LARSA 2000/4th

Dimension:
Staged
Construction
Analysis
 LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged
Construction Analysis

for

LARSA 2000
Finite Element Analysis and Design
Software

Larsa, Inc.
Melville, New York, USA

Revised August 2004

LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Structural Changes over Time 8

Setting Up the Model 13

Running a Staged Construction Analysis 20

Accounting for Deformation 24

Time Effects on Materials 28

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Introduction
Staged Construction Analysis analyzes a series of construction steps, which
represent the steps in the evolution of a structure's construction, demolition, or
rehabilitation. The Staged Construction Analysis is a form of nonlinear static
analysis [see "Nonlinear Static Analysis" in LARSA 2000 Reference] that retains
the state of the structure from step to step, automatically applying construction
activities specified by the user. Staged Construction Analysis makes scenario
testing an automated process.

Changes to a structure over time are defined in a series of construction steps.

Construction steps can include construction activities, such as constructing parts
of the structure, applying loads, and modifying support conditions. Time-effects
on material behavior, including the effect of super-imposed loads, can be
automatically accounted for.

Because the Staged Construction Analysis is a nonlinear analysis, geometric

nonlinearity is included, a necessary feature for any structure with nonlinear
elements, such as cables.

Staged Construction Analysis comes in two types. In the Standard type, a

Nonlinear Static Analysis [in LARSA 2000 Reference] is performed for each
construction step, retaining the deformed properties of the structure from step to
step. Time-effects on materials are ignored. In the Time-Dependent type, the
same nonlinear analysis is performed, but Time Effects on Materials [p28] are
included.

Elements are activated and deactivated through their inclusion in construction

activities, which is explained in Setting Up the Model [p13]. When a Staged
Construction Analysis begins, LARSA assumes no elements have been activated.
Only elements explicitly constructed in construction activities contribute to the
stiffness of the structure. If the structure is to start off constructed, the first
construction activity should assemble the structure into its constructed state.

A structure can change over time any number of ways in the real world. LARSA
supports the following construction activities:

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

• Construction: Parts to the structure are added (assembled). Joint

locations can be automatically adjusted based on the deformed shape of
the structure according to contruction methods, a necessary tool for
segmental projects such as balanced cantilever bridges.
• Deconstruction: Parts of the structure are removed (disassembled)
• Weight and Stiffness: Self-weight and stiffness can be activated in
different steps.
• Supports: Joints are restrained or released (globally or slaved to other
joints)
• Loads: Loads are applied or removed
• Tendons: Stressed or slackened
• Materials: Creep and shrinkage for concrete, and relaxation for steel (see
Time Effects on Materials [p28])
• Structural elements cannot change connectivity

Staged construction often comes hand-in-hand with pre- and post-tensioning

elements. Such tensioning is generally accomplished with tendons, which are
discussed in the tendons section of the Bridge Analysis manual [see "Tendons" in
LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Bridge Analysis] and in the tendons section in the
Model Data Reference [see "Tendons" in LARSA 2000 Reference].

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Structural
Changes over Time
LARSA is able to model continuous changes to a structure over time involving a
useful set of construction activities.

Structural changes occur in a serial or linear fashion. An example of staged

construction might be . . .

1. Construct Left Pier

2. Construct Right Pier
3. Construct Center Temporary Pier (modeled as fixing center joint in space)
4. Construct Span from Left to Temporary Pier
5. Construct Span from Right to Temporary Pier
6. Stress Tendons
7. Deconstruct Temporary Pier (modeled as releasing center joint)

Each of those steps is refered to as a construction activity.

Preparation
Before defining construction activities in LARSA,

1. All elements in the structure that will ever be assembled must be

modeled.

Structures should be modeled as if every member, plate, and spring used

at any point during construction are all present at the same time. The time
at which elements are constructed will be specified later.

As a result, all joints that will ever be a part of the model must be in the
project. Joints are automatically included in the model when elements
attached to it become constructed and are automatically removed from the

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

model when all attached elements are deconstructed.

Tendons [see "Tendons" in LARSA 2000 Reference] and other structural

objects must also be entered before proceeding on to modeling
construction activities.
2. Restraints must be set to initial conditions

Joints will be initially restrained as their restraints are specified in the

project, taking into account standard restraints [see "Joints" in LARSA
2000 Reference] and slave/masters [see "Slave/Master Constraints" in
LARSA 2000 Reference].
3. Groups of elements that will be constructed or deconstructed together
should be put into structure groups [see "Structure Groups Explorer" in
LARSA 2000 User's Guide].

