Interoperability - components of BIM technology

• Improved plug-in Revit - LIRA-SAPR:
  • the 'Export' dialog box is now non-modal, so it is possible you to assign properties to Revit analytical models without closing the dialog box;
  • restored option to export the Linear load to the element from Revit 2022 to LIRA-SAPR program;
  • new option to assign 'materials by category' for the English localization of the program.
• Combined *.dwg and *.dxf imports for the 'Import floor plans', 'Import AutoCad drawing', 'Import model to new project' commands and for the 'Import underlay in *.dxf, *.dwg format' node.
• In the 'Import floor plans' dialogue box, the storey height may be saved to the parameter template to be applied later.
• Enhanced import of IFC:
  • storeys are created by slabs for models that are saved in the IFC as one storey;
  • improved recognition of walls with a large number of faces;
  • improved recognition of openings;
  • new recognition of object colours;
  • improved import of beams.

SAPFIR-Structures

• If the wind load is applied by method '1 - to ends of floor slabs', the pressure/suction option is implemented separately (for all building codes). If the option is defined as 'Yes', then the separate loads are generated for the positive and negative wind pressure.
• SP RK EN 1991-1-4:2005/2011 Wind loads, clause 7.1.2 (Asymmetric wind pressure) is supported. If the wind load is applied by method '1 - to ends of floor slabs' and '2 - positive/negative wind pressure', it is possible to define the parameter 'Asymmetric wind pressure' with pressure coefficients (left/right) for all building codes.

• In the 'Sum up loads' dialog box, there is new option to edit the total load separately for each direction and for each load case. This option is available in the 'Architecture' and the 'Meshed model' modes.
• New modules for earthquake loads according to building codes of Uzbekistan KMK 2.01.03-19 (module 33), Tajikistan MKS CHT 22-07-2007 (module 48) and Georgia PN 01.01.-09 (module 53).
• The following parameters are added for all earthquake modules:
  • the required percentage of modal masses;
  • option to sum up the displacements with the same frequency;
  • option to define the method for summing up the earthquake components;
  • account of excluded and non-computed mode shapes.
• In the 'Meshed model' mode, the 'Copy loads to architecture' option is available in the 'Load cases' dialog box, on the 'Edit load cases' tab (see the shortcut menu). It enables the user to copy any loads to architecture, including wind loads and loads obtained after the load collection with proxy objects.

• Option to delete the load case together with all loads it contains:
  • for wind, earthquake, special load and soil pressure - the relevant items are deleted in the 'Structure' window;
  • for the load defined in the properties of slab - the relevant item with the load value becomes clear;
  • for objects with interpretation 'Load' (partition, beam, column, slab, etc.) - the object itself is deleted.

• A new triangulation method 'adaptive quadrilateral version 2' is implemented. Based on comparison results, for certain problems, the 'adaptive quadrilateral version 2' method may speed up the process by 2 to 4 times. The greater the ratio of model dimension to triangulation step and the more mandatory points for triangulation, the faster the triangulation will be with the new method relative to the previous method. Also for a number of problems in which the 'Smooth mesh' option enabled, the FE mesh quality is considerably enhanced.

Large Panel Buildings

• Enhanced division of the FE of joint over openings.
• Enhanced generation of embedded items in the joint over the openings in case the 'Lintel is simulated with bar' option is defined in the properties of the opening.

SAPFIR-RC (Reinforced Concrete)

• The drawings and detail views for punching shear according to the SP RK EN 1992-1-1:2004/201.

• A new 'Arrangement of reinforcement' dialog box is mentioned to define the parameters for the arrangement of transverse reinforcing bars in punching shear and then to design with separate rebars or reinforcing cages.

SAPFIR-GENERATOR

• Added nodes: 'Arc by three points', 'Arc by two points and direction', 'Plane by three points'.

Interoperability

• For floor plans, corrected bugs in case: 
  • two slab contours (foundation slabs) are generated if one of their edges coincides;
  • grid lines are created by layer if the grid line label and grid line itself are on different layers.
• Enhanced export of beams to IFC file.
• Fixed bug in the output for results of reinforcement for the LIRA-SAPR and Autodesk Revit integration.

