September, 2024
Problems have been reported at rare combinations of some casting times and time steps. The problem is now solved.
Under these rare circumstances, volumes placed at times >0 can be affected and lead to:
-All stresses are zero all the time in that volume.
-A defined initial maturity may be set to zero when a job is subsequently loaded. This means that the shown courses of maturities and strengths are reduced corresponding to the lack of initial maturity. Temperatures results are still correct.
The problem was caused by a difference in precision between floating-point values describing user-defined events and results, respectively.
This update leads to the results being discarded and having to be recalculated. The results will be the same except in the rare cases mentioned above.
Job files that have not been upgraded to this version 8.00 will not be able to be upgraded to future versions.
Therefore, for the job files that are expected to be used in the future versions, it is recommended to upgrade these to version 8.00 already now.
A job file (extension .b4c) is upgraded by simply loading it in version 8.00 and then saving it under a new name.
Materials that have been exported to library files must also be upgraded in order to subsequently be able to load them in the coming versions.
These material library files (extension .b4m) are upgraded by simply importing them into b4cast (version 8.00) and then re-exporting them under a new name.
September, 2024
With a new feature you can save the graph data in .csv format.
The csv files can easily be loaded with spreadsheet software for further post-processing.
On graphs that show Principal stresses in user-defined points, it is possible to show the principal stress direction by moving the mouse cursor over the points on the graph.
This feature is especially useful if you want to investigate the direction in which any cracks may form.
Using Arrhenius maturity, the activation energy can be defined as a function of maturity.
This requires that the property developments that are otherwise included in the material model are determined based on the same model for the activation energy.
Issues with displaying help texts have been reported. The problem is considered solved.
April, 2023
A few issues with meshing have been reported. It also occurs in simple geometry.
The problem may occur when using version 7.07 and 7.08.
The algorithm used for mesh generation was updated in ver. 7.07.
Version 7.08B is provided with the previous mesh generation algorithm and can be used if this problem is experienced.
August, 2022
This message is only relevant if the following conditions are present in a model:
The error consists in:
These errors have now been fixed.
In order to obtain the correct display of the Nurse-Saul maturities it is necessary to recalculate the model with the new version.
Minor inconveniences have been corrected
May, 2022
Job files that have not been upgraded to this version 7.07 will not be able to be upgraded to a future version 8.0.
Therefore, for the job files that are expected to be used in the future version 8.0,it is recommended to upgrade these to version 7.07 already now.
A job file (extension .b4c) is upgraded by simply loading it in version 7.07 and then saving it in a new name.
Materials that have been exported to library files must also be upgraded in order to subsequently be able to load them in the coming version 8.0.
These material library files (extension .b4m) are upgraded by simply importing them into b4cast (version 7.07) and then exporting them again.
This message is not relevant:
If you use Celsius as the temperature unit and are using user-defined units for the other result types, the results in the text files are expressed in default units instead of your user defined units.
If you use Fahrenheit or Kelvin as the temperature unit all types of results except temperatures are expressed incorrectly.
It is emphasized that it is only in text files generated in batch mode that the error occurs. Results that are displayed in the program and in text files that are saved when displaying diagrams are correct.
Explanation
All results are internally represented in the default units. For example the internal temperature unit is Celsius.
If the user has defined that he prefers the unit Fahrenheit, the internal value of Celsius is converted to Fahrenheit and presented to the user.
The current error is that conversions of all types of results take place as conversion of temperature.
So if the user has selected Fahrenheit as his preferred unit, any type of result has been converted according to this formula:
displayed_result = 32+ (9/5) * internal_result
Or if the user has selected Kelvin as his preferred unit, any type of result has been converted according to this formula:
displayed_result = 273.15 + internal_result
These errors have now been fixed.
The algorithm that generates the element mesh in b4cast has been updated.
This means that if you recalculate previous models you will not get the exact same results again.
Minor inconveniences have been corrected
March, 2022
In error situations during geometry definition and mesh generation, certain error messages have not been displayed.
Likewise, error messages from the license server have also not been displayed if the license server has failed at the start of a simulation.
These errors have now been fixed.
January, 2022
Drawing graphs, isocurves and 3D plots is now faster. This is experienced especially in more complex tasks and when drawing 3D geometries which include displacements.
More status information is now available during the simulation process.
Minor inconveniences have been corrected
September, 2021
The algoritms which prepare data for the analyses are optimized.
This is especially useful at models with large areas of constructions joint.
The connection between two adjacent volumes can be decoupled. Decoupling is used to model construction joints where one or more displacement components are discontinuous.
It can be, for example, a soft joint or related to match casting operations of precast segments. Decoupling is also useful if there is no mechanical interaction with e.g., a ground volume, but still thermal interaction.
