IES VisualFoundation
[Size: 20 MB] ... What will VisualFoundation do for you?: VisualFoundation will help you design complex mat footings. It automates much of the work involved in finite element modeling. VisualFoundation will take care of the modeling details while you specify the locations, sizes and structural configuration of your foundation. The software will analyze with your loads to determine moments, shears, displacements and bearing pressures using FEA. Stability checks and punching shear calculations are done automatically.
VisualFoundation will then help you check to make sure the footing meets IBC/ACI requirements, and will tell you about the steel requirements for the slab.
Major Benefits and Abilities
Mat foundation analysis and design
Complex mat boundaries, including circular and polygonal templates
Generate copies of modeling elements using rectangular or circular patterns
Multiple mat thicknesses or soil properties
Holes in mats
Combined footings
Wall footings
Concrete Walls, grade beams (for loading or stiffness)
Columns (for loading, punching shear)
Improved! Pile supports with elastic stiffness, optional tension-only or compression-only
New! Thickened pile caps
Unlimited model size
Support for codes: IBC, ASCE 7, ACI 318,
Automated FEA meshing and soil-spring supports
Sophisticated thick-plate finite element formulation
Import & Export DXF files
Import & Export with VisualAnalysis
Improved usability: easy graphics and toolbar commands
New! Template projects for jump-starting new projects with similar features
Loads and Load Combinations
Customizable load combinations (IBC, ASCE 7 built-in)
New! Easy load combination customizations
Streamlined seismic load combinations
Uniform or linear area loads, rectangular or circular
New! Circular and rectangular "ring" loads
Rotated pressure loads
Column loads, axial and moments
Linear beam loads
Wall loads, axial and moments
Overburden loads
Stability Checks
Checks for overall horizontal sliding forces.
Plots and checks bearing pressures
Overturning checks on the footing
Seismic overturning reduction per ASCE 7 12.13.4
Strength Checks
Slab shear plotted and checked
Column and column-group punching shear checks
Wall Punching Shear design checks
Pile support and group punching shear checks
Pile capacity limits are checked for tension or compression
Grade beams are checked for shear and moment
Design Features
ACI 318-11 checks
Single or double layer of slab reinforcement
Size each layer of slab steel
New! "N" reinforcing bar sizes
Grade beam reinforcement demand is provided
New! Plate moment and shear diagrams
New! Grade-beam moment and shear diagrams
Override for minimum mat reinforcement
Export to VisualAnalysis for more complicated tasks
Import from VisualAnalysis includes project criteria settings and wall reactions
Reporting
Post-analysis statics check reports are now available
Average bearing pressure value is calculated for the entire footing.
Full-color reporting for a professional look and easy reading.
Preview the report before printing
Customize what items are included in the report
New! Easy export of report table to .xls, .pdf, or .html file.
Print one-page graphic summaries
Current Limitations
Does not provide full detailing of bars, diagrams, cut-offs, etc. (just requirements)
Does not design piles