Interactive Environment
The development of RC-PADD was based on an innovative approach: the special-purpose interactive environment that encompasses all the functionality needed to perform a sound structural design, focusing on the needs of the practitioner structural engineers. In this way specific design problems were solved, thus enabling structural engineers streamline the design process, boost their productivity, provide a high standard of quality, while maintaining their own control over the design.
Fiber Section Method
The fibre section design algorithm is the power engine of RC-PADD. The design algorithm works by discretizing the cross-section to a large number of fibres, by default 500. Then, the neutral axis is translated and the force calculation is carried out for each fibre individually until force balance is achieved. This algorithm exhibits elevated stability, a weak point of other similar algorithms. Adopting the fibre section method has made possible many of the capabilities of RC-PADD such as the design of complex sections and has also contributed to the increased accuracy of the calculations.
Real Seismic Design
Seismic design is achieved by carrying out the necessary seismic calculations such as the member maximum design forces at hinge formation, checks for avoidance of hinge formation on columns and the rotational ductility of members. RC-PADD applies different seismic provisions to members at ground, basement, intermediate and top levels. Another special feature is the design of members as ‘Primary’ or ‘Secondary’ seismic type, as allowed in the building codes. This allows the accommodation of eccentric architectural demands on the structural system.
Design Resistance Diagrams
RC-PADD’s graphic user interface includes neat diagrams illustrating the design resistance of the members. Through the polar diagram the user can better visualize the relative magnitudes of the design forces and design resistance, as well as the effect of the reinforcement arrangement on the member resistance and other design parameters.
Advanced Material Characterization
Nonlinear material models are adopted in RC-PADD, contributing to the increased accuracy of the calculations. Unconfined and confined concrete are represented with a parabolic stress-strain model. The calculation of the internal forces is made possible with the aid of the fibre section design algorithm. Reinforcement steel is represented with a bilinear elasto-plastic model with inclined post-yielding branch.
Reduced Design Time
RC-PADD is a powerful tool. With the click of the button all design calculations and checks are carried out instantaneously. In this way, the time required for the structural design and the detailing tasks are significantly reduced. In addition, it conducts a series of calculations and checks that were traditionally carried out manually, such as the maximum design seismic forces and the avoidance of beam formation on columns.
Elegant Reports
RC-PADD has excellent reporting capabilities. The design report is elegantly illustrated with diagrams of the cross-sections and can be further decorated by the user with watermark annotations and images. It can then be saved or exported to various formats including Rich-Text (MS-Word), PDF, HTML, JPEG and Bitmap.