FTool Updates
Version history with improvements and fixes
Version History
Follow all improvements and bug fixes implemented in each version of FTool
Improvements
- The inclination angle of inclined supports can be specified explicitly, as in previous versions, or, starting from this version, can be calculated from a normalized inclination ratio (H/V), where H is the normalized horizontal component of the inclination and V is the normalized vertical component. The normalized horizontal component can have three possible values: H = 1, H = -1, and H = 0. For H = 1, the local x-axis of the inclined support will be in the same direction as the global X-axis, and the absolute value of the inclination angle will be less than 90 degrees. For H = -1, the local x-axis will be in the opposite direction relative to the global X-axis and the absolute value of the inclination angle will be greater than 90 degrees. And, for H = 0, the local x-axis will be vertical, where, for V = 1, the local x-axis will point upward and, for V = -1, the local x-axis will point downward.
- The program now allows springs to be applied to inclined supports.
- The program now allows prescribed displacements and rotations to be applied to inclined supports.
- The program now allows springs and prescribed displacements and rotations to be applied to distinct support components.
- Force reactions of inclined supports are now displayed in the local support system directions.
- Procedure changed to calculate characteristic sizes for displaying graphical objects (load size, support size, etc.): now the calculation of characteristic sizes is based on raster size parameters (in pixels), instead of calculating these parameters based on the maximum screen window size.
- New versions of the program were created for Linux: UBUNTU 20.04, UBUNTU 22.04, and FEDORA 39.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue that arose in a previous Windows operating system update that caused the program to stop execution without any notification.
- Fixed an issue that caused the program to stop when exporting line results.
- Fixed an issue that occurred when pressing TAB three times, which caused the program to stop.
- Fixed an issue that occurred when setting the vertical or horizontal screen size and pressing ENTER. The drawing was duplicated and only updated with a mouse event on the screen.
- For the double angle cross-section, corrected moment of inertia value calculations for XSC_SOUTH orientation.
- Fixed an issue that disregarded the file name specified by the user when exporting line results to a text file.
- Fixed an error when editing distributed load values for load trains with US units.
- Fixed an issue that allowed editing property values for inactive attributes.
- Other minor bugs were fixed.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue where a small diagram value and other small result values were erroneously considered null.
- Fixed an error when displaying result step values in the side message area: the numeric format for length was erroneously used to display any result values.
Bug Fixes
- Minor bug fixes.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue in the Linux version of Ftool where its file (with ".ftl" extension) could be written with commas instead of periods for decimal separator, depending on the environment variables of the configuration used by the current Linux. Ftool was modified to always use periods for decimal separation.
Bug Fixes
- (Advanced) Fixed an issue where the limit for the total number of members in a structural model was being imposed not only for the Basic (Educational) version but also for the Advanced (Professional) version. Currently, there is a limit of 500 members in the Basic (Educational) version of Ftool. In the (Professional) version there is no limit for the number of members.
- (Advanced) Fixed an error in generic prismatic cross-sections created through trapezoid composition: when a structural model was read from a Ftool file with this type of section, the graphical interface was not updating the section's integral property values.
Improvements
- Enabled visualization of structure displacements with or without values, both in the global system (vertical and horizontal displacements) and local system (transverse and axial displacements).
- Various keyboard shortcuts were added to control the program, allowing more efficient program manipulation by advanced users.
- (Advanced) Creation of multiple load cases, as well as weighted combinations of these cases and visualization of result envelopes for cases and combinations.
- (Advanced) Creation of generic prismatic sections through trapezoid composition, facilitating the use of the program with sections that do not fit the parametric sections offered.
- (Advanced) Customization of program initialization, allowing definition of the unit system and numeric formats to be adopted and various model visualization parameters, among others.
Improvements
- The graphical interface for transformations was modified. Instead of using the Transform menu, the user now clicks a button (located on the left side of the canvas, below the Delete button) that opens the transformations menu in the multi-use area.
- Transformations can now be defined as allowing or not allowing the structure topology to be modified.
- No menu de transformações, o usuário pode definir valores para os parâmetros de transformação. Dessa forma, transformações agora podem ser feitas tanto pelo mouse quanto pelo teclado, independendo do “modo teclado” global estar ativo ou não.
