DSTEEL is a software used to automate the connection design work in steel structures as per the Indian code and other international codes.

Indian codes :

IS-800 – 2007 and other related codes.

BRITISH codes :

BS – 5950

EURO CODES :

BS EN 1993-1-8: 2005: Euro code 3. Design of steel structures. Design of joints and other related codes

AMERICAN CODES :

ANSI-AISC-360-10(Specification for structural buildings)

What is DSTEEL?

DSTEEL is a software for design of connections in the structural steel works. With the involvement of the engineer, the software helps in getting an economical and practical design. This software covers all industry requirements.
It is based on codes. Various provisions of codes are available for reference as the context-sensitive help and reference clauses are mentioned in the reports. The project specifications can also be used to control the design requirements.
This software does the automation of all the manual work involved in the design process. The results from repeat trials by varying the parameters can be compared. Tailor-made solutions can be supplied for a specific project.
It is user-friendly and the non-fulfillment of the code requirements or mismatches are immediately reflected in RED and the area which needs a revision of input is highlighted.
The change and Revisions are a part of the life of every project. In Steel Construction, this being not an exception amounts to revisions in connection details. The design of connections between various elements of a structure is Complex at times. DSTEEL is developed with the aim of providing an easy and a generalized method of designing connections as per the standard codes and specifications.
While designing a particular connection, a 3-dimensional view is created which can be rotated and the actual scene can be visualized. The input is provided under various categories, which immediately reflects in the 3D and the corresponding 2D views to reflect the changes.
A good knowledge of structural design helps to use the software effectively. However, a less familiar user can also use and understand from the various messages and warnings displayed by the software.
The software is completely parametric. This helps to accommodate the revisions and see the results instantaneously.

THE SALIENT FEATURES ARE AS FOLLOWs

  • The analysis and design of the structure is supposed to be ready and frozen
  • The connections may be designed as per the requirement of the project :
    • For the capacity of the member,
    • For the given loads as per the analysis,
    • For a certain percentage of the capacity of the member
  • Connections are designed as per Indian and International codes.
  • All required code requirements are checked and are reported.
  • It includes an extensive library of various types of connections under each category like shear connections, moment connections, splices, bracing connections, base plates, welding for fabricated sections etc. and also all bolted, all welded and the combination of bolted and welded; giving the user a large choice for selection.
  • Any specific requirements can be added as per requirements of the project.

QUANTITY CALCULATION IN CONNECTION DESIGN OF STRUCTURES

A Connection in steel structure includes fin plates, end plates, gusset plates, stiffener plates, base plates, back up plates, packing plates, cleats (angles or channels), bolts ( including nuts & washers), anchor bolts, sleeves, welds etc. After the design of the connection is finalized, these quantities can be calculated. This helps to get the total quantity required for connections for the entire structure. Knowing the size and length s of welds, the quantities of weld consumables can be calculated.

This helps in quantity reconciliation and gives suitable guidelines for future projects.

WHY DSTEEL?

  • Due to revisions in designs for whatever reasons, the loading data and member profiles may change resulting in revisions in the connection design. This can be easily accommodated with the help of this software.
  • The software also provides the 2D and 3D views of the selected connection which helps the user further to visualize advance details of that connection.
  • The various views are Dynamically linked. This means, any particular input provided reflects immediately in the alongside sketch giving the user a clear concept of what is being done, how the connection will actually look if any clearance problems or crashing problems are occurring etc.
  • The material requirements of bolts, plates, welds etc. can be obtained along with the connection design details. Also, the capacity of the connection is reflected.
  • The software produces a complete report of calculations with the 2D and 3D sketches.
  • For a particular project, the complete documentation of all connection reports with the index and required nos. and quantities can be obtained as a final output.
  • A tabular form can be produced for similar types of connections with various parameter values tabulated along with necessary sketches. An A3 size drawing can be produced with the required additional details like the nameplates, notes, revision marks etc.

DSTEEL – Connection design specific to Industry :

ts_Steel_connections-e1276675050377

  • Pre Engineered Building (PEB)
  • Fired Heaters Projects
  • Transmission Tower
  • Pipe Racks
  • Technological Structures
  • Building
  • Trusses
  • Crane Girders
  • Equipment supporting Structures
  • Space Structures
  • Power Plants
  • Bridges

DSTEEL – Plate Optimization :

This application provides optimum plate cutting layout w.r.t. plate available in the market. The cutting plate can be imported in terms of excel or CIS2 stp files.

INPUT

  • Excel sheet (having details of the main plate and cut plate).
  • CIS2 files (having extension .stp).

