Happy New Year

Despite a gloomy outlook for most software companies, Oasys Ltd had a good year and would like to thank all their customers for their support and messages of encouragement. Although part of a much larger organisation, we are a small outfit that values its customers and strives to provide excellent software and services. We wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year

Columbus gains a PhD.

Senior Programmer and principle developer of Columbus Juan Herrero, has just completed his PhD. which covered the development of Columbus and focussed on the use of metadata to improve document handling and exchange in the construction industry. The tome, which makes excellent bedtime reading, was described by examiners as making a significant contribution, far greater than most PhDs. The external examiner specifically stated that he had never seen a thesis which so conclusively proved its case

Pricing Changes

On the 14th January a new price list was posted on the Oasys website (www.oasys-software.com). The major change on this revision is the new pricing structure for Oasys concrete programs.

Future Plans

2003 will be a busy period for us. Amongst the usual melee of software improvements we are issuing a vastly improved suite of concrete programs, and plan to release a professional version of Columbus and an email filing plug-in for Outlook.

How to contact us for...

Oasys Private on-Line Support Pages

We have recently launched our private on-line support pages which can be found on our website via the "Support" link. Customers with a current support and maintenance contract will have either received, or will shortly receive, by e-mail, a password and username providing access to their support page.

This is another method of technical support, which we would encourage you to use alongside e-mail and telephone support. Technical queries can be posted on your own private support pages, which are only open to users of your company. Oasys technical support staff are automatically notified once you have made a posting and will respond directly to you via the support pages. Our response is also automatically e-mailed to you. The on-line support pages hold an archive of all of your queries so that you can readily access these at a future date.

We hope you find this additional method of support very useful and would welcome any feedback on this service.

CADplot - the most cost effective and fully featured AutoCAD plotting tool yet.

The new preview interface includes: A toolbar, layout tabs, scale and units. These enable easy plotting of non-standard drawings that you receive from 3rd parties.

New features:

• Zoom tools - extents, in, out and window
• Adjust plotted area (pick window)
• Pan the paper - great for printing a portion of a drawing
• Tab views - easily swap between model and multiple layouts
• Scale adjustment - see the changes immediately even in layouts
• Unit adjustment - scales automatically adjusted for different units
• Enterprise deployment tool - Push-out the free client software with pre-configured settings to selected desktops

Explorer Shell Extensions

If you prefer to use Windows Explorer rather than Columbus to find your drawings, you will be pleased to find that you can now use a simple right-click to get you there.

Three new structural releases

We are pleased to announce new releases of ADC, ADSEC and COMPOS. Details below:

New release of Oasys ADC

ADC is our concrete analysis and design program. ADC 7.2 replaces the DOS programs ADBEAM, ADRIB and ADSLAB. (A new module for column design is under development to replace ADCOL.) An overview of the capability of ADC is given on our web site at http://www.oasys-software.com/adc/

Design procedure for beams and slabs

The design is split into three phases:

• Analysis
• Redistribution - if required
• Design

Analysis of the sub-frame

ADC works with a sub-frame model rather than individual spans in isolation. This means that the analysis can take account of the stiffness provided by columns and walls. The analysis is carried out using the proven GSA solver.

The user has the option to reduce the peak moments calculated assuming point supports, by taking Into account the column or wall width.

Design of beams and slabs

The design phase consists of a number of key stages:

• Identification of critical sections
• Calculation of the required areas of steel
• Selection of reinforcement to provide the area required
• Rationalisation of selected reinforcement and curtailment checks
• Checking of span-depth ratios

The area of steel is calculated based on the recto-parabolic stress distribution rather than the simplified stress block.

If a bunched solution is required, the maximum number of bars per layer is based on the sum of the equivalent diameter not exceeding 40% of the beam width. The bars may be in bunches of up to three for beams and ribs and up to two for slabs.

New features in Windows ADC

There are a number of new features in the Windows version of ADC including:

• A wizard to allow the initial definition of the model.
• Output can now be tailored without having to close the view and open a new view.
• Self-weight can be included in the calculation.
• Improved data checking.
• Rib sections are checked to ensure that the depth is less than four times the rib width.
• Both code prescribed and user defined loading can be defined. Either or both can be used in the analysis and design.
• Option to open ADC file exported from GSA for beam design.
• Inclusion of notional horizontal loads (BS8110 cl 3.1.4.2)
• Export to DXF.

New release of Oasys AdSec

AdSec is the Oasys general concrete section analysis program. An overview of the capability of AdSec is given on our web site at http://www.oasys-software.com/adsec/.

