Program

AMSES Plate
User’s manual

Ainet projektiranje, Aleš Krajnc1

Ul. heroja Rojška 70
3000 Celje
Document version 0.9 β

Last document change: 23rd October 2003

1
tel.: 03 492 76 51, e-mail: ales.krajnc@amses.com
User’s manual

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 Contents

1 Getting Started 7
1.1 Folder three description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.2 Plate files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2 Exercise - a quick tour 9

2.1 Problem definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.2 AMSES Plate solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.1 Starting a new document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.2 Defining the geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2.3 Actions and load cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.2.4 Analysis and design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.2.5 Printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.2.6 Export to other programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.2.7 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

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User’s manual CONTENTS

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 Preface

Four years ago we introduced the AMSES Frame2D program that has been widely accepted.
After the program had been released, we announced the AMSES Plate program to follow
soon. The complexity of the AMSES Plate program surprised us and we needed two more
years of development. Now, we are finally read to market the first version of the AMSES Plate
program.
AMSES Plate is a modern software product that combines a very simple and efficient user
interface with state of the art finite element algorithms and theory. A lot effort was put in
automatic mesh generation algorithm. Actually, the mesh generation seems to be the most
complicated part of the program and it was causing most of the problems. At this point we
were finally able to handle them sufficiently so the program can be used in practice.
Using the AMSES Plate program, a structural engineer is released of most tedious tasks, such
as taking care of nodes, connections, element orientation, etc. A typical analysis is performed
very quickly – just a few minutes are needed for a trip from the geometry definition to the
reinforcement distribution.
The program uses several essential techniques that needs to be mentioned in this preface.

• A DKT (Discrete Kirchhoff Theory) finite element was chosen for the statical analysis.
This is only one simple element among a huge set of possible triangular elements. How-
ever, several authors tested this element and they agreed on its efficiency and simplicity.

• Besides standard results of elastic thin plate theory (Kirchhoff theory) additional val-
ues are calculated assuming orthogonal reinforcement distribution. Those moments are
called design moments. They are derived on the basis of Johansen’s Yield Criterion.
These moments are directly correlated to the reinforcement design and they include the
influence of the Mxy in the results. (The Mxy moment is often neglected by many de-
signers.) A detailed explanation of Johansen’s Yield Criterion will be given in theoretical
part of this manual.

• A simple and very efficient method was developed to map the design moments into neces-
sary reinforcement. The method has its roots in Eurocode 2 standard, where a simplified
concrete stress distribution may be assumed instead of parabolic one. The nice thing here
is that we get an analytical solution of nonlinear equations while the results are almost
identical to the exact method (average error is about 0.5%).

We will continue to develop the AMSES Plate program in the future. As this is the case with
its ancestor (AMSES Frame2D), all minor upgrades will be free, while a minimal fee will be
required for major upgrades.

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User’s manual CONTENTS

Celje, October 2003

Aleš Krajnc

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 CHAPTER 1

Getting Started

In order to get familiar with the AMSES Plate program we prepared an exercise, which will
guide us through majority of the program features. The goal of the exercise is to analyze a
reinforced concrete slab and to determine required reinforcement.
However, before we start working on the exercise, it is wise to get familiar with the program
organization.

1.1 Folder three description

During the installation process you have selected the base folder. The manuals assume you have
selected the default option - the Program Files/AMSES folder. Several additional subfolders
are also created and their content is briefly presented below.

Plate holds all executable and DLL files needed to run the AMSES Plate program.

Plate/Misc holds several support files, mostly in textual form. These files are error messages
and some internal files

Plate/Help includes all files of the AMSES Plate help system.

Plate/Examples includes several examples – mostly from the manual.

Common This folder stores two subfolders, UnitEdit.DLL and Vendor3.txt files. Those files
are essential.

Common/DB holds database files, which describe material, unit conversion and other files
that are shared among AMSES programs.

1.2 Plate files

The AMSES Plate program uses a bit unusual file extension .plate. Most programs use three
letter extension, but we opt for a full extension name, which is perfectly legal on all MS Win-
dows systems applicable for this program.
In order to keep the files small, the program does not store the results of calculations, but only
those information that is needed to reproduce the geometry and load. Since the calculation is
very fast, this does not presents a serious drawback. However, it results in very compact files.

