Combinations

Create load combinations based on the calculated load cases and envelopes and assign the respective factors

Combination Table

Create new combination tables by using the context menu. You can create several combination tables, but set only one as active for the calculation.

You can create any number of combinations in a combination table. Note that all defined load cases/envelopes of a particular combination line are consecutively superposed from left to right from the first to the last column.

Loading Groups

For a better overview the combination tables are subdivided into loading groups. Permanent Loads, Prestressing Loads, Time Effects, Variable Loads, Settlement These groups serve for organization purposes only and have no influence on the calculation (exception see note). The loading groups are listed in the respective submenu of the navigation tree where you can also create new, user-defined loading groups. You can then assign the particular load cases and envelopes to the wished respective loading groups.

Important note: For all load cases/envelopes, that are defined in the loading group “Prestressing”, the upper and lower characteristic values of the prestressing force (rsup and rinf) according to EC 1992-1-1, 5.10.9 (1) are automatically considered depending on the particular check to be performed. For this purpose, it is necessary that they are defined with the unfavorable/favorable factor 1.0.

Combination Types

The combination types refer to the type of combination according to the standard, e.g. Eurocode: Characteristic, Frequent, Quasi-permanent, ULS, Accidental, Basic Load - Fatigue, Cyclic Load - Fatigue. These labels allow the program to identify the respective combinations for the particular checks. You can change the type via the respective drop-down menu in the combination line.

Combination Group

You can summarize certain combinations in combination groups. In this way, you don’t need to perform the same check several times with different combinations or manually superpose the envelopes deriving from the combinations in a final envelope (e.g. GZT), but the combinations summarized in a group are internally superposed with the superposition rule OR. This is performed by the calculation task COMBGROUP.

The combination groups are listed in the respective submenu of the navigation tree where you can also create new, user-defined combination groups.

Assign combinations to combination groups by simply clicking the respective fields in the right window area, whereby you can also assign one and the same combination to several groups.

Load case/Envelope

All calculated load cases and envelopes are listed in the respective tabs in the left window area and can be dragged & dropped into the wished loading group in the table (plus symbol).

Hints for editing:

• If there already exists a load case / envelope in a loading group, the plus symbol shows up only during the action of a new assignment at all possible positions where the item can be dropped.
• If you move the mouse to a load case/envelope in a loading group, you can shift (<>) or delete (x) it via the appearing buttons/symbols.

Superposition rule

After you have assigned a load case/envelope to a loading group, you can select a superposition rule for it by using the respective drop-down menu. This determines which superposition rule is used for the load case/envelope when the combination is evaluated.

Combination line

You can create new lines for defining combinations by clicking in the bottom line in the combination table. Use the context menu of an existing combination line to create several combination lines at once or to shift or delete them. The created combination lines receive a (not editable) consecutive number and a name which can be edited by the user.

Unfav./Favor.

After you have assigned a load case/envelope to a loading group, you can define the favorable and unfavorable factors to it in the respective combination line. Note: In regard to the results it is irrelevant, if the factors of a load case/envelope not used in a certain combination remain empty or are set to zero. However, if the factor is zero, the superposition is performed anyway (using the factor zero), which has an influence on the calculation time.