YOUR COMMERCIAL LICENSE MUST BE CURRENT UP TO THE END OF DECEMBER 2009 AT THE EARLIEST TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS RELEASE.  Users evaluating this new release will be able to use this version for the remainder of their 30 day evaluation period. If your license has expire please contact us about how to bring your license up to date in order to use this latest release and to receive technical support.  You do not need to install any previous versions of Concise Beam before installing this latest release.

Version 4.50a is a maintenance release that includes the following changes;

• Adjusted the horizontal shear strength provided for ACI if shear friction is not needed.
• Added flag and note indicating use of shear friction method for horizontal shear strength.
• Changed the note regarding the use of the PCI Standard Practices.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for Concise Beam.  If your evaluation period is over but you'd like to try this latest release before purchasing a license you can ask for a short extension to your evaluation period by contacting me.

YOUR COMMERCIAL LICENSE MUST BE CURRENT UP TO THE END OF DECEMBER 2009 AT THE EARLIEST TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS RELEASE.  Users evaluating this new release will be able to use this version for the remainder of their 30 day evaluation period. If your license has expire please contact us about how to bring your license up to date in order to use this latest release and to receive technical support.  You do not need to install any previous versions of Concise Beam before installing this latest release.

Version 4.50 is a major new release that includes the following changes;