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User’s manual 1.2. Plate files

Each plate file, which is also referred to as project file or project, may store any number of slab
models. This is very handy, since we may store all slab geometry and load of one multistory
building in one file.

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 CHAPTER 2

Exercise - a quick tour

The quick tour is a tutorial, which briefly demonstrates some major AMSES Plate capabilities.
In the tour you will solve your first problem and when the tour completes, you will gather
enough knowledge to solve some simple tasks on your own.

2.1 Problem definition

We will work on a rectangular slab. The slab geometry is illustrated on figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Slab geometry.

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Load case
action (G) (Q)
G + Q (ultimate load state) 1.35 1.50
G + Q/s (serviceability load state) 1.00 1.00
Table 2.1: Actions, load cases and load factors

The slab geometry is pretty simple. Two 30 cm diameter columns are supporting the slab on
the left side and a combination of 29 cm thick walls is supporting the slab on the right. A
semi circle opening is intersecting the left edge of the slab. The slab thickness is 20 cm. Top
and bottom reinforcement center is 2.5 cm offset from the slab surfaces. The concrete strength
class is C30/37. Main steel reinforcement strength is S500 and shear reinforcement strength is
S400. Q meshes will be used for the main reinforcement. (Q mesh has the same reinforcement
area in both orthogonal directions, while R mesh has different areas.)
The slab is loaded with a dead load of g = 6.75kN/m2 uniformly distributed over its surface.
Live load q = 4.0kN/m2 is applied over the wall supported area only. A live concentrated
load acts at point (3,2.5). The intensity of the load is P = 15kN .
The dead load g is a part of the (G) action, while the live load is a part of the (Q) action.
Both actions are combined into two load cases. The first load case simulates the ultimate load
state, while the second case simulates serviceability load state. Safety factors of both load cases
are presented in the table 2.1.
In the next step we will solve the problem using the AMSES Plate program.

2.2 AMSES Plate solution

The slab geometry and load were well defined in the previous section and now it is time to start
using the AMSES Plate program. The problem will be solved in the following steps:

1. Starting a new plate document (a single plate within a project).

2. Defining the slab geometry.

3. Actions and load cases.

4. Action load.

5. Analysis and design.

6. Printout.

7. Exporting results into other programs.

2.2.1 Starting a new document

Run the AMSES Plate program if it is not already running. After the start, the program
suggests to either create a new project or to open an existing one. A new project will be created
in our case.

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1. Issue the File|New command. A window opens, figure 2.2. This is the first page of
wizard that collects information for the new slab. The page asks for the plate (slab) name
and the document where we will put the slab into.
Enter Poz 101 into the Plate name field and keep the Create a new project selected.
On completion, that the program will create a new project and put the Poz 101 slab into.
Remember, a project can have any number of plates (slabs).

2. Move to the next page by pressing the Next button.

Figure 2.2: First page of the new plate wizard.

3. This pages requires the approximate plate extends in global x and y direction. The
extents are needed to define the proper scale of the screen. The figure 2.1 reveals the slab
extents. Thus, the field X extent [dx]: gets 13 m and Y extent [dy]: 10 m.
The page also asks for the plate thickness and reinforcement offset. The Thickness [t]:
field gets 20 cm and the Reinforcement offset field gets 2.5 cm.
Design parameters consists of design codes Eurocode 2, concrete C 30/37, main
reinforcement S 500 and shear reinforcement S 400.
Refer to the figure 2.3 and compare your entries with the text shown on the picture. They
should match.

4. Once all fields are set, the Finish button closes the wizard and generates an empty ge-
ometry view.

Comment: From the extends specified in the wizard the program reserves appropriate work-
ing space. The origin is set to the top left corner. If we look at the slab from the vertical
direction (floor view), the x axis points rightwards, y axis downwards and z axis is in direction
of our view. This organization results in righthand coordinate system where gravity load is
always positive.

2.2.2 Defining the geometry

Once the basic slab data was obtained, the program opens the geometry view, which is adjusted
according to the specified extents. Figure 2.4 shows the initial state of the view.

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Figure 2.3: Second page of the wizard (slab extents, thickness, building code and material
selection.

Figure 2.4: Geometry view ready to take the input.

Drawing the slab contour

The slab contour will be drawn first. Semicircle depression on the left side will be ignored for
the time being.