Preprocessor SAPFIR-Structures

• For the 'Special load' tool, the number of created loads is displayed in the 'Edit load cases' dialog box.
• In the project properties there is new parameter 'Intersection diagnostic error' that is used when the floor slabs are checked for intersections
• It is possible to switch the table's orientation from rows to columns in the steel table.
• Work with large arrays of piles is accelerated (options to copy, select, move objects). Files with large pile arrays are now opened more quickly.
• Improved autodetection of analytical floor levels for cases with many multi-level slabs within one floor.
• Enhanced generation of PRB column-wall for situations where the model contains offsets from column to wall.
• Fixed script error when you open the file (and its folder) from the SAPFIR start page. Improved loading of the start page in cases of poor internet connections.
• Restored option 'Apply to adjacent walls' in properties of the opening.
• Enhanced 'Mirror' command for openings in the slab and wall.
• Corrected error when the Slab with interpretation 'Load' was not included into the meshed model.
• Fixed bug that in certain situations caused the window infill to disappear.

Panel buildings

• For a lintel (simulated with a bar) that is defined in the properties of door and window openings, the bar is divided along FE of horizontal joint (restored option) when the model is transferred from SAPFIR module to VISOR-SAPR module.
• Enhanced auto arrangement of joints with the 'Apply' command in the Joint tool.

SAPFIR-RC

• Reinforcement colour palette is updated (restored option) when parameters of colour palette (colour, diameter, step) are modified.
• Improved view of wall reinforcement for cases where openings in the wall are indicated from the storey top with a negative relocation.

SAPFIR-Generator

• Enhanced option to bake nodes.
• Restored node 'Rope'.
• Fixed bug related when you undo a node if the properties of another node were edited just before it.

Warning.
Compatibility issues are identified for some Radeon graphics card models.

INTEROPERABILITY - components of ВIM technology

• Enhanced options for two-way integration with Autodesk Revit. BIM integration with Autodesk Revit 2023. Export of both physical and analytical model. Import of only analytical model from Revit 2023.

For Autodesk Revit 2022 and Autodesk Revit 2023, option to import analysis results for reinforcement with account of the modified analytical model. In the import settings it is possible to specify the vicinity and angular accuracy with which the most appropriate bars for beams and columns will be found as well as plates for walls and slabs.

Settings for imported analytics. New tool to import the user-modified analytical model.

Transfer the modified analytical model from Revit to LIRA-SAPR

• A special tool to check the reinforcement in plate elements; it enables you to automatically present in certain colour the under-reinforced areas in plate elements. This tool interacts both with mesh reinforcement 'Distributed' and with the 'Reinforcement by Path' object.
  

Check of reinforcement in Revit when the 'Reinforcement by Area' and 'Reinforcement by Path' tools are used

• Two-way converter Tekla Structures 2022 - LIRA-SAPR - Tekla Structures 2022. The Tekla Structures - LIRA-SAPR - Tekla Structures converter provides full functionality for the analysis and design of metal and reinforced concrete structures.

Import/Export of archirectiral (*.ifc) and analytical (*.lirakm) models between Tekla Structures 2022 and LIRA-SAPR

• When the IFC file is imported, it is possible to configure the IFC parameters, that is, to match parameters of the IFC object with parameters of the SAPFIR object. Such match option for parameters may can be performed for each type of IFC object.
• A new tool for import of DWG files is provided. This makes it possible to use this format:
• as 2D 'underlay' that may be the basis for generating a model in SAPFIR module;
• as a basis for filling the library of typical joints with subsequent generation of drawings;
• for automatic generation of a model based on DWG floor plans.

Import floor plans using DWG format

• For DXF/DWG floor plans, the following options are added:
• to import special elements FE 55

• to import vertical triangulation lines for walls

Import floor plans with option to specify lines and points for triangulation

• Enhanced tool to export types of reinforcement (TR) available in the project for columns to the DXF file.

Export of analysis results for reinforcement according to unification of columns

• Import of new objects SAF:
• Loads on plates - concentrated load, concentrated moment, linear uniformly distributed load, linear moment, linear trapezoidal load, plane load;
• Loads on columns - concentrated load, concentrated moment, linear uniformly distributed load, linear moment, linear trapezoidal load;
• Loads on walls - concentrated load, concentrated moment, linear uniformly distributed load, linear moment, linear trapezoidal load, plane load;
• Loads on beams - concentrated load, concentrated moment, linear uniformly distributed load, linear moment, linear trapezoidal load;
• Hinges in beams and columns.

Loads on beam in ArchiCAD 25

SAPFIR-Structures preprocessor

Triangulation

• Enhanced tool that enables you to automatically create triangulation zones for slabs:
• In addition to triangulation zones (for slabs) located above the walls, it is now possible to create triangulation zones (for slabs) below the walls with indent from the wall in 4 directions and individual triangulation step;
• Enhanced algorithm for triangulation of contours; it provides better triangulation of slabs-to-wall connections.