Now it is possible to display a single volume. For complicated geometries, this makes it easier to assign boundary conditions
So far have point supports in construction joints been applied to all the connected volumes. Now it is possible to specify which volumes the point support should be applied to.
March, 2021
Until now it has been possible to define the geometry of a volume using cross sections or by loading a STL file.
Now the geometry of a volume can be defined on the basis of a series of planar surfaces which together form a delimited space.
The coordinates of the volume’s vertices are defined and provided with a node number.
Each plane surface is then defined using the list of node numbers which enclosed the surface (Surface Model).
Alternatively, you can simply specify the individual edges using two node numbers. Then the b4cast software does automatically make the surfaces (Edge Model).
It is also possible to copy volumes based on cross sections or STL Model to a Surface Model or Edge Model. This allows you to customize the model beyond what the cross-sectional model or STL model allows.
Now it is possible to run a list of b4cast simulations without user interaction.
At the same time as running a series of simulations, output text files can be created corresponding to the views defined with graph content.
Warnings and error messages are stored in separate logs which can be monitored during and after the batch run.
A task that requires a lot of memory (a large model and /or a long simulation time) may need to be divided into several jobs, each representing its own subperiod.
The batch processing includes a feature that easily makes this division.
During the simulation, information is now obtained about the expected time for the completion of the analysis and about how great a memory need there is.
It is now possible to get a dark background by displaying graphs so that the bright colors stand out more clearly.
A better recovery procedure has been introduced in case the connection to the b4cast server is lost.
Until now b4cast has automatically repaired the geometry in STL models with up to 64 facets. This limitation is removed.
In many cases, the strength results now occupy less memory.
October, 2020
The error relates to initial maturity which was introduced in version 6.17 in April 2020.
The results are correct immediately after the calculation but when a job is saved and then retrieved again, any initial maturities are reset to zero for the volumes that have been cast later than the time zero.
As a consequence maturities, strengths and tensile strength utilizations also become incorrect.
Isoplots are displaying the wrong results while the diagrams concerning min/max/average are still showing the correct results.
However, if the simulation is continued based on a job which is reloaded also the subsequent results are not correct.
The error is corrected, and the correct results are obtained by calculating the relevant models again.
August, 2020
Features identical to version 6.17 but licensed via the Internet.
Instead of a USB-license key, login information is needed.
Saving and loading of job files are optimized. When existing job files are loaded they are automatically updated.
April, 2020
The material properties of hardening concrete are described as a function of maturity. If the maturity of the fresh concrete when casting, is significantly different from the starting point of the function (this is often the time of mixing), then an initial maturity can now be indicated. This can apply in situations with a long transport time. The initial maturity is calculated by hand on the time period before casting.
In several cases, the use of initial maturity does not significantly change the results. However, the use of the initial maturity increases the consistency between the simulation and the real hardening process. The initial maturity is useful when e.g. having a daily variation in the boundary conditions or changes in the curing measures at specific times. Also, when monitoring temperatures, the use of initial maturity may lead to a better agreement with the simulation. Furthermore, the initial value can also include a contribution from the time used to place the concrete in the volume.
The coordinate system of the STL-Data is considered as the (r, s, t) system.
After loading of STL-Data, the minimum and maximum values of the (r, s, t)-coordinates of the volume are shown as perceived by b4cast, now including all digits.
It is now possible to position the (r, s, t) system in the global b4cast system (x, y, z) as follows:
If the (r, s, t)-coordinates are representing geographical data with very high values, it may result in loss of accuracy of the calculation results. Option b is useful for reducing the coordinates.
If several volumes are referring to the same geographical origin, the Copy-feature in option c makes it easy to position the volumes following a volume placed by option b.
The method of mesh generation has been made more robust. This may result in a slightly altered FEM-mesh. That is the explanation if your results are not exactly as they usually are.
In the printed output, user defined texts that are too long for the tables, are now truncated.
February, 2020
This update provides a more efficient display of isocurves and 3D plots.
In addition to the increased efficiency, a feature suitable for particularly large models has been introduced. Pressing the “q” key while moving the 3D model suppresses the effect of hidden surfaces and speeds up viewing.
December, 2019
Previous versions of job files can be loaded into the new software version.
This release may result in a slightly altered FEM-mesh around the casting joints. That is the explanation if your results are not exactly as they usually are.
It is now possible to remove a volume as part of the simulations. The feature is used to model match casting in prefabricated segment construction. This also allows for modeling removal of temporary support structures.
Until this version external load models have worked as follows: A volume is applied to the load changes that occur after the volume is cast. This means that if the load was defined from the start and kept constant, no load was applied.
From this version: If there is a load on the cast from the beginning, this is applied.
A new method has been introduced to improve preservation of boundary conditions, when geometries are changed.