1. Issue the Geometry|Add Slab command to start drawing the slab contour.

2. Move the cursor to the point (0,0) – top left and click exactly on the point.

3. Move the mouse to the point (0,10) and notice the trailing line that represents the first
segment. Click the (0,10) point – exactly! The first segment is drawn.

4. Continue to the second segment, click the point (13,10), third segment – point (13,0) and
the fourth segment, which is completed by clicking the initial (0,0) point.
Figure 2.5 presents the result – a rectangle contour of the slab.

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Figure 2.5: The slab is defined, but semicircle depression and supports are still missing.

Comment: As the cursor moves a small window displaying cursor coordinate is moving as
well. If the cursor is over an interesting object (e.g. node, wall, etc . . . ) the window displays
objects main properties.

Supporting walls

Here we will define slab wall supports. All walls in our exercise are 29 cm thick. We will start
with the 7 m long wall on the top edge:

1. Select the Geometry|Add Wall(Beam) command to define a wall.

2. Once the command is effective, move the cursor above the (6,0) coordinate and click for
the first wall point.

3. Move the cursor 7 m to the right over the existing node at point (13,0)and click again.

4. A windows appears. This windows ask for wall properties. Most of default values are
correctly set, we only need to change the wall thickness. Enter 29 cm into the thickness
field and close the window by pressing OK.

Figure 2.6: Wall support properties.

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5. We repeat the procedure for the wall on the right. Click the top right node (13,0) and
bottom right node (13,10). The program ask for the wall properties. Confirm the values.
When the Shift key is 6. Now, draw the wall in the middle. Click in the middle of the rightmost wall – point (13,5)
pressed on the second and than click point (4,5).
click, the properties of
previously defined wall 7. Vertical walls: Connect points (6,0) and (6,5) for the first wall and (4,5) in (4,10)for the
are applied to the new second.
wall without opening
the window. 8. The wall at the bottom is still missing. Connect nodes (4,10) and (13,10).
All walls are defined now. Compare the situation on your screen with the figure 2.7. If the
pictures are different, apply the Edit|Undo command and correct the mistake.

Figure 2.7: Slab suppoted with the walls, but the columns are still missing.

Comment: While moving the mouse, do not keep left mouse button pressed. A line, a
rectangle etc. are drawn in a slightly different way you may be used to. First, mouse button is
clicked. Next, the pointer is positioned to the desired place. Finally mouse button is clicked
again and this completes the operation. This approach differs from the approach that most
windows programs use. However, AutoCAD uses similar approach, for example.

Node supports (columns)

We still need to add columns that support slab on the left side. The AMSES Plate program
allows to add a column to a an existing node only. Internally, we simply prescribe this node’s
boundary conditions – we fix some degree of freedom. If there is no existing node, you should
first make one using the Geometry|Insert new node command.
1. In order to define a columns you should issue the Geometry|Add Column command.
(Nodes that will take the column attributes already exist.)
2. Click on the (0,0) node opens a window where column parameters are entered. See figure
2.8. Set correct values – in this case, all parameters are correct by default – and press the
OK button to close the window.
3. Repeat the procedure for the left bottom node (0,10). You may try to hold the Shift key
while clicking on the node.

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Figure 2.8: Column support properties that change node into column support.

Semicircular hole

Our slab contour is still not completed. We need to cut out a semicircular shape on the left side.
There are two ways to do this: a) by inserting new nodes onto the slab contour and moving new
points into correct position (tedious, but doable) b) by generating a semicircular hole that will
be merged with current slab. The later way is much faster.
We will generate several nodes in a shape of a pie and combine them into a hole. The AMSES
Plate program has a built in circle generator that will do the hard job for us.
In our case we need to define a semicircle that has its center in point (0,5), with a radius of 1.5
m. The first node shall appear at the -90◦ and the last one at the +90◦ angle.

Figure 2.9: Nodal points generation in a shape of an arc. Generated point may be combined
into a slab or a hole.

1. Start the node generation using the Geometry|Generate Circle ... command.

2. A window opens, where we need to set correct parameters. Please refer to the illustration
on the left side of the window for the positive axis and angle directions. The figure 2.9
shows the window.
Enter 0 m for Center x parameter and 5 m for the Center y parameter. Enter 1.5 m
for the radius.

3. Set the start angle alpha s to -90 degrees. You may need to convert the radian units into
the degres. Right click the unit label and select deg from the menu.

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4. Set the final angle alpha e to 90 degrees.