How to create triangulation zones for slabs

• It is now possible to automatically refine triangulation mesh for plates near the openings. In the properties of the opening you could define the step of triangulation points around the opening, the number of rows of points with fixed step and the total number of rows of triangulation points. After the rows with fixed triangulation step, the program creates several rows with intermediate step to avoid the degenerate triangles when the fine mesh (near the opening) becomes the sparse mesh (in the span).
• The 'Enhance triangulation at intersections' option is presented in the properties of design model to avoid narrow triangular FEs if a coarse triangulation mesh is defined for the model. When this option is selected, at places where narrow triangular FEs should appear, the triangulation mesh is refined and better quality FEs are generated.

Enhancing triangulation at intersections (SAPFIR)

Comparison of stresses in slabs with the option to enhance triangulation at intersections (VISOR-SAPR)

• Enhanced options for the 'Create grid on wall' node to generate horizontal and vertical triangulation lines in the wall with a specified triangulation step. New parameters are added for the node:
• 'List of levels' - to define the intervals of horizontal triangulation lines from the wall bottom and between each other;
• 'Intervals by openings' – to adapt the wall triangulation lines to vertical triangulation lines from openings, if such lines are defined in the properties of the opening.

How to create triangulation lines in walls with a node

Loads

• Extended options for the 'Sum up loads' dialog box. Now it works not only with the analytical model, but with the meshed model as well.
• It is possible to transfer the load from a column base to the soil model. In the column properties you could assign the distributed load on soil Pz, subgrade moduli C1 and C2, horizontal stiffness for the slab supported with soil Cx and Cy, support and boundary conditions to the analytical presentation of the column base.
• The rendering of visual load models is optimized. In version 2022, a model with a large number of loads rotates, pans and zooms 1.5 times faster than in version 2021. To activate this option, in the 'SAPFIR preferences' dialog box, on the 'Visualization' tab, use the 'Simplified presentation of loads' check box.
• New mode when the wind load is applied manually rather than automatically generated. For the pulsation load, the user-defined static loads may be applied.
• Visualization of wind load in the architectural model with the option to 'freeze' the wind. This option allows you to update/cancel automatic wind generation when geometry of the structure is modified.
• When the wind pressure (active/passive) is automatically applied in space, it is possible to collect wind on the side walls (zones A, B, C) and define the aerodynamic coefficient for each zone.
• Wind load may be collected for flat, gable and shed roofs according to SP RK EN 1991-1-4:2005/2017.

Auto collection of wind on the roof

• The collection of wind loads on bars is optimized. The slope angles for bars and rotation angles for cross-section are now taken into account. Option to modify the coefficient to load for each element.
• Tools to create special parametric load. This load is transferred to VISOR-SAPR module as load distributed across the plate elements or as load distributed along the bar length rather than the surface load. The load intensity may be defined with the parameters 'Surface load, tf/m2' for plate elements or 'Load per r.m., tf/m' for bars. The load may be applied along the normal to the element. In this case, a number of other parameters become available to simulate the liquid and gas pressure on the tank walls.
• Considerably simplified procedure for collecting loads from the surface or slab and redistributing them to a beam system of arbitrary shape. Floor slabs or surfaces with a special new interpretation 'Proxy objects for loads' and loads with the option 'Loads through proxy objects' are used to distribute the loads. When design model is generated, the option 'Distribute loads on beams through proxy objects' becomes active and the program automatically performs all further steps: intersections, triangulation, assignment of supports and analysis. Based on the analysis results, the non-uniformly distributed linear loads on the beams are generated in SAPFIR module. For each element it is possible to correct the coefficient to load.

How to collect loads from the surface or slab

• For the surface load, new option to cut the contour by a line, a plane (hatching), or by the contour of other objects.
• For all objects that have interpretation 'Load', new parameter 'Additional load case' to add the load to a certain assemblage stage.

Analytics

• New 'Ventiduct' tool to automatically cut the openings in walls and slabs that it passes through. The openings may be generated exactly according to the shape of the ventilation duct or with a specified indent. Since every opening is associative, it is automatically updated whenever a ventiduct’s location or size is modified.

How to create openings in load-bearing elements of the framework with the new 'Ventiduct' tool

• The option to create an inclined column. In the properties of the object, define the slope angle and direction of inclination for the column. For oblique column, almost complete set of properties for the vertical column is available: changing stiffness parameters, generating PRB, assigning support and boundary conditions, generating triangulation points, etc.

• The automatic generation of bar analogues in SAPFIR module. To generate a bar analogue (BA), simple rectangular cross-sections are recognised:
• linear sections of wall;
• slab rectangular in plan;
• lintel above and below the opening;
• pylons or beams, described in meshed model with plate-type FEs.

