AutoPIPE: new user / model review

As a new user of AutoPIPE how do I
perform a model review to confirm the analysis results are correct?

Why
is my output report blank, or get no results in my report?

Are there any
additonal references a new user should know about?


TR Number:
none
Product: AutoPIPE
Version: n/a
Area: General
Problem ID#: 77861

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Opening a file with AutoPIPE:
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Any version of AutoPIPE can and will open any DAT file created by the program. However, there are rules:

___Rule #1: Only open a model DAT file created by the current version or higher
……….(Example: if using AutoPIPE 2004 v. 8.6, can open the model in v8.6 or higher version number (ex. V9.4)

___Rule #2: DO NOT open a model created by a newer version in an older version without using the File> Save AS command in the new version.
……….(Example: if using AutoPIPE V8i 9.4.1.5, and the model was save using the File> Save commend, DO NOT open it in any version of the program lower than v.9.4.1.5. The correct procedure, with the model open in the higher version, use File> Save As command> Select the version that will open the model i.e. 9.0; this will automatically append “_V90” to the file name alerting you to the fact the file was correctly saved from a newer release of the program.

____Rule #3: If Rule #2 was broken, when opening a model created by a newer (ex.V9.4) version in an older version (ex. V9.0) the following will appear:

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Confirm
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Model was first created in : 09.00.00.05
Model was last modified in : 09.04.01.05
Current product version : 09.00.00.08

The model you are about to open was last modified in a newer version of the product and may not be compatible with the current version. You should contact Bentley`s technical support for compatibility information on this model before opening it. Saving or analyzing the model in the current version may result in the loss or corruption of the model data.

Do you want to continue with opening this model?
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Yes No Cancel
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Selecting “Yes” button WILL corrupt the model the very moment the model is displayed on the screen. There is no fixing a corrupted model.
Selecting “No” button will close the model without opening (recommend)
Selecting “Cancel” button stops the open command.

Acceptation to Rule #3, typically model can be opened by same version family, but still recommend using the File> Save-as command from the higher version.
……….(Example: model was created in 9.1.1.5, not recommended, but can open with 9.1.1.2. The warning above will still appear but is acceptable.

Current version: (verify your version and UPDATE)
AutoPIPE V8i 09.04.00.19 (Update 09.04.01.05*)
AutoPIPE V8i 09.03.00.08 (Update 09.03.01.07, 09.03.02.05*)
AutoPIPE V8i 09.02.01.07 (Update 09.02.02.09, 09.02.03.02*)
AutoPIPE V8i 09.01.01.02* (Patch 09.01.01.03, 09.01.01.04, 09.01.01.05)
AutoPIPE XM 09.00.00.08* (Patch 09.00.00.09, 09.00.00.11, 09.00.00.12)
AutoPIPE XM 08.09.00.14* (Patch 08.09.00.15, 08.09.00.16)
AutoPIPE 2004 08.06.00.12* (Patch 08.06.00.14, 08.06.00.15)
AutoPIPE 2004 08.05.01.11 (Patch 08.05.01.21)

* = ATS (QA&R) versions


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Information and Suggestions for all new user:
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1. Read all PDF files located under, C:\Bentley\AutoPIPE V8i SELECTseries\
____a. apdoc.pdf - AutoPIPE manual
____b. Load_Sequencing.pdf- Understanding how combinations are combined
____c. ProjectWise Integration.pdf
____d. AutoPIPE Quick Reference.pdf - 1 page cheat sheet
____e. Quickstart_AutoPIPE.pdf - how to download and install the application
____f. StressISO_Troubleshooting.pdf

2. See typical modeling approaches; Please see the following AutoPIPE help section:
Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Modeling Approaches> Modeling Approaches>

3. See example systems located:
____a. Please see the following AutoPIPE help section:
Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Modeling Approaches> Example Systems>

The Example Systems provided in this chapter include the following:

Pipe-Soil Interaction: Transition Example
Water Hammer Example
Steam Relief Example
Harmonic Analysis Example

____b. C:\Bentley\AutoPIPE V8i SELECTseries\example
additional procedures:
****AutoPIPE_ASME_NB_Example.pdf
****AutoPIPE_MSRS_Example1.pdf
****Hot_Clash_tutorial.pdf
****PIPELINK_tutorial.pdf

4. Review each option under menu option Help:
____a. Help Desk - online help manual
____b. toolbar - info on AutoPIPE toolbars
____c. tutorial - How to videos
____d. Work book - modeling approaches and example systems
____e. AutoPIPE News - RSS news feed about AutoPIPE release dates and free classes
____f. Online Resources - Various web links related to AutoPIPE.
____e. About - Application version

5. AutoPIPE FAQ
Please see the following AutoPIPE help section:
Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Bentley AutoPIPE> Frequently Asked Questions> FAQ document>

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General steps for reviewing a model:
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1. Open the model in AutoPIPE

2. Press Tools> Model Consistency Check. a report will appear, try and reduce the number of warnings to 0. The goal is to see the following message when using this command:
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Note
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N723-25: No error detected during consistency check
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OK
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However there are some modeling situations that will always display a warning. Again, try and keep these warnings to the bare minimum.

3. Use the power of the Input grids to review the model

---a. With AutoPIPE open, at any time select Tools> Settings> Grids> suggest that "Show input grid tabs with no data" be disabled (unchecked).

