SPACE GASS 10 New Features

This list describes the major new features included in SPACE GASS 10. A large number of other minor improvements, bug fixes and adjustments have also been incorporated. Click here to download SPACE GASS 10.

Click here for the new features in SPACE GASS 9.

• Plate element

  Even though much of a structural engineer's computer modelling involves frame elements in the form of beams, columns, cables and the like, there are times when you also need to accurately model slabs, walls, tanks and retaining structures. The new plate element in SPACE GASS now allows you to do this without having to approximate them with frame grillages or resort to using a specialist finite element program. You can now do it all in SPACE GASS.       Triangular and quadrilateral plate finite elements are available using Mindlin (thick plate) or Kirchoff (thin plate) theory. They can be combined in your model with beams, columns, cables, struts, ties and braces and interconnected as desired. The analysis considers plate bending, shear and membrane effects, and different values can be specified for the actual, bending, membrane and shear plate thicknesses. Analysis results can be presented in comprehensive reports or graphically as contour plots of various types of forces, moments or stresses.   Graphical tools allow you to quickly generate a plate mesh and apply pressure, thermal or concentrated loads. Hydrostatic loads for tanks or retaining structures can be generated quickly and easily. There is even a tool that lets you apply a pressure profile that is defined by any general equation that you can specify. Other tools let you reverse plate faces or align plates so that their axes are all pointing in the same direction. Plates can also be offset, enabling you to align them with other beams, columns or plates.

   

• 3D graphics renderer

  The new 3D graphics renderer displays a realistic rendered view of your model that you can zoom, pan, rotate and overlay with various show/hide options via an adjustable sidebar. Note that this replaces the old internal and VRML viewers found in pre-v10.70 versions of SPACE GASS. Very fast rendering for even large structures. Fully rendered nodes, members and plates. Plate stress contours. Realistic representations of node restraints and member fixities. Adjustable transparency for members and plates. Fast zooming, panning and rotating using the mouse. Collapsible sidebar for toggling items on and off. Common camera position buttons. Perspective or orthographic modes. Facility to save the model in common image formats. Ability to export the model to 3D AutoCAD DXF and DWG files. Print function.

   

• Links to other BIM and CAD programs

  SPACE GASS can now link to many other engineering, CAD and BIM (building information management) programs using a wide variety of links and file formats. Some of the commonly used CAD and BIM programs that can be linked to SPACE GASS include Tekla Structures (XSteel), ProSteel, Microstation, Frameworks Plus, StruCAD, Revit Structure, Bentley Structural and AutoCAD. Other programs that can import and/or export CIMSteel/2 (CIS/2) or IFC Step files can also be linked to SPACE GASS. These include STAAD, Risa-3D, SAP2000 ETABS, ROBOT, SmartPlant4D Structural and others.

   

• Minimum and maximum intermediate values
  The minimum and maximum intermediate values are now automatically displayed on all displacement, bending moment, shear force, axial force, torsion and stress diagrams.
  
  
  
   
• Dynamic zoom, pan, viewpoint and diagram scaling
  You can use the mousewheel or keyboard arrow keys to dynamically zoom, pan, rotate or change diagram scales without interrupting your current operation or losing your node or member selections.
  
  
  
  
• Moving loads
  A new moving load feature lets you specify moving load scenarios, each of which can contain one or more vehicles with multiple wheels travelling along paths that consist of straight and/or curved segments. You can also specify the speed, initial delay, time interval and load factor for each vehicle. Libraries of standard vehicles are supplied and you can create your own custom vehicles and libraries.
  
  Wheel loads are automatically distributed to the adjacent members as member and/or node loads. After the analysis, influence lines can be generated.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Merging jobs
  Other jobs can be opened and merged with the current job. You can control the numbering and the insertion point of the job being merged.
  
  
  
  
• Auto-creation of steel member design data
  This feature automatically generates the steel member design input data from the analysis model. You can select the entire model or just certain members from different locations and with different section properties, and SPACE GASS will automatically sort through them and group them appropriately into steel design members.
  
