28/05/2020 – Ver. 79 – Fire protections added to the fire module and Egoin panels added to CLT archives

In the latest version of the software we added new features:

  • Fire protections: checks on the load-bearing function of structural members initially protected from exposure to fire can now be performed. Gypsum Plasterboard, Gypsum Plasterboard Type F, Gypsum Fibreboard and custom definitions can be used. In the first three cases, the software automatically calculates the time of start of charring tch, the failure time of protection tf (evaluated differently for vertical and horizontal elements), the time tand the insulation coefficient k2. In the case of custom definition, the designer can manually enter the parameters in order to manage protection solutions not listed in the standard or defining specifications of a particular manufacturer. For all protected structural elements, the rules proposed in EN 1995-1-2 are used with all the cases proposed by the standard for the calculation of the charring depth dchar,n, the calculation of k0 and k2 and the calculation of the effective charring depth deff.
    The joist floors and the framed walls with protections are calculated as assemblies with void cavities following the indications of Annex D of Eurocode EN 1995-1-2, which provides for different times of start of charring for the sides directly exposed to fire and for the sides facing the empty cavities.
  • CLT panels by the Spanish manufacturer Egoin added: it is now possible to check the CLT structures made with Egoin panels

 

12/02/2020 – Ver. 78 – LVL and Uso Fiume Trieste new materials, improvement of the databases translations and of the reactions in foundation export, spreadsheet for the interstorey drift sensitivity coefficient, new welcome page

In the latest version of the software we added new features:

  • Inclusion of LVL: both softwood and beech LVL are now available and they can be used as beams, columns, joist floors and solid wood floors. The databases include the products of the main European manufacturers: Metsa Wood (Kerto), Steico e Pollmeier (BauBuche e Fichte LVL).
  • Improvement of the reactions in foundation export: inclusion of two new fields in the “actions.csv” file providing the name and the length of the element in each node. Inclusion of three new layers in the “geometry.dxf” file displaying the nodes numbers, the walls lines and the names of the elements in each node.
  • Improvement of the databases translations: all the databases are now consistently translated and they support the transition of the software from Italian to English version and viceversa.
  • Inclusion of Uso Fiume and Uso Trieste timber: softwood and chestnut Uso Fiume timber and softwood Uso Trieste timber are now available and they can be used in beam, column and joist elements according to their ETA specifications.
  • Spreadsheet for the calculation of the interstorey drift sensitivity coefficient: the users can now download form their Personal area the spreadsheet for the calculation of the interstorey drift sensitivity coefficient for the assessment of the second-order effects.
  • New welcome page: the software shows an interactive welcome page that will host constantly updated contents such as papers, events, blog posts, software updates and tutorial videos.

 

13/11/2019 – Ver. 77 – Fire design add-on module, improvement in the management of extended and polygonal walls, improvement of the calculation report

In the latest version of the software we added new features:

  • Verification of the timber structural elements in fire conditions: it is now possible to perform the resistance checks in fire conditions of the unprotected structural timber elements.
    The development of an update to include fire protection layers in the analysis and verification process is already in progress.
    For further information on the fire design module please click here.
  • Improvement in the management of extended and polygonal walls: extended and polygonal walls can now support floor, roof and wall elements according to more complex configurations.
  • Improvement of the formatting of the calculation report.

 

 

25/09/2019 – Ver. 76 – Simpson Strong-Tie connections and Binderholz CLT update

In the latest version of the software we have added the following new features:

  • Inclusion of Simpson Strong-Tie connections: a selection of Simpson Strong-Tie connections with all the relevant strength and stiffness parameters is now available in TimberTech Buildings. The selection includes hold-downs, timber-to-timber shear and tensile plates, timber-to-concrete shear plates and timber-to-timber and timber-to-concrete angle brackets with the appropriate fasteners and anchors.
  • Binderholz CLT update: two material are now available for Binderholz CLT: BBS 125 and BBS XL. The user can choose the appropriate material according to the panel type.
  • Bug fixing and small improvements

 

19/08/2019 – Ver. 75 – Automatic definition of the wind action according to the international version of Eurocode EN 1991-1-4, improvement of the calculation of the seismic mass and improvement of the stability of many features

In the latest version of the software we have added the following new features:

  • Automatic definition of the wind action according to the international version of Eurocode EN 1991-1-4: in case the project uses Eurocodes as the reference standard, it is now possible to adopt the values of the wind actions on walls and roofs automatically calculated by the software according to the procedure provided in the international version of EN 1991-1-4. The software automatically proposes the values of the wind action components starting from the basic wind velocity on the site and applying all the relevant factors mentioned in the standard. Also, some of the pressure coefficients on walls can be automatically calculated according to the location of the wall and according to the building shape relative to the wind directions.
  • User-defined wind pressure and/or pressure coefficients: it is still possible to manually edit the automatically proposed wind actions for a specific load definition for both roofs and walls or, alternatively, it is possible to edit only the pressure coefficients cp while maintaining the automatic calculation of all the other parameters required for the definition of the wind action.
  • Improvement in the seismic mass calculation: improvement in the management of the translational seismic mass and of the rotational inertia of linear loads.
  • Bug fixing and small improvements

