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AmQuake Documentation

Tutorial for Program AmQuake

Written by:
Zdenk Janda, Jan ervenka

Prague, April 1, 2014

Trademarks:
ATENA is registered trademark of Vladimir Cervenka.
Microsoft and Microsoft Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Copyright 2000-2014 by Cervenka Consulting.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION .......................................... 1

2. NEW PROJECT ........................................... 1

3. PREPARATION OF CAD MODEL .............................. 1

3.1 Rules for DXF files................................................................................................................................ 3

4. IMPORT CAD MODEL TO AMQUAKE ........................... 7

1. Introduction

2. New Project
To create a new project click to menu File - > New File see Figure 1

Figure 1: Selection of the country specific standard from the menu File | New file.

General data is the first item in the main data entry selection tree. It is used to define the
project description as well as main analysis and seismic parameters Analysis information
alows the user to specify general information about the project such as name of the
company, description of the project and date. Analysis parameters input data tree item
activates the definition of various global analysis parameters. The parameters are defined
with in the dialog, which appears at the bottom part of the program screen. There are two
tab controls in the dialog. On the first tab Building standard, the currently active
building standard is shown according to the selected national localization.
On the second tab Advanced settings it is possible to manually set various parameters.

Seismic parameters input data tree item activates the definition of seismic parameters. The
seismic parameters depends on the location of the analyzed building and on the foundation
properties.

3. Materials

In this section are all material information. User can add, edit, delete or import specific
materials. This section is divided into several subsections for Basic materials, Walls
material, Lintels and RC Ring. It is not necessary to define the materials before going to

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the definition of the structural geometry or DXF import as the program automatically asks
the user to create the necesary material when it is required. So it is possible
to skip the material definition and go directly to the Topology definition.

4. Preparation of CAD model

Figure 2: Plan in CAD

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Figure 3: Plan of default floor

4.1 Rules for DXF files

In order to import the layout of each floor from a DXF file, it is necessary to prepare this
file according to specific rules, which are described in this section Each floor layout has to
be described by three separate layers. One layer should be created for walls, one for doors
and windows and one for the ceiling. These layers should use the same coordinate system,
i.e. should be on top of each other. The names of the layer can be chosen arbitrarily by the
user.
It is recommended to have all layers for all building levels in a single DXF file. In addition,
it is advantageous to have all the layers with the same coordinates, i.e. on top of each other.
If they are not on top of each other it is important to define a shift vector for each floor
during the DXF import.
Walls and windows should be defined by rectangular boxes with all sides parallel. A
ceiling is defined by a set of lines. The lines should divide the ceiling area into several
loading regions. The loading regions will be used to distribute the loading to the walls of

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the floor below. Program automatically checks, which walls are affected by each ceiling
region. This means that each ceiling region applies the load to the walls that are found to be
located below it.

The following rules apply to the definition of the ceiling areas:

- each loading area should contain the central point of at least one wall the belongs to the
floor below the current ceiling.
- in case that the loading area contains several central points of various walls, the load is
distributed in proportion to the wall cross-sectional areas.
- an opening in the ceiling can be defined by x,y coordinates of an arbitrary location. The
program will search all the loading areas, and one, which contains this point will be
considered as an opening. This means no loading will be considered for this ceiling region.

The windows/doors in AmQuake should observe the following rules:

- each window should have two neighbouring walls
- central points of window side edges should be near the central points of side edges of the
neighbouring walls (see Figure 4). (a, c) is a recommended way of modelling, but the new
versions of AmQuake can handle also the case (b).

Figure 4: Possible definition of connection between windows and walls

The examples of layer for DXF file are in figures bellow.

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Figure 5: DXF layer of Walls in CAD

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Figure 6: DXF layer of Windows in CAD

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Figure 7: DXF layer of Ceiling in CAD

5. Import CAD model to AmQuake

Clicking on Import DXF button user opens the import dialog. In this dialog a DXF file can
be selected, and all the topological entities are created automatically based on the contents
of this file.
It is recommended first to Load DXF file and then a user continues with the definition of
walls, windows and ceilings. It should be noted that the content of the dialog changes
depending on the selected topology. A user should first select the topology and then choose
the layer from the dxf file, which contains the definition of the selected geometrical
entities.

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Figure 8: Import DXF walls

First is necessary to choose units in which is dxf model. Next step is selected layer which is
corresponds with walls. Select material, and click to apply button. Same steps is for
windows, and ceilings. We can choose height of floor, and number of floors, which will
create from this plan.