- Transformations where topology cannot be modified are allowed when viewing static forces or influence lines. Diagrams are updated dynamically.
- A new transformation was developed, allowing modification of member orientation.
- Cross-section type selection menu now displays a selection tree instead of the old drop-down.
- Metal profile tables from Mills and Vallourec companies were added.
- The cross-section type (Rectangle, C-shape, Gerdau-AcoMinas I-shapes, etc.) is now displayed in the section dimensions definition menu.
- Created Step Lines button in the Display menu. By activating this and disabling Step Values, one can draw the lines in the diagram for hatching effect without results in each segment.
- Created aluminum material (Aluminium).
- Se, ao visualizar diagramas ou envoltórias, o usuário clicar na área de desenho sem selecionar uma barra, a barra de mensagens acima da área de desenho volta a apresentar a instrução relevante (ex. “Select a point on a member to get shear force result”).
Bug Fixes
- Correction in shear area calculation for some cross-sections.
- Fixed an error where very long Labels for various attributes stopped the program. Labels are now limited to 31 characters.
- Fixed an error where the graphical diagram of normal force for axial loads with linear variation was displayed as linear instead of quadratic.
Improvements
- The program's graphical interface was updated due to the evolution of native interface systems on Windows and Linux platforms. As a result of this evolution, the IUP interface system used by Ftool was updated, and in the Linux version the graphical interface uses the GTK package. This provides a much better graphical interface for the Linux version than the previous version that was based on the MOTIF package.
- Created an option to consider shear deformation in members (Timoshenko beams). The default is that members are created without shear deformation.
- Added Poisson's ratio to material properties.
- Added effective shear area parameter for all cross-section types.
- Modified menu that specifies member deformation restrictions. There are two mutually exclusive options: flexible member and rigid member. For flexible member, there are two non-exclusive options to enable or disable axial deformation and to enable or disable shear deformation. When a new model is created, the axial deformation option is enabled and the shear deformation option is disabled. If an opened model from a file has all members with shear deformation allowed, the shear deformation option in the graphical interface is automatically enabled.
- Modified drawing color of members with shear deformation to dark magenta.
- In post-processing mode, when point values of deformed configuration of a member are queried, the rotation value of the selected cross-section is also shown. Additionally, rotation values were added to deformed configuration result export files.
- Removed material specific weight parameter because it was not being used.
- Created options to select drawing sizes for supports, loads, and text on canvas, with three size options: small, medium, and large. Supports and hinges are treated equally for drawing size definition.
- Modified distributed load drawing so that the arrow size reflects the load intensity.
- Modified the arrow drawing that indicates member orientation: the arrow size was reduced by half.
- Created an option to run analysis saving or not the neutral file that passes data to the analysis module (file with ".pos" extension). The default is to run analysis without saving file. This default is enforced when a file is opened.
- Modified influence line drawing including a red color mark on the reference cross-section.
- Enabled the use of blank spaces in attribute names.
- Prevented modification of cross-section orientation in post-processing mode.
- Modified influence line drawing so that the influence line diagram is drawn only on members that belong to the path traveled by the load train. Previously, the influence line diagram was drawn on all members of the model. When there is no current load train, the influence line diagram continues to be drawn on all members.
- Removed automatic launch of credits dialog when the program is activated.
- Added two keyboard options: CTRL+Z to undo pre-processing operations, and CTRL+Y or CTRL+R to redo the last pre-processing operation that was undone.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an error in the Gerdau-Aço Minas cross-section profile table, I Shape family, height 610 mm: the number of profiles with this height (6) was exceeded and navigation leaked to another family.
- Fixed an error in the Gerdau-Aço Minas cross-section profile table, H Shape family: the program did not allow profiles with height greater than 200 mm to be selected.
Improvements
- Implemented structural analysis for moving loads. Reference: Envelopes of internal forces due to load-trains in bridges using an evolution strategy by Gisele C. Holtz, Luiz F. Martha, and Luiz E. Vaz.
- Created load train menu: options for creation and manipulation of generic load train lists, with variable number of concentrated loads, distributed loads (full wagon and empty wagon), and external and internal crowd accidental loads
- Created visualization of critical load train positions relative to the current influence line. Critical positions are the load train positions that cause minimum and maximum values for an internal force (axial, shear, or bending moment).