5. Set number of segments to 12.

6. Finally, in the Node generation type combo select the Generate nodes & hole
option to make sure that the nodes will be also combined into a hole.

7. Press the OK button to execute the generation.

After generation, you should see a situation presented in the figure 2.10.
Use Edit|Undo command, if you think you made a mistake and repeat the procedure. Verify
the parameters carefully.

Finite element mesh generation

If everything went well, the mesh generation is a breeze. As it was indicated in the preface, the
program utilizes a triangular finite element known as DKT (Discrete Kirchhoff Theory) plate
element. The details about the element will be revealed in the theoretical part of this manual.
The triangular shape of the element is ideal, because it can easily adapt to any geometry we
like. Additionally, an automatic mesh generation can be applied. Hence, no worries about
meshing. All we have to do is to issue the Geometry|Create Mesh command and after a few
moments, you should see the final situation shown in figure 2.10.

Figure 2.10: Final situation of the geometry.

You have probably spotted the Make Finer Mesh and Make Coarser Mesh commands as
well. They do what they say. Just note, that it is not very wise to make the mesh to fine.
Comment: In some situations, selecting finer/coarser mesh may lead to a bad mesh. You
can’t miss that, since it will be clearly visible on the screen. In order to correct this reapply
the command. In most cases the problem will disappear. If the problem persists, try to issue
the Geometry|Set Mesh Size . . . command and set mesh size explicitly. A typical size that
usually works well is double plate thickness.

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2.2.3 Actions and load cases

Once the geometry is set, we move on to the actions and load cases definition by switching the
AMSES Plate program to the load view. Click on the tab. The tab is located below the
tree control on the left side of the screen.
The switch to the load mode does not change much. Only the tree gets new items: Load
manager, G and Q actions.

Load manager

Double click the Load manager item to open a window where we define actions, load cases
and relations between them (load factors). Actions are organized in columns and load cases in
rows. Load factors are entered in a spreadsheet form.
Buttons on the top and left side of spreadsheet are used to insert, append, move or delete
individual actions or load cases. At least one action and one load case are necessary.
Figure 2.11 shows default values. These values are exactly the same as the values in the table
2.1 on page 10. If you don’t like names of the actions or names of load cases, you can change
them now. When you are ready to continue, press the OK button.

Figure 2.11: Action – load case spreadsheet. Values are already set for our exercise.

Action G - Dead weight

Dead weight is uniformly distributed over the slab. Intensity of the dead weight load is
6.75kN/m2 . Before any load activity will be started, the G action view must be opened.
Double click the 1: G line (figure 2.12). A new view is opened, where the slab geometry
objects are presented in gray colors.
The uniform load is defined using a polygon of points. The procedure is almost the same
as defining the slab geometry. The only difference here is that we usually do not create any
new nodes, but use existing ones. We, however, are allowed to create new nodes to define the
contour of the load. The nodes can lie anywhere, even outside the domain.

1. Select the Load|Add Uniform Load ... command. The command puts the view into the
uniform load mode, where a polygon of points is expected.

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Figure 2.12: Double click of an action line opens its corresponding view.

2. Click the points in the following order: point (0,0), point (0,10), point (13,10), point
(13,0) and finally close the polygon by clicking on point (0,0). Don’t worry about the
load over the hole. This load will be simply ignored.

3. When the polygon is closed, a window appears and aks for the load intensity, figure
2.13. Enter 6.75 and close the window pressing the OK button. Now, your screen
should match picture 2.14.

Figure 2.13: Entering uniform load.

Figure 2.14: Situation on the screen after the G action is completed.

Action Q - live load

The procedure is almost the same as in the G action case. The only difference here is that the
load polygon is a bit more complex and we also have a concentrated load in point (3, 2.5).

1. Double click the line 1: Q to open the Q load view.

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2. Issue the Load|Add Uniform Load ... command and click the following points:(4,10),
(13,10), (13,0), (6,0), (6,5), (4,5) and close the polygon with point (4,10).
3. Enter 4kN/m2 into the window and close the window.
4. Now it’s time for the concentrated load. Select the Load|Add Concentrated Load ...
command,
5. search and click the point (3,2.5) to open the concentrated force window.

Figure 2.15: Concentrated load window.

6. Field Vertical Force Fz: gets 15 kN. Close the window and verify if your screen looks
like the figure 2.16.

Figure 2.16: A Q load view of the exercise after the Q action loads are completed.