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Figure 9: Import DXF windows

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Figure 10: Import DXF ceiling

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Figure 11: Import DXF move ceiling to center of gravity

In last step we can move all model from existing location (CAD) to center of gravity,
(about 0 in AmQuake). Click to Move and enter required vector. Or click to Move to
center of gravity.
Next close the dialog clicking to Import topology. In Figure 12 we can see imported
topology.

Figure 12: Import DXF Imported topology

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6. Topology

Topology walls / columns item in the data entry tree, opens a table containing a list of
walls. New walls can be manually added here or deleted. It should be noted that the
program does not differentiate between walls or columns. A column is just a wall with the
ratio of thickness to length that is closer to one. A particular wall can be selected either by
clicking at the wall directly in the window containing the view of the structure or by
clicking the small bax at the left side of the wall table.

Topology windows / doors item in the data entry tree, opens a table containing a list of
windows/doors. A new window can be manually added here or deleted. A particular pening
can be selected either by clicking at the entity directly in the window containing the view of
the structure or by clicking the small box at the left side of the table.

Topology ceilings item in the data entry tree, opens a table containing a list of ceilings.
A new ceiling can be manually added here or deleted. A particular selected can be selected
either by clicking at the entity directly in the window containing the view of the structure
or by clicking the small box at the left side of the table.

For each ceiling it is possible to define a reinforced concrete ring, which will be
automatically generated along the top faces of each wall and window from the floor level
below. The bending stiffness of this r.c. ring is taken into account during the pushover
analysis. Also all sectional forces of the ring are checked during the pushover analysis, and
plastic hinges are inserted if necessary.

7. Loading
In this section of the data input tree, the user defines the vertical loads acting on the
structure. Important value is Dead load which is self weight of the ceiling structure. In
AmQuake is check that the value is not zero (see Figure 13).

Figure 13: Ceiling load table

8. Meshing

This item in the data input tree provides the possibility to define various parameters for the

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generation of the numerical model. The tables accessible from this date tree item provide
information about the generated numerical model. It is possible to modify the generated
finite element model. It is not recommended to make changes to the numerical model,
since all changes will be lost when the model is regenerated as a response to various input
data changes. Finite element model corresponding to the equivalent frame model is
generated automatically by the application after clicking the Generate mesh button.
Information about the mesh then appears in the next subsequent three items in the input
data tree, i.e. nodes, elements, rigid links (see Figure 14).

Figure 14: Mesh settings

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Figure 15: View of mesh

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9. Analysis

This item in the input data tree opens a dialog window at the bottom of the program screen.
Here a user can modify various parameters for the pushover analysis as well as it is
possible to control, which analyses will be performed. The first property sheet Analyses
contains a list of possible analyses. Individual analyses can be activated by selecting an
appropriate check box. Each column in the table represents a pushover analysis in one
direction. EC8 requires that pushover analysis is performed at least in two perpendicular
directions. It also requires that two types of horizontal force distribution are considered:
triangular and uniform. This means that in order to satisfy EC8 requirements all
checkboxes need to be selected. The program AmQuake can be used also to perform a
static assessment of the vertical walls. The static analysis is activated by selecting the
Static check box in the right part of this dialog.
The second property sheet contains various Advanced settings for the pushover analyses
(Figure 16).

Figure 16: Settings of Calculate

10. Results
This section displays all the results from the completed analyses. User directly sees in the
left tree, which analyses have been verified.
The item Analysis can be used to access the results from the individual analyses. A user
can explore specific analysis details. The main window is split into two panels. The left
panel is used for rendering the model of the construction with capabilities of displaying the
deformations, forces and damages. The right panel contains various graphs as well as hard
numerical data for each node or finite element. The two windows contain results from the
analysis that is selected in the data input tree on the left side. (see XXX) Each analysis
consists of many load steps. The load steps are summarized in the table at the bottom part
of the program screen. The results for an individual step are selected by highlighting an
appropriate row in the list of analysis steps. When a certain step is selected, the content of

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the two top windows changes, and they display the graphical or numerical results for the
selected step.

Figure 17: Results windows

The window, which is located next to the load step tables (see Figure 60) provides the
summary of the pushover curve evaluation for the selected analysis. DLS and ULS limits
states are evaluated here as well as the overstrength factor.

Figure 18: Results windows

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11. Print statement
In this dialog, we can set the properties of printed statements. User can choose between two
predefined settings (brief protocol and complete protocol) or set the properties manually.
Printing complete protocol contains all information about the project including materials,
topology, loadings as well as all the analyses results. (see Figure)
The created protocol can be saved into an rtf file, which can be further edited by various
word processors.

Figure 19: Print statement

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