Release History

New analysis engine: meshes the entire shape, applies mechanics, and integrates numerically for accurate results
Fully utilizes the concrete material model for more realistic and detailed behavior under load
User-controlled mesh refinement balances speed and precision
Improved triangle integration provides significantly faster calculations

Option to set the failure strain to ε_o or ε_u for interaction surface calculations
Improved accuracy for diagram generation, especially for asymmetric sections
Users can now offset the MX, MY, and Flexure diagrams
Improved calculation of M_o, P_o, and T_o
Expanded user-defined ranges for interaction points and quadrant slices
More efficient use of diagram points for faster, cleaner results
New preferences allow users to set ε_o, ε_u, K, and γ

New nonlinear solver improves convergence reliability for stress results
Stress result accuracy has been significantly improved
Curvature of the section under applied loads is now reported
Tangent stiffness (the derivative of moment with respect to curvature) is also reported
Convergence Error—the difference between applied loads and calculated results—is now displayed
Displays all concrete strains, including tension
Steel stresses and strains now follow the concrete sign convention (compression is positive)
Advanced Solver Settings are now exposed:
- Relative Tolerance
- Absolute Force Tolerance
- Absolute Moment Tolerance

New Section Properties tab
- Available in both Stress Results and Interaction Diagram views
- Properties are now accessible even when no loads are applied
- Clearly indicates that properties are constant and load-independent
Initial Stiffness properties added
- Reports E_Initial (secant stiffness of concrete at low strains)
- Displays moments of inertia when the neutral axis is parallel to the global axes
- Values are calculated at low load levels (i.e., steel is elastic and concrete behaves nearly linearly)
Uncracked Transformed Properties now use the Initial Stiffness of the concrete constitutive model (E_Initial)

Added Eurocode 2 specification
Added European rebar shape database
Added European rebar material definitions
Moment unity check is now decoupled from stress results (unity values are still shown even if stress results do not converge)

Added reinforcement strain to the section results, reports, and interaction diagrams
Improved interaction diagram filters and annotations
Updated concrete design specifications to ACI 318-19 and CSA A23.3:19
Added reinforcement minimum stress to the section results and report
Created new embedded steel shape template projects
Enhanced the Create Rebar Group dialog to include confinement and clear cover
Improved drawing grids
Load Case Manager columns now retain their size and order
Improved filtering of table extremes
Individual column justification added in reports (right click on column)
Preferences created for justification of text and data in reports

Watch the Upgrade Guide Video to see the new features of ConcreteSection 3.0 in action.

Improved start screen (thumbnail views)
Graphic wire frame on model objects
Project Manager: Categories remember last open/collapsed state
Project Manager: drop-lists are activated by clicking anywhere, not just on arrow
Improved Print Preview display for graphics
Graphics performance is up to 20x faster
Removed 'memory leaks', which slowed program over time
Multiple selection in Load Case Manager

Steel is no longer required to be contained in the concrete boundary, allowing the analysis of composite steel cross sections
Select and drag reinforcing graphically using Alt+Drag on the reinforcement
Section can now have a "cover" value the reinforcement must be inside of
Each steel reinforcement object can have its own Fy value
Ability to insert a vertex along an area side
DXF import shows bounds and an option for centering at the origin
Polygon boundary defined by side length in addition to radius

CSA A23.3 support for strength reduction factors (phi) when generating Interaction Diagrams

Introductory version.