• Concise Beam's library and problem files are now installed in the Concise Beam Files directory under the (Windows) Documents or My Documents folder.  Concise Beam's configuration file (*.ini file) will also be stored in that directory.
• Concise Beam now supports ACI 318-08 as well as retaining support for ACI 318-05, 02 & 99. NZS 3101.1:2006 is now fully implemented within the scope of Concise Beam.
• The Custom Code - Concrete Parameters dialog has been rearranged for clarity and Concrete Stress Limits dialog has been extended to suit ACI 318-08 (variable compression limit at transfer).
• Have eliminated steel grade and material libraries and replaced them with combined steel library files.
• The precast section and steel libraries have been changed to a new file format with new extensions. Old library files can be converted to the new format for use with Concise Beam from within the Library Management & Selection dialog.
• Have eliminated the limits on length of names in the library files and number of nodes in a section polygon.
• The user can now rename and delete folders within the edit library dialogs. The edit library dialogs have been rearranged for clarity.
• The precast section library now includes the type of section such as Double Tee. The section types are predefined and allow Concise Beam to make certain calculation decisions based on the section type. For instance the shear provisions are different for hollow-core slabs under some codes.
• The steel libraries now include the type of bar or strand such as Deformed Bar. The bar or strand types are predefined and allow Concise Beam to make certain calculation decisions based on the type. For instance the development length provisions are different for different bar or strand types.
• An option has been added to the Flexure tab to make Concise Beam use strict strain compatibility in the determining the strain in the development length of fully bonded strands.
• [Zia/Hsu Torsion Method] To complete Concise Beam's support for PCI Standard Design Practice document TR-7-05 the PCI recommended Zia/Hsu torsion design method has been implemented for ACI users. It's implemented as an option under the Shear tab, off by default, if the ACI code is selected.
• An option has been added to the Deflection tab to allow the inclusion of highly dynamic loads in the live load deflections. This would include wind and seismic loads.  The option is off by default since these loads are not generally considered serviceability loads.
• The "Use Midspan Properties for Full Length of Beam" calculation option (Deflection tab) is now saved with the problem file.
• Have added some additional measures to try to discourage unauthorized use of Concise Beam.
• Version 4.5 uses a new format of license key. License keys issued for use with prior versions of Concise Beam will not work with version 4.50. All current license holders will receive a new license key.
• Cleaned up Concrete Dialog by removing the fci/fc ratios which were of minimal use.
• Have added two options to specify whether the concrete in the precast beam is steel fibre reinforced or flowable (SCC).  These options can affect shear strength and strand development respectively.
• The density factor for concrete in shear(lambda) is now interpolated for the ACI codes between normal density, semi-low density (sand) and low density concretes.
• The higher concrete density limit for the calculation of Ec under ACI318-08 has been retroactively applied to previous versions of ACI 318.
• Added a warning about defining deep beams in Concise Beam. Concise Beam uses beam theory which is not applicable to deep beams. The strut-and-tie method is recommended for deep beams.
• The cross-section chosen from a library files can now be edited, from the Section Properties dialog, using the section editor without having to modify the currently selected library file. This can be more convenient when editing unique sections that won't have to be reused in the future. The edited section could always be added to a library file (imported into a library) at a later date. You can now even create a new precast section without having to pick one from a library.
• The bearing length in service can now be specified at each end of the beam.
• The topping is now referred to as the cast-in-place pour to reflect the increased flexibility in which Concise Beam can model this part of the composite cross-section. The topping or CIP element can now be adjusted vertically and laterally relative to the top of the precast section so that it can now lie below the top of the precast beam. The CIP element is assumed to be composite with the precast beam. The user can now also specify the exact width and height of the composite interface in case this isn't obvious to Concise Beam. The composite interface is always assumed to be horizontal.
• An option has been added to the Cast-In-Place Pour Definition dialog to specify whether the composite should be considered intentionally roughened.
• The Torsion Parameters dialog has been extended to accomodate the use of the Zia/Hsu torsion method as recommended by PCI. This optional method is only available if using one of the ACI codes.
• The torsion dialog also now allows the user to specify whether the applied torsion can be reduced by moment redistribution.
• Adjusted the torsion calculations for hollow sections under the ACI codes.
• The Applied Loads dialog now gives you the option to specify whether a load is applied directly to the current beam or to an adjacent beam. If applied to an adjacent beam then the current beam would only be affected by load distribution.
• You can now select whether a selected reinforcing is rebar or wire. This may affect certain limits such as the maximum yield strength for stirrups under ACI. Selecting wire allows you to model WWR. The reinforcing steel ibraries have been expanded to show commonly available wire sizes and grades in Canada, the USA and Australia. When modelling WWR the user can specify the spacing of the cross wires for shear steel or the number of wires for longitudinal steel (assuming laid horizontal as in a slab). The spacing of the bars and wires can now be specified for the sake of development length calculations. This spacing isn't used to calculate the number of bars or wires included in the section.
• The steel material is now specified directly by the user instead of selected from a library. The bar/wire size can still be selected from a library or it could simply be input by the user directly.
• The end type of the bar or wire is now expanded to include straight embedment (old non-hooked option), fully developed, standard hook, or headed bar. Fully developed means that the development length is zero. This would match the old hooked option and can be used to model a continuous bar when simulating a multi-span beam. The standard hook and headed bar have a development length as calculated by the relevant design code.
• The steel material is now specified directly by the user instead of selected from a library. The strand size can still be selected from a library or it could simply be input by the user directly.
• The user can now specify whether a strand is epoxy coated.
• The user now has more control over the calculation of the strand development length including accounting for actual strand end slippage or providing user defined transfer and development length. The user can also specify modification factors for debonding, top location, and coating for each strand group. Thanks to Karl Truderung of Lafarge for the suggestion.
• The steel material is now specified directly by the user instead of selected from a library. The bar/wire size can still be selected from a library or it could simply be input by the user directly.
• The steel material is now specified directly by the user instead of selected from a library. The bar, wire, or strand size can still be selected from a library or it could simply be input by the user directly.
• Added two new text reports for service concrete stresses in the cast-in-place pour.
• Added a text report for the uncracked transformed section properties at the lifting stage.
• Updated the Externally Applied Loads table of the Summary Report to show the load distribution.
• The text reports list has been rearranged.
• The analysis reports now show the serviceability load combinations (total unfactored loads in some codes).
• The rebar and strand development lengths have been removed from the Summary Report and given their own report - "Strand, Bar and Wire Development Lengths" report.
• The Summary Report has been rearranged a bit.
• The Summary Report now includes the UNCRACKED TRANSFORMED SECTION PROPERTIES IN SERVICE table which includes the transformed section properties of the steel and how that may vary along the length of the beam.
• The deflection table in the Summary Report now includes an explanation of the columns.  Thanks to Chad Kohler of CKR Engineers for the suggestion.  The calculation of long-term deflections has been improved by properly accounting for the construction schedule dates including a newly scheduled date for completion of construction.
• Extended the Prestress Force reports to show initial prestress and offsets.
• Extended the section property reports to show net properties if used.
• The graph list has been rearranged.
• The graphing functions were rewritten to allow for partial length lines.
• The "Flexural Design Check" report now includes a curve for the minimum required flexural design strength (i.e. 1.2 Mcr) unless the "Check Minimum Strength at Critical Sections Only" (Options->Calculation Options) is selected.
• The longitudinal shear steel graph (for CSA A23.3) has been clarified a bit.
• New graph for Horizontal Interface Shear.
• Changed graphs to show bearing lengths if available.
• Many bug fixes and adjustments.  You can look at the Revision History for a full list.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for Concise Beam.  If your evaluation period is over but you'd like to try this latest release before purchasing a license you can ask for a short extension to your evaluation period by contacting me.

The final release of version 4.50 will hopefully be available by the end of the week.