By pre process, it is possible to mesh and divide automatically inside of the complex outline shape, and to modify data on a entering screen in tabular format. Useful input functions are available such as unlimited undo function and dockable interface which can be inserted and removed freely.

By post process, visualization is possible by figures of displacement, displacement, contour, stress contour, and cracking, and animation of displacement figure and cracking figure. Functions to output result data in text file format (CSV file) and to output reports are fulfilling.

▲A displacement figure and a displacement contour figure

Non-linear static/dynamic analysis is the main object. Dynamic analysis that considers non-linear in ground and one in RC structure. Structures with the elements specified below can be analyzed, as can all RC structures including ground models.

RC Plate RC elements:

RC Plate is defined by concrete type, reinforcing steel, and steel ratio, and handled as a distributed cracked model. Plain concrete is considered an RC element with a steel ratio of zero.

RC Joint (RC joint element):

RC Joint is an element applied where the section radically changes (quake-resisting walls, frames, pierstud, footing, etc.) and defined by steel ratio, steel diameter, steel anchor length, and so forth.

Soil (Ground element):

Soil is an element that defines ground by transverse elastic wave speed, transverse rigidity, transverse strength, and so on

Universal Joint (Boundary element):

Universal Joint is an element applied at a boundary of different elements (ground and footing, for example) and is defined by transverse rigidity, contact rigidity, and so forth.

Elastic Plate (Elastic element):

Elastic Plate is an element representing linear behavior. Applying this element in RC areas where no cracking occurs can reduce redundant calculations.
Also, an Overlapping element is supplied to represent unevenness of bar arrangement in RC section (the center area has less reinforcement than other areas), piles and ground, and boundary conditions on either end of the ground.

▲Arrangement of RC joint and universal joint

The following analyses are supported.

1. Non-linear dynamic analysis

Performs non-linear time history response analysis. Vertical acceleration as well as horizontal acceleration can be simultaneously applied as seismic acceleration.

2. Static analysis

Analyzes weight and conditions where incrementally forced displacement and incremental load are given. The loading patterns of incremental forced displacement and incremental load are:

(1) Simple: Simple increment up to defined step
(2) Cyclic: Simple increment up to defined step, and then simple decrease to the starting point.
(3) Reversal Cyclic: Cyclic + Reversal Cyclic
(4) Increasing Cyclic: Cyclic + 2*Cyclic + 3*Cyclic + … and so on
(5) Reversal Increasing Cyclic: Rev.Cyclic + 2* Rev.Cyclic + 3* Rev.Cyclic + … and so on

Including the above patterns, there are ten patterns including the case where load is applied with certain shocks in the patterns above (the time interval can be set from 0.01 seconds to 1000 seconds). Any loading conditions can be analyzed through appropriate use of these patterns.
These analyses can be performed simultaneously and are performed in the order "weight", "static load", and then "dynamic load". Dynamic analysis can therefore be performed by entering seismic waves and applying vertical earth pressures and horizontal earth pressures as the initial condition remains unchanged.

Damage is evaluated based on defined damage criteria. At each calculation step for all elements and all nodes, the following are required:

• Cracking condition (orthogonal and parallel cracks in the cracking direction)
• Average stress result (stress result of X and Y directions, main stress result, deviation stress result, direction of main stress result)
• Yield results, response displacement, response speed, response acceleration, reaction force, section force

All of these can be evaluated on the screen and utilized when creating reports. Damage level can also be evaluated based on the size of distortions. Occurrences of cracking, displacement conditions, stress conditions, and so on can be viewed as an animated representation at each step. Loading conditions are shown in static analysis results, and input waveforms are displayed in dynamic analysis, allowing accurate understanding of response status. Animation speed and displacement level are among the options.

▲Conditions of displacement and cracking

Plate elements can be created by mouse operation. Three kinds of commands are available.

1. Free-form mesh element

Polygon can be made by left-click in the model space several times. Right-click to undo.

2. Square mesh element

Click 2 points in the model space to create a rectangle whose diagonal is the line connecting the clicked points.

3. Shape of outline

Plate elements can be created by combining outline(shape) and coordinate system(for positioning). They will be located in the model space so that the origin of the outline will match the origin of the coordinate system. If the name of outline and the name of coordinate system are the same, they will be automatically recognized and plate elements will be located continuously.

▲Free-form mesh

Performance verification of structures is supported by high precision and detailed condition setting.
Residual volume of strain and deformation are analyzed and calculated by setting the loading pattern and the range of strong seismic wave.