TRIFLEX® Windows 2.1.1 Enhancements & Modifications

August 30, 2002

Modifications

1. Time History Analysis Dialog – The Time History Analysis Dialog now automatically calculates the number of snapshots that will be generated by a set of input parameters. Further, the input parameters are verified for consistency before being sent to the snapshot generation engine and failing at that point.

2. Graphical Representation of Stiffness Restraint – If a stiffness is specified at a node, TRIFLEX® Windows now displays graphical representations at that node indicating both linear and rotational stiffnesses and the direction or directions in which they act.

3. Reducer Graphical Display Improved – Occasionally in multiple runs of reducers or should a reducer follow an anchor, proper directional characteristics could be hard to ascertain. The algorithm used to assign a direction to reducers has been improved. Further output parameter color mapping is now done on reducers, rather than leaving them with the default fitting color.

4. Restraint in Line Mode – An inadvertent bug crept into the program during the previous release that resulted in the failure of Line Mode graphical representation of the piping system to display a standard restraint. This problem has been corrected.

5. Anchor Consideration in Input Parameter Color Mapping – Anchors are no longer considered when mapping input parameters onto the piping system’s graphical representation. This will prevent items being found on the input parameter scale that do not appear in the actual model other than at the anchor points.

6. Output Spreadsheet Node and Component Column Locked – The left two columns of the output spreadsheet indicating node number and component type are now locked as the user scrolls to the left to view additional output data. The locking allows a continual reference as to the position in the spreadsheet.

7. Remove Activator Message in Demonstration Versions – A logic error issued a message indicating that the activator would have to be removed if the user wished to do calculations in DEMO mode even if no activator was attached. While the requirement remains, calculations in DEMO mode require that no TRIFLEX® Windows activator be attached to the machine, the message is not issued if there is no activator.

8. Apply Buttons on Response Spectrum and Time History Dialogs Removed – The APPLY buttons on the bottom of the Response Spectrum and Time History property sheet that provided no useful function were removed.

9. Structural Element Systems – Systems consisting only of structural elements no longer cause the program to exit abnormally.

10. Show Time History Animation Button – The ‘Show Time History Animation’ button on the Calculation Output Graphics screen no longer is shown unless Time History data have been calculated and are ready for display.

11. Version Number Shown in Output Log – The current TRIFLEX® Windows version number is now shown as a part of the calculation output log listing.

12. Time History Log Format – Output to the Time History Log has been formatted to add carriage return/line feed pairs between successive messages, resulting in a more readable output.

13. Recalling Data Files from Past Versions – An inadvertent serialization bug prevented version 2.1.0 of TRIFLEX® Windows from recalling data files created with versions 1.5.4 and earlier. This error has been corrected.

14. Inertial Loading Added – Weight loads are now applicable along any coordinate direction simulating inertial loading of the piping system.

15. Wait Cursor Shown During Time History Calculations – Under some circumstances Time History calculations may take an appreciable time to complete. A wait cursor is now displayed during the calculation to alleviate the possible misconception of a system hang up.

16. Component Replacement Logic Modified – Components that are both selected and current may now be replaced without resulting in abrupt, unexpected program termination, but the component that replaces the other will no longer be selected.

17. Restrained Option in B31.4 Code Compliance Now Functional – The ‘Restrained’ option for B31.4 now performs as expected.

18. Time Function Display Scale – The Time Functions Page Function Display is now scaled properly if small values are entered in the time/value dialog.

19. Snapshot Generation Parameter Revision Dialog Indicates Proper Mode – The Snapshot Generation Parameter Revision Dialog that is displayed if the ‘Enable Parameter Revision’ box is selected on the Analysis Tab of the Time History Analysis Dialog, now display the correct selected mode when the user initiates a simulation run or modifies the input parameters.

20. B31.8 Specified Minimum Yield Strength Report – The SMYS factor of B31.8 output report was at times incorrectly stated due to an inconsistency in the association of components and their node points. A revised algorithm for maintaining this association will prevent the problem in the future.

21. Material Database Expanded – The material database was expanded to include the physical properties and allowable stresses for Titanium and Inconel Alloy 625.

22. Case Definition Dialog Modified – It is no longer possible to specify that a Response Spectrum Analysis or a Time History Analysis be run in the same case as Mode Shape and Frequencies.

23. Response Spectrum Dialog Combined Report Now Default – In the Response Spectrum Dialog, Spectrum Control Data Tab, the ‘Combined Report’ check box is now the default setting and performs as expected.

24. Expansion Joint Deflections and Rotations Report – Under some circumstances the selection of Expansion Joint Deflections and Rotations in the output spreadsheet would result in an unexpected termination of the program. This problem has been resolved.

25. Input Parameter Graphics Dialog Revised – Occasionally when input graphics are selected the group to be displayed in the list box can obtain an undefined value. If left unmodified, a terminal malfunction of the program would occur.

26. Multiple Restraints Resolved in Output Graphics – The color mapping algorithm used to render components in the output graphics display could sometimes become disrupted if multiple restraints were placed on a given component, due to a problem in the association of node points and components. This problem has been corrected.
27. From and To Node Numbers Displayed at Top of Dialog – The component from and to node numbers are displayed at the top of component entry dialogs so that the user may reference them as he traverses the various pages of the dialog.

28. Scanning Components Using Previous and Next Needs No Explicit Save – The user no longer needs to state whether or not he wishes to save information that has not actually changed when scanning through components with the previous and next buttons.