Roofs

Disclaimer This document is being furnished by SCIA for information purposes only to licensed users of SCIA software and is furnished on an "AS IS" basis, that is, without any warranties, whatsoever, expressed or implied. SCIA is not responsible for direct or indirect damage as a result of imperfections in the documentation and/or software.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of SCIA. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. The software may be used only in accordance with the terms of that license agreement. It is against the law to copy or use the software except as specifically allowed in the license.

Copyright 2000-2004 SCIA Group. All rights reserved.

Contact address SCIA Group n.v.

Scientific Application Group

Industrieweg 1007 B-3540 Herk-de-Stad (Belgi)

Tel.(+32) (0)13/55 17 75 Fax.(+32) (0)13/55 41 75

E-mail [email protected]

SCIA W+B Software b.v.

Postbus 30119 NL-6803 AC Arnhem (Nederland)

Tel.(+31) 26-3201230 Fax.(+31) 26-3201239

E-mail [email protected]

SCIA CZ, s.r.o.

Thkurova 3, 160 00, Prague 6 (Czech Republic)

Tel.(+420) 2 2432 2425 Fax. (+420) 2 2432 2288

e-mail [email protected]

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SCIA CZ, s.r.o.

Slavkova 1a, 638 00, Brno (Czech Republic) Tel.(+420) 5 4519 3526 Fax. (+420) 5 4519 3533

e-mail [email protected]

About program Program mission

The Scia Engineer software system has been designed and developed to provide structural engineers and designers with an efficient, comprehensive and robust tool.

Theoretical background

Scia Engineer is a software system for a static and dynamic analysis of structures and their design to standards. It is grounded on the displacement-based finite element method.

Scia Engineer does not work with finite elements directly but it exploits structural elements (referred to as members) on which a finite element mesh is automatically generated just before the calculation.

Scia Engineer can be used to calculate and design structures consisting of 1D members (modelled by linear finite elements) and planar parts such as walls, plates, and curved slabs (modelled by 2D finite elements).

Types of calculation

Scia Engineer comprises calculation modules for the following types of calculation:

linear static calculation (including some non-linear features),

geometrically non-linear calculation,

dynamic natural vibration calculation,

seismicity calculation,

buckling analysis.

Code checks

In addition to the calculation itself, Scia Engineer enables the user to carry out the final design of a structure in accordance with appropriate technical standards.

The "Code Check library" of Scia Engineer contains a multi-national set of technical standards for



various material types, mainly for steel and concrete.

Important note: A proper and exhaustive application of program features assumes that a user is well accustomed to the principles of the finite element method, is familiar with appropriate technical standards and conventions, and is a skilled professional in the field of design and calculation of engineering structures.

About documentation We recommend undergoing a specialised training for Scia Engineer organised for you by your local SCIA dealer before using the program for real work.

The documentation contains explanation of the program principles, theoretical background and operation and will provide the user with invaluable knowledge about the Scia Engineer software.

Purpose and contents

This manual provides an in-depth coverage of Scia Engineer main module functionality and covers the input, calculation and result-evaluation phases for both frame and shell structures.

Special modules such as those for non-linear or dynamic calculation, for design to individual technical standards, etc. are handled in separate manuals.

Style

The following text format conventions and symbols are used throughout this manual:

bold Indicates texts used in the program (menus, texts in dialog

windows, buttons, etc.).

E.g. Enter the length of the 1D member in the Length field. [bold] Indicates a button.

E.g. Click on [OK] to confirm. Step 1

Step 2

Indicates the different steps in a procedure. Each step describes one action.

E.g.

Enter the value in the Coefficient field.

Click on [OK] to confirm. Menu > Submenu Indicates items and subitems from the main menu (on top of

the screen) or from the menu tree (left side of the screen).



Installation options All the installation options are introduced by the Setup program.

Scia Engineer uses a standard Setup program like many other MS Windows applications.

The installation of Scia Engineer can be made in three modes:

local installation,

installation on a network server,

connection to a network server.

Local installation

Starting the installation

The installation of Scia Engineer is started by running SETUP.EXE program. Once this program has been started, a language selection dialogue appears on the screen. The language selected here determines the language of the installation program.

The selected language also affects the language of help files that will be installed. In addition, the selected language is adjusted as a default language for the first run of the installed Scia Engineer.

Selection of target folder

The following dialogue provides for the selection of path to the application files. By default, the path is set to: C:\Program Files\SCIA\ESAxx (where is may differ according to a particular version of the program).

Choice of installation type

One of the following types of installation can be selected:

The next dialogue then summarises the installation information. Once the information is confirmed, the

E.g. ... choose Setup > Options from the main menu. Bold With Capital First Letters

Refers to a chapter of the manual.

E.g. For more details see chapter Detailed Description.

Typical All program files are installed. Compact Only the essential files are installed. Selective The user may select whether help files will be installed and what

language versions will be installed.



installation process is started.

The installation program adds group Scia Engineer xx (xx differs according to a particular version of the program) into Start > Programs. The new group contains items for running the application and its help. In addition, a short-cut is added onto the desktop.

Maintaining and uninstalling the application

The repairing of the installation or its uninstalling can be started either by a repeated start of SETUP.EXE from the installation medium or by a selection of appropriate item in Control panel > Add or remove programs.

Update to a higher version

If the installation program finds on the computer an already installed lower version of the program, it updates the existing installation to the new version.

Installation on a network server

The installation on a network server can be started by command SETUP.EXE /A. This command starts the installation program in an administration mode.

First, the language of installation must be selected. This language determines the language of help files on all workstations connected to the server.

In the next dialogue, the folder is selected where all the files of the server installation will be extracted. After confirmation of the folder, the administration installation is extracted and the network installation is created.