2.2.4 Analysis and design

Now, it is the analysis time. In order to perform the finite element analysis and design we need
to switch to the results view. You do this by selecting the the tab. After selection, the
tree list load cases.

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Double click the load case name in the tree in order to open its result view. In our case, double
click the 1:G+Q item. The window that opens displays the slab contour and mesh, if it was
already defined.
Use the Result|Solve command to start the analysis and design. After a few moments the
analysis is completed and we are able to browse the results.
During the analysis, the program performs the meshing (if the mesh does not exist) and renum-
bers the nodes and elements to reduce the matrix size. After this, the load is applied to the
nodes and elements and stiffness matrix is assembled. Finally a loop over all load cases starts.
Inside the loop the load vector is formed and the problem is solved. The results (displacements,
rotations and reactions) are used to get internal forces. Internal forces are then combined into
design moments, which in turn are directly related to the reinforcement design.
After the analysis and design were completed, the slab is contoured according to the minimal
and maximal value of selected quantity. Figure 2.17 shows Mxx moment distribution.

Figure 2.17: Internal forces: Mxx moment distribution.

Buttons in the middle toolbar are used as shortcuts to various quantities. The same effect can be
achieved by selecting an item from the Result menu. Quantities can be divided into following
groups:

• Results that are obtained directly from the elastic thin plate theory. These quantities are
Mxx , Myy , Mxy , Tx , Ty and vertical displacement w.

• Principal moments denoted as M++ (maximal) and M−− (minimal). They are derived
according to the theory as:
sµ ¶2
Mxx + Myy Mxx − Myy 2
M++ = + + Mxy
2 2
sµ ¶2
Mxx + Myy Mxx − Myy 2
M−− = − + Mxy
2 2

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• Design moments for orthogonal reinforcement, where bars are parallel to x and y axis
respectively. The moments are derived according to the Johansen Yield Criterion and
take care for inclusion of torsional moment Mxy into reinforcement design.
R mesh reinforcement (meshes that have different bar cross-section area in x and y di-
top top
rection). Here we get four different design moments: Mxx , Myy (top reinforcement)
and Mxxbottom bottom
, Myy (bottom reinforcement).
Q mesh reinforcement (meshes that have the same bar cross-section area in both di-
top
rections). Here we get only two results: top design moments MQ and bottom design
moments MQ bottom .
• Once the design moments are known, we are able to determine the reinforcement area
for corresponding design moments: four areas for the R meshes and two areas for Q
meshes.

Internal forces and displacements

The easiest way to display individual results is to press a button in the middle toolbar.

. . . displays bending moments Mxx , which are causing stresses in x direction of global
coordinate system. Positive moments are causing tension on the bottom side of slab.
. . . displays bending moments Myy , which are causing stresses in y direction of global
coordinate system. Positive moments are causing tension on the bottom side of slab.
. . . displays torsional moments in a slab. From theory we know Mxy = Myx .

. . . displays shear forces in the x direction. Shear forces are expressed as force per distance,
e.g. kN/m.

. . . displays shear forces in the y direction.

. . . displays vertical displacements and reactions. Reactions are not visible. We can see
their values if mouse crosses either a column or a wall. Double click on a wall opens a
window, where individual reaction forces acting on a wall are presented.
. . . displays maximal principal moments.
. . . displays minimal principal moments.
. . . displays design moments used to obtain top reinforcement in x direction.
. . . displays design moments used to obtain top reinforcement in y direction.
. . . displays design moments used to obtain bottom reinforcement in x direction.
. . . displays design moments used to obtain bottom reinforcement in y direction.
. . . displays design moments used to obtain top reinforcement for Q meshes.
. . . displays design moments used to obtain bottom reinforcement for Q meshes.

In our exercise we will use Q meshes for the main reinforcement. In this case, the button,
displays distribution of design moments for the top reinforcement, figure 2.18.
In almost identical manner, the button displays bending moments for the bottom reinforce-
ment, figure 2.19.

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top
Figure 2.18: Distribution of MQ moments over the slab. White color indicates areas
where top reinforcement is not necessary (for this particular load case).

bottom
Figure 2.19: Distribution of MQ moments over the slab. Black color indicates areas
where bottom reinforcement is not necessary (for this particular load case).