- Created option for visualization of minimum and maximum internal force envelopes for a selected load train.
- In the "Options" menu, created an item to add static load effects (single load case) to internal force envelopes for load train.
- Performed a complete revision of the graphical interface for the Linux version of the program: fonts and sizes of graphical interface elements were redefined.
- Improved graphical interface dialogs for numeric data entry via keyboard. The new dialogs use the currently defined units and numeric formatting (this did not occur in previous versions).
- Renamed cross-section table "NBR Welded I-shapes" to "Welded I-shapes (BR)".
- Renamed cross-section table "Usilight I-shapes" to "Electro-Welded I-shapes (BR)".
- Created two new cross-section tables: "Gerdau AçoMinas I-shapes (BR)" and "ASCI Parallel Flange I-shapes".
- Created option to export a formatted text file with analysis results along a chain of members. Results can be exported in steps or at screen drawing resolution.
- Modified policy for selection and deselection of entities (members, nodes, or dimension lines): if the SHIFT key is pressed during selection, the selection status (selected or deselected) is inverted. Previously, a selected entity remained with this status if the SHIFT key was pressed.
- Modified dimension line selection handling so that new dimension lines are deselected after creation. Previously, created dimension lines had selected status.
- Modified dimension line drawing so that arrow tips are not drawn if the dimension line size is small on screen.
- Modified launch of graphical interface dialogs for keyboard data entry during mouse data entry. For keyboard data entry, press the middle mouse button together with the CTRL key pressed (previously this was done with the middle mouse button without pressing the CTRL key).
- Modified mouse cursor tolerance square size control so that the square size is now modified using the right mouse button together with the CTRL key pressed (in previous versions this was done using the middle mouse button).
- Implemented "zoom in" and "zoom out" control of the viewing window using the middle mouse button wheel.
- Implemented viewing window translation by dragging the mouse with the middle button pressed.
- Implemented automatic viewing window translation during selection of the second node of a member.
- Modified image file export in PS and EPS formats so that paper is placed in landscape orientation, using vector fonts instead of raster fonts, and with a resolution of 600 DPI.
- Added options to export image files in PDF, DGN, and CD-Metafile formats.
- Specified a resolution of 24 pixels per millimeter for image file export in DXF, PDF, and DGN formats.
- Reduced font size in image file export.
- Removed drawing of node marks and grid points in image file export.
- Increased line thickness in image file export.
- Increased maximum allowed number of members from 96 to 480.
- Made modifications to handle the special case of shear force influence lines at sections at the free end of cantilevers. This influence line is only a unitary point value at the section. In the previous version, the program defined a completely null influence line for this case.
- Modified sign of internal force diagram values to be compatible with the adopted sign convention.
- Modified local maximum bending moment calculation to be consistent with the adopted sign convention.
- Modified opaque text background drawing in image file export so that the background is always drawn in white color. In previous versions, the color used was the current background color on screen (white, gray, or black).
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an error in unit conversion for rotational springs when using units other than kNm/rad.
- Fixed an issue in image file export that contained blank spaces in their name, including the complete directory path. If there were blank spaces, the file was not saved.
- Fixed an issue with subdivision of a selected member: the two members resulting from the subdivision remained selected after subdivision. Now only the new node resulting from the subdivision remains selected.
Improvements
- Improved member cross-section definition, with various types of parametric cross-sections and two I-profile tables created.
- Created an option to change the default for bending moment diagram plotting. The diagram can be drawn with positive values on either the tension fiber side or the compression fiber side.
- Created an option to change the default for influence line plotting. Positive values can be drawn on the lower fiber side or the influence line plot of a given internal force follows the diagram plotting default for the corresponding internal force.
- Created options for importing global parameters (unit system, visualization parameters, etc.) and attributes (material property and cross-section tables, load tables, etc.) from another file created by Ftool. Properties can be imported globally or attribute and load tables can also be imported separately.
- Created option to show result values from diagrams drawn transversely to members so as not to overlap values.
- Created option to show result values at defined steps along members in diagram drawing.
