Sam 6.50c is now available to download

Sam 6.50c

The latest release of Sam is now available for all customers with a current software maintenance contract.

Version 6.50c of our integrated bridge design and analysis software includes many significant new features, some of which are discussed below. There are also a number of general enhancements which are detailed in the full release notes

If you do not have a current maintenance contract and are interested in this version please do not hesitate to contact us for details on how to upgrade.

What's new in Sam 6.50c

Beam modules

The main update to the Sam beam modules is the introduction of new 3D graphics.

The beam can be rotated to any viewpoint to allow properties to be inspected graphically. All objects in the beam, including reinforcement and tendons, are shown in the 3D rendered view.

The engineering calculations have also been updated. The Eurocode pre-tensioned beam module now features EN1992-2 Annex KK Time Dependent Effects, Construction on Centering loads and EN1992-2 Annex QQ Web Shear Cracking calculations. Web Shear Cracking at web/flange interface for Australian Standards pre-tensioned beams. We've also added the calculation of cambers and deflections for pre-tensioned prestressed beams for all design codes.

The results produced from the beam modules have also been updated to use the new 3D rendered graphics. The graphics can also be used to define points of interest and to edit span features such as web stiffeners and lateral restraints from the analysis form.

Restrictions on the number of tendon debond and deflection locations and the number of reinforcing bar curtailment locations have been removed from the program. It is also possible to define reinforcing bars at same cross section position but at different lengths along a beam.

Section modules

When you open a section file in the new version of Sam there is a new option to rotate a section through 90 degrees.

We added this to help get difficult sections to converge to a solution. We've also improved the convergence algorithms to reduce the need for this option.

The section modules feature numerous enhancements for Eurocode design. We've redesigned the section load form to feature full psi and gamma lookup tables for road bridges, rail bridges, footbridges and buildings. This redesign has been carried over into the other design codes. The interaction curve calculations have been updated to include the Eurocode ULS Accidental Design case and the Eurocode concrete properites for density have been increased to include reinforcement.

During section definition, it is now possible to undo and redo edits using new buttons on graphics window. In the serviceability calculations, Sam now highlights the critical bar and associated bar used in the crack width calculation.

Analysis modules

The Eurocode analysis modules have been updated to include load optimisation and special vehicles for the French and Swedish National Annexes.

We have also introduced a new Eurocode footway UDL load along with a cycle/footway layout option which has been added for Eurocode and British Standards (BD3701 and BD2101) design. The load optimisation has been updated to support these features.

To take advantage of the increased use of widescreen laptops and monitors, the analysis tabular results now includes additional layout options to allow the graphical results to be displayed side by side with the tabular results.

In structures with tendons, it is now possible to include or exclude these from an analysis on a tendon by tendon basis. The composite member calculations have been updated to add a new 'Envelope' method.

The Compilations form for British Standards has been updated to show the lane factors used in the compilation. The BS load optimisation has been updated to allow the application of BA55/06 cover to BD21/01 and BD86/07 to allow for adjustment of the special vehicle impact factor.

The line beam module can now generate pre-stress loads from a pre-tensioned pre-stressed beam or section containing tendons.

General updates

When you update to Sam 6.50c you will immediately see that there have been changes to the way the program works.

When you cancel or close a form you are now prompted to see if it is OK to lose edits instead of losing the changes you've made. Sam now makes extensive use of the Ctrl key for extended selections in the tables and on graphics windows. Speaking of the graphics, we have added the option to customise the colours used on charts. We've also updated the format of the calculations to make more use of symbolic notation.

There have been general changes to the Eurocode modules too. We have added full support for the Eurocode Swedish National Annex, including load optimisation. We've also added psi and gamma factors to the National Parameters form for road, rail, footbridge and general structure types as well as improving the look and feel of the NDP form.

Users of the Australia and New Zealand design codes will be pleased to see we've added a regionalised Examples Manual. We've also updated the British and Eurocode examples manuals to reflect the changes to the software.