RCDC V5

Release Notes
RCDC V5 is here with numerous new features delivering greater accuracy and flexibility to the
design, detailing, drawing and reporting experience. The new features introduced are:

No Module Description

1 General ACI 318 – 2011 code

2 General Euro Codes : BS – EN with UK, Malaysian and Singapore Annexures
3 General Enhanced click and edit option in graphics window
4 General Rebar Mark manager to control text and labels in drawings
Generation of Interaction Surface for axial force and bi-axial
5 Column & Wall
bending
6 Column & Wall Design and detailing of columns of any shape
7 Column & Wall Treatment / detailing of connecting walls as a single entity
8 Column & Wall Computation of actual effective length factor for slenderness
9 Column & Wall Option to detail walls with equi-spaced reinforcement
10 Column & Wall Optional check for Modulus of rupture for columns with axial tension
11 Column & Wall Option to edit detailing and drawing settings from drawing forms

12 Column & Wall Option to show laps in elevation only where diameter changes
13 Beam Enhanced auto-detailing

14 Beam Enhanced beam auto-detection

15 Beam Auto increment of reinforcement layers to avoid detailing failure
16 Beam Auto grouping
17 Beam Ignore beams in plan
18 Beam Option to provide just 2 bars in zones with no bending moment

19 Beam Enhanced drawing options

20 Beam Option to edit detailing and drawing settings from drawing forms
21 Footing Define SBC varying as per width and plan proportions

22 Footing Design of footing for column with axial tension

Option to add top steel as per footing depth and for selected
23 Footing
columns
Unique load combinations for sliding, buoyancy & overturning
24 Footing
checks
25 Pile Cap Pile shear capacity check
 RCDC V5
 General ACI 318 – 2011 code

 General Euro Codes : BS – EN with UK, Malaysian and Singapore Annexures

The ACI and Euro (EN) design codes have been incorporated in the new V5. Euro codes with
National Annexures of UK, Singapore and Malaysia are currently supported. More National
Annexures will be will be added in the near future.

RCDC now gives the option to design and detail in IS 456 + 13920, BS 8100, CP 65, ACI 318 and
EN 02 codes.

 General Enhanced click and edit options in Graphic window

The graphical user experience has been greatly enhanced. Many new options including the
ability to window select, Ctr+ select, grouping and un-grouping, ignore, design, set properties
etc. have been added across modules.
 RCDC V5
 General Rebar Mark Manager

The narration of the rebar mark in drawings can be controlled by using the Rebar Mark
Manager. This functionality can be accessed from:

1. Detailing and Drawings Settings for Beams and columns

2. Detailed Drawing option in Footings and Pile Caps
3. Design Settings in Slabs

Any prefix to the rebar will also be reflected in the design output tables and the design
calculations. Eg. If instead of the default T20, a different prefix Y20 or #20 is used, this will be
visible in the outputs and the reports.

Using this functionality the narration of each reinforcement of each type viz. longitudinal,
transverse and face (edge) reinforcement can be defined.

A number of pre-set styles are provided for quick access. Any number of new styles can be
created by the user. The styles crated will be saved with the RCDC file and the configuration
(*.rcps) file facilitating the use of these styles in other files.
 RCDC V5
 Column & Wall Generation of Interaction Surface for axial force and bi-axial bending

The computation of the interaction diagrams for members subjected to axial loads and bi-
axial bending has been enhanced. RCDC will now compute the actual interaction surface for
all IS, ACI and EN code design. Columns will be designed and checked to ensure that the
actual resultant bending moment in a given load combination will be within the moment
capacity of the column for the axial load in the said load combination.

The approach will replace the earlier interaction ratio based design that was required
computation of the interaction curves for two orthogonal axes only.

 Column & Wall Design and detailing of columns of any shape

Columns of any shape regular or otherwise can be designed and detailed in V5. Facility to
define the shape has been provided in RCDC. Alternatively if the section designer has been
used in analysis to model the exact shape of the section RCDC will import it.
 RCDC V5
 Column & Wall Treatment / Detailing of connecting walls as a single entity

Shear walls that are connected to each other creating a combined wall, will be identified and
treated as a single entity for design, detailing and drawing. RCDC will identify the consolidated
geometry, detail the junctions and create a single design and drawing.

 Column & Wall Computation of actual effective length factor for slenderness

RCDC will compute the actual effective lengths for slenderness as per approach defined in
annexure E of IS 456. The actual type of frame, whether sway or non-sway will be determined
and respective graph used to compute the effective length factor. Similar rigorous procedure
will be used for all other codes as well.

The values computed by RCDC can be edited by the user if desired.

 RCDC V5
 Column & Wall Option to detail walls with equi-spaced reinforcement

When walls are detailed in RCDC zones are created. These zones have different spacing and
potentials different rebars, with the spacing increasing from the outermost to the mid zone.

This new option allows the user to maintain the same spacing of bars across zones. The rebars
may change across zones but the spacing will be uniform. The length of the zones will be
adjusted to ensure that the bar spacing in maintained.

 Column & Wall Optional check for Modulus of rupture for columns with axial tension

The feature to check the modulus of rupture for columns with axial tension is now optional. User
can set this option in the ‘Design Settings’ form.

 Column & Wall Option to edit detailing and drawing settings from drawing forms

This feature is available in all modules.

 RCDC V5
 Beam Auto grouping at floor level in addition to across level grouping

Auto-grouping feature has been introduced for beams. RCDC will identify sets of beams with
similar spans, support conditions and reinforcement and suggest that these may be grouped.

 Beam Option to provide just 2 bars in zones with no bending moment

The maximum bar spacing criteria apples to sections subjected to bending tension. At sections
where there is no tension in any load combinations this check can be by-passed and only 2
rebars provided. This option is available in the ‘Preferred Rebar Spacing’ window.
 RCDC V5
 Beam Enhanced drawing options

 Footing SBC varying with footing width and plan proportions

The feature to define SBC varying with the width and plan proportions of the footing has been
provided. These can also be defined separately for various load combinations as per code
specifications.

 Footing Design for columns with axial tension

Columns with axial tension in any load combination will be designed as Pad footings. RCDC
will size footings of columns with axial tension to ensure that sufficient counterweight is provided
to counter the upward force. The top steel for such footings will be designed for bending
considering the overburden and the surcharge. The shear checks in these combinations are
performed at the face of the column.

 Footing Top Steel Options

1. Provide top steel as per depth of footings. This setting can be done in the ‘General Settings
Window’

2. Top steel can also be provided for selected footings by selecting the option from the
‘Design Settings’ form during redesign.
 RCDC V5

 Footing Buoyancy, sliding and overturning checks

Buoyancy, sliding and overturning checks can be separately defined. The load combinations
for which each of these checks need to be done can also be uniquely defined.

 Pile Caps Pile Shear Capacity Check