iSwitchyard

Loads computation:

• Automatic determination of wind loads, self weight, snow loads
• Automatic determination of wire loads (conductor / ground wire)

3D space truss analysis:

The tower is idealized as a 3-D space-truss with 3 degrees of freedom. Comprehensive analysis by stiffness method is done by the module, for each tower combination and all the associated loading conditions. A powerful and proprietary equation solver (based on Gauss elimination method) is employed to solve the stiffness equations.

Auto modeling, which generates additional members (fictitious or stabilizing), is an inherent feature of iSWITCHYARD. There are different assemblages and situations that give rise to tricky problems like non-positive definiteness during solution of stiffness equations. In such cases, auto modeling stabilize the structure for proper solution of the stiffness equations. In addition, the designer can specify pairs of nodes to be connected by fictitious members of minimal area, in an input file.

Design:

In addition to checking for primary design criteria laid down in the Predesign module, the members are checked for adequacy with respect to stress in tension and compression. The compressive stresses are calculated according to the formulae listed in the respective codes, adopted for the design.

The available design codes are:

Single line drawings:

• Single line design drawings are generated automatically. These can be
           exported to AutoCAD/Microstation.
• Option to create design results in the tabular form (dxf format)

Pattern generation:

The library of patterns used for superimposition on the tower profile, in the 3-D geometry generation module, is created using iSWITCHYARD's proprietary, flexible and easy geometry generation tools.

• More than 1500 patterns used in various towers available in the Pattern Library

Other Features:

• Database for 3-D Patterns, properties of conductor/ groundwire
• Gust /Drag factors, Angle sizes, Material Properties( Steels & Bolts)
           (All database are open-ended and user can upgrade these)
• Automatic determination of effective length factors for member design
• Online Interactive Design Calculator with a link to design module
  
• Extensive graphic support (zooming, panning, rotation, geometry filters)
• Supply cost with actual price for different sizes in MS, HT, SHT
• Report DXF formats
• Tension only members
• Automatic Design iterations till convergence
• Powerful Auto-Stabilization algorithm
• Automatic determination of design effective lengths
• Design Checking by fixing the member sizes and the bolts
• Option to Design Checking by fixing the member sizes and the bolts