- Made available in the program's graphical interface the scale factor used to draw internal force diagrams. The scale is defined in terms of force unit per length unit. The diagram scale can also be adjusted by the user by editing the value shown in the control ruler.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue with model image adjustment on screen when diagrams are shown. Now the adjustment considers the total image size, including the diagram drawing.
- Fixed an issue when performing structural analysis for model files with very long names.
Improvements
- Created influence line plotting.
- Created step for querying results along members and for cross-section definition for influence line plotting.
- Added drawing of result value when querying local diagram values.
- Added display in the side area of result values (step by step) along a queried member (by pressing right mouse button on the member).
- Created dialog with the definition of the internal force sign convention adopted in the program.
- Added sign to normal force and shear force diagram values. Added option to show sign of bending moment values in diagram. The initial option is to not show bending moment sign.
- Added a line at the center of the arrow that represents support reactions.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an error in length unit conversion from inch to meter (used internally in the program).
Improvements
- Created attributes for member deformation restrictions. One can prevent axial deformations of members or consider members as infinitely rigid.
- Created concentrated moment loads applied at member ends. This allows consideration of moment couples adjacent to hinges, frequently used as statically indeterminate unknowns within the Force Method methodology for analysis of statically indeterminate structures.
- Implemented calculation of rotations at hinged member ends. The calculated rotations correspond to the rotation of the tangent to the elastic curve at the hinged end with respect to the undeformed member configuration.
- Supports with prescribed displacements (settlements) are drawn as simple supports (for prescribed horizontal or vertical displacement) and plate (prescribed rotation) shown separately. This representation is common within the Displacement Method methodology.
- Several modifications were made to improve the structure image on screen. The main one is that, in the Windows version, the model is drawn with double buffering, that is, the image is updated all at once on screen, resulting in better perceptual results. Internal force diagram drawing was also improved, respecting the presence of hinges: the diagram is drawn on each member always between hinges (if they exist).
Improvements
- Released Linux version.
- Created temperature variation load on members. The user specifies the temperature variation at the upper edge (on the fiber on the positive side of the local y-axis) and at the lower edge (on the fiber on the negative side of the local y-axis) of the cross-section. To this end, the thermal expansion coefficient was added to material parameters and the section height and position of the section's center of gravity were added to cross-section properties.
- Created dimension lines to annotate distances in the structure image.
- Created option to open structure file via drag-and-drop, that is, by dragging the file icon and releasing the mouse button over the program screen. This option only works in the Windows version.
- Modified the program to allow creation of attributes (material parameters and cross-section properties) and loads without needing to create a structure first. Thus the user can maintain a file with the most used attributes and loads, as well as preferred units and numeric formatting, and use this file as a starting point for a new structure.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an error in the sign of bending moments in the information menu and in the text above the canvas for members with right-to-left or top-to-bottom orientation. The sign was not consistent with the convention that positive moment generates tension at the lower edge (or right edge for vertical members).
Improvements
- The default numeric format for displacements is now exponential with 3 decimal places.
- Modified object selection with enclosing fence (rectangle) so that when no object is selected, selection is automatically directed to members.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an error in version 2.06 that was not displaying correct values for internal forces for units other than kN and kNm. Values were being displayed in the program's internal units.
- Fixed numeric formatting for nodal coordinates, viewing window sizes, and grid when format was changed by user.
- Fixed diagram numeric formatting when force or moment format was changed by user.
Improvements
- Created Units & Number Formatting item in the Options menu that opens a dialog for configuring units and number formatting. The user can specify units for each parameter in Ftool, as well as numeric formatting. There are options to specify default units in SI (International System), US (American System), or all units in kilo-Newtons and meters. Default units can always be changed by the user.
- The Member Properties menu was replaced by Material Parameters and Section Properties menus. Options were created to specify default properties for Concrete and Steel.
- Created elastic supports with translational and rotational springs.
- Text started to be drawn on screen using pixel fonts (raster). Exported images still use vector fonts, except for postscript formats.
- Created options to view load values and support reactions together with load and reaction drawings.
- Created an option to view loads together with force diagrams and deformed configuration of the structure.
- The side information area now uses multi-line text instead of simple passive labels as in previous versions. This allows the user to copy (Ctrl+C) the information text and paste (Ctrl+V) in a text editor. The right mouse button can also be used to copy to the Clipboard.
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