There is a new release of the Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows version of the xsec app; Release 5.15.

The output text files and the trial number system have been improved.

The purpose of the trial numbers is to positively identify the cross-section description that corresponds to a given computation result.

A trial number is displayed on all text files describing a load case result. Also, while there is no change to the cross-section description that trial number is also displayed on all the various text files that describe the cross-section.

The trial number is incremented at the first successful load case computation after a change to the cross-section. That result and subsequent results will all have that new trial number until there is a further change to the cross-section.

A new version of the Android Phone, iPhone & iPad volume of the User Guide that includes for the Android Tablet is available as a pdf download.
The download button on the old Android Phone, iPhone & iPad volume now downloads this new Android Phone, Tablet, iPhone & iPad volume as a pdf.

Composite Floor example detailed step by step instructions for an Android Tablet and an Apple iPad are now available.

Although the application’s data facilities on the Android Tablet and the Apple iPad may look very different, they function the same. So, this one set of instructions should suffice.

At present these instructions are available as a pdf download. A download button has been added to the posted description of this example.

New Composite Floor example Mac and PC instructions are available. These take advantage of the symmetry. The application release 5.13 extends the Given Bending Moment method to the restrained case that has made this possible. (see the blog published September 10, 2024) This has simplified this example: now no manual trial and adjustment is needed.

The earlier detailed step by step instruction will remain available for users who have not updated their xsec application to release 5.13. Also though, xsec could cope with a similar example that is not symmetrical. Those earlier instructions could be applied to such an example.

At present these new instructions are available as a pdf download. A download button has been added to the posted description of this example.

It has come to our notice that some of the files for the example ‘American Concrete Institute SP-17(14) 7-1’ as distributed were corrupt. This affects only files from the various app stores distributed with previous new and update installations. Files downloaded from the xsec.co site are not affected.
The problem with the corrupt files is only with the ‘Concrete’ material descriptions. The wrong code and clause may be named. Also the material parameters are not displayed and so cannot be edited. The stress/strain relationship of the correct material however is ok so ironically these corrupted files should produce a correct result.
The problem detail in the xsf file is not checked during the xsf file read process. The app does not check that the code clause identifier is consistent with the stress/strain relationship. (Each code clause identifier is an integer and their values are set out in the General Files document.)
To correct this simply redefine the material. The code and clause should be ‘ACI 318-14’ and ‘Concrete – Strength Cl 22.2.2.4’ respectively. If these are wrong correct them. If on the other hand these are both correct but no parameter is displayed change the clause to any other clause, then change it back to the correct clause. In either case a ‘Specified compressive strength’ line should be displayed. Change the strength from the default strength 3.50 ksi to the correct strength; 5.00 ksi.

A version 5.13 has been released for both desktop and mobile devices. In this the Given Bending Moment computation method is available for both the restrained and unrestrained case. Previously it was available only for the unrestrained case.
The user guides are to be modified to include for this added method.
In the restrained case the Given Bending Moment method works with small bending moments. (In contrast in the unrestrained case it does not work with small bending moments.) This ability has uses that can be illustrated by the Composite Floor example. The step by step instructions describe manually controlled trial and adjustment; firstly in stage 2 to determine the distortion to be used in a creep computation in stage 3, and secondly in stage 3 to determine the distortion to be adopted as the stage distortion for when the topping concrete is added in stage 4.
Both these needs for manual trial and adjustment can be eliminated by the use this new Given Bending Moment method.
The step by step instructions for this example are to be modified to reflect this simplification.

An article “Flexural Design of Reinforced Concrete Beam Sections” by Qian Wang and Shahriar Quayyum was published in Structure magazine in two parts; Part 1 April 2023 and Part 2 June 2023. This was the prompt for a recently posted worked example; “Beam section”.

A ‘Files’ section has been added to the General volume of the User Guide. This includes a download button for a pdf file that gives a detailed description of the XSF cross section files.
It presents details of the XSF that are not really needed for the normal use of the application. The purpose is to provide transparency. The concept of a black box that crunches the numbers is not helpful.

Version 5.11 has been released for the Apple iPhone and iPad. The bug that affected the format of the numeric keyboard on the iPhone has been fixed.

An update of the General volume of the User Guide is available as a pdf file. The download button on the title page of the posted General volume now downloads this new pdf file. This new volume is dated December 2022 and it is intended that it will be posted on the web site with appropriate internal cross-reference links.