We know that different design codes have different creep and shrinkage functions.
Does Sofistik provide these creep and shrinkage functions for each design code?
the implemented formulations of creep and shrinkage are based on Eurocode, its parameters can be modified through MEXT in AQUA. (see AQUA-manual chapter 3.19.4).
If you want to completely use another formulation, you have the possibility to manually define the curves yourself. This can be done also through MEXT but with different syntax (see AQUA-manual chapter 3.19.5).
An example of the former case can be found under:
Teddy–>file–>Examples–>csm\english\more\real_creep_creepparameter.dat
An example of the latter case can be found under:
Teddy–>file–>Examples–>csm\english\more\explicit_creep_curve.dat
A
If the creep or shrinkage formulations are different from those base on Eurocode, I have to use “MEXT” to define the curves.
There is one issue for this solution:
The creep or shrinkage formulations are generally related to 4 types of parameters: concrete age, cement type, humidity and geometry (effective depth in Eurocode, volume to surface ratio in AASHTO).
For concrete age, cement type, humidity, they are kind of “universal” for many structual members.
But for geometry parameters (effective depth in Eurocode, volume to surface ratio in AASHTO), they are different for different structual members.
Then you have to define lots of “MEXT” curves for different structual members even if they have the same concrete age, cement type and humidity, which is a VERY tedious work.
Another issue is: In Bridge design, we usually use vaiable cross sections and use “INTE ALL” to let Sofistik create these vaiable cross sections, then the geometry parameters are different for each cross sections.
The best solution is: Sofistik implement code based creep and shrinkage formulations for each design code.