Although structure groups need not be defined ahead of time, it will save
time later.

The steps outlined from this point on assume that the above tasks have been
completed.

Construction Activities
Construction activities are specified in two ways, using the Construction Stages
Explorer or the Construction Stages Editor. This section will outline the general
process. A later section [p13] describes how to use the two methods.

LARSA arranges construction activities into stages and steps.

Stages
A stage represents one day of construction, which can consist of one or
more steps. Stages are labeled with a day number, a temperature and a
humidity value, which apply to all steps within the stage. The day of
the stage is used for computing time-effects on materials.

Steps
A step represents one set of construction activities to accomplish a

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

goal. Steps occur within stages. All construction activities occur within
steps.

Both stages and steps can be given descriptive names.

Example:

1. Piers (Day 1)

1. Left Side

• Construct Left Pier

• Load Left Pier
2. Right Side

• Construct Right Pier

2. Center (Day 12)

1. Center

• Fix Center Joint

• Load Center Joint
3. Spans (Day 14)

1. Span 1

• Construct Span 1 Part 1

• Construct Span 1 Part 2
2. Span 2

• Construct Span 2
3. Tendon

• Stress Tendon
4. Remove Center (Day 30)

1. Remove Center

• Release Center Joint

The example to the right shows how the sample at the top could be arranged into
stages (Piers, Center, Spans, Remove Center) and steps (Left Side, Right Side,
Center, Span 1, Span 2, Tendons, Remove Center). Note how the stages and steps

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

form a simple hierarchy.

The construction activities that can be placed within steps are

Construction/Deconstruction

Structural elements are constructed or deconstructed. Constructed

elements are used in the analysis of the structure. Deconstructed
elements are ignored. Elements start off ignored until they are
constructed.

The part of the structure that is constructed/deconstructed in a

particular construction activity is determined by a structure group [see
"Structure Groups Explorer" in LARSA 2000 User's Guide]. The
construction/deconstruction of one structure group is a single
construction activity.

Elements may be constructed in locations relative to the deformed state

of the structure. The Accounting for Deformation [p24] and joint
displacement initialization (below) are used to specify such behavior.
Normally, elements are constructed in the position that they are
initially defined in.

Support Change
A support's properties have changed, or a joint is becoming a support.
Support activities specify the new restraints of a joint [see "Joints" in
LARSA 2000 Reference] in all six degrees of freedom.

Slave/Master Change
A joint's [see "Joints" in LARSA 2000 Reference]slave/master [see
"Slave/Master Constraints" in LARSA 2000 Reference] connectivity is
changed. Slave/Master activities specify the new slave/master
connections of a joint. Old slave/master connections in all degrees of
freedom are discarded for a joint whenever a new slave/master activity
for that joint is encountered.

Load Application

A static load case [see "Static Load Cases" in LARSA 2000 Reference]
is applied to the structure. A loading factor can be specified. For
instance, a loading factor of 2 will multiply the magnitudes of all loads

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

in the load case by 2 when applying them to the model in that step.

Loads are applied cumulatively; that is, a load applied in one stage
will automatically continue to be applied in all future stages. To "turn
off" a load, apply the load again with a negative load factor. The one
exception to the rule is self weight: A self-weight load case must be
included in any stage where new elements are constructed so that self
weight will be applied to those new members. (LARSA will never
apply self weight multiple times to an element.)

Tendon Application
A tendon [see "Tendons" in LARSA 2000 Reference] is stressed or
slackened.

Displacement Initialization
Alters the initial location of a joint. Normally, when joints are activated
they enter at the location that was initially given to them. Joints
sometimes need to become active in a location relative to the deformed
structure of the model, rather than in an exact position known ahead of
time. Displacement Initializations specify how to place a joint relative
to the deformed location of other joints. They are explained in more
detail in a later section [p24].

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Setting Up the
Model
Construction activities are specified in two ways, using the Construction Stages
Explorer or the Construction Stages Editor. This section explains how to use each
method.

