🕖 Surviving in times of change
I felt one thing while working as a structural engineer who designs concrete bridges(RC/PSC) according to various countries' design standards: A profound understanding of ACI318(AASHTO) and EN2 is essential to successfully working on bridge projects. Most countries' standards are developed based on those standards. (Of course, it is my personal opinion.) Personally, I believe that my design career was successful because I recognized these facts.
Reviewing the ACI318 and EN once is not enough because design standards change over time. Revision is an indispensable process, and I expect two things before the new edition is released.
First, to be precise, the existing vague parts; the other is simplifying the calculating equations to apply the practical design process. Fundamentally, those are relevant problems. Complexity usually brings unclear parts.
Unfortunately, the newly updated 2G:Eurocode 2 did not meet these expectations. Standards are more convoluted than before, and this has indeed led to an increase in unclear areas.
Now, the moment has come to prepare for the future.
⚙️ Introduction to Our New Tool
Now, let's talk about tools.
The primary function of this tool is to easily output stress-strain curve graphs, which are strength characteristics of concrete, and graphs of time-dependent characteristics such as creep and drying shrinkage.
Notably, by providing the existing EN1992-1-1 and the new 2G:EN1992-1-1 together, the user can compare those results and experience the calculating processes. I believe it would be a handy tool to validate that new standards align with user understanding before implementing them in practice.
❓How to use it?
🔢 Input values
1. Select Graph
- Concrete Properties (Stress-strain diagrams)
- Time-Dependent Behavior
2. Select Standard Code
- 2G:EN 1992-1-1
- EN 1992-1-1
3. Put values
4. Click the calculation button
📈 Review a result
- A. Concrete Properties
- Non-linear
- Parabola rectangle
- Bi-linear (Not include 2G:EN 1992-1-1)
- B. Time-Dependent Behavior
- Creep coefficient
- Shrinkage strain
- Elastic modulus
- Mean compressive strength
- Mean tensile strength
2. View a result as a table
3. Check additional information
4. Graph tool (save, zoom in and out, move, restore)
😜 Conclusion
The 2nd Generation Eurocode is continually being released and is targeted to start use in 2028. In line with this, MIDAS provides tools to compare the modifications between the 1st and 2nd generations. This work will only be possible with the support of ongoing research and constant user interest. We ask for your interest and anticipation for the upcoming tools.
Are you curious about this tool?
Click the link below to access MIDAS Tools for free.