OUTPUT

  • Graphical View (actual representation of plates in 2D).
  • PDF Report (contains details of consumed and remaining plates).

DSTEEL – CIS 2 Reporting :

This application reads file with extension .stp i.e. CIS2 file and classifies its contents into tabular view.

Features :

  • Export to excel
  • Report generation as per the requirement.
    • This can generate reports like PART LIST, ASSEMBLY LIST, BOLT LIST, MATERIAL LIST etc.

Technical article on connection design :

The connections in Steel structures form a very important part in the design and construction work. In real life, several modifications, revisions, and changes take place due to revisions in loading, geometry, unavailability of certain profiles etc. This calls for quick revisions in connections as well. Doing the same things again manually certainly consumes a lot of time.

Technical article on connection design :

The connections in Steel structures form a very important part in the design and construction work. In real life, several modifications, revisions, and changes take place due to revisions in loading, geometry, unavailability of certain profiles etc. This calls for quick revisions in connections as well. Doing the same things again manually certainly consumes a lot of time.

A steel fabrication software like DSTEEL helps here. It includes most of the types of common connections, both welded and bolted types. It identifies the basic inputs required for these and gives the detailed calculations along with various views of the connection type.

The most helpful part of this software is the parametric 3D views that give a very clear picture of the connection details. Any change in the input immediately reflects in the 3D view. It also shows the 2D sketches of various views along with the options of the brief and detailed calculations. These are available in form of report files. The various revisions can be saved. Also, a tabular form can be generated for similar types of connections with values of various parameters tabulated, with necessary notes etc. This helps to maintain well-documented records for reference and submissions as well.

Structural steel software (DSTEEL) also includes some special connections like Stack splice, Stack stool, and Welding for fabricated sections.

Some salient features of DSTEEL :

  • A comprehensive database of structural profiles as per various country codes.
  • Standard data from codes is built in the software.
  • Project wise specifications can be built in if required.
  • Connections can be designed for the given loads, full/partial capacity of the member.
  • Permissible stresses, end distances, pitch distances, bolt hole diameters etc are available as default values as per standards and also can be overridden by the user.
  • Where requirements of code are not fulfilled, a message appears advising the user to take necessary action.
  • The report is available for viewing as well as can be saved.
  • Requirements and checks which are not met as per code, appear in RED, those which are met appear in GREEN.

DSTEEL provides a comprehensive range of steel connections :

  • Connection detail drawings
  • Designs per Indian, British Standards, ASI Standards, LRDF, ASD. Others can be added as per requirements.
  • Beam-Column shear Connections
  • Beam-Beam shear Connections
  • Moment Connections
  • Bracing connections
  • Splice connections
  • Base plates and anchor bolts.
  • Stack bases.
  • Brackets.
  • Connections for hollow sections.

The various images are shown here illustrate the variety of connections covered in Dsteel.

The plate data can be utilized for plate cutting optimization. The input required is thickness-wise plate sizes available for cutting, the cut sizes and their numbers required. The calculations for a number of plates cut and the remaining plates are obtained as the output along with sketches. Any specific requirement can be added as per requirements.

Item Codification :

Every Company is interested in maintaining its own item code for all items of various disciplines like Piping, Structural, Civil, Electrical, Instrumentation, HVAC, HSE, Miscellaneous etc. The company needs to standardize its own item code for all items of various disciplines like Piping, Structural, Civil, Electrical, Instrumentation, HVAC, HSE, Miscellaneous etc. to have better control on the Overall project, Purchase of material, Inventory management, Material management & reconciliation. Also, Standardisation of item code helps in managing major projects with multi-item code environment, where Owners item code, Engineering item code, PMC item code & Contractors item code demands inter-relationship for inventory management (Free Issue & Non-Free Issue material), Construction management & final material reconciliation. EPCPROMAN provides item codification module which helps in creating item code automatically as per the Codification rules. Based on Predefined Codification rules, systematic standardized item code can be generated for all items of various disciplines like Piping, Structural, Civil, Electrical, Instrumentation, HVAC, HSE, Miscellaneous etc. Automatic correlation between Engineering Item code with equivalent Master Item code (Owner Code / PMC code / Contractor code) can be established and one-by-one mapping item code can be done. Similarly, an Automatic correlation between various codes (Owner Code / PMC code/ Engineering code etc.) with equivalent Master Code can be mapped based on Dictionaries & Parameter to Parameter mapping like ITEM TYPE, SUB-TYPE, NOMINAL SIZE, CATEGORY, SCHEDULE, THICKNESS, RATING, END CONDITION, FACING etc. Item Descriptions can be automatically broken into a number of attribute parameters which can also be correlated with dictionary for item code mapping.