Creating Activities in the Explorer

Construction Stages Explorer

The Construction Stages Explorer presents the construction stages and steps in
the same style as the example above. A screenshot is on the right.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

For more information on the meaning of each type of construction activity, see
Structural Changes over Time [p8].

Using the Explorer:

• To open the Explorer if it is not already open, right click the title bar area
of the open Explorer (where it reads "Construction Stages" in the figure)
and choose Construction Stages.
• To add a construction stage, click the Add Stage button, which looks
like a folder. A new stage will be added to the bottom of the list of stages.
Each stage is labeled with the day on which its steps' activity occurs,
which is "day 0" by default.
• To add a construction step to the project, select the stage in which to
add the new step, and then click the Add Step button, which looks like a
small frame.
• To delete a stage or step, select the stage or step and then click the Delete
button, which looks like an X.
• To rename a stage or a step, select the stage or step, and then hit F2.
Type the new name, and then hit Enter.
• If after adding various stages they have become out of chronological
order, click the Sort button. The stages will be sorted by Day.

Preparing for Time Effects in the Explorer:

• To include time-effects on materials in construction analysis, each

construction stage must have a time assigned, determined by a stage's
Day. To edit a stage's day, select the stage. Then, make the change in the
text box at the bottom of the explorer. Hit the checkmark to finalize the
change.
• To modify the humidity or temperature of a stage, which is used to
compute time-effects on materials in construction analysis, open the Load
Groups & Stages spreadsheet window, which can be found in the Input
Data menu. Select the Construction Stages tab. This spreadsheet will
show a list of the stages added to the project, but not the construction
steps.

Adding Construction Activities in the Explorer:

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

• If part of the structure is to be constructed or deconstructed in a step,

click and drag a Structure Group [see "Structure Groups Explorer" in
LARSA 2000 User's Guide] of those elements from the Structure Groups
Explorer onto the step in the Construction Stages Explorer during which
they will be constructed.

To see the two Explorers at once, double-click the title bar area of the
open Explorer (where it reads "Construction Stages" in the figure). The
right click the title area of the Explorer on the bottom and choose
Structure Groups. Double click the title area of the top Explorer again to
close the lower Explorer.

Structure groups in a step must be either all constructed or all

deconstructed. Use multiple steps if both construction and deconstruction
will occur.

If that structure group is to be deconstructed, right-click the construction

step (not the group). Click Properties and choose the Deconstruct option.
The step will become a deconstruction step, indicated by a red X through
the step's icon.

Structure groups can be constructed in weight-only mode in which the

self-weight of the group is applied to the structure but the group adds no
stiffness to the structure. This is useful when a concrete member is poured
but not immediately hardened. To specify that a structure group be
weight-only, right click the group and select Weight Only. To have the
group contribute stiffness in a later stage, add the group to the
Construction Stages Explorer again, but without the weight-only option.
• Static load cases are be applied during a step by dragging a load case
from the Load Cases Explorer [see "Load Cases Explorer" in LARSA
2000 User's Guide] onto the step in the Construction Stages Explorer
during which the load case should be applied. To see the two Explorers at
once, see the previous point.
• Other activities are accessed

• Using the Construction Stage Editor, which is explained below, or

• Through spreadsheets [see "Using the Model Spreadsheets" in LARSA
2000 User's Guide]. To add these activities to a step, right-click the step
and then select Support, Slave, Tendon Activity.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Creating Activities in the Stage Editor

The construction stage editor is an alternative way of building/editing the stage
construction data in LARSA 2000. Unlike the Construction Stages Explorer, the
Construction Stage Editor uses a spreadsheet based approach to orginize the data.

The spreadsheet does not only contains the data but also some commands with a
self explanatory label to their functionality. These commands can be easily
distinguised by their red, italic, underlined format. Double clicking on these
commands will activate them.

Each spreadsheet contains the commands to add, remove, and rename stages and
steps.

The dialog box is composed of six tab menus. Each menu represents a type of
spreadsheet. Below you find the explanation on each tab menu and how it is
being used.

For more information on the meaning of each type of construction activity, see
Structural Changes over Time [p8].

On the Stage/Steps spreadsheet, you can:

• Add, remove, and rename stages and steps,

• Specify whether each step is for construction or deconstruction, and
• Define the segmental construction method [p24] of each step. Unless your
model needs to update joint locations to account for deformation, the
Standard method should be chosen.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Construction Stage Editor: Stage Steps

Construction Stage Editor: Load Cases / Structure Groups

On the Load Cases/Structure Groups spreadsheet, you can :

• Add and remove load cases to steps,

• Add and remove geometry groups to steps, and
• Specify whether geometry groups are weight-only. (For an explanation of
weight-only groups, see the previous section.)

