
External perimeter and internal openings perimeter beams
Partition and façade wall line loads
Drawing templates of each floo
More information on importing IFC files in CYPECAD can be found in Automatic job introduction: DXF, DWG and CAD/BIM models.

When introducing a structure you may use any of the three methods mentioned above.

By means of DXF or DWG files

Using the Automatic introduction DXF/DWG option of the Automatic job introduction: DXF, DWG and CAD/BIM models module, the user completes a series a data by means of an assistant, which then allows the program to interpret DXF and DWG files to automatically generate the structure of the job:

Floor distribution
Dead and live loads on floors
Columns
External perimeter and internal openings perimeter beams

More information on importing IFC files in CYPECAD can be found in Automatic job introduction: DXF, DWG and CAD/BIM models

With the help of DXF or DWG drawings used as templates.
The supports and beams of the structure can be introduced with the aid of a drawing in DXF or DWG format. It is possible to capture the elements of the DXF or DWG drawing so they remain adjusted at the positions held in these drawings with maximum precision.
Introduction using global or relative coordinates.
The program also allows for columns and beams to be introduced using coordinates with respect to an origin or any other point.

When introducing a structure you may use any of the three methods mentioned above.

Any of the three methods may be combined during the introduction of a structure:

Automatic job introduction (importing IFC files or interpreting DXF and DWG files)
With the help of DXF and DWG files used as templates
By means of global or relative coordinates.

The beam manager allows for the beams that are going to be introduced to be straight or curved, and their introduction mode can be continuous or discontinuous. DXF or DWG displacements and adjustments are possible during beam entry or once they are situated on plan. You may also add as many floors, columns, beams or panels as you wish.

If you have acquired the automatic job introduction module, not only will you be able to adjust beams to DXF or DWG lines, but also to open or closed polygons in these drawing files.

It obtains the 3D view, solid and immediate (with conical or isometric perspective) of any floor or of the entire building, without the need of having to previously analyse the job.

It is possible to move around freely inside the structure when it is visualised with conical perspective. In the 3D view, the floors and walls possess a degree of transparency making it easier to visualise those elements that remain hidden.

Both horizontal or inclined slabs may be introduced. Inclined slabs are simple to introduce as only the inclined plane has to be defined. This can be done by defining 3 level points, by a given slope line or by the maximum slope line. This slope is then assigned to panels that have been previously introduced horizontally and hence avoiding a complex 3D introduction.

It is possible to copy all the geometry of a floor from one floor to another, as can the properties of a panel (including the insertion point) to another panel on the same or different floor.

Integrated 3D structures (Connection between CYPECAD and Metal 3D)

CYPECAD and Metal 3D are connected by means of the Integrated 3D structures, which allow for a structure to be included in CYPECAD with the same design assumptions as it would have in Metal 3D.

An integrated 3D structure is a steel, aluminium or timber structure, made up of nodes and bars with six degrees of freedom which is connected and bonded to the main building structure managed by CYPECAD.

The integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD is not technically a module: to be able to define the integrated structures, the user has to have the license to use both CYPECAD and Metal 3D. Several integrated 3D structures can be added to a single CYPECAD project.

An integrated 3D structure is connected to the CYPECAD structure by means of connection points which may be situated on the following CYPECAD elements: columns, column starts (where a pad footing or pile cap can be defined later on), beams, flat slabs, waffle slabs, mat foundations or foundation beams.

CYPECAD allows for an Integrated 3D structure to be introduced in two different ways:

By directly creating a Metal 3D job within CYPECAD.
By importing a Metal 3D job into an existing or new CYPECAD job.

CYPECAD and Metal 3D have common modules (Pad footings, Pile caps, Baseplates, Fire resistance check, Parallel analysis with two processors and Parallel analysis with up to eight processors). With the Integrated 3D structures, CYPECAD also benefits from the exclusive Metal 3D modules (Aluminium sections, Timber sections, Joints I Welded – Warehouses with rolled and welded steel I sections, Joints II Bolted - Warehouses with rolled and welded steel I sections, Expot to TEKLA, Export to TecnoMETAL and Export in CIS/2 format for Graitec Advance Steel). The use of these modules requires for the user to have the corresponding license permits.