Connection to the network installation

The installation on a workstation in "connection to the network server" mode can be carried out by running the file SETUP.EXE in the root folder of the network installation.

As first step, the language of the installation is selected. This language determines the language of the application on its first run.

No other settings must be done. No files are copied to a local drive. Only components from the server are registered.

The installation program adds group SCIA.ESA xx into Start > Programs. The new group contains items for running the application and its help. In addition, a short-cut is added onto the desktop.

Both the local installation and the installation of the connection to the network server adjust the default setting of application folders. This setting can be later changed using command Settings > Options, tab Files, folders.



The default setting is as follows:

In addition, the following folders are set when the application is installed under Windows 2000 or Windows XP:

The following folders are set when the application is installed under Windows NT:

USER_PROFILE_NAME is the name of user profile of the current user.

Note: If the user has to or decides to reinstall the program, for any reason, it is generally advisable NOT TO delete the contents of User files folder. This folder holds all possible settings made by the user. If the folder is removed as well, all the previously made settings will be lost (which of course, may be desirable in some cases).

See Also

System requirements Hardware requirements

Cross-section library folder C:\Program Files\SCIA\ESA1\Prof, where C:\Program Files\SCIA\ESA1 is replaced by the real folder where the application has been installed.

System database folder C:\Program Files\SCIA\ESA\db, where C:\Program Files\SCIA\ESA1 is replaced by the real folder where the application has been installed.

User files C:\Documents and Settings\USER_PROFILE_NAME\ESA1\User Temporary files C:\Documents and Settings\USER_PROFILE_NAME\ESA1\Temp Project files C:\Documents and Settings\USER_PROFILE_NAME\ESA1\Data

User files C:\WINNT\Profiles\USER_PROFILE_NAME\ESA1\User Temporary files C:\WINNT\Profiles\USER_PROFILE_NAME\ESA1\Temp Project files C:\WINNT\Profiles\USER_PROFILE_NAME\ESA1\Data

processor speed Pentium IV - 1Ghz (Advised: Pentium IV - 3Ghz) RAM 512 MB (Advised: > 1GB) graphic card 64 MB, supporting OpenGL



Software requirements

Login requirements

In order to install Scia Engineer, the account must have administrator rights.

In order to run Scia Engineer, the account can have just user rights.

See Also

Demo version Demoversion is fully functioning in all modules with limitation in calculation. Only 25 1D members and 2 load cases can be calculated. It is even possible to print results, but all printed material contains background text "UNLICENCED SOFTWARE".

ATTENTION: A project created in the demoversion CANNOT be opened in a full version!!!

See Also

Uninstalling program In order to uninstall the program use standard Windows procedure: invoke Control panel and select Add or remove program.

See Also

disk space for the program 450 MB disk space for projects and temporary files

200 MB (for large projects, the amount of space required can augment to several GBs)

MS Windows XP / 2003 / Vista / XP 64 bit

It is advised to install the latest Service Pack for these Operating Systems.



Starting program Depending on your personal habits select one of the following ways:

Short-cut on desktop

1. If the short-cut has been placed on the desktop automatically during the installation, proceed to step 3.

2. Place the short-cut on the desktop.

a. Click the right mouse button on the desktop.

b. Select New > Short-cut command.

c. Browse the hard disk to find the folder you have installed Scia Engineer into.

d. Select ESA.EXE and finish the New Short-cut command.

3. Double click the short-cut to start the program.

Start menu

1. Click Start button on the left of Windows status bar.

2. Select Programs > SCIA > ESA.

Windows explorer or another file manager

1. Browse the hard disk to find the folder you have installed Scia Engineer into.

2. Select ESA.EXE file and double click it to start the program.

Tips for advanced users: If you are familiar with Microsoft Windows features you may as well do any of the following:

Assign a hot key to the Scia Engineer program to start it by pressing the defined key combination.

Integrate Scia Engineer into your favourite file manager and start it from the toolbar of that file manager.

Insert Scia Engineer to the Windows 2000 toolbar.

Insert Scia Engineer to the Microsoft Office short-cut panel.

Use any other approach available in Microsoft Windows environment.

See Also



Program files and folders The program uses numerous folders and file types to store its data.

Folders

Program folders

Note: All the program folders are ReadOnly.

User folders

Note: The destination of this folder may be adjusted in the appropriate program setup dialogue.

Temporary folder

This folder stores all the information that the program needs to store during its run.


Project folder

This folder stores the user-crated projects.


main program folder It contains the program executable and auxiliary files. set It contains initialisation files for a new project. (The

information stored here may be overridden by the data from files saved in User folders, if available.)

db It stores system databases (e.g. materials, bolts, etc.) prof It contains cross-section databases. DocumentTemplates This folder offers a set of default templates for document. Its

contents is automatically copied into the appropriate user folder on first program run.

GraphicTemplates This folder offers a set of default templates for graphical outputs. Its contents is automatically copied into the appropriate user folder on first program run.

set It contains initialisation files for a new project. db It stores files with user-defined databases. prof It contains cross-section databases. DocumentTemplates This folder holds the templates for document. GraphicTemplates This folder holds the templates for graphical outputs.



Files

See Also

Upgrade from EPW Scia Engineer keeps compatibility with program Esa Prima Win.

The users of ESA Prima Win may import their EPW projects into Scia Engineer using the appropriate Import function.

See Also

ESA Project file ESAD Project file that has been created in a demo or student version of the program.

It cannot be read into a standard licensed version of the program. EPW Project file created in Esa Prima Win DB4 Database file SET Initialisation file for the adjustment of project and user interface. OTS File with table templates for document. EPD Template for drawing in Paper space.