  You have full control over flange restraints, effective lengths, end connections and the other components of the data.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Auto-adjustment of steel member design data
  The steel member design data is adjusted automatically whenever analysis members are deleted or sub-divided graphically. For example, if a node is inserted at an intermediate point along a member, causing it to be broken into two, the member list in the steel member design data is adjusted to reflect the change.
  
  
• Updating analysis data after a steel member design
  After a steel member design, you have full control over updating the analysis section properties with the new design member sizes. You can automate the re-running of the static analysis, buckling analysis and steel member design phases, and you can even instruct the program to automatically iterate the entire update-analysis-design procedure until the analysis and design member sizes match.
  
  
  
  
• Connect
  This feature allows you to connect members that cross over each other within a specified distance but which are not currently connected. For example, cross braces or grillage members that cross without being attached to each other can be connected together. You can even select the entire model and then perform the connect operation to ensure that everything is connected properly.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Print previews
  The print preview allows you to see exactly how the output will appear on your printer. For text reports, a side menu lets you go directly to any part of the report or hide any sections of the report before printing. You can switch between single and double column printing and you can zoom in and out to see exactly what is contained in the preview.
  
  
  
  
• Your logo in reports
  You can include your own company logo in text and graphical output by simply creating and loading a bitmap of it into SPACE GASS.
  
  
  
  
• Single analysis and design report
  The previously separate analysis and design reports have now been combined into a single report. You can select or de-select any parts of the report and they can be filtered to match the graphical display.
  
  
• Report viewer
  A report viewer lets you see any of the input or output data in an easy-to-use scrollable form. The report viewer also includes a tree structure on the left-hand side that allows you to see exactly what is included and then quickly navigate to any part of the data.
  
  
  
  
• Page setup
  A new page setup form gives you full control over the output device, margins, page layout and formatting. There are separate tabs for text output and graphical output so that they can be set independently of each other. For items that are common to both text and graphics, you can elect to have them kept the same when either one is changed.
  
  
  
  
• Separate text and graphics printers
  You can specify and configure separate graphics and text printers. This can be very useful in situations where text reports are printed on a small format laser printer and graphical output is printed on a larger color inkjet printer or plotter.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• PDF, HTML, TXT and BMP files
  Text and graphical output can be directed to PDF, HTML, TXT or BMP files without you having to re-configure your printer or report settings.
  
  
  
  The following display shows a PDF file produced by SPACE GASS and viewed in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Note that bookmarks for easy navigation are included in the PDF file. The PDF format in particular offers a very convenient means of generating a report that can be distributed to others for viewing or printing.
  
  
  
  
• Symbols
  Symbols for all countries are now shown correctly in reports.
  
  
  
  
• USB network locks
  USB network and stand-alone hardware locks for SPACE GASS are now available.
  
  
  
  
• Auto-recovery of network licences
  If the program is terminated abnormally, any network licences that were active are recovered immediately and automatically.
  
  
• Mousewheel zooming, panning, viewpoint selection and diagram scaling
  You can use the mousewheel to conveniently zoom, pan, rotate or change the diagram scales.
  
  
  
  
• Keyboard zooming, panning, viewpoint selection and diagram scaling
  You can use the keyboard arrow keys to conveniently zoom, pan, rotate or change the diagram scales.
  
  
  
  
• Keyboard scrolling of filters, views and load cases
  You can use the keyboard page keys to conveniently scroll through filters, views or load cases.
  
  
  
  
• Copying of node and member properties
  The properties of a node or member can be copied to a graphical selection of other nodes or members.
  
  
• Copying of steel member design data
  The design input data for a steel member can be copied to a graphical selection of other steel members.
  
  
• Copying of node and member loads
  Loads can be copied from a node or member to a graphical selection of other nodes or members.
  
  
• Temporary job files stored locally
  When a job is opened, its temporary files can now be stored locally on the workstation rather than on a remote network drive. This has a number of advantages including greatly increased speed, less network traffic and a reduced risk of another network user corrupting a job that is already open.
  
  
• Retain filters, views and other settings
  When importing data from a text file, the filters, views and other settings in the current job can be retained if desired.
  
  
• Buckling location in report
  For frames that have a buckling problem, the buckling mode shapes can be displayed to help identify the location and mode of the buckling. However, it is not always possible to see where the buckling is occurring, especially when it involves node rotations rather than translations. In order to help with this, buckling output reports now identify the nodes and degrees of freedom where the maximum translations and rotations occur.
  