By visualizing deformed construction in 3D, it is now possible to reset the factor of the displayed displacements to a default value. The value is determined so that the maximum occurrence of displacement (throughout the simulation period) is shown as 5% of the extent of the construction.
July, 2019
It is now possible to apply boundary conditions that allow for evaporation and condensation to be considered.
In the simulation it is assumed that the relative humidity of the surface is 100% RH. This can be obtained by keeping the surface wet, by wet covering (evaporation) or by means of a steam curing chamber (condensation). The ambient conditions are defined by the user by models for temperature, wind speed and relative humidity.
The Heat Flux from evaporation (cooling) and condensation (heating) is included in the thermal analysis by means of the difference in water vapor pressure on the concrete surface and in the surroundings.
The amount of evaporated/condensed water is also calculated. If a surface is not kept wet, the analysis can be used to assess, whether requirements concerning rate of evaporation or total evaporation, are met.
These results are presented in a table, for each surface as a function of time. In a future version these results will be presented like the other types of results.
The new boundary conditions can be found on a new tabbed pane. Flux, radiation temperature and radiation transmission coefficient have also been moved to the new tabbed pane.
It is now possible to change the time in the 3D window while you are managing volumes, boundary conditions and pipes.
In relation to calculation of Arrhenius maturity the internal temperature unit is now converted to Kelvin by adding 273.15.
Until this version 273.0 was added.
That is the explanation if your results are not exactly as they usually are.
May, 2019
Sometimes the simulation did not follow the defined timestep model. This error has now been corrected.
Zoom on volumes cast at different times, did not work properly. The error was introduced in version 6.12 but is now corrected.
From version 6.11 it was a problem if the default decimal separator was different from “.” in Windows-Control-Panel->Region->Language. This is solved now.
April, 2019
In order to save memory, it is possible to divide a long simulation period into separate b4cast jobs by means of the feature “Discard previous results”. Each job is representing a subperiod.
When a job is saved, the initial maturities and the progress of temperatures and stresses are stored. When the job afterwards is loaded, the progress of maturities, strengths and exploitations are calculated as a part of the loading process. This calculation is based on the initial maturities and the stored temperatures and stresses. If the “Discard” option has not been used, the initial values of the maturities are zeros. If the option has been used, the maturities are not zeros.
However, for jobs where the previous results have been discarded, the initial maturities are erroneously reset to zeros, if the job is loaded again. Therefore, the calculation of maturities, strengths and the exploitation become wrong. (Diagram curves may show that the values are OK, but they are not representing the values which is used in further calculations. These values are seen on iso-plots).
The temperatures and the stresses are correct. However, if this job, after having loaded it, is used for analysis of the next subperiod, all subsequent results will not be correct because the material properties are depending on the maturities, which are wrong.
How wrong are the results then?
If the time period between the reset of maturity (the beginning of the subperiod in question) and the beginning of the next subperiod is so long, that the material properties are close to their final values, the effect of the reset of maturity is small.
A recalculation with this new version can illustrate the effect of the error in specific jobs.
If the jobs have not been loaded between the simulation of subperiods all results are correct. However, if you load the jobs afterwards, maturities, strengths and exploitations are not correct. Temperatures and stresses are still correct.
This error was introduced in version 6.00 and is now corrected.
If materials without tensile or compression strengths are present, there is a problem with the Diagrams.
When defining curves with strengths or exploitations, the curve symbol (a, b, c, etc.) is not placed next to the table cell where the “+” sign is selected.
This error is corrected.
The storing of results has been optimized, in order to save memory and time.
February, 2019
The Heat of Hydration is defined as released energy per weight-unit of the Powder Content. The Powder Content is the amount of powder per volume-unit of concrete.
The Powder Content can take any value, powder content or cement content, if the Heat of Hydration is based on the same type of content.
In the new version it is possible to specify if you want to calculate the Heat of Hydration based on Powder Content or Cement Content. For unknown reasons the value has until now being presented as Cement Content on printed output. The printed output is in the new version consistent with the input definition.
When drawing the b4cast model in the right upper windows, the software automatically selects the perspective. It is not always resulting in appropriate images. The strategy for choosing the perspective has been changed.
When making the geometry and the element mesh, sometimes problems can occur. After 30 seconds efforts to make the geometry you will now be asked if you want to continue. More complex geometries may need more than 30 seconds to complete. During the mesh generation, you can interrupt the process.
To solve the problems, a new parameter has been introduced in the Setup window. Meshing is done by means of a bounding box which is enclosing the structure. As default is used a box of a magnitude of 100 times the extent of the structure. In case of problems with generating the element mesh, try another value, 10 or 1000 e.g.
When entering Point-supports, after having defined supports or loads on faces, a direction was not always set.
