CSI Software Plugins

Compusoft Engineering can create plugins for any CSI product to streamline everyday processes for consulting structural engineers.

Examples of plugin features we have found particularly helpful are as follows:

• Earthquake record scaling for nonlinear time history analysis is a process normally undertaken external to the analysis software. To avoid unnecessary repeat handling of data and to ensure standardised data structure and naming convention it is helpful to conduct the scaling within the analysis software via a plugin.

• Creation of time history load cases is streamlined via a plugin. In seismic assessments there can be hundreds of time history load cases required to encapsulate earthquake directions, mass eccentricities, and %NBS demand levels. Automated load case generation saves time and ensures consistently defined cases with naming convention that allows automated analysis, table generation and data processing.

• Sequentially running suites of time history analyses to deal with constraints on file size, automatically generate output tables and eliminate downtime between running of suites. This functionality also standardises table generation and naming convention to facilitate automated data processing.

• Automated data processing of time history analysis output to determine the engineering demand parameters for consideration in design or assessment. Depending on the framework governing the time history analyses such parameters may be defined as the absolute maximum or average of the number of earthquake records in a suite.

Automated Model Generation and Editing of Portal Framed Steel Buildings in SAP2000

Compusoft Engineering created a model generation tool and model editing plugin for SAP2000 for an industrial steel building manufacturer.

The model generation tool facilitates parametric definition of a building in either a spreadsheet or website. The tool creates a SAP2000 database file that can be directly imported in SAP2000.

The model editing plugin for SAP2000 has the following functionality:

• Changing the section type and size for design groups of similar members.

• Assignment of lateral bracing to rafters and columns in accordance with the purlin/girt locations and the clients design rules.

• Updating of gravity, earthquake, wind and snow loads in accordance with NZS1170.

• Automated analysis and calculation to determine the fundamental period of a building with tension only cross-bracing.

• Application of external wind pressure coefficients to AS/NZS1170.2 based on the geometry and cladding arrangement of the building.

Automated Design of Portal Framed Steel Buildings in SAP2000

Compusoft Engineering created a plugin for SAP2000 to automatically design hot rolled, welded, custom welded and cold formed steel buildings to AS/NZS3404 and AS/NZS4600 for an industrial steel building manufacturer.

Key features include:

• Design checks of currently assigned sections.

• Saved auto select lists of design sections for various building types.

• Optimised design of groups based on assigned auto select lists of sections.

• Automatic updating of the analysis model section assignments based on the design changes.

• Optimised design of tapered portal frames using cold-formed steel box beam or steel custom welded I-beam sections.