Users manual

CIDECT Design tool CFL

Lattice girder joints under fatigue loading

Version 1.0
September 2009
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Contents

Page
1. Disclaimer 3
2. Introduction 3
2.1 Purpose 3
2.2 Required configuration 4
2.3 Installation procedure 4
2.4 Launch CFL 6
2.5 Examples 7
3. Main window 7
3.1 General 7
3.2 Menu File 8
3.3 Menu Edit 8
3.4 Menu View 9
3.5 Menu Calculation 9
3.6 Menu Tools 10
3.7 Menu Windows 13
3.8 Menu Help 13
4. Project window 14
4.1 General 14
4.2 Data input area 14
4.2.1 Tab sheet General 14
4.2.2 Tab sheet System Data 15
4.2.3 Tab sheet Results 16
4.3 Graphical area 16
4.4 Status and information area 17
4.4.1 General 17
4.4.2 Warning/error table 18
4.4.3 Log Messages: 18
5. Results and output 18
6. Description of the design procedures 19
7. Release notes 19
8. References 20

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1. Disclaimer
This software facilitates engineering studies with respect to steel constructions. Based
on calculation methods complying with the principles of the applied standards or design
recommendations, this software enables to make a certain number of calculations and
verifications in view of evaluating a solution for design. It does not enable to analyse all
situations and to make in an exhaustive way all relevant calculations needed for a
complete design of a structure.

Given the complexity of the calculation methods, this software is only intended for
professional users active in the domain of steel constructions (who are fully aware of
the possibilities, limits and its adequacy thereof for specific practical cases). The user
shall use the software under his own responsibility and at his own risks.

This software has been developed for CIDECT [1] by Feldmann + Weynand GmbH
(F+W), Germany. The software is provided by CIDECT and it may be used free of
charge. No right is granted to the user of the software, the property and intellectual
rights of which continue to belong exclusively to CIDECT and F+W. No warranty is
granted to the user.

The user undertakes to hold CIDECT and F+W free and harmless from any claim and
any direct and/or consequential damages, in particular those resulting from an incorrect
or inappropriate use or a use made for an inadequate or inappropriate purpose.

By using this software the user expressly declares that he has carefully read the above
text and that he thereby accepts all legal consequences and obligations resulting for
him therefore.

2. Introduction
2.1 Purpose
Hollow sections are widely used in the field of construction and mechanical
engineering, where fatigue is an essential aspect in design and fabrication. The
CIDECT design guide No 8 (DG 8) [2] provides background information as well as
design guidelines for design checks of joints subjected to fatigue loading. The
publication refers to different methods, but only the classification method and the hot
spot stress method are dealt with more in detail. However, main focus is given to the
hot spot stress method.

In tubular constructions, where the joints are typically made of welded connections
between hollow sections, the non-uniform stress distribution along the welds needs
special consideration. The hot spot stress method takes the uneven stress distribution
around the perimeter of the joint directly into account and the fatigue life of a joint is

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related to the so-called hot spot stress. The hot spot stress is the maximum
geometrical stress in the joint where cracks are usually initiated.

DG 8 provides detailed design rules for a large number of joint configurations.

However, the equations used for the determination of the stress concentration factors
(SCF) are rather complex and not very suitable for hand calculation. Therefore, in DG 8
design graphs are provided for a more easy application of the method.

With the software CFL (CIDECT design tool for lattice girder joints under Fatigue
Loading), CIDECT [1] provides the designer a tool for the safe and easy application of
the hot spot stress method.

2.2 Required configuration

The software is designed for Microsoft Windows. The software has been tested on
Windows XP. It should also run under Windows 2000, Windows Vista and Window 7,
but this is not assured. To install and run the software 512 MB memory and 15 MB
hard disk space is required.

The software is developed for the Microsoft .NET Framework. If the .NET Framework is
not yet installed, this will be done automatically during the setup procedure. In this case
additional 280 MB disk space must be available for installation.

Finally the Adobe Reader is required to view the results of the calculation. The Adobe
Reader is not provided with the installation file. For free download of Adobe Reader
check www.adobe.com/reader.

2.3 Installation procedure

In order to install the CIDECT Design tool for lattice girder joints under fatigue loading
(CFL) on a PC execute the provided installation file CFL_Setup_x.y.z (x.y.z
representing the actual version number). The following screen appears:

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Press Next to continue.