Reactions

Reactions are accessible only if the displacement view is active. Select the button to activate
the view.
Reactions are not visible on the screen. We can see column reactions in a tooltip window,
which appears if the pointer is set over the column, figure 2.20.
Wall reactions can be viewed by double clicking on the wall. A window appears showing
a spreadsheet of reaction values. For each finite element point that lies on the wall reactive
values are presented: moments Mx about x axis (note, this moment is not the same moment
as Mxx internal force!), moment My about y axis, vertical reaction Fz , moment Ms about
wall direction and moment Mt about perpendicular to the supporting wall. Figure 2.21 shows
reactions of the wall at the slab bottom.

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Figure 2.20: Column reactions in our exercise – node at point (0,0).

Figure 2.21: Reactions of the bottom wall (y = 10).

Design – reinforcement

The most difficult task for a structural engineer is to get internal forces. Once these forces are
known, the procedure which determines reinforcement is more or less straightforward. The
AMSES Plate program uses an efficient method that calculates required reinforcement from
the design moments. The method details will be revealed later. At this point we can say that is
in accordance with the Eurocode 2.
If the method fails to calculate the internal forces a warning is issued. This usually means, that
the slab thickness is too small and it should be increased.
The following buttons can be used to display reinforcement distribution:

. . . displays bottom reinforcement that is necessary to accept stresses in x direction.

. . . displays bottom reinforcement that is necessary to accept stresses in y direction.

. . . displays top reinforcement that is necessary to accept stresses in x direction.

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. . . displays top reinforcement that is necessary to accept stresses in y direction.

. . . displays bottom reinforcement for the Q meshes.

. . . displays top reinforcement for the Q meshes.

Select the button and the screen is should look like the figure 2.22. Figure shows necessary
reinforcement for Q mesh on the bottom (positive) side of the slab.

Figure 2.22: Design results – required bottom reinforcement if Q meshes are applied.

Isoline (contour) range

In practice we often cover a slab using minimal reinforcement. In this case, we are interested
in those areas of the slab, where required reinforcement exceeds minimal reinforcement.
The slab in our exercise requires the following minimal reinforcement according to Eurocode
2:

Amin = 100 · 20 · 0.0012 = 2, 40cm2 /m

Let’s assume that the nearest Q mesh that meets the above criterion is Q 257 (2, 57 cm2 /m).
Let’s take this mesh as minimal reinforcement and locate the areas where stronger mesh is
needed.

1. Press the button to display the required bottom reinforcement for Q meshes.

2. Double click the legend (bottom of the screen) or issue the Result|Isoline (contour)
range . . . command. This action opens a window where we may enter new limit values
for contours. Figure 2.23 illustrates the window.

3. Select the User specified: option and

4. enter 2.57 as a new Min: value for the contour.

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Figure 2.23: New contour limits window. Don’t forget to set the user specified option to
use new limits.

5. Close the window by pressing the OK button.

After the new contour limit values were entered, the result view changes its image (according
to the new limits). The new image is shown on figure 2.24. White area reveals those parts of
the slab where minimal reinforcement takes care for design moments. Other, colorful part of
the slab needs additional reinforcement in order to cover the design moments.

Figure 2.24: Bottom reinforcement distribution for the Q meshes. White areas refer to the
minimal reinforcement.

2.2.5 Printout

In any moment we can send the content of the screen to the default printer. This is achieved
using the File|Print command or by pressing the Ctrl + P hot key combination.

2.2.6 Export to other programs

Just like in the printing case, we can export the content of the screen into some other program.
The target program may be any program that can accept enhanced metafile format images, e.g.
Microsoft Word.

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User’s manual 2.2. AMSES Plate solution

In order to export, the Edit|Copy Picture command needs to be issued. The AMSES Plate
program transfers current view content to the Clipboard. Now you switch to the target pro-
gram and import (paste) the Clipboard content into the program. Figure 2.25 shows the main
principal moments M++ transferred into the Microsoft Word.

Figure 2.25: An image from AMSES Plate transferred into the Microsoft Word.

2.2.7 Conclusion
Now we finished our exercise. The slab was successfully defined, analyzed and designed. We
also printed the results. Following the same procedure your can handle other slab problems in
a similar manner. Before you start using AMSES Plate on regular basis, we recommend you
to read the rest of the manuals. There you will find many details that will enable you to use the
program more efficiently.

... to be continued.

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c 2003 Ainet projektiranje