What's new?

Version 3.5.1

20 Dec 2024

Bug fixes

• Fixed: The M-N-interaction curve for the simplified linear approach is not determined correctly in case of non ductile bolt rows in some conditions
• Fixed: In case of a network error, e.g. a network drive is no more available, loading of recently used files (File|Open) may freeze the UI

Version 3.5

12 Dec 2024

New

• M-N interaction for moment-resisting joints (end plates, welded connections) in beam splices or beam-to-column joint configurations. This means in particular that column splices can now also be verified.
• For the calculation of the M-N interaction curve, you can choose between two methods:
  
  • Eurocode 3 recommendation (simplified approach)
    As a simplification, the Eurocode (EN 1993-1-8) recommends a linear M-N interaction. However, depending on the layout of the connection, this approach can be very conservative. In addition, the so-called 5% criterion is taken into account.
  • More accurate calculation according to Eurocode 3
    Basierend auf den Prinzipien und Regeln des Eurocode wird eine genauere und wirtschaftlichere M-N-Interaktionskurve berechnet.
  The applied loads and the resistances are displayed immediately and clearly for each load case in a diagram.
  

  Eurocode 3 recommendation (simplified approach)

  

  More accurate calculation (advanced approach)
• Output (design note):
  
  • Moment resisting joints completely reworked
  • Moment resisting joints: M-N interaction diagramm with applied loads and the resistances of all load cases
  • Moment resisting joints: diagram of the M-phi curve for the respective load case
  • Load cases for which no loads are specified are ignored. If no loads are specified, the output is only generated for one load case
  • The (descriptive) name of the load cases is also specified in the PDF output
• Enhanced joint configuration management with multi-select support, copy and paste functionalities (buttons and keyboard shortcuts) inside a project or across project files
• Drag and drop reordering of the joint configurations on page 'Project', list on right side
• Mouse right button context menu to paste all copied elements within and across projects
• Mouse right button context menu on all 3D graphics with one or more options depending on the graphic
• Managing load cases: new buttons for moving load cases up and down, along with drag-and-drop functionality for easier reordering
• Managing connections: reorder list of connections, copy/paste one or more connection(s), also across project files
• Licence activation wizard: Fully automated creation and activation of new licenses and updated licenses respectively
• Font size adjustment with Ctrl + mouse wheel and a right-click context menu option to reset font size to default

Improvements

• Header plate with column rotated by 90°: Check if plate width is smaller than clear depth of column web
• Getting update information, additional information highlighted in status bar
• File|Options: Enter website password: Button to show entered password
• Stability and memory management

Bug fixes

• Fixed: Column rotated by 90°: column web stiffeners (which are ignored in this case) are not rotated in 3D graphic => stiffeners are not shown in this case
• Fixed: Double sided beam-to-column joint configuration: Loading of beam 2 not considered correctly in design checks
• Fixed: CodeMeter: Create license request file: No license request file is generated when a license container already exists

Version 3.1.3

07 May 2024

Improvements

• Various preparations were implemented for the next COP update

Bug fixes

• Fixed: Following a security update of the software on our web server, some corrections were required to the interface via which COP communicates with the website

Version 3.1.2

08 Aug 2023

Improvements

• Data check messages for column web stiffeners and notched beams

Bug fixes

• Fixed: Column web stiffeners for welded connections: crash when creating a check data message
• Fixed: Calculation note (PDF output) is not immediately updated when name or position of joint configuration has been changed
• Fixed: Beam-to-beam joint configuration: Data check message for unnotched beams when the beam end is outside of the flanges of the main beam

Version 3.1.1

30 Jun 2023

Bug fix (hotfix)

• Fixed: Programme (v3.1 only) crashes when changing the weld size in welded connections

Version 3.1

11 May 2023

New

• M-phi curve can be displayed in the result overview for positive or negative moments
• Calculation of shear resistance belonging to negative moment
• 3D graphic to visualise loading for lattice girder joints
• More interactive graphics of the joints: When a data input control gets the focus, the relevant view (side or front) and the relevant dimension line is selected automatically; ToolTips for dimension lines; click on dimension lines sets focus to relevant data input control
• Section database: Further UB/UC sections added (source: ArcelorMittal web site 'Orange Book')
• Section types IPEA, IPEAA, IPEO, HEAA, HEC, HL, HP, UB, UC also available for lattice girder joints

Improvements

• Licence handling: More detailed information concerning the status of your licences; new option for manual licence selection; an expired trial licence may be deleted from the system; number of available licence regularly updated
• Encrypted website password is saved in settings.dat and website user name and password are checked at each program start, so that COP will recognise when the user account data have been changed on the website
• For moment resisting joints, in the results summary (on page 'Joints') and in the detailed results (on page 'Results') values for negative moments are also displayed
• The structure of the design note (output) has been made more compact
• Improvements in data check messages
• Graphic to visualise joint loading (page 'Joints|Loads')