---b. Open a model, and make the model input grids visible
---c. Select the left most tab (i.e. Press/Temp/PipeID)
---d. Just scan the data looking for inconsistencies
---e. Move to the next tab on the right, Pipe Properties, and perform the same function of scanning the data. If you had taken the training class you would already know that any column can be reordered by increasing/decreasing values by double clicking on the column header. Spot check the pipe id in the model by selecting a Pipe property row. This will highlight only this PipeID in the model Red, clearly showing where it is being used.
---f. Continue with each tab in the input grid that has data, just scan the information looking for similarities or inconsistencies.

4. Use the View> Show command

Under View> Show there are a variety of commands to display model data in different ways. Recommend reviewing all, but at a minimum use:
___Show Operating Temperature
___Show Operating Pressure
___Show Pipe Properties
___Show Hydrodynamic Data
___Show Soil Properties
___Show Weight
___Show Concentrated Forces
___Show Imposed Displacements
___Show Thermal Anchor Movements

5. Confirm segments are connected together.

AutoPIPE 9.4 and higher has a command to select connected groups of pipe segments (Select> Connected segments>). This is a great tool to confirm if all segments are connected or if a model has a separate piping system / group when everything was thought to be connected.

6. Check to see if unintentional items are hidden from view.
___a. View> Hide components
___b. Segment tab of the input grid, confirm all segments have "Show" checked ON (unless intentionally hiding a segment)
___c. May need to change from Solid model View to Wire Frame or Single line mode to see if an item was hidden.

7. Before performing an analysis, delete all unused items:

Select Delete>
___Delete Unused Pipe ID,
___Delete Unused Section ID
___Delete Unused Soil ID

8. At the end before closing the model,
___a. compact the model, Tools> Model compaction
___b. archive the model, File> Model Management> Save Archive

9. Static Analysis sets

Select Load> Static Analysis Sets> review each analysis set is correctly set up.

10. Dynamic Analysis

Select Load> Dynamic Analysis> review each tab to be sure each is correctly configured.

11. Analyze the model: Select Analyze> Analyze All.

12. Review combinations: Select Tools> Combinations> check both code and non-code combinations. In addition, review Combination Option settings

13. Review the data:

___A. Create an output report with all the sub reports checked ON.
Scan the output report looking for points that have failed code stress requirements (marked with a "**" at the end of the row). In addition, pay special attention to reviewing the following section in greater detail:

___i. Model listing
___ii. Stress Summary
___iii. Result summary
___iv. Analysis summary

___B. Using the powerful features of the Results grids to interpret the data. Example: on the Code stress tab, shutting off combinations one by one to see how load cases affect the model. If a specific combination is causing a model to fail at a point, review each individual load case of the combination to see what is the major contributing factor (caution: the model may have concentrated forces associated with a specific load case causing the failure, review the entire model construction to understand how this may affect your results).


If all the steps above are performed AutoPIPE will perform the calculations and provide results based on the model settings and arrangement.

The AutoPIPE output reports include pipe displacements, pipe forces and moments; beam displacements, beam forces and moments; anchor forces; and support forces. See the following online help location to explains how to interpret these results.

Example: +/- Force, local pipe direction, etc..

Please see the following AutoPIPE help section:
Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Reference Information> Results Interpretations> select document, (ex: Pipe Forces and Moments)


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No results in output report (blank)
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Please follow these instructions:

1. Start AutoPIPE.
2. Open a model
3. Analyze the model
4. Select Results> output report>
UNCHECK (turn off) both:
____"Limit results to highlighted points"
____"Apply Filter Criteria (Result/Filter)"

Check ON: all options but above 2 items.

Press OK button.

5. Report should be displayed for review.

If report is still blank, select Loads> Static Analysis sets> confirm 1 or more analysis sets are set to be analyzed with at least one load case in each set enabled (checked ON). In addition, under Tools> Combinations> code & non-code comb. tab, confirm load case combinations are being generated and have "Print" option enabled (checked ON). Repeat above 5 steps.


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Reference information:
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AutoPIPE Web site (Forum, Files, Wiki, Blog)
http://communities.bentley.com/products/pipe_stress_analysis/default.aspx

AutoPIPE On demand eSeminars for AutoPIPE V8i
http://www.bentley.com/en-US/Promo/AutoPIPE+Caesar/eSeminars.htm
http://connected.bentley.com/BrowseLive.aspx?keywordSearch=AutoPIPE

New feature for AutoPIPE 9.4 and STAAD PRO/Foundations V8i SS3:
ftp://ftp.bentley.com/pub/tools/fixes/autopipe/AutoPIPE_v9.4_SS3M.pptx.zip

AutoPIPE FAQ on-line
http://communities.bentley.com/products/pipe_stress_analysis/w/Pipe_Stress_Analysis__Wiki/autopipe-faq.aspx

AutoPIPE New user
http://communities.bentley.com/products/pipe_stress_analysis/w/Pipe_Stress_Analysis__Wiki/autopipe-new-user-guide.aspx

AutoPIPE Newsletter
ftp://ftp.bentley.com/pub/tools/fixes/autopipe/Newsletter_CAE_April2010_4a.pdf

View upcoming training schedule:
http://www.bentley.com/en-us/training/products/resources/courses/

Create service tickets online at:
http://appsnet.bentley.com/srmanager/addcall.aspx

Contact Us by phone:
http://selectservices.bentley.com/en-US/support/contact+us/phone/
(press Americas hyperlink to see phone tree menu)
Attributes Service Management, Public, Released