The following screen shows the license agreement in English, German, French and
Spanish language. Please scroll down the text box in order to read the full agreement.

To accept the license agreement click on I accept the terms in the license agreement
and then press Next.

On the following screen you can specify the installation folder. Press Next to continue.

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If all settings are correct, click Install to start the installation process.

Press Finish to terminate the installation procedure.

The CIDECT Design tool for lattice girder joints under fatigue loading (CFL) is now
completely installed on your PC and appropriate links to launch the software are
available.

2.4 Launch CFL

To launch the CIDECT Design tool for lattice girder joints under fatigue loading (CFL)
click on the CIDECT-CFL icon on your desktop, or select Start Program Files
CIDECT CFL Lattice girder joints under Fatigue Loading. If the CIDECT Design &
Information Centre (CIDIC) is installed on your computer CFL is integrated
automatically into the program and CFL can be launched easily by using CIDIC.

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2.5 Examples
You can find some example files in the folder <CIDECTInstallationFolder>\Examples\.
(If not changed before, the default folder is C:\Program files\CIDECT\CFL\Examples\)

3. Main window
3.1 General
The general layout of the main screen is similar to most software in the Windows
environment and includes:

Tool bar Menu bar Title bar

One or more
project windows

Status bar

Title bar

Menu bar

containing File, Edit, View, Calculation, Tools, Windows and Help menu

Tool bar

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including the classical Windows buttons (New, Open, Save, Print, Cut, Copy,
Paste, Undo, Redo) and 2 specific buttons activating respectively the following
modules:
Module "Start full data check",
Module "Start calculation to perform all design checks".

Project windows

Status bar

3.2 Menu File

This includes the following items:

"New" - re-initialise all the data in order to create another project,

"Open" - load an existing file,

"Close" - close the active project,

"Close all" - close all open projects,

"Save" - save project in the active file (file name displayed in the title bar). If no
specific file name displayed, equivalent to "Save as",

"Save as" - save project in a file for which the user indicates a new file name,

"Output" - create/display the calculation notes,

"Exit" - close the program.

3.3 Menu Edit

This includes the following items:

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"Undo" - undo the previously made changes

"Redo" - redo the changes previously undone

"Cut" - cut marked text and copy it to the clipboard

"Copy" - copy marked text to the clipboard

"Paste" - insert text from the clipboard.

3.4 Menu View

This includes the following items:

"Toolbar" - show/hide the toolbar,

"Statusbar" - show/hide the statusbar

3.5 Menu Calculation

This includes the following items:

"Start data check" - Checking all data according to the scope of application given in
DG 8, see [2],

"Start calculation" - When starting the calculation, the tab sheet Results of the
active project window is automatically opened in order to review the main results.
Note that a full data check is performed before the calculation is started.

These two menu entries have the same function than the buttons and in the
tool bar and the respective buttons on the Results tab sheet, see 4.2.3.

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3.6 Menu Tools

This includes the following items:

"Database" - access to geometrical and material properties of steel profiles

"Options":

"General settings"
Enable/disable display of disclaimer on program start

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File settings"
Specifications for number of files to be shown in menu, auto save behaviour,
specified paths for user and temporary files.

Language settings"
Change of program language (if more than one language is available). The
new language will be active after a restart of the application. In addition to the
program language an output language may be defined which is used for the
generation of the calculation note. The output language is independent of the
selected program language.

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"Unit settings"
Specification of units for all geometrical, load and material dimensions. When
units are changed, values on data sheets and drawings (when displayed) are
automatically updated according to the new unit definition.

"Default company settings".

Specification of default company name, address and designer. The default
company settings are used for all new projects

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3.7 Menu Windows

This includes the classical following items:

"Cascade" - displays all open projects with cascaded windows

"Tile vertical" - displays all open projects vertically aligned

"Tile horizontal" - displays all open project horizontally aligned

Names of the open projects. The check mark shows the active project

The first 3 items can only be used when more than one project is opened.

3.8 Menu Help

The menu includes the following items:

User manual - the present document

"About" - version number, disclaimer and information about the technical partners

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4. Project window
4.1 General
Open a new project by either clicking on the New button in the menu bar, following
File-New or re-opening an existing project with the Open button or File-Open.

When opening an existing or a new project a project window appears including a set of
tab-sheets (data input area) on the left-hand side, the graphical area and the status
and information area on the right-hand side.