This latest version of AdSec is a complete rewrite, bringing the ease of use of the Windows interface whilst maintaining the features of the DOS version.

Key features include:

• Section analysis to BS8110 (UK & Hong Kong), plus BS5400. Eurocode2 is currently being developed.
• Section creation wizard
• Compound sections
• Template and general reinforcement
• ULS Capacity/Loads and SLS Load analysis cases

Oasys Compos 7.4 release

Compos is the Oasys program for the analysis and design of simply supported composite concrete and steel beams.

Enhancements to this version support changes to BS 5950-1:2000. These affect:

• Element classification limits.
• Treatment of slender sections.
• Value of shear buckling resistance.
• Treatment of combined bending and shear when shear buckling is possible.
• Limitations on web d/t.
• You can also now export detailed results.

Oasys GSA 8.0 re-build

As part of our effort to provide the best service possible, new builds of Oasys software are made periodically to pick up fixes to known problems in the programs. GSA 8.0 build 15 is available for download and installation now.

Structural Tips & Tricks

ADC Tip: Use GSA to set up your AdBeam models

Continuous beam sub-frames can be exported from GSA for design by AdBeam in ADC.

AdSec Tip: Compound sections

The section wizard can be used to specify component sections; these can be used to build up compound sections.

AdSec Tip: Analysis cases

AdSec uses analysis cases similar to those in GSA. So a ULS analysis case can be defined as 1.4L1 + 1.6L2 where load cases 1 and 2 are dead and imposed loads respectively.

AdSec Tip: Standard to perimeter section conversion

To achieve an almost regular section you can specify a standard section in the section wizard, convert it into a perimeter section (using the 'Options | Expand Section' command) and then adjust the perimeter section in the section wizard. In this circumstance any template reinforcement is converted to general reinforcement ensuring that the reinforcement definition remains complete.

GSA Tip: Preview options when sculpting

Despite GSA's powerful Undo capability it is still worth using the 'Preview' option available in many of the sculpt dialog boxes. Previewing eases the process of experimenting with sculpt commands since the sculpt parameters do not need to be completely re-specified if, say, a 'copy' is carried out with respect to the wrong axis set.

GSA Tip: Re-open initial model by restore backup

When you open a model in GSA a 'manual backup' is automatically made. Using the 'File | Restore Manual Backup' command reinstates the model to the state at which the last manual backup was made. This is easier than closing the model and re-opening since the restored model is immediately displayed in all views that are currently open.

GSA Tip: Use Highlight Edges and Section Display to validate 2D element models

The 'Highlight edges' option in the Graphic Settings dialog identifies all edges in 2D element models, - intended or otherwise! Section Display is useful for determining whether you are looking at the top of a 2D element (light grey) or bottom (dark grey); - make sure the elements consistently face one way or the other, especially if they are taking bending.

GSA Tip: Graphic volumes

The 'Volume' cursor mode is an extremely quick and easy way of identifying the part of your model that you want to look at.

GSA Tip: Online demos

Don't forget that there are many online demos that illustrate the use of GSA. Find these both on our web site and from 'Help | Online demos' within the program.

Oasys GEO has just been updated to version17.8.4.

The Oasys GEO suite is a state-of-the-art suite capable of analysing virtually any geotechnical problem. It includes programs in the Windows environment for the analysis of flexible retaining walls, prediction of soil movement and slope stability, pile design and now, with the first release of SAFE for Windows, finite element analysis of soils and groundwater.

The finite element program SAFE has been used in its Windows format extensively in-house by Arup for the last 3 years on high profile projects such as Canary Wharf and the Kings Cross redevelopment.

SAFE is a two-dimensional finite element program which uses 8-noded quadrilateral elements. Its main features are summarised below:

• Analysis of plane stress, plane strain or axially symmetric problems. General loading of linear elastic axisymmetric structures can be carried out using a Fourier series technique.
• Linear or non-linear behaviour, using a wide range of material models: Linear Elastic, Elastic Mohr-Coulomb, an incremental elastic model as proposed by Duncan and Chang, an elastic/plastic/brittle model with stress magnitude restriction, Modified Cam-clay, Soil reinforcement, and a strain history model.
• Pore pressures and effective stresses are identified separately, allowing computation for drained or undrained conditions, and time dependent consolidation.
• Incremental loading and changes of material properties, permitting the formation of excavations, embankments etc.
• Extensive graphical input options and in-built mesh generation facility.
• Wide range of graphical output and printing facilities.
• Other additions for GEO 17.8.4 include some new features in SLOPE, the well-established slope stability program. These include:
  • On-linear strength envelopes for drained materials - power law and hyperbolic relationships
  • "Exploded" slice diagrams and force polygons
  • Ability to add text, soil or slip circle labels to graphical output

Fully functioning 30 day demonstration versions of the programs can be downloaded from the Oasys website. Licensing is now fully electronic with no hardware keys (dongles).