On the Support Activity spreadsheet, you can add or remove support activity for
each step by specifying the joint number and six degrees of fredom.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Construction Stage Editor: Support Activity

Construction Stage Editor: Slave/Master Activity

On the Slave/Master Activity spreadsheet, you can add and remove slave/master
activity for each step by specifying the joint number and the master joint at six
degrees of fredom.

On the Tendon Activity spreadsheet, you can

• Add and remove tendon activity for each step, and

• Specify whether each tendon is stressed or slackened.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Construction Stage Editor: Tendon Activity

Construction Stage Editor: Displacement Initialization Activity

On the Displacement Initialization Activity spreadsheet, you can add and

remove displacement initialization activities for each step by specifying the joint
number that the initialization process will take place, the joints at both ends, and
the adjustment direction.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Running a Staged
Construction
Analysis
The steps in this section describe how to run a staged construction analysis.

If you will be including time-effects on materials, please read the section Time
Effects on Materials [p28] to see how to set those options.

To perform a Staged Construction Analysis, click the Analysis menu and choose
Staged Construction Analysis.

Running a Staged Construction Analysis

Then choose the analysis options.

Choose the type of analysis: Standard or Time Dependent. (For the difference
between the two, see Introduction [p6].)

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Because the Staged Construction Analysis is a derivative of the nonlinear static

analysis, the analysis shares some of the same options, which are explained
below. In addition, the Standard analysis may perform plastic pushover analyses
at certain stages. Plastic pushover's auto-increment options for those steps are
explained below.

Click Analyze to run the analysis.

Construction Stages
Choose which construction stages are to be analyzed. The analysis can only pick
up from any stage up to where it last left off, or from the start.

Starting Construction Stage

The stage that the analysis will begin at.

Ending Construction Stage

The stage that the analysis will stop at.

Solution Convergence
Equilibrium iterations at a given load level can cease when the result is "close
enough" according to one or more criteria. Two criteria used in LARSA are that
the unbalanced force be a small fraction of the total applied force in the current
load level and that the current displacement increment be a small fraction of the
displacement increment. The convergence criteria are specified by the user as the
displacement tolerance, force tolerance and maximum number of iterations. The
iterative analysis continues untill all degrees of freedom in the model satisfy
displacement and force tolerance criteria within the maximum number of
iterations.

If the solution is not convergent for a load step, a message is displayed on the
screen. If there are additional load steps, analysis will continue if the structure is
not unstable. LARSA carries the unbalanced forces into the next load step and a
convergent solution may be obtained in the next load step. This may imply that
your structure is fine and you either have to increase the maximum number of
iterations or use a less restrictive error ratio.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Max # of Iterations
The number of iterations performed for each load step will not exceed the
maximum number of iterations specified by the user. We recommend 10 to
20 as a maximum number of iterations.

Displacement Tolerance
The displacement tolerance is the error ratio of the incremental displacement
computed in the last iteration divided by the total displacement for the same
degree of freedom. The default value is 0.001 (0.10%).

Force Tolerance
The force tolerance is the maximum unbalanced force at any degree of
freedom.

Auto-Increment Options
The pushover analysis is based on automatically incrementing the load vector.
Specify here the multipliers for the load vector that will be used in computing the
initial load vector and the incremental load vector limitation.

Initial
This is the factor multiplying the load vector for computing the load to be
applied on the structure in the first load step.

Minimum
The minimum factor multiplying the load vector that is used in any load
step. When the iterative analysis requires reduction in the magnitude of the
load vector, the multiplier cannot be smaller than this value.

Maximum
The maximum factor multiplying the load vector that is used in any load
step.

Geometric Nonlinearity
Choose whether geometric nonlinear will be included in the analysis.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Include Geometric Nonlinearity

Whether geometric nonlinear will be included in the analysis

For More Information

• For help on running an analysis, see Running an Analysis [in LARSA

2000 User's Guide].

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Accounting for
Deformation
Normally, when joints are activated they enter at the location that was initially
given to them. Joints sometimes need to become active in a location relative to
the deformed structure of the model, rather than in an exact position known
ahead of time. The segmental construction method option of construction steps
and joint displacement initialization activities specify how to place a joint
relative to the deformed location of other joints.