  
  
  
• Conditional "no reversal" for tension/compression-only members
  If tension-only or compression-only members prevent the analysis from converging, it is now possible to revert to "no reversal" mode after a specified number of iterations.
  
  
  
  
• Auto-stabilization of unstable nodes
  Many analysis error messages occur as a result of simple instabilities due to unrestrained nodes. For example, if all members connected to a particular node are pin-ended, the node will be unstable unless it is externally restrained rotationally. An auto-stabilization feature now prevents this from happening by applying temporary restraints to unrestrained nodes during the analysis.
  
  
  
  
• Relaxation of cable modelling rules
  Cable members previously had to be loaded with a lateral UDL in order for them to act as proper cables. Without a lateral UDL, they were treated as tension-only members with the same flexural capacity as normal members. This has now been changed so that cables are analysed as cables even in the absence of a lateral UDL.
  
  Furthermore, in order to avoid instabilities, it has previously been necessary to restrain the rotations of all nodes that were connected only to cables. This requirement has also now been removed.
  
  
• Printing of error messages
  Error messages can be printed or copied to the clipboard.
  
  
  
  
• Export files content
  Export files include all input data and are no longer affected by filters or report selections.
  
  
• Datasheet printing
  You can print or obtain print previews direct from the datasheets.
  
  
  
  
• Importing from MS-Excel and MS-Access
  All input data can be imported directly from MS-Excel and MS-Access.
  
  
  
  
• Exporting to MS-Excel, MS-Access and MS-Word
  Input and output data can be exported to MS-Excel, MS-Access and MS-Word.
  
  
  
  
• Structure wizard springs and compression-only members
  Options for springs and compression-only members have been added to the structure wizard beam and grillage structures.
  
  
  
  
• Steel member design compression effective lengths
  Compression effective lengths in the steel member design input data can be fully controlled separately for each axis. Steel members can be nominated as "braced" for either or both axes in order to limit the compression effective lengths to their actual lengths.
  
  
  
  The automatic reduction of the minor axis compression effective length due to flange restraints is now optional. Furthermore, the reduction of the minor axis compression effective length due to lateral restraints on equal flanged I or W shapes now defaults to "off" due to some doubt as to whether lateral restraints on one flange can restrain the entire cross section.
  
  
  
  The capping of Pcr in the steel member design, which imposes a lower limit on the design compression effective lengths, is now based on the analysis member length rather than the design group length. If it governs, this can result in shorter effective lengths and less conservative designs.
  
  
• Single angle concentric connections
  Single angle sections can be designed as concentrically connected.
  
  
• Double angles in section legend
  Double angles are shown as such in the graphical section property legend.
  
  
  
  
• Design of steel members with offsets
  Steel members that have been offset can now be designed.
  
  
• Cleanup of deleted members
  Everything attached to and associated with a member is deleted when the member is deleted. This includes attributes, offsets, loads and design input data.
  
  
• Attributes of newly drawn members
  New members being drawn graphically are given the default attributes rather than those of the previously accessed member.
  
  
• Sorting of design data
  Steel members and connections are now sorted numerically if input or edited graphically.
  
  
• Previous jobs list
  Up to 9 jobs can be included in the previous jobs list at the bottom of the file menu.
  
  
  
  
• Auto-recovery of abandoned unnamed jobs
  Abandoned unnamed jobs can now be recovered automatically.
  
  
  
  
• Design data undo
  Undo for all design input data is now supported.
  
  
• Renumbering undo
  Undo for node and member renumbering is now supported.
  
  
• Design data cleanup
  Cleanup for all design input data is now supported.
  
  
  
  
• Area loader support of sub-divided members
  The area loader supports sub-divided members.
  
  
  
  
• Repeat last command
  You can press the space bar to repeat the last graphics command.
  
  
• Running other programs from SPACE GASS
  An external macro such as another program, batch file or MS-Excel/Access macro can be run from within SPACE GASS.
  
  
  
  
• Running SPACE GASS from other programs
  SPACE GASS can be controlled externally from another program or batch file using a script file.
  