Save the active project by either clicking on the "Save" button or "File"-Save as in
the menu bar. When saving a project, all project data are stored in a file having the
extension cfl and the project name is displayed in the title bar.

graphical area

data input

Status and information area

4.2 Data input area

In this area all input data are specified by the user as described more in detail in the
following paragraphs.

4.2.1 Tab sheet General

The General tab contains client, project and company information. The company
information can be set as default text in the Tools - Options menu, see 3.6

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4.2.2 Tab sheet System Data

The System Data tab contains detailed information about the selected joint
configuration, the connected members, geometries and loadings, as well as joint
specific criteria concerning failure security and accessibility. Depending on the selected
joint and its geometry, typical parameters are calculated and displayed at the bottom.

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4.2.3 Tab sheet Results

The Results tab contains the Check data, Start calculation and Output buttons.
After having executed a successful calculation, some results are displayed at the top
left-hand side. As main results of the calculation, the fatigue life of the chord, the brace
and the joint are indicated. To view a detailed calculation note, press the output
button.

4.3 Graphical area

The graphical area on the top right-hand side displays the chosen joint type,
geometries and loadings. A click on any dimension in the graphical area activates
automatically the corresponding numerical data input field in the tab sheets. The
graphical data corresponding to the active data input field is highlighted in red colour.

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4.4 Status and information area

4.4.1 General

The software will perform three different levels of data checks:

On-line (immediate) checks

During data input the software will automatically check the consistency of the data.
If a problem occurs during this check, it is being indicated next to the
corresponding data input field.

Full data check (prior to the calculation)

At any time the user can start the full data check by clicking on the corresponding
buttons (Tool bar, Tools Menu or Results tab sheet) or by pressing F8 on the
keyboard.

Data checks during the calculation

Because of performance reasons, in some cases, specific checks will only be

performed during the calculation as for these checks more complete calculations
are required.

The results of all types of data checks are displayed in the warning/error table and log
messages respectively being part of the status and information area.

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4.4.2 Warning/error table

The warning/error table on the bottom left-hand side indicates errors , warnings
or hints of the on-line data checks. For more details, just move the mouse arrow on
the error text, warning or hint and a detailed text will appear. With a double click on the
or in the "data messages", the corresponding data in the tab sheet is activated
automatically.

4.4.3 Log Messages:

The log messages provide a record of events during the full data check or calculation
process.

5. Results and output

Available data and results after having executed a calculation, can be viewed, saved
and/or printed at any time. The result information is provided in a complete calculation
note. The calculation note can be created by either using the menu bar "File" -
"Output", the "Show output" button on the tab sheet "Results or the "Output" button in
the tool bar. A scroll list at the bottom of the "Output" window allows defining different
output levels and output settings.

"Output level"

"System & Detailed results"

"System & Results"

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System"

"Output settings"

Output level (same as described before)

Page numbering
User defined paragraph numbering
Black and white text only
The calculation note is re-generated after executing changes of the Output level or
Output settings.

6. Description of the design procedures

Full details on the technical background is given in CIDECT Design Guide 9 [2]. The
symbols used in the user interface of the software as well as the symbols used in the
calculation note (output) are in accordance with CIDECT Design Guide 9. Other
symbols, for example used for interim calculation results, are defined directly in the
calculation note.

7. Release notes
Version 1.0.0 (September 2009)

First public release

Automatic update checker

Direct access to the user manual (Menu/Help)

Version 0.9.5 (July 2009)

Final beta release (available to CIDECT members only)

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8. References
[1] CIDECT - Comit International pour le Dveloppement et lEtude de la
Construction Tubulaire (International Committee for Research and Technical
Support for Hollow Section Structures), www.cidect.com.

[2] Zhao, X.L. et al.: Design guide for circular and rectangular hollow section welded
joints under fatigue loading, CIDECT Design Guide No. 8, TV-Verlag, Kln,
2000.

[3] Weynand, K., et al: Integrated software tools for the design of members and
joints in tubular construction, Feldmann + Weynand GmbH Aachen, Germany,
CIDECT report 16B-15/09, Juli 2009.

[4] Eurocode 3; Design of steel structures. Part 11, General rules and rules for
buildings, EN 199311, 2005.

[5] CIDIC - CIDECT Design and Information Centre V. 1.0, see [3], 2009, software
available at www.cidect.com

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