The latest build STAAD(X) Tower V8i was released last month. This release includes several new features and enhancements for the modeling of communication structures, with an emphasis on self-supporting tower structures.
Some of the key new features include:
- A wider variety of mounts as discrete appurtenances are now available for all communication structures, such as: T-Arms, T-Frames, Sector Frames, Side Arms, and Ice Shields.
- A wide variety of antennas as discrete appurtenances can now be placed on various supporting mounts. These appurtenances include: Dipole, Dish, Omni, Panel, and Yagi antennas where dish antennas may be grid, HP dish, Parabola with or with radome, or Para Reflector. Panel antennas from both RFS and Swedcom catalogs are included for selection. Custom antenna sizes and weights can be included.
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- The weight of components and ice on components is now considered. These loads can be managed using a wind-only load factor a new weight of ice load group.
- Component objects are now organized in the Tower Model Navigator pane to reflect their physical connectivity to the structure.
- Redundant member types are also reorganized and classified in the Tower Model Navigator.
- Monopole sections pipe sections up to 48 inches in diameter can now be added with the inclusion of the API sections in the latest Structural Property Catalog.
Some of the features specific to self-supporting towers:
- The Self-Supporting Tower Wizard has also been enhanced to allow you to specify the design code and member profiles for general section types in the wizard
- Hip bracing members can now be added using the Add Hip Member tool found on the Tools ribbon tab
- Reports for self-supporting towers have been completely updated for both standards, provided concise reports which are easier to manage
Additionally, the concept of tower sections has been added for the modeling and management of Self-Supporting towers. A tower section is a superset of tower panel (or, bays) all with similar geometry. In larger towers—which can have panels in the 100s—it can be cumbersome to manipulate each tower panel individual and they are generally considered as groups. Sections conforms to this and allows you to manage each section either in the Properties panel or in a Sections table (similar to the Panels table).
For a list of features which were included in the previous release, please refer to this post or the What's New section of the product help.