If you have Enabled or Disabled developments in a Material, this is now covered by the Cancel feature.
After load of STL data, it is shown how b4cast has stored the extreme values.
May, 2018
It is now possible to store and visualize displacements. This can be indicated in the Setup Window.
The visualization is, as for the other types of results, iso-curves and diagrams.
When visualizing displacements, the 3D picture of the geometry is shown with deformations.
A new type of units to be used with displacements has been introduced.
When structures are not statically determined, b4cast is automatically providing the necessary supports.
This is not always conveniently when displacements are visualized.
In order to let the user define the zero points for the displacements a new feature with point supports has been added.
Please notice that b4cast does not provide any supports automatically, when the user manually is defining point supports.
January, 2018, Updated February 2018
Possible error in calculating stresses when using Fahrenheit
This issue is only relevant in stress analysis in combinations with Fahrenheit.
In the System Units, the unit label is shown as "-" when defining the thermal expansion coefficient. The unit in question should have been [1/Celsius].
The erroneous label may lead to the misunderstanding that the coefficient you are specifying, automatically is converted to the temperature unit you have chosen to work with.
If you are working with Celsius or Kelvin degrees, there is no problem because they are compatible with the internal unit system.
When using Fahrenheit, as for all other variables, you have to define the thermal expansion conversion factor yourself. However, the label "-" makes it easy to overlook the need for conversion. In that case the calculations have been made with thermal expansions which are too high.
The conversion factor between [1/F] and [1/C] is 9/5 = 1.8. (In January 2018 it was erroneous indicated as 5/9 = 0.5555556)
The erroneous label is corrected in this version of b4cast as regards the System Units.
However, if you are using Fahrenheit please specify the conversion from [1/F] to [1/C] as indicated above and check your values afterwards.
If you have saved a system of units as a User Default, please save it again after the correction.
December, 2017
When saving shields, materials, pipes etc. in an library, an error message was generated even, there was no error.
More errors are corrected when saving Diagrams in a text file:
If models, loaded by means of STL files, have very small surface elements a warning is generated.
November, 2017
If earlier defined views of exploitations were obsolete it was resulted in an error.
October, 2017
When a volume is completely embedded in another volume is now detected.
September, 2017
When selecting all surfaces sometimes nothing was selected.
September, 2017
Internal improvements on the use of STL files.
July, 2017
Inconveniences on converting units are corrected.
June, 2017
Optimization of calculation procedures.
June, 2017
Correction of minor inconveniences.
June, 2017
The equation solver has been replaced by a faster version.
It is possible to load job-files from version 5.x.x.
However, the results are discarded.
In the new version are the results saved in a separate file, “jobname”-results.dat. The model is saved in “jobname”.b4c. When you exchange the model with someone, you can choose to omit the result file, which is often very large.
March, 2017
As an alternative to modelling volumes (solids or voids for holes/chamfering) by means of specifying two cross sections and a length, it is now possible to load STL-files created by CAD software (binary or ASCII-format) or from manual entering (ASCII-format).
Editing of boundary conditions now have new options:
Furthermore, tries the software tries to preserve the boundary conditions, when changes are made in the geometry.
When specifying convective boundary conditions directly with coefficients (not using shield and wind speed), it is now possible to define the time points, relatively to the time where the concrete is placed.
Cooling pipes/heating wires are shown graphically, simultaneously with specifying the coordinates. Graphic selection of a node identifies the corresponding row in the coordinate table. The node, in the active row in the table, is presented graphically.
It is now possible for each user to store a set of preferred units. When creating new b4cast jobs, the user defined units are used by default.
Paths to folders with job-files, materials, shields, cooling pipes etc., are now stored automatically.
Decimals on floating point values are no longer formatted on input values.
Zoom in the graphic windows have been done by framing by means of the right mouse button. Now it is also possible to use the mouse wheel. On isoplots and diagrammes you can now also pan.
Some of the existing features have been changed because of the new features.
The table below shows all features.
All operations are using left mouse button, except unzoom.
| Window | Select | Rotate/Tilt | Pan | Zoom | Unzoom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Mouse click selects volumes, pipes/wires. | Dragging with left mouse button pressed | N/A | Framing with Control key and dragging with left mouse button pressed. Mouse wheel. |
Mouse click with right button. Mouse wheel. |
| Boundary Conditions | Mouse click select/deselect single surfaces. Dragging the mouse over surfaces with Shift and left mouse button pressed, copies selection/deselection to the surfaces. Mouse click with key “a” pressed selects all surfaces on volume. Mouse click with Shift and key “a” pressed selects all surfaces. |
||||
| Isoplot | Mouse click defines a point for diagrammes | N/A | Dragging with left mouse button pressed | ||
| Diagrammes | Mouse click on the curves points looks up the position on the isoplot. |