 

04/06/2019 – Ver. 74 – Improved graphical performance, automatic setting of dxf import scale, automatic definition of wind action according to Italian standard Circolare 2019 of NTC 2018 and improvement of the stability of many features

In the latest version of the software we have added the following new features:

  • Improvement of the graphical performace: it is now possible to choose whether to display the floor calculation lines and the points in the 3D graphical interface in order to obtain a clearer view of the model and an increased graphic speed in the modelling and analysis phase. This feature is very useful in the management of complex models.
  • Automatic setting of the dxf import scale: the software is now able to automatically propose the correct import scale for a dxf drawing. The user can still edit manually the proposed import scale if needed.
  • Automatic definition of the wind action according to Circolare Esplicativa 21 January 2019 of NTC 2018: in case the project uses NTC as the reference standard, the automatic calculation of the wind action on walls and roofs has been updated according to the provisions of the new Circolare Esplicativa. The software automatically proposes the values of the reference velocity pressure, of the exposure coefficient and of the aerodynamic coefficients for the walls according to the geolocation of the building and according to its shape relative to the wind directions.
  • User-defined wind pressure and/or aerodynamic coefficients in case of NTC as reference standard: it is now possible to manually edit the automatically proposed wind pressure for a specific load definition for both roofs and walls or, alternatively, it is possible to edit only the aerodynamic coefficients cp while maintaining the automatic calculation of all the other parameters required for the definition of the wind action.
  • Improvement of the stability of some features such as the milestones, the milestones with analysis and the connection auto-design.
  • Inclusion of the Knauf Diamant X sp. 15 mm panel: also the gypsum plasterboard panel for structural use Knauf Diamant X with a thickness of 15 mm is now available and it can be used as sheathing panel in framed walls.
  • Bug fixing and small improvements

 

 

29/04/2019 – Ver. 73 – Bill of Quantities, improvement in speed of transition between different load combinations and other improvements in different functionalities

In the latest version of the software we added new features:

  • Automatic printing of the Bill of Quantities: additional module that can be purchased only by the users who have purchased a TimberTech Buildings license. The module allows you to export a document in Microsoft Excel format that contains the quantities of all the structural elements and the relative sub-components (connections, connectors, boards, CLT panels stratigraphy, product codes, etc.) for a quick cost estimate of the structures. The export format allows for easy customization. For more information on the Bill of Quantities module click here.
  • Improvement of results consultation speed: once the analysis is completed, the transition between the different load combinations and/or between the different load cases is now faster.
  • DXF import improvement: it is now possible to import dxf files with drawings placed very far from the origin. The software automatically recognizes the area of the drawing where the elements to be imported are present (concentrated in an area), discarding any isolated element that is very distant
  • Optimization of the calculation speed when automatically extended walls are present
  • Improvement of the selection of the elements using the table and of the link to the most severe check combination
  • Bug fixing and small improvements

 

14/03/2019 – Ver. 72 – BauBuche GL and Knauf Diamant X panels, new useful features in the envelopes section, improved management of selections in analysis, update of the software guide

In the latest version of the software we have added the following new features:

  • Inclusion of BauBuche GL: the BauBuche GL (glulam made of beech LVL) is now available and it can be used in beam, column and joist elements.
  • Inclusion of Knauf Diamant X: the gypsum plasterboard for structural use Knauf Diamant X is now available and it can be used as sheathing panel in framed walls.
  • Actions envelopes: in the analysis section, the envelopes of the action are now available (in addition to the already existing envelopes of the verifications).
  • Deformations envelopes: in the analysis section, the envelopes of the inter-storey drift and those of the absolute displacements under horizontal actions are now available. Moreover, for the serviceability combinations, the envelopes of deflections under vertical actions and of the vibration parameters (for floors) are now available as well.
  • Link from envelopes to the most demanding combination: a new link has been implemented that allows the user to inspect the details of the selected element according to the combination that maximizes the check/action/deformation required.
  • Option to hide the name of the most demanding combination in the envelopes table: it is now possible to hide the name of the combination that maximizes the check/action/deformation in the envelopes table (below the window displaying the model) in order to reduce the displayed amount of data.
  • Actions per unit length on walls in the summary tables: it is now possible to inspect the values of the actions per unit length on wall elements also in the summary tables below the window displaying the model.
  • Improvement of the management of multiple selections in analysis section: the management of multiple selections in analysis section (in the window displaying the model and in the summary table below) has been improved and it is now possible to maintain the selection while moving from the analysis tab to the design ones.
  • Update of the default value of the kcr factor for Italian standard: the default value of the kcr factor for the shear verification of timber elements has been updated according to the provision of the Circolare to the NTC 2018 (the factor was already available in the previous releases and now it has been set as the default option).
  • Update of the CLT Essepi XXL stratigraphies: the most recent stratigraphies produced by Essepi for their CLT panels are now available.
  • Update of the software guide: the software guide, that can be always open with the F1 button, has been updated to the most recently released features.
  • Bug fixing and small improvements