Archetype

Our involvement as a reseller

Oasys are Archetype's premier dealer. With support teams both in the north and south of England, and sophisticated web based customer-specific on-line support pages we provide technical support and advice to customers throughout the world.

Training is available either at our offices or on site, and can be tailored to suit your requirements.

From the 1st March we are offering a starter pack. This includes 5 or 10 copies of the software along with two days on-site installation, configuration and training consultancy.

What you get.

• 5 User licences
• 2 days installation & training
• 1 year's maintenance

The starter pack includes:

• Hardware and operation system compatibility check
• Software installation
• Configuration of software
• Addition of your staff details to the system
• Incorporation of your logo on standard output
• Addition of your email disclaimer on outgoing emails
• AutoCAD title block linkage
• Advice on importing legacy data
• Administrator training
• End-user training
• 1 year of telephone, email and web based support
• all software upgrades in the first year

Costs:

• 5-user Starter Pack £4260
• 10-user Starter Pack £6630

If you are looking for a simple tool that manages drawings, documents, emails and document issues, Archetype may just be what you need. If you need something to manage resources, record timesheets, track print and postage costs, create door/window/lintel schedules and simplify production of instructions, then you really must take a look at Archetype.

Demonstrations

Seeing is believing with this package and a demonstration is highly recommended. Come to our seminar or contact us for a demonstration.

Recent Changes to the UNIPAC scheme

In our 25th year, we have decided to make our structural, geotechnical and CAD software FREE for academic use in teaching and research. Free annual academic network licences are available to bona-fide educational establishments for the following programs:

• Oasys GEO suite
• Oasys GSA 8.0
• Oasys Compos 7.4
• Oasys ADC 7.2
• CADtools

This development is aimed at creating mutually beneficial relationships with academic establishments - true industry/academia links. In return, Oasys hope that academia will contribute their ideas to ongoing development of the programs so that these continue to be the definitive state-of-the-art leaders in their particular fields.

In response to recent feedback from universities, we have made a number of changes to our UNIPAC scheme as follows:

• UNIPAC licences will be set to expire on 30 June rather than 31 December. Licences issued this year will be set to expire on 30 June 2004.
• Our offer is to supply free annual academic network licences for up to 50 concurrent users. We will also supply a limited number of standalone licences free-of-charge for use by course tutors.
• Students will be able to purchase a 3-year standalone licence for £25 + VAT. We will charge a further £25 + VAT if the licence needs to be transferred to another machine.

All of the Oasys programs are available for download from the "Academic Zone" of our website and will operate in full-feature evaluation mode for 30 days after installation. Please note that, for a network installation, you will not be able to run the software from the server PC itself once a licence file has been installed. Full installation instructions are provided on our website.

To extend the licence period, please print out and complete the UNIPAC Software Agreement form on our website and fax/post it back to Oasys Limited. Upon receipt of your completed Agreement and machine details, you will be sent your free UNIPAC network licences (each set for 50 concurrent users) which will work until 30 June each year. The licence files will be sent to you by e-mail with full instructions.

Seminars

Tuesday 4th March 2003

Archetype, CAD and Columbus

2 x FREE half day seminars in London

Venue: Arup, Fitzroy Room, 6th Floor, 8 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 4BQ

The London launch of Archetype version 6 and the presentation of future developments of Oasys CAD products and Columbus. Meet the developers and ask those probing questions you never get the chance to ask.

Agenda

To reserve your place, email melanie.palmer@arup.com or ring +44 (0)20 7755 3302.

Training Courses

Get started with GSA - introductory course and software for £300!

Oasys are pleased to announce a new introductory package to GSA.

We are offering a one-day hands-on course and 12 months use of the software for £300 - a saving of over £350 on our list prices. The courses will be held at a number of UK universities during the next 3 months including:

• University of East London - 10 March 2003
• Napier University, Edinburgh - 10 April 2003

Oasys GEO courses in universities

Oasys are currently organising a number of GEO courses in universities for March/April 2003 which will be open to commercial delegates.

• Introduction to Oasys GEO - 8 April 2003, Napier University, Edinburgh
• Introduction to Windows SAFE - 9 April 2003, Napier University, Edinburgh

Further details are available on our website.