Introduction
Analysis and design are terms often used interchangeably, but they represent distinct stages in the engineering workflow. Analysis involves assigning loads, applying load combinations, and running an analysis to obtain load effects such as deflections, axial forces, bending moments, shear forces, and stresses. Design, on the other hand, takes these values and evaluates structural elements according to national and international design codes (e.g., SANS, Eurocode, AISC). Understanding the difference between these terms is crucial as we proceed through this article.
The Webinar
Recently, we hosted a webinar on Designing concrete elements using Prokon SUMO and Design Links. It was well received, with positive feedback from participants. This article presents a structured summary of the webinar content in a clear and concise format.
An upcoming webinar will delve into the design of steel members and connections using the relevant design links. Scheduled to go live within the next month or two, this session will provide valuable insights and practical guidance for optimizing steel structure design. Stay tuned for more details!
SUMO Design Links
Prokon’s SUMO package includes 17 design links, all serving the same fundamental purpose: transferring geometry and load effects into a dedicated design space.
This article focuses on the seven concrete design links, their applications, limitations, and best practices:
- Beam detailing
- Sub-frame
- RecCol – Rectangular Column
- CirCol – Circular Column
- GenCol – General Column
- Base
- Pile Cap
Beam Detailing
The Beam Detailing design link is ideal for concrete beams that are not monolithically cast into a slab. It simplifies the design workflow but reduces flexibility. This restriction is intentional—beam detailing exports both load effects and beam geometry from SUMO, preventing modifications to the geometry that would otherwise invalidate the load effects. When used correctly, this design link streamlines concrete beam design.
To use Beam Detailing:
- Ensure your SUMO model has been analyzed.
- Navigate to the Design Links workspace.
- Select the Beam Detailing design link, choose the relevant beam, and press Enter.
- A dialogue box appears, allowing you to set applicable load cases, load combinations, and percentage permanence for each load case.
- Clicking OK launches Continuous Beam with the imported geometry and load effects. The Input and Design tabs will be locked.
Sub-Frame
Unlike Beam Detailing, Sub-Frame offers greater flexibility and is particularly suited for beams monolithically cast into slabs. It is unique in that it does not require a prior analysis, as it isolates and exports only the sub-frame strip’s geometry and loads to Continuous Beam, where the analysis begins from scratch. Additionally, pattern loading is applied.
Please refer to Prokon Sumo – How to create a Subframe Strip for a tutorial dedicated to the creation of sub-frame strips.
To use Sub-Frame:
- Create sub-frame strips in SUMO.
- Navigate to the Design Links workspace.
- Select the Sub-Frame design link, choose the sub-frame strip, and press Enter.
- A warning will confirm that only the sub-frame strip’s geometry and loads are considered, with no transverse stiffness effects.
- Clicking OK opens Continuous Beam, where you can proceed with analysis and design.
Correct placement of the sub-frame strip is crucial. For every change in geometry or support, click to place a width-line. Monolithic beams must be placed as a single beam from end to end. Cutouts in slabs can be incorporated via width-line modifications, though minor adjustments may be necessary in Continuous Beam. Differences in slab thickness are recognized if their analytical planes are co-planar.
Both Beam Detailing and Sub-Frame facilitate concrete beam design, each serving a distinct application. For a detailed comparison, refer to Prokon SUMO – Beam Detailing vs Sub-Frame Strip.
RecCol – Retangular Column
The remaining design links are straightforward. RecCol requires selecting a rectangular column in SUMO, ensuring it has no connections along its length, and exporting it to the Rectangular Column design module.
Key considerations:
- The column’s profile must originate from the Rectangular Section of the Sections Database; otherwise, the export will fail.
- After selection, pressing Enter opens a dialogue for adjusting effective length and other parameters.
- Multiple columns of the same profile can be selected, allowing SUMO to record load effects and design a critical column based on the selected group.
CirCol – Circular Column
The CirCol design link functions identically to RecCol, with the same restrictions. The column’s profile must be from the Circular Section of the Sections Database for a successful export.
GenCol – General Column
The GenCol design link follows the same approach as RecCol and CirCol but supports custom profiles. The column’s profile must be from the Custom Profiles section of the Sections Database.
GenCol allows first-principles-based design for any column profile. For a more in-depth look, refer to General Column.
Base & Pile Cap
Both Base and Pile Cap design links function similarly:
- They allow exporting a Point Support or Pad Footing to their respective design modules.
- Load effects and geometry are transferred, facilitating design.
A notable limitation of Pile Cap is that stub column geometry is not recorded, unlike in Pad Footing. Multiple pad footings of identical geometry can be selected to design a critical footing or pile cap.
Conclusion
Prokon SUMO and its design links provide a streamlined and efficient workflow for structural analysis and design, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and efficiency. By automating the transfer of geometry and load effects, SUMO simplifies traditionally labor-intensive tasks, allowing engineers to focus on optimizing their designs rather than manually inputting data.
The ability to differentiate between Analysis and Design is fundamental in structural engineering, and SUMO seamlessly integrates both processes within its environment. The specialized design links for concrete elements—such as Beam Detailing, Sub-Frame, RecCol, CirCol, GenCol, Base, and Pile Cap—enhance the efficiency of designing various structural components. Each design link serves a unique purpose, catering to different structural requirements while maintaining compliance with national and international codes.
Engineers leveraging SUMO benefit from an intuitive and interconnected system that reduces human error and accelerates project timelines. The structured workflow ensures that load effects are accurately transferred and design considerations are met with minimal manual intervention.
Ultimately, SUMO, in conjunction with its design links, empowers engineers to deliver high-quality, code-compliant designs while optimizing the overall engineering process. By fully understanding and utilizing these tools, professionals can achieve more accurate, efficient, and reliable structural designs.