Segmental Construction Method

The segmental construction method option of construction steps specifies that the
locations of all joints becoming active in the step will be updated acording to a
segmental construction rule.

The example below shows why a special segmental construction method might
be necessary. It is a simple segmental bridge built in stages.

In the first stage, only the left segment is activated.

After the application of loads, the segment deforms. The center node is
displaced, but the right node is left unchanged because inactive joints are
ignored in the analysis.

As a result, when the next segment is constructed, the segments form an

angle, even though there was no angle when the segments were initially
modeled. This may not be the desired model.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

A Use for Segmental Construction Method

Two other behaviors might have been desired:

Hinged Cast
The next segment should be constructed by shifting the end node down
to match the translational displacement of the center node. i.e. The
segment was drawn horizontal, and it should remain horizontal.

Matched Cast
The next segment should be constructed by shifting the end node down
to match the angular displacement of the center node. i.e. The segment
was drawn parallel to the last, and it should remain parallel.
These are shown in the figure below.

Hinged Cast versus Matched Cast

Displacement Initializations
Displacement initialization construction activities specify that a joint's location
should be updated to be mid-way between two other joints.

The example below shows why displacement initializations might be necessary.

It is a simple frame with a two-member span at the top, but it is built in stages.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

In the first stage, only the columns are activated.

After the application of loads, the structure deforms. The upper-left and
upper-right nodes are displaced, but the top-center node is left unchanged
because inactive joints are ignored in the analysis.

As a result, when the beams are constructed, they form an angle. This
may not be the desired model.

In this structure, the joint should be initialized mid-way between the

adjacent nodes after those nodes have been deformed. A displacement
initialization construction activity can specify this behavior.

A Use for Displacement Initializations

When a joint is given a displacement initialization, its location is adjusted so that

it falls midway between two other joints.

For the example above, the center joint should be given a displacement
initialization in the step during which the joint becomes activated. The
displacement initialization should reference the adjacent nodes.

Displacement initializations are entered in the spreadsheet displayed below.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Creating a Displacement Initialization

In the figure, joint 2's position will be updated so that it is mid-way between joint
1 and joint 3 in its x- and z-coordinates. The update will take place at the start of
the step in which this displacement initialization has been added.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Time Effects on
Materials
Time effects on materials account for concrete creep and shrinkage, steel creep
and relaxation, and other material changes.

Conventional analyses fails to accurately account for material properties which

change over time. Concrete is subject to creep and shrinkage.Steel is subject to
relaxation, and in fire it is subject to creep as well. These changes and elastic
modulus variation are accounted for in LARSA's time-dependent staged
construction analysis.

Time-dependent deformation of concrete resulting from creep and shrinkage is of

crucial importance in the design of prestressed concrete structures because these
changes result in a partial loss of prestress force with significant changes in
deflections.

Concrete creep and shrinkage, tendon relaxation, the time-effect on elastic

modulus are based on the prediction models and equations from FIP-CEB90 and
FIP-CEB78, AASHTO, ACI, BS5400-4, BS8110-2 codes or user-defined
material property curves for time-dependent behavior.

Time-Dependent Stage Construction Analysis requires time, temperature, and

humidity conditions. To set time, temperature, and humidity conditions, see
Setting Up the Model [p13].

Definitions
The following time-dependent material effects can be computed by LARSA.
Which effects to include are specified in options, which are explained below.

Concrete Creep
Creep is the property of many materials by which they continue
deforming over considerable lengths of time at constant stress or load.

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Creep strain for concrete depends not only time, but on the mix
proportions, humidity, curing conditions and the age of concrete when
it is first loaded. The rate of strain increase is rapid at first, but
decreases with time until a constant value is approached
asymptotically.

Concrete Shrinkage
Normal concrete mixes contain more water than is required for
hydration of the cement where the free water evaporates in time.
Drying of concrete is accompanied by a reduction in volume. The rate
of drying depends on the humidity, ambient temperature, and the size
and shape of the concrete element and the change in volume occurs at a
higher rate initially.