  
  
  
• Job backups
  A backup copy of the job can be made just before each save.
  
  
  
  
• Saving of full 3D geometry views
  Full 3D geometry displays can be saved in VRML files for later viewing.
  
  
  
  
• Library editor buttons
  Buttons have been added to the library editor for adding, deleting and editing.
  
  
  
  
  

SPACE GASS 9 New Features

This list describes the major new features included in SPACE GASS 9. A large number of other minor improvements, bug fixes and adjustments have also been incorporated.

Click here for the new features in SPACE GASS 10.

• New MS-Access library database
  The standard libraries of sections, materials, bolts, plates, welds, reinforcing bars and spectral curves are now all contained within a single MS-Access database that can be accessed and edited externally or using a new library editor built into SPACE GASS.
  
  
• New library editor
  Simply navigate through the editor's library tree to access and retrieve the required data quickly and easily. You can also create custom libraries, edit them and drag data from one library to another.
  
  
  
  
• New US section library
  The US section library has been completely regenerated and revised for the latest US sections.
  
  
• MS-Access / Excel / Word data exchange
  
  Export an entire SPACE GASS job directly into MS-Access, MS-Excel or MS-Word format at the click of a button.
  
  
• New structure wizards
  All of the structure wizards have been enhanced and many new structures have been added.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 3D virtual reality VRML viewer
  View your model in full 3D showing all flanges, webs and plates, and then move or rotate it in real-time or conduct "walk-throughs". The VRML viewer also shows all sections, including built-up and custom shapes created with the shape builder.
  
  
  
  
• New datasheets
  Totally new datasheets for all types of data have been included.
  
  
  
  
• Multi-row editing in datasheets
  Highlight multiple rows in a datasheet and then edit them all simultaneously by typing into just one field.
  
  
  
  
• Frozen key columns
  The key columns in each datasheet are frozen so that they are always visible when you scroll the datasheet sideways.
  
  
• Split screen in datasheets
  Drag a break line into any position in a datasheet to create split screens that can be operated on or scrolled independently.
  
  
• Sorting on any columns in datasheets
  Click on the heading button of any datasheet column to sort the data on that column. Use alternate clicks to toggle between ascending and descending order.
  
  
  
  
• Copy/paste in datasheets
  Copy selected rows or an entire datasheet into the clipboard and then paste it into any other Windows program, or paste data from another program into a datasheet.
  
  
  
  
• Edit graphical selection of nodes/members in a datasheet
  Select nodes or members graphically or using the Find facility and then open a datasheet with just the selected items shown. These datasheets are different to the normal ones because they contain all the data related to the selected nodes and members such restraints, offsets, constraints, etc.
  
  
  
  
• New graphical input/editing of loads
  After selecting nodes or members graphically, you can now open a datasheet that shows all of the loads applied to the selected items, ready for viewing, editing or input of extra loads.
  
  
  
  
• Compression effective lengths
  Compression effective lengths can now be transferred automatically from a buckling analysis into a steel member design. As well as saving you from having to transfer the data manually, it also offers more efficient designs because case specific effective lengths can be used for each load case rather than using one set of effective lengths for every load case.
  
  
  
  
• Compression effective length upper limit
  Set an upper limit on calculated compression effective lengths to avoid the extreme values that sometimes come from a buckling analysis.
  
  
• Bending effective lengths
  Steel member bending effective lengths can now be entered manually to override the calculated values if required.
  
  
  
  
• Control eccentric effects at individual level
  Turn eccentric effects on or off for individual members rather than for the entire design session.
  
  
• Steel member design using depth or weight criteria
  Base your design on minimum weight (as before) or minimum depth.
  
  
• Steel design equalize feature
  During a steel member design (as opposed to a check) you can now force the members that share the same section property number to share the same final design section size.
  
  
• New LIMSTEEL
  LIMSTEEL 3.42 has been incorporated.
  
  
• Frame buckling check in static analysis
  A frame buckling check is now included in all non-linear static analyses. Although it doesn't replace a full buckling analysis, it does indicate whether the static analysis results are valid or invalid.
  
  
• Job notes
  You can now include a lengthy job description with the job headings.
  
