|
|
Overview of the simulation process
STADIUM® Software is divided into two main parts: the graphical user interface (GUI) and the calculation core. The interface allows the user to prepare the project database and the input files (*.sdb, *.inp) containing all the parameters needed to perform a simulation. As demonstrated below, an existing project may be opened and the parameters altered through the interface in order to run a new calculation.
The input file is then read by the calculation core, which starts the simulation. During a simulation, a DOS window shows the progress of each calculation step. While one simulation is ongoing, the user can start another calculation by setting new parameters and creating a new input file. Once simulation completed, STADIUM® creates five different output files. The out file gives information related to the calculations progress. This information is similar to what is displayed in the DOS window during the calculations. The main output file has the .xls extension. It contains the calculation results for every location in the material and for every time step selected by the user. There are also files with the .cl_tot.xls and .cl_oh.xls extensions, which respectively give information on total chloride content and the chloride/hydroxide ratio through time at different rebar locations. Finally, STADIUM® opens an .f.xls file containing ionic flux data. Since the current software version does not activate this function, the flux file is empty.
One structural element simulation may contain more than one scenario.
If a simulation contains more than one scenario, the user can start another calculation only when all structural element scenarios are done.
The project database contains all the information and the asset management of the structure, the corresponding structural element, and the scenario simulations. In STADIUM®, the user can switch, edit, and modify values from one structural element to another at runtime. Same for viewing result: the user can switch from one structural element result to another in the same project. STADIUM® is a complete structural asset management system for different infrastructure types.
After the simulation is complete (see Figure 5C), STADIUM® creates, for each scenario, four different output files. The * .out file gives information related to the progress of the calculations. The main output file has the *.xls extension. This file contains the concentration of each ionic species calculated at each specified location in the material and for every step selected by the user. There are also files with the *.cl_tot.xls and *.cl_oh.xls extensions that respectively give information on total chloride content and the chloride/hydroxide ratio through time at different rebar locations. The information given in each project file (*.sdb, STADIUM® database) is shown in Figure 6.
Example of the structure’s database project (*.sdb, STADIUM® database) presented as:
The database project can be supported by Microsoft SQL Server with information access from any ODBC (driver) report writer such as Microsoft® Access® or Seagate® Crystal reports®
Web site: http://www.simcotechnologies.com/