Steel Relaxation

When prestressing steel is stressed to the levels that are customary

during initial tensioning and at service loads, it exhibits a property
known as relaxation. Relaxation is defined as the loss of stress in a
stressed material held at a constant length. This same phenomenon is
known as creep when defined in terms of change in length of a material
under constant stress. In prestressed concrete members, creep and
shrinkage of the concrete as well as fluctuations in superimposed loads
cause change in tendon length. Relaxation is not a short-lived
phenomenon, it continues almost indefinitely, although at a
diminishing rate.

Relaxation must accurately be accounted for in the design because it

produces significant loss of prestress force. The amount of relaxation
varies depending on the type and grade of steel, but most significant
parameters are time and intensity of the initial stress.

Prestressing tendons are held stressed at essentially constant length

during the lifetime of a member, although there is some reduction in
length due to concrete creep and shrinkage and superimposed loads.
There will be a gradual reduction of stress in the steel under these
conditions resulting from relaxation, even though the length is held
nearly constant.

The amount of relaxation depends on the intensity of steel stress as

well as time and, for stress-relieved steel, the ratio of stress to initial

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

stress.

Time Effect on Modulus of Elasticity

The strength of concrete varies significantly from initial days to day 28,
although from day 28 on the variation is very slow. This variation of
strength is caused by changes to the elastic modulus. LARSA can vary
the elastic modulus of concrete materials according to several codes.

The Effect of Creep, Shrinkage, and Superimposed Loads on

Post-Tensioning
Concrete creep and shrinkage and other loads applied after a tendon is
stressed (superimposed loads) generate strain, which alters the forces in
the post-tensioning. Relaxation curves (explained below) must be
entered into the LARSA project and assigned to any materials that will
undergo relaxation, and those materials must be assigned to the
tendons.

General Options

Setting Time-Dependent Analysis Options

To set these options, open the Analysis and choose Time-Dependent Analysis
Options.

Include Creep
If checked, concrete creep computations are included in the analysis. Creep
is applied to all members with materials that have a concrete cement
hardening type set to anything except Not Concrete. (See Materials [in
LARSA 2000 Reference].)

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

Include Shrinkage
If checked, concrete shrinkage computations are included in the analysis.
Creep is applied to all members with materials that have a concrete cement
hardening type set to anything except Not Concrete. (See Materials [in
LARSA 2000 Reference].)

Include Time Effect on Modulus

If this option is not checked, LARSA uses the elastic modulus specified for
each material [see "Materials" in LARSA 2000 Reference] at all time points.
If this option is checked, the elastic modulus supplied by the material is
treated as the value on day 28.

Code for Creep & Shrinkage

Determines which material model will be used for computing
time-dependent material properties.

CEBFIP78
This code uses a user-defined material model based on the CEBFIP78
guidelines. Use this option to supply custom curves for special
environmental conditions. This code requires the following
time-dependent material curves [see "Time-Dependent Material
Property Definitions" in LARSA 2000 Reference] to be entered by the
user:

• Concrete Shrinkage Curve

• Concrete Delayed Plastic Strain Curve
• Concrete Delayed Elastic Strain Curve
• Stress/GUTS vs. Relaxation Curve
• Time vs. Relaxation Curve
• Time versus Elastic Modulus Curve: This curve cannot be directly
entered by the user. LARSA uses pre-defined equations.

CEBFIP90
This code requires the following time-dependent material curves [see
"Time-Dependent Material Property Definitions" in LARSA 2000
Reference] to be entered by the user:

• Stress/GUTS vs. Relaxation Curve

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LARSA 2000/4th Dimension: Staged Construction Analysis

• Time vs. Relaxation Curve

This code has built-in equations for the computation of creep and
shrinkage coefficients and therefore does not require the following
curves to be entered by the user.

• Concrete Shrinkage Curve

• Concrete Delayed Plastic Strain Curve
• Concrete Delayed Elastic Strain Curve
• Time versus Elastic Modulus Curve

Include Steel Relaxation & Losses due to Creep/Shrinkage/SI Loads

When this option is checked, prestressing losses in tendons from steel
relaxation are included. In addition, reduction in prestressing will be
computed from the effects of concrete creep and shrinkage and other loads
applied after the tendon is stressed (superimposed loads). Relaxation curves
(explained above) must be entered into the project and assigned to any
materials that will undergo relaxation, and those materials must be assigned
to the tendons.

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Index