Description

	Knowledge Base

CSiCOL is a comprehensive software package used for the analysis and design of columns. The design of columns of any concrete, reinforced concrete, or composite cross-section can be carried out by the program. CSiCOL provides a ‘Quick Design Wizard’ tool that guides the users step-by-step, through the whole process of column design. This makes the design process simple, organized and efficient. The design can be carried out in accordance with ACI-318-11, ACI-318-08, ACI 318-05, ACI 318-02, ACI 318-99, BS8110, CSA A-23.3-04, CSA A23.3-94, Eurocode 2-2004 and IS 456-2000 codes.

CSiCOL is capable of handling an unlimited number of load combinations both for sway and non-sway conditions. The design actions may be specified directly or may be computed by the program using the moment magnification method. The design and analysis take into account the slenderness effects. Sway or non-sway condition checks may also be performed by the program as specified by the selected design code. Moreover, CSiCOL is capable of determining the Effective Length Factor based on the framing and end conditions of the column. CSiCOL output includes the capacity interaction surface, load-moment curves, moment-moment curves, moment-curvature curves for various failure criteria, combined axial-flexural elastic stress contours, rebar stresses, cracked section stresses, load point location, capacity vector, neutral axis depth and orientation, etc. Reports may be created as part of the output for the analysis and design process. The reports may be customized by adding information and graphics of your choice.

CSiCOL provides several predefined parametric shapes, including a variety of solids, hollow, and flanged shapes, in addition to a large collection of Standard Steel Database Shapes, which can be used in composite columns. It is easy to merge, edit and draw Shapes to suit geometry requirements and create complex cross-sections. The program provides tools for the alignment, stacking, and placement of these Shapes. Rebars can be placed anywhere (corner, perimeter, sides, circle, irregular, etc.) in the cross-section using several addition and placement tools. Standard (ASTM, Metric, and Imperial ) as well as user defined rebar sets may be used.

Modeling

Standard Sections

Any cross-section can be easily created in CSiCOL. Define reinforced concrete rectangular and circular sections. Add holes and cutouts of arbitrary shape anywhere on the cross-section.

Complex Sections

More than 50 parametric shapes, defined by simple dimensions and more than 3000 standard steel shapes, are ready to be used in composite columns. Explode and edit parametric shapes and draw arbitrary shapes using the polygon drawing tool. Users can merge parametric or drawn shapes to create complex new shapes.

Holes and Cutouts

Shapes can be assigned “hole” properties and placed in other shapes to create complex voided sections.

Reinforcement

Add rebars of any size anywhere in the cross-section and use individual, corner, side, perimeter, linear, and circular distribution tools to distribute bars appropriately. Use the Rebar Calculator to define rebars and find equivalent sizes. Rebars can be placed at arbitrary locations and arrangements using several alignment and distribution tools.

Editing Sections

Use resizing tools to change dimensions interactively. Move, flip, mirror, and rotate to place cross-section and shapes in desired location. Use stacking and alignment to combine shapes and edit shape nodes to modify existing shapes.

Steel Stress-Strain Curves

Use different stress curves to model various materials and properties, from simple linear and rectangular stress blocks to parabolic curves.

Loading

Loading and Moment Magnification

CSiCOL accepts input for detailed computation of the moment magnification factor using ACI-318. It will check whether any load combination is a sway or non-sway case, using various methods.

Slenderness Considerations

CSiCOL performs magnified moment calculations based on ACI-318 and BS-8110, and will perform effective length calculation for sway and non-sway load combinations. There are options to input detailed loads for slenderness calculations or to directly input design actions. Column framing conditions are used to determine effective length factors for computing slenderness effects.

Effective Length Factor

Several cases of end framing conditions are considered for computing effective length factors of frames.

Analysis

Elastic Stress Calculations

CSiCOL wlll calculate the elastic stresses for shear force, axial load, biaxial bending moments, and torsion. 2D and 3D cracked stress contours for both reinforced and composite sections can also be displayed.

Stress Strain

The stresses and strains in concrete and reinforcement can be computed for a given set of loads, as well as the orientation and location of the neutral axis.

Design

Capacity Calculations

CSiCOL will generate full capacity interaction surfaces, P-M curves for any given bending direction, M-M curves for any given load level, neutral axis orientation and stress-strain diagrams for any given load condition.

Moment Curvature

CSiCOL will generate Moment-Curvature diagrams for a given axial load and moment direction for specified failure criteria.

Section Design

CSiCOL will automatically find the most suitable column section and reinforcement for a given set of loads. The auto-design options can be used to control the way the design solution is found and in the order in which the dimensions and reinforcement are changed. Users can also specify the minimum and maximum values of various parameters and the increment to be used. Auto design can also include the evaluation of slenderness effects.