SeismoStruct – The Ultimate Finite Element Package for Seismic Analysis

Completely visual interface. No input or configuration files, programming scripts or any other time-consuming and complex text editing requirements.

Significantly faster analyses with the new parallel processing capabilities and a new sparse/profile solver.

With the Wizard facility the user can create regular/irregular 2D or 3D models and run all types of analyses on the fly. The whole process takes no more than a few seconds.

Ten different types of analysis: nonlinear dynamic and static time-history, conventional and adaptive pushover, incremental dynamic analysis, eigenvalue, non-variable static loading, response spectrum, buckling analysis and Tsunami analysis according to ASCE-7.

Thirty one hysteretic models, such as linear/ bilinear/ trilinear kinematic hardening response models, gap-hook models, soil-structure interaction model, Takeda model, Ramberg-Osgood model, etc.

Twenty two element types are available allowing civil engineers to accurately represent intact/repaired structural members and non-structural components but also allow the modelling of flexible foundations, seismic isolation, structural gapping/pounding and so on.

The program accounts for both material inelasticity and geometric nonlinearity.

The spread of inelasticity along the member length and across the section depth is explicitly modelled in SeismoStruct allowing for accurate estimation of damage accumulation.

The innovative adaptive pushover analysis. In this pushover method the lateral load distribution is not kept constant but is continuously updated, according to the modal shapes and participation factors derived by eigenvalue analysis carried out at the current step. In this way, the stiffness state and the period elongation of the structure at each step, as well as higher mode effects, are accounted for. In particular the displacement-based variant of the method, due to its ability to update the lateral displacement patterns according to the constantly changing modal properties of the system, overcomes the inherent weaknesses of fixed-pattern displacement pushover, providing superior response estimates.

Ability to perform Eigenvalue analysis at every step in Nonlinear Dynamic and Pushover analysis.

SeismoStruct’s processor features real-time plotting of displacement curves and deformed shape of the structure, together with the ability of pausing and re-starting the analysis.

Performance criteria can also be set, allowing the user to identify the instants at which different performance limit states (e.g. non-structural damage, structural damage, collapse) are reached. The sequence of cracking, yielding, failure of members throughout the structure can also be, in this manner readily obtained.

AVI movie files can be created to better illustrate the sequence of structural deformation.

Full integration with the Windows environment. Input data created in spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Excel, may be pasted to the SeismoStruct input tables, for easier pre-processing. Conversely, all information visible within the graphical interface of SeismoStruct can be copied to external software applications (e.g. to word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word), including input and output data, high quality graphs, the models’ deformed and undeformed shapes and much more.

With the Building Modeller the user can model real regular or irregular 3D reinforced concrete structures of up to 100 storeys within minutes. It features an easy CAD based (e.g. AutoCAD file) input.

Easy input of infill panels and steel braces in the Building Modeller.

New 3-sided, 2-sided and 1-sided jackets are available in the Building Modeller.

Individual footings, Strip footings and Connecting beams are available for the modelling of foundation within the Building Modeller facility.

Twenty one material models, such as nonlinear concrete models, a high-strength nonlinear concrete model, nonlinear steel models, a SMA nonlinear model, masonry models etc.

Seventy two (72) section types, range from simple single-material solid sections to more complex reinforced concrete, steel, composite and masonry sections.

The applied loading may consist of constant or variable forces, displacements and accelerations at the nodes, as well as distributed element forces. The variable loads can vary proportionally or independently in the pseudo-time or time domain.

A large variety of reinforced concrete, steel composite and masonry sections is available.

Numerical stability and accuracy at very high strain levels enabling precise determination of the collapse load of structures.

SeismoStruct possesses the ability to smartly subdivide the loading increment, whenever convergence problems arise. The level of subdivision depends on the convergence difficulties encountered. When convergence difficulties are overcome, the program automatically increases the loading increment back to its original value.

Capacity checks in chord rotation and shear can be performed, according to Eurocode 8 along with the majority of the available National annexes, ASCE 41-17 (American Code for Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings), NTC-18 (Italian National Seismic Code), NTC-08 (Italian National Seismic Code), KANEPE (Greek Seismic Interventions Code) and TBDY (Turkish Seismic Evaluation Building Code) in reinforced concrete structures and for all the limit states of the specified codes.

Advanced post-processing facilities, including the ability to custom-format all derived plots and deformed shapes, thus increasing productivity of users.