Advanced Analysis Engine

[dozer]

Does anyone find it bogus that Bentley is charging extra money for STAAD's advanced analysis engine? To me incorporating a solver that is as fast as possible should just be part of the package. Not only that, one feature I use, the linear buckling analysis, used to be included with the base price. It was in the Stardyne solver which came with STAAD. Now,in STAAD.Pro 2007 I have to pay extra to get this functionality.

 

[RAYC1]

A Buckling factor calculation procedure is included with the STAAD basic solver. This simple procedure calculates the Buckling Factor for any number of primary load cases. The analysis command is:
PERFORM BUCKLING ANALYSIS MAXSTEPS 15
If you can, upgrade to the current Build 03 for StaadPro 2007. Check the online help/Tech Ref for a complete description of buckling options.

The Stardyne option is still available but has been made hidden. To gain access, contact STAAD support.

Buckling in the Advanced Solver is part of an extra cost option using software from a 3rd party. The matrix factorization is much faster and the eigensolution is more stable. The 3rd party software is more modular and will permit future enhancements for nonlinear and higher order elements.

Both the advanced and basic solvers have advantages over Stardyne. The member/element formulations are STAAD's, not Stardyne's. The member releases & master/slave & other member options are as in STAAD (only a few are translated to Stardyne).

 

[dozer]

Thanks for pointing that out. I see it in the Build 1001 Release Report now that you mention it. Notice though that I said "linear buckling" or in other words eignevalue buckling. This is like no eigenvalue buckling analysis I've ever seen. By their own admission in the release report the buckling deformed shape is simply the deformed shape from a static analysis with near buckling load applied. I tried checking a pinned-pinned column and, what da ya know, it got the correct buckling factor. But, as they warn you the buckling shape was totally bogus.

They also say to see section 5.37 for more explanation, but this section doesn't even mention buckling in the on-line help. Yes I have the latest version (build 03). And why are they hiding Stardyne? Unless it's as yo intimate, that it's not fully compatible with STAAD. If that's the case, then why have it at all? I personally don't care because I have the advanced analysis engine so I don't see myself ever usig Stardyne again.

Anyway, my point remains the same. This buckling analysis only gives you the first mode, it doesn't show the correct mode shape and they've moved something that used to be obvious to the realm of you gotta call to get it, without bothering to mention that. In my book this is reduced functionality from previous versions.

I am appreciative of you pointing it out though but I just don't see what good it is for complex structures if I can't even look at the mode shape to see if it makes sense.