“TowerPeak-2” incorporates all foundations (including piled foundation and footing), ground beams, pile caps and piles as individual elements to perform a single foundation structural analysis. Every node of elements will be taken to have 6 degrees of freedom of analysis. For line elements (such as ground beams, piles and tie beam between footings), the analysis will be based on classified structural mechanic method. For footings and pile caps, finite element method will be utilized, with these elements being taken as either “thin-or-thick” plate elements. Doing structural modeling & analysis in such a way, results of high precision and consistency can be expected to be obtained efficiently. It is no longer required to make specific structural simplifications or assumptions to specific type of foundations. In addition, localized effects can properly be accounted for.
With the aid of AutoCad (a popular drawing software), any geometrical shapes can be inputted into TowerPeak-2. This feature is useful for input information such as cross-section of elements (such as slabs, beams, columns, walls and etc).or as load patterns (such as area or point load) acting on slab element. Actually, graphical information can be transferred (import or export) between TowerPeak-2 and AutoCad. As a result, under the setting of AutoCad, TowerPeak-2 can generate graphical output (or results) such as 2-D plan, 3-D plan, beam & column schedule drawing, Rebar drawing and many others.
The core portion of “TowerPeak-2” is developed from our company’s earlier software, named “Foundation Design on Elastic Cap” (FDE). As a result, “TowerPeak-2” can be viewed as an enhanced version of FDE. However, with our significant technology breakthrough, the areas of application are much extended. Now, all foundation elements for a building structure can be taken as a space 3D framework connecting by tie beams. Footings are no longer be required to be at 1 single level. Those tie beams which connect footings together, can be taken as sloping. However, individual footings and pile caps are still required to be leveled.
To avoid the unnecessary complexity of taking piles as part of the space framework, piles are regarded as sub-structures. Rigidity of pile will be calculated through lumping from pile tip toward pile head. (Note: soil springs are initially distributed along pile length plus an equivalent axial support). After the lumping process, an equivalent rigidity matrix corresponding to the pile’s rigidity along the 6 degrees of freedom at the node of pile head can then be calculated. Modeling the foundation structural system in such a way, the apparent “infinity” system can be reduced to a manageable size for speedy and high precision analysis.
Calculation of the equivalent pile axially rigidity at pile head is to be carried out by our earlier software named< 1. “TowerPeak-2” adopts space modeling. Individual footings and/or pile caps are modeled as plate elements having multi-sides. Ground beams and tie beams are modeled as line elements. They are then analyzed by Finite Element Method a space 3D setting. With the exception that individual footing or pile cap has to be leveled, there is no other specific structural simplifications or assumptions to be required in the current version of TowerPeak-2. (This restriction is expected to be removed in near future revision). It is worthwhile to note that TowerPeak-2 have features to handle footing with penetrations or with varying thickness.
For static structural analysis only, TowerPeak-2 can consider the possible situation that raft foundation being slide against its supporting surgrade or piles being dislodged from their pile cap. The analysis will be based on friction simulation through iteration process.
2. The programming procedure for “TowerPeak-2” is ground breaking. It utilizes the advantage multi-tasking and multi-threading (by using a number of sub-programs simultaneously). As a result, full potential capacity of nowadays PC’s powerful CPU is being made use to increase computation speed.
VIII. Other important features, which “TowerPeak-2” processes, include the followings:
1. To do meshing (for finite element method) for the whole building structure automatically. No additional manual adjustment is required,
2. To extract relevant results automatically. For example, critical values can be extracted and them outputted (and displayed) overlaying on floor plan for easy interpretation by User,
3. To assign arbitrary shape of cross-section of any members, members can be made of different construction materials (such as structural steel section or reinforced concrete),
4. To do Re-bar design for any of the abovementioned cross-sections,
5. To adjust sizing of ground beams and tie beams after completion of analysis on load case combination,
6. To work out Bill of Quantities quickly and accurately,
7. To achieve foundation design automation, without minimal supervision by structural engineer.
Lastly, “TowerPeak-2” (i.e. the foundation module) has successfully obtained approval and certification from Hong Kong Buildings Department, Hong Kong SAR Government. The registration no. is S0627.