SAP2000 Version 12.0.

0
Copyright Computers and Structures, Inc., 2008

Release Date: 2008-07-15

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SAP2000 V12.0.0 is a major new version of SAP2000 and is only available as a full installation from DVD or from the ftp. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLEASE READ THIS FILE!

It contains important information that is more current than what is in the Manuals.

Contents
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Installation Instructions for SAP2000 Version 12.0.0 File Compatibility with Older Versions Updating Older Version 11 and Earlier New Features in SAP2000 Version 12 Notes for Users of Version 11 and Earlier

1. Installation Instructions for SAP2000 Version 12.0.0

The installation instructions are available in three places: - The SAP2000 Installation Card link on the SAP2000 DVD browser. - A printed document included with the program package. - In the file SAP_Install_Instructions.pdf in the root folder of the DVD. The instructions include information about the software protection system used and installation options and instructions. You can choose between a Standalone or Network installation. For new Network installations, see the System Administrator's Help for more detailed information about the License Manager and the License Manager Administration program WlmAdmin.exe. This installation contains Sentinel RMS License Manager 8.1.1. You should install this version to serve network licenses for SAP2000 Version 12. If you are currently running a version of SentinelLM that is older than 8.0.5 then you must install version 8.1.1. Uninstall the older version prior to installing this version. IMPORTANT! All commuter licenses should be checked in before uninstalling the old version. Note that Sentinel RMS License Manager 8.1.1 will recognize older licenses for Computer and Structures products. Please refer to the SAP2000 Installation Card or the SAP_Install_Instructions file for information on how to do this.

For Network installations you can create a text file, Level.txt, and put the Program Level in it. Program Level should be one of the following: BASIC/PLUS/ADVANCED/BASICC/PLUSC/ADVANCEDC/ADVANCEDI. Save this file to the License Manager sub-folder of the SAP2000 folder. This file will cause the program to find the license faster. Note that this file will be included when a new license is sent. If you experience problems with the license please refer to the appropriate License Trouble Shooting Guide... located in the SAP2000 folder.

2. File Compatibility with Older Versions

SAP2000 Version 12.0.0 can open model files (*.SDB) from older versions of SAP2000, as well as import older SAP2000 database files (*.S2K, *.$2K, *.XLS, and *.MDB.) Note that once you save or run these models in Version 12, they will not be usable by older versions of the program, so you may want to save them under a new name after opening or importing them in Version 12.

3. Updating Older Version 11 and Earlier

SAP2000 Version 12.0.0 is a full installation and can coexist with older versions of SAP2000.

4. New Features in SAP2000 Version 12

SAP2000 Version 12.0.0 is a major new version. Significant new features added since Version 11.0.0 include the following: MODEL-ALIVE Option True to our tradition, we are once again advancing the state-of-the-art of numerical analysis with the introduction of the Model-Alive feature in SAPFIRE ~ CSI's Analytical Engine. Taking advantage of current advances in numerical methods and hardware technology, this option provides instantaneous re-analysis and updating of the displays following any change the user makes to the model. Multi-Processor / Multi-Threading Analysis Solvers Fast, fast, fast analysis times and unmatched solution capacity New 64 bit multi-processing/multi-threading algorithms BrIM (Bridge Information Modeler) Enhancements Design for AASHTO LRFD 2007 added for concrete box girder bridges o Checks include, shear, flexure and principal-stress Additional AASHTO, Caltrans and JTG vehicles are now available BrIM allows temperature loading including nonlinear thermal gradients Enhanced BrIM wizard with more detail and guidance

Templates now have a quick BrIM option for instantaneous bridge model generation Enhanced and simplified span definitions Improved abutments with separate bearings, abutment seat and soil properties Improved bents, allowing single or dual sets of bearings Superstructure may be continuous or discontinuous over bents Enhanced control of location, alignment, and properties of bearings Enhanced control over restrainers at abutments, bents, and hinges

Staged Construction Enhancements Automatic generation of staged-construction stages using standard Gantt charts Stage construction groups may now be defined as part of the bridge object Control is by individual objects as well as by groups Frame end release assignments can be changed Property modifiers for frames, tendons and shells can be changed Section properties for frames, tendons and shells can be changed Section Designer Enhancements Moment curvature curve and PMM interaction surface for arbitrary fiber sections Enhanced control over material properties, including Mander model for all sections Graphical User Interface allows for overlapping shapes and improved Boolean operations Properties for concrete-only sections, steel encased sections and steel-only sections Properties for CalTrans bridge sections, with or without prestressing tendons Enhanced performance and efficiency New Analysis and Design Code Related Enhancements Hyperstatic analysis for secondary effects of prestressing forces Soil (area) springs can now be tension-only or compression-only springs AISC 360-05/IBC2006 steel-frame design code, with seismic provisions Direct Analysis Method of AISC 360-05 code: o Includes small P-delta effect o Automated inclusion of stiffness modification factors, with user control o Design-decision guidance on when Direct Analysis Method is needed CAN/CSA-S16-01 steel-frame design code, including seismic provisions Enhanced design of eccentrically braced frames for AISC 360-05/IBC 2006 Canadian NBCC 2005 wind loads, seismic loads, and response-spectrum functions Load combinations can be converted to nonlinear load cases for advanced design Improved automated load combinations for design Enhanced display of failure modes for steel-frame design Open structure wind loading for the API 4F 2000 code Automated, Predefined and Customized Report Generation Quick and easy generation of final printed reports with complete user control Cover sheet identifying project, user and company Formatted tables of model definition, analysis and design results

Typical graphical displays of the model Output sheets of detailed design information

Other Enhancements to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) User created documents now can be accessed through the SAP2000 Help menu Export of geometry and element connectivity to CSI Perform-3D Enhanced import of input files from STAAD.Pro, GTSTRUDL, NASTRAN, etc. DXF export for finite element stress contour arrows for 2D and 3D views Export structural model data for use with soil-structure interaction product, SASSI Faster graphical user interface and enhanced OpenGL graphics Enhanced Open Application Programming Interface (OAPI) The OAPI for SAP2000 provides developers of products for CADD and 3D modeling seamless and efficient access to all of the sophisticated analysis and design technology of SAP2000. The OAPI can now be used in two different ways. First, OAPI tools developed by third parties can be accessed by the SAP2000 GUI as external plug-ins. Second, using the OAPI, third-party developers can transfer model information to and from SAP2000, trigger the SAP2000 execution and extract analysis and design information from SAP2000, all from within their application. The OAPI feature is now free with every SAP2000 license. Documentation Help updated Analysis manual updated Tutorials updated Design manuals updated Verification Manual updated Automated lateral loads manual updated Watch & Learn Movies updated API manual updated

5. Notes for Users of Version 11 and Earlier

If you are upgrading from a previous version of SAP2000 (V11 or earlier), you should be aware that there has been a significant change in nomenclature regarding loading: o The term load pattern replaces load case of previous versions o The term load case replaces analysis case of previous versions o The term load combination has not changed These changes are being made consistently in all future releases of CSi products. These are simply changes in terminology; the concepts and behavior remain the same, and models from previous versions will open in V12 without any action required by you.

The choice of additional solvers, changes in the default behavior of hinges with strength loss and the change in how cover to reinforcement is specified may cause some analysis or design results to change slightly from earlier versions of SAP2000 to SAP2000 Version 12. These changes are described in more detail in the ReleaseNotes.pdf. Settings files that used to be stored in the Windows folder have been moved to the local application folder \Computers and Structures under Documents and Settings for each user. These files include the SAP0000.INI file, the .TB3 files that store changes to the menus and toolbars, and the default database table format files.