In the properties of BA you could specify the number of BA sections. Division of BA may also be specified with the approximation step.

To generate BA from walls or slabs, new option is added to the properties of the corresponding objects.

How to generate bar analogues for walls in pylons

In addition to the option to replace the area above the opening with a bar, in the properties of door and window openings there is new option to save the modelling of the area above the opening with plate elements and to generate a lintel as BA. In the same way, it is possible to generate a BA for the zone below the window.

How to generate bar analogues for lintels

For rectangular beams it is possible to generate a BA in the shape of a T-section. The program automatically recognises the height of the T-section while the flange width of the T-section may be defined in the properties of BA.

• Enhanced 'Check model' procedure:
• the warnings that are not critical are removed;
• enhanced algorithm of the search for intersecting slab contours in case the slabs have a compound contour in plan;
• in addition to the search for duplicated objects, the new search for objects in which analytical models partially intersect each other, it will help avoid errors in meshed model;
• when model is checked for coinciding or intersecting objects, it is possible to consider the objects from different floors.

Check of the model in versions 2021(left) and 2022(right)

• New tools to generate a retaining wall and a slab of variable thickness. The section contour of the retaining wall is defined in the 'Cross-section parameters' dialog box. For a slab of variable thickness, the max and min slab thicknesses are defined. The analytical model of the retaining wall and the slab of variable thickness is presented as several plates of different thicknesses. The number of plates is specified in the 'number of divisions in analytics' parameter in the slab/wall properties. The plates may be coaxial or shifted by offsets relative each other.
• Option to edit the wall contour in the plane of wall.

How to edit the wall contour

• For columns and beams, new option to define a variable cross-section for all standard SAPFIR cross-sections.

Column with variable cross-section

Bar with variable cross-section when imported into LIRA-SAPR

• Tools for splitting a wall with a column. In the column properties, there is a new 'PRB column-wall' parameter that allows you to create perfectly rigid body (PRB) between the wall ends and the column. The PRB is associative, i.e. when one of the walls or columns is moved, the relationship between the objects is remained.

• Optional presentation of the FE mesh on the physical model. The option is available after performing triangulation and saving the *.s2l file to transfer it to VISOR-SAPR module.
• The generated PRB (defined as a property and generated by the search for intersections) may be displayed on the analytical model. PRB is displayed as orange lines that connect the nodes included into PRB.

Meshed model with PRB in versions 2021 (left) and 2022 (right)

• Several new tools to evaluate the quality of the generated triangulation mesh: mosaic plots for quality of plates, area of plates, min angles of plates, min lengths of plate ribs, lengths of bars and rotation angles of bars.

Mosaic plot for the quality of triangulation mesh

• Added 'Align' command to align walls vertically. There are two modes for alignment: parallelism - after alignment they will be parallel to the selected wall, but not coaxial; vertical coaxial - after alignment they will be parallel and vertically coaxial to the selected wall.

• New option to select similar objects by horizontal stalk. They are selected with the 'Select horizontally' options ('Select along axis/direction' commands). The following objects may be selected:
• Columns;
• Piles;
• Walls;
• Beams;
• Slabs;
• Foundation slabs;
• Concentrated load;
• Linear load.

• Tolerances for analytical models of the objects are added to the project properties:
• 'min threshold of door' height for analytical models of wall.
• The 'Stair' tool is enhanced:
• more support options for stairs. It is now possible to assign that a flight of stairs is supported with the landing and floor slabs as a coupled DOF along Z, X and Y or to select a user-defined support;
• auto unification of local axes for stairs when the model is transferred to VISOR-SAPR module.
• In the 'Snap of base point' dialog box it is possible to select the location for the analytical presentation of the beam and column within the section.

The snap of the analytical model for the beam to the physical model

• Enhanced 'Shaft' tool to work with storey levels and additional levels within a storey. Openings along the shaft contour are generated automatically in all slabs that the shaft passes through.

Updated 'Shaft' tool with the option to dynamically generate an opening in slabs

• New functionality for the 'Other' object:
• to select the 'Ventiduct' option in the properties of the 'Other' object to automatically generate openings in all walls and slabs that the 'Other' object passes through;
• the 'Cut by storeys' command is also available for the 'Other' object.
• For the capital and column base, new option to create stages only in one direction.
• The schedule of the metal shapes may be organized by user-defined types of elements: column, beam, framework, brace member, purlin, rope, etc.
• For the existing 'Cut' command there is an 'Extend' option that allows you to extend all SAPFIR linear objects up to a specified line. The command is available in 3D views, on floor plans, facades, cross-sections, sectional elevations and drawings.
• It is now possible to save the SAPFIR file together with all the files associated with it (SLD - soil model, DXF, DWG, IFC, SAF, XLS and ASP - reinforcement results) to a separate project folder. A project archive may be created in the same way.