Analysis

Design load analysis

The analysis of the structure is carried out by means of a 3D spatial analysis using stiffness matrix methods, making up all the elements defining the structure: columns, reinforced concrete shear walls, walls, beams and slabs. Having finished the analysis, the various elements may be checked for errors.

Seismic analysis

The seismic analysis is undertaken by means of a complete modal spectral analysis which resolves each mode as a loadcase and carries out the modal expansion and the modal combination to obtain the forces.

Fire resistance check

Using the Fire resistance check module, CYPECAD carries out a fire resistance check and designs the protective coating of the structural steel and concrete elements making up the job (beams, floor slabs, columns, shear walls and concrete walls, steel beams and columns, and steel bars within the integrated 3D structures) in accordance with the CTE DB SI 6 code and the Eurocode (EN 1992-1-2:2004 and EN 1993-1-2:2005). The fire resistance check is not undertaken for concrete block walls or composite slabs in CYPECAD.

The fire resistance check for timber structural elements within the integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD is carried out by a different module: the Timber sections module (common to Metal 3D and the Integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD). This module designs the timer sections against fire action so they comply with the selected code (Eurocode 5, CTE DB SE-M – Spain- or NBR 7190).

Welded and bolted joints

The joints modules designed by CYPE (Joints I. Welded. Warehouses with rolled and welded steel I sections, Joints II. Bolted. Warehouses with rolled and welded steel I sections, Joints III. Welded. Building frames with rolled and welded steel I sections, Joints IV. Bolted – Building frames with rolled and welded steel I sections) can be used in CYPECAD and Metal 3D (including the Integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD)

The type of joints resolved using the Joints I and Joints II modules have a broader field of application in warehouses designed in Metal 3D and the Integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD, whilst the types of joints designed using the Joints III and Joints IV modules is more applicable to building structures composed of frames designed in CYPECAD. Nonetheless, each joint that is designed by any of the indicated modules is resolved in the same way regardless of the program in which it is applied; as a matter of fact, the Joints I, Joints II, Joints III and Joints IV modules have common joint types.

More information on the properties of these modules can be found at the following links:

Joints I. Welded. Warehouses with rolled and welded steel I sections

Joints II. Bolted. Warehouses with rolled and welded steel I sections

Joints III. Welded – Building frames with rolled and welded steel I sections

Joints IV. Bolted. Building frames with rolled and welded steel I sections

Implemented design codes for bolted joints
Types of implemented building bolted connections
Design options
Prestressed and ordinary bolted connections
Building bolted connection design
Properties of designed building bolted connections
Joint consultation
Baseplates designed using the Joints IV module
Joints report
Joints drawings

Joints V. Flat trusses with hollow structural sections

Analysis using multiprocessors

CYPECAD and Metal 3D offer the use of multiprocessors during their analysis.

To acquire these tools, CYPECAD and Metal 3D have two new common modules which allow for substantial periods of time to be saved during the analysis:

Parallel analysis with two processors
Parallel analysis with up to eight processors

Export to TEKLA® Structures, TecnoMETAL® 4D and in CIS/2

Once the structure has been analysed, the columns, beams and construction details containing the designed joints (using the Joints I, Joint II and Joints III modules) of CYPECAD and its Integrated 3D structures can be exported to TEKLA Structures, TecnoMETAL and in CIS/2 format. Concrete columns and beams are exported as generic bars, whilst steel columns and beams are exported as is done in Metal 3D. More information can be found at Export to Tekla Structures, Export to TecnoMETAL 4D and Export in CIS/2 format.

Results

There are many tools available to be able to check all the graphical results on screen.

After the analysis it is possible to visualise the deformed shape of the structure in 3D (with a colour scale), produced by the simple loadcases or by a combination of loadcases, including earthquake loading. It is also possible to observe an animation of the deformation process produced by the selected loadcase combination.