  
  
  
• Load case description
  In addition to the normal 50 character title, each load case can now include a more detailed description.
  
  
• Filters
  Previously known as "subsets", filters have been greatly expanded with new features and a capacity of up to 200 filters.
  
  
  
  
• Filter include/exclude buttons
  Reverse the action of a filter specification by clicking on the "Exclude" button. For example, use it to exclude a list of members from the filter rather than include them.
  
  
  
  
• Define or add to filters graphically
  Use the node or member filter "Select" buttons to define, edit or add to your filter selections graphically.
  
  
  
  
• Filter on steel member design results
  Create a display of your model that filters members on or off depending on their design results.
  
  
  
  
• Filter reports using graphical filters
  Use the defined filters in output reports to limit the amount of output required or to match it to the graphics screen display.
  
  
  
  
• Saved views
  Save up to 100 different views of your model, each with its own set of scales, viewpoint, filtering, superimposed diagrams, etc. Saved views can be quickly recalled and displayed using the toolbar combo box.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Continuation lines in text files
  Text file lines can be continued onto the next line if they are terminated with the "&" character.
  
  
• 1024 length lines in text files
  The length of text file lines has been increased to 1024 characters.
  
  
• Graphical input of all load types
  All load types can now be input and displayed graphically. This includes all of the normal node and member loads, plus prescribed node displacements, torsion loads, thermal loads and prestress loads.
  
  
• Combinations of combinations
  Combination load cases can now be further combined into other combination load cases.
  
  
  
  
• Loading diagrams for combinations
  Loading diagrams can now be displayed for both primary and combination load cases.
  
  
• Reaction diagrams
  Reactions can now be displayed graphically.
  
  
  
  
• Torsion diagrams
  Torsion and torsion stress diagrams can now be displayed graphically.
  
  
• Diagram envelopes
  Create an envelope of selected load cases for any diagram types by clicking on the envelope button.
  
  Individual load cases
  
  
  Envelope of load cases
  
  
  
• Graphical display of steel member groups
  After defining groupings of steel members to be designed, display them graphically for checking and editing. Note the thickened line drawn over some members to indicate the member groups.
  
  
  
  
• Graphical display of steel member flange restraints
  Click on the flange restraints button to display your defined steel member flange restraints graphically.
  
  
  
  
• Graphical display of steel member design results
  Get an instant idea of the parts of your model that have failed the code check by turning on a colour coded design results display.
  
  
  
  
• Tapered members
  Quickly generate tapered members with or without haunches using the new taper feature.
  
  
  
  
• Clean-up function
  Remove annoying analysis error messages at the click of a button using the "Clean-up" feature. The clean-up removes items such as restraints, constraints, offsets and loads that are not connected to any nodes or members. It can also be used to remove unused sections or materials, or merge nodes that are very close together.
  
  
  
  
• Copy/renumber/delete an entire load case
  Manage your load cases by copying, deleting or renumbering entire load cases in a single operation.
  
  
  
  
• More keyboard shortcuts
  Every program feature now has an "Alt" keyboard shortcut procedure, and over 40 of the most commonly used commands also have "Ctrl" keyboard shortcut alternatives.
  
  
  
  
• Show origin graphically
  Click on the global origin toggle button to show the position and orientation of the global origin.
  
  
• Show general restraint graphically
  Whenever a general restraint has been defined, it is now conveniently displayed in the bottom-left corner of the graphics display.
  
  
  
  
• "Select-all" feature
  Select all visible nodes or members without having to put a window around them.
  
  
• New help format
  The help system has been completely revised and upgraded to the latest navigation "look and feel".
  
  
  
  
  For those of you with SPACE GASS 8.05 or earlier
  
  
• Mixed units
  Mixed units can now be used and you can specify different units for different parts of the input or output data. For example, you could specify lengths in feet, section properties in inches, moments in Kip-feet and stresses in Psi. Alternatively, you could have lengths in m, section properties in mm, strengths in MPa, moments in kNm and translations in cm. You can even mix imperial and metric units.
  
  
• Long file names
  Long file and path names are supported.
  
  
• Undo / Redo
  Click on the undo or redo buttons to correct mistakes or reinstate changes.