How to save the SAPFIR file with all the files that are associated with it; creating a project archive

• On the 'Project structure' tab, new option to control visibility of the object.

Visibility of objects on the 'Project structure' tab

How to work with object visibility

• The section name is displayed, elements may be organized automatically - elements with the same section type and size will be located next to one another in the list.

How to organize objects by section

• Some changes and improvements to the 'View' tab, namely:
• when created, reinforcement types will go to a new chapter RC;
• option to organize alphabetically;
• option to move the reinforcement types within the tree;
• option to create custom chapters; move reinforcement types across chapters (just drag them);

How to create a new chapter (folder)

• option to change the name for the chapter;
• option to display reinforcement types by type of RC elements ;

How to display reinforcement types according to type of RC

• option to save the camera location;

How to save the location of the camera

• to select group of items and then move or delete views.

• More options available on the start page:
• a shortcut menu for the recently opened files;
• 'Import' command to import files and not to create an empty *.spf file.

Drawings

• Any image imported from popular bitmap formats (PNG, JPEG, BMP) may be placed on a sheet of drawing. When the image is imported, it is possible to change its density, size and aspect ratio.

How to add a bitmap image to a drawing

SAPFIR-RC

• For types of reinforcement in slab, new option to display (in the working view) notation for patterns of additional reinforcement in slab as they will be presented in the drawing.

Parameter 'Notations for drawings'

• Auto orientation of labels for main reinforcement along direction of the unified axes defined in the properties of the reinforced slab.
• Option to create a 2D node from a reinforcement view.

How to create a 2D node from a reinforcement view

• For types of reinforcement in diaphragm, it is possible to indicate the reinforcement zones on the drawing.
• For reinforcement cages in punching shear, it is possible to modify class of reinforcement in the 'Schedule of reinforcement' dialog box.
• The 'Unify slabs' dialog box: visual information (as the same colours for rows) for slabs of similar area.
• DSTU 3760:2019 is supported for reinforcing bars, reinforcing items, stirrups and studs.
• For the reinforcement model Column, new option to modify location of stirrups 'manually'.

How to modify location of stirrups manually

SAPFIR-GENERATOR

• The work with models with a large number of NODEs is accelerated.
• New nodes are added:
• 'Cleanup beams' to trim or extend beams to walls, columns, lines or other beams. In addition, it is possible to limit the zone in which the cleanup or extension should be made.

Node 'Cleanup beams'

• 'Delete coincident line fragments' - to remove duplicate line segments so that errors do not occur when you generate a model based on these lines.
• 'Delete coincident points' - to remove duplicate points.
• 'Ventiduct' - to generate (along the line) the object type 'ventilation duct' that will cut openings in walls and slabs.

Node 'Ventiduct'

• 'Shaft by contour' - to automatically create openings in the floor slabs that it crosses.
• 'Load along vector direction' - to generate uniform and nonuniform linear loads along a specified vector. For example, to apply a wind load to bars.
• 'Lines from column' - to obtain the vertical axis for column and the contour line for column section.

Node 'Lines from column'

• 'Convert objects' - to convert some object types to others.
• 'Import XLS file' - to import an updatable Excel file with numerical values. At node input it is possible to define where the values should be taken (from which sheet, from which columns, rows, cells or cell ranges). You will obtain the node output with the data from cells or several outputs (with the corresponding names of column) that may be linked to other nodes.

Import Excel file (*. xls)

• 'List of elements specified with indexes' – to divide a list of items from the input into different outputs according to defined indexes.
• 'String to array of real numbers' - to convert a specified text string to an array of real numbers.
• 'String to array of integers' - to convert a specified text string to an array of integers.
• 'Arrays (with sets of points) specified with indexes' - to generate several arrays of points from the 1st set of points according to defined indexes.
• Enhanced nodes:
• 'Columns by points' – option to create columns by vertical line (e.g. from 3D dxf).
• 'Advanced generation of storeys by specified levels' - the number of possible inputs for floors is increased from 32 to 1024.
• 'Block of models' - to modify properties of internal objects through connection to the input parameter Par of the 'InPar' node.
• 'Boolean unification of lines', 'Boolean subtraction from lines of input 1 lines of input 2' and 'Boolean intersection of lines' - additional outputs Ln with contours of openings.
• 'Import IFC' and 'Import SAF' - outputs to access imported objects in order to convert them to other object types or modify the properties of imported objects.

How to import of IFC and convert object