The displacements, forces, force combinations and steel areas of flat and solid slabs, slabs on grade and waffle slabs can be represented by contour maps (coloured diagrams in which each colour represents a value) and in contour line diagrams (curves that joint geometric points with the same value).

It also carries out a graphical consultation of envelopes, deflections, etc.

The reinforcement of all the elements can be modified with a subsequent check in foundation pads, pile caps, beams, columns and joist floor slabs.

With the beam reinforcement editor a complete visualisation of the frame is obtained where the user can graphically modify the results, add, delete, join and divide longitudinal bars and links as well as being able to modify their lengths and anchorage lengths.

It is possible to copy reinforcement amongst frames of the same or different floors and group frames in the same floor before and after the analysis.

The user may automatically equalise all the top reinforcement of joist floor slabs by length or bar size and length. This way, a more uniform reinforcement is obtained and, therefore, easier to place on site.

The program modifies waffle slab and flat slab reinforcement by means of view tables. The reinforcement can be copied from one floor to another, modify the geometry after the analysis and introduce reinforcement without analysing.

Editing of foundation pads, pile caps, base plates and strap and tie beams results to be a powerful tool allowing the check to be carried out of any geometry and reinforcement defined by the user. A report can be obtained of all the checks carried out on the foundations and view its compliance factor.

It is possible to equalise the geometry, type and reinforcement of pad foundations, pile caps, strap and tie beams and base plates.

Drawings

Project drawings can be configured with different formats and paper sizes (standard or user defined). Additionally, these can be drawn by printer, plotter or exported to DXF or DWG format. It is possible to include the DXFs or DWGs that have been used to define the job in the floor drawings. All of the drawings can be integrated or only those layers that are deemed necessary, such as stairs.

In the floors of the job, a drawing editor is available, which allows multiple resources to be used: add dimensions, texts, building sections, construction details in DXF format, floor slab sections, modify text positions, etc. These modifications are saved with the project.

CYPECAD possesses a vast library of construction details: steel, concrete, mixed and inclined slab, available to incorporate to any of the drawings generated by the program. You may also acquire this library edited in two volumes that includes the details in DXF and DWG format.

You may apply any scale, line thickness, font size, frame etc, This way you my completely personalise the drawing.

CYPECAD provides complete and clear drawings. You may obtain layout, floor plan, foundation, beam, column schedule, column and shear wall detail, foundation loads, wall elevation, stair, load, corbel, etc drawings. They optionally include take off and reinforcement detail tables. They can be configured so that our users obtain the drawing adjusted to each of their needs. CYPECAD has an incorporated editor that allows to move the texts whilst the drawing is being visualised on screen.

Reports

You may easily obtain reports of all the introduced data and of the results: job data report, combinations used in the analysis, foundation, corbel, envelopes, reinforcement and take-off of all the elements, job take-off, horizontal wind loads, participation coefficients (earthquake loading), second order effects, etc. All this is obtained on screen or printed out, but you may also create files in HTML, DXF, DWG, RTF, PDF, etc format.

Detailed ultimate limit state check reports

CYPECAD, Metal 3D and the Integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD generate detailed reports on the ultimate limit state checks of steel and aluminium sections.

These reports contain all the checks carried out by the program to design the structures and constitute an important document with which the user can:

Verify the design of the sections
Optimise the design of the sections

The level of detail of these reports also acts as a detailed guide so the user can know all the checks the section is submitted to.

Properties that distinguish CYPECAD

Automatic job introduction. Using CYPECAD’s Automatic job introduction: DXF, DWG and CAD/BIM models module, the user has two options which allow for a structure to be generated automatically: either by means of importing a file in IFC format, generated by the main CAD/BIM programs (Allplan, Archicad, Revit Architecture); or by using a file in DXF or DWG format.

Great analytical power. The inverse of the global stiffness matrix of the structures will be obtained in the least possible time thanks to the substructure condensation method and the system resolution of equations by frontal methods. With unlimited nodes and bars, in general practice.

Earthquake load analysis. A complete spectral mode analysis is undertaken resolving each mode as a loadcase carrying out the modal expansion and the modal combination to obtain the forces; all this without the need of having to produce equivalent earthquake static loads, which is the simplified method used by others.