Bug fixes

• Fixed: Licence check: Possible message 'Licence not found' not shown at program start
• Fixed: File|Licence: Displayed information of current licence disregard selected program language
• Fixed: File|Options|Project defaults: Not possible to select default values for steel grades or output language
• Fixed: Double-sided joint configurations: beam 2 lower haunch values are take from beam 1 lower haunch
• Fixed: When a negative moment is relevant, the shear force belonging to positive moment is shown
• Fixed: Stiffness classification of beam splices: L_b must be Lb = Lb1 + Lb2
• Fixed: Licencee as specified in active licence is not shown in footer of design note (PDF output)
• Fixed: Manage connections: Buttons not disabled when no connection is selected
• Fixed: Braces in lattice girders: Offset is editable (info added for clarification: Input of eccentricity on the page 'General')
• Fixed: Section database: Wrong section data for UB/UC sections (web/flange thickness exchanged)
• Fixed: User defined IH section can be selected for the chord in KK joints, but it should not be possible

Setup

• Update: Setup updates CodeMeter licence server to v7.51
• Fixed: Setup does not activate CodeMeter option 'Configure as network licence server'
• Fixed: Display of approximate value of required disk space

Version 3.0.2

17 Oct 2022

New

• Page 'Project': List of joint configurations: A double-click selects the joint configuration and navigates to page 'joints' for editing
• Pages 'Joints'/'Results': When opening the combo box to select the current connection configuration: Instead of the list of joint configuration names, images and some joint data are now displayed so that the joint configuration to be selected can be easily recognised

Bug fixes

• Fixed: Setup: File 'ReleaseNotes.txt' was not redistributed. It can be found now in the COP installation folder. It can also be displayed when the setup is finished
• Fixed: Import CoP2-files: COP crashes when reading projects file containing composite joints. Now, such joint configurations are skipped during import
• Fixed: Import CoP2-files: Joint configurations are not imported in the correct order
• Fixed: Import CoP2-files: Hollow section joints: width and thickness of chord reinforcement plates not imported correctly
• Fixed: Lattice girder joints: If positive z axis is defined as 'downwards', for example after importing a CoP2 file, 3D view does not show correctly the position of braces when changing the brace angle

Version 3.0.1

27 Sep 2022

Bug fixes

• Fixed: The trial licence is not recognised in some cases
• Fixed: Import of CoP2 files with double sided joint configurations: stiffness class for simple joints not set correctly

Version 3.0

22 Sep 2022

New

• Completely new user interface (appearance and operation similar to Microsoft Office)
• New 3D graphics
• 3D graphics: Optional second 3D view to show the joints (split view)
• 3D graphics: Layers, e.g. profiles, plates, bolts, which can be hidden individually
• Type 'Butt weld' for welds of haunch flange
• New database manager
• Help texts for 'Getting started' and 'How to' tips for many input masks
• Basic font size and sizes of screen areas can be customised as needed
• Project templates (standard and user defined)
• Menu 'Open' Selecting a project in list of last opened files shows a project preview
• Default values for the steel grades of members and connection plates can be individually defined

Amendments

• New project file format (.copx)
• COP 3.x will be installed in an other program directory than CoP2, i.e. a previous versions of CoP2 may be installed at the same time

Improvements

• Calculation results are displayed immediately after each change of the input data
• Input of internal forces: visualisation in 3D view
• Various improvements in the data checks
• Web plates: Data check added regarding position and height of the plate, so that they can be considered as effective.
• Design note (Output) includes 3D drawing of the joint configuration
• Support for workstations with multiple monitors
• Double sided beam-to-beam joint configurations: Both beam cross-section and the connection type/geometry can be different for the two joints
• Lattice girder joints: Any combination of supplementary chord flange and chord side plates can be used
• Lattice girder joints: Output: Better differentiation between options “main results”/“detailed results” => Design note for option “Main results” significantly shorter

Bug fixes

• Fixed: In the main results view, for the joint stiffness S_j,ini/η the value of the initial stiffness S_j,ini is displayed
• Fixed: Data checks: Warnings that web plates cannot be considered are only displayed in the design note but not in the UI messages.
• Fixed: Lattice girder joints: Orientation of IH brace on RHS chord must be strong axis
• Fixed: Title of figures in PDF output not translated
• Fixed: Simple joint with header plates: Problem when accounting for bearing resistance of supporting beam

Version 2.1.3

Last published version of CoP2