Construction stages and strengthening
Construction stages (known as Preload in the Member application) are used when, say, an engineer needs to check a member based on a new load distribution against an existing load pattern. Using this method, specific and targeted strengthening works can be designed.
Strengthening a building, rather than demolition, can be a complex solution, which is why this method has been introduced. It aims to allow design teams to formulate a strategy that saves buildings and reduces CO2 emissions. There are several examples in engineering where this is required: where solar PV panels are used on existing roofs, leading to increased loading and uplift, or re-modeling of retail premises where stairs and openings are never in the right place.
Define a new Check type of the pre-load to allow the software to introduce additional loading after the required ULS loading checks have been completed. Thanks to this, you can clearly see pass/fail results, including the, e.g., stress in the existing structure, and in the plates of the added strengthening.
Available in IDEA StatiCa Steel and IDEA StatiCa Complete editions.