Personalised analysis. A vast amount of analysis and reinforcement options are available to be able to take into account those aspects that are deemed most adequate. Additionally, for each structural element and each reinforcement position, personalised reinforcement tables may be defined.

Drawings can be personalised according to the user’s needs, as the program allows to configure all the drawing layers and elements and generate them via DXF, DWG, printer and plotter.

Versatility of the foundations. The foundation elements, namely pad foundations and pile caps can hold several supports, be they of the same type or a combination of columns, shear walls and wall spans.

In foundations, you may count with the aid of several strap beams in each direction and arrange for its centring effect to be produced at one end or at both.

Powerful reinforcement editor. For all design elements, their geometry and reinforcement can be edited and modified, with multiple tools to carry out the task.

Complete drawings. These are construction drawings, very complete, with the possibility to compose them and include construction details, DXF, DWG, borders, take-off tables, etc, and so, obtaining the most precise and detailed drawings to be able to carry out the job on site.

Export to TEKLA Structures and to TecnoMETAL 4D. The program has two additional modules, common to CYPECAD and Metal 3D, which allow for the integrated 3D structures to be exported to TEKLA Structures and to TecnoMETAL 4D.

Over 1,100 details make up the extensive construction detail library on steel, concrete, mixed and inclined slab elements, available to include in the drawings generated by the program. You may also acquire this library edited in two volumes that includes the details in DXF and DWG format.

Trustworthy analysis. CYPE Ingenieros, with over 45 million square metres of calculated structures, contribute to their programs their constant experience and that of over 46,000 users all over the world. This is the best guarantee we can offer.

Please consult our marketing department or your customary distributor of CYPE Ingenieros products for the different national and international codes that are available for this program and their corresponding prices.

And do no forget that our experts in our post sales service and technical support departments offer all the additional services you may need.

CYPECAD versions and modules

CYPECAD versions

CYPECAD is sold in two versions, CYPECAD y CYPECAD LT. Both versions are composed of several modules that allow to develop all the utilities of the program. These modules can be acquired jointly or combined amongst them.

The integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD is not technically a module. In order to be able to define steel 3D structures within CYPECAD, it is necessary for the user license to be able to access Metal 3D. If, additionally, the user has access to use the timber section module of Metal 3D, integrated 3D timber structures can be defined in CYPECAD.

CYPECAD together with all its modules represents the complete version of the program.

CYPECAD LT is the limited version of the program, nonetheless, it offers the same tools and module acquisition possibilities as CYPECAD. With CYPECAD LT, structures that do not override the following conditions can be analysed:

Thirty columns.
Four floor groups. (Floor groups: same floor and consecutive).
Five floors in total.
Wall: one hundred metres in length.

CYPECAD Modules

The following modules are those that can be acquired together with CYPECAD or CYPECAD LT:

Concrete columns
Concrete beams
Steel columns
Steel beams
Joist floor slabs (generic concrete joists)
In-situ, precast and steel joist floors (Joist floor module required)
Waffle slabs
Flat slabs
Composite slabs
Hollow core slabs
Shear walls
Reinforced concrete walls
Plane stress walls
Stairs
Mat foundations and foundation beams
Concrete block walls
Pile caps (includes strap and tie beams) (*)
Pad foundations (isolated and combined) (includes strap and tie beams) (*)
Baseplates (*)
Automatic job introduction
Parallel analysis with two multiprocessors (*)
Parallel analysis with four multiprocessors (*)
Aluminium sections (*)
Timber sections (*)
Joints I. Welded. Warehouses with rolled and welded steel I sections (*)
Joints II. Bolted. Warehouses with rolled and welded steel I sections (*)
Joints III. Welded. Building frames with rolled and welded steel I sections (*)
Joints IV. Bolted. Building frames with rolled and welded steel I sections (*)
Joints V. Flat trusses with hollow structural sections (*)
Export to Tekla (*)
Export to TecnoMETAL (*)
Export to in CIS/2 format (*)

(*) Common modules are operative for both CYPECAD and METAL 3D.

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