Hopefully, by now all the piping stress engineers are aware that the software Caesar II, 2016 (Version-8.0) is already released in November 2015. Many of you are curious to know the changes in this new version and wish to get a feel of the software.
The latest CAESAR II release delivers a number of significant new and extended capabilities in response to current market requirements, as well as direct feedback from the growing CAESAR II user community. In this article, I will try to explain the enhancements that Intergraph had incorporated in the latest version of CAESAR II.
Updation in Piping Codes:
- ASME B31.3 2014 Edition, including:
- Addressed the code standard requirement to consider sustained (and occasional) stress in all support conditions. New static load cases, called alternate sustained or alternate occasional cases, depend upon the support configuration of a converged operating condition. This condition addresses systems where non-linear supports are active in some operating conditions and inactive in others. The alternate support condition is indicated using the new Alternate SUS/OCC check box in the Static Analysis – Load Case Editor.
- Added two new load case templates (.tpl files) for use when recommending load cases, which include support for the alternate SUS/OCC load cases. The template files include: TPL – the updated default load case template, which recommends alternate sustained load casee for jobs including the B31.3 code and LOAD_EXP.TPL – includes all expansion load cases between different operating conditions. (This was the default template in CAESAR II 2014.)
- Updated materials to support the latest code edition. Updated B31.3 materials, including changes to expansion coefficients (Ec), weld reduction factors (W), and elastic modulus (EM) values. Updated allowable stress values for material 341 (A789 S32750) and 342 (A790 S32750). Corrected low temperature allowable values to match the code standard.
- Moved the B31.3 Implement Appendix P configuration setting to SIFs and Stresses >Legacy Settings as the B31.3 code standard no longer refers to Appendix P.
- Added appropriate warnings and notes to the error checking module and the output reports to account for the code updates.
- ASME B31.1, 2014 Edition.
- ASME B31.9, 2014 Edition.
- ASME B31.8, 2014 Edition, including a small revision to the biaxial state of stress formula (Sc), according to code Paragraph 833.4. You can find this formula in the CAESAR II Quick Reference Guide.
Wind and Seismic Codes:
- National Building Code of Canada (NBC) Seismic and Wind Codes, 2010 Edition.
- ASCE 7 2010 Edition and IBC 2012 Edition wind code standards, including a change in the wind load reduction factor.
Equipment Codes:
- API 661, 7th Edition.
- API 560, 4th Edition.
- API 610, 11th Edition.
- API 617, 8th Edition.
Streamlined Load Case Editing/Creation:
- Removed the Load Case Options tab and merged all options to one List view. Redesigned the Static Analysis – Load Case Editor to improve the user’s experience and add more robust functionality when creating and revising load cases for analysis. Includes the following improvements:
- Group Edit view – select and change values on multiple load cases all at once.
- Enhanced List view – Easier scrolling and viewing options, as well as filtering on columns, drag-and-drop capabilities, and easier manipulation of load cases
- Updated user documentation.
Expedited Access to Finite Element Analysis Tools:
- Added easier access to third-party tools for better modeling and evaluation from the CAESAR II main menu, to generate more accurate SIFs and K factors. Compare multiple file results, assess the sensitivity of your model elements, and evaluate nozzle/branch connections with NozzlePRO.
Expanded Hanger Data:
- Added hanger data for the following hanger manufacturers: Hesterberg, Unison, Spring Supports Mfg. Co., Senior, and Wookwang. So currently there are total 38 spring vendor’s in Caesar II database. These are: 1. Anvil; 2. Bergen Power; 3. Power Piping; 4. NPS Industries; 5. Lisega; 6. Fronek; 7. Piping Technology; 8. Capitol; 9. Piping Services; 10. Basic Engineers; 11. Inoflex (Italy); 12. E. Myatt & Co.; 13. Sinopec; 14. BHEL; 15. CASTIM 2000 (Italy, formerly Flexider); 16. Carpenter & Paterson; 17. Pipe Supports Ltd.; 18. Witzenmann; 19. Sarathi; 20. Myricks; 21. China Power; 22. Pipe Supports USA; 23. Quality Pipe Supports; 24. PiHASA; 25. Binder; 26. Gradior; 27. NHK (Japan); 28. PSSI GmbH; 29. Seonghwa; 30. Mitsubishi; 31. Yamashita; 32. Sanwa Tekki; 33. Techno Industry; 34. Hesterberg; 35. Spring Supports Mfg. Co.; 36. Senior (Brazil); 37. Unison; 38. Wookwang.
- Revised the listing of the manufacturer, Flexider, to its new name, CASTIM 2000.
Enhanced Piping Input Usability:
- Improved the Classic Piping Input to display a Pressure 3 value on the interface. This allows you to input three sets of temperature and pressure values without having to open a separate dialog box.
- New single and multiple element-level right-click graphics menus containing many frequently-used element commands and block (group) operations.
Improved Distance Measuring:
- Added functionality so you can minimize the Distance dialog box while remaining in measuring mode in the piping input. Perform multiple measurements around a model continually without the dialog box blocking any of the model. When you exit the dialog box, the software exits the distance mode and returns you to the previous operator. Also, revised the layout to improve the usability of the dialog box, improved snapping in the Line Drawing (single line) mode, and increased the default font size setting for distance measurement labels on the model for ease of reading. Minimize mode for measuring lets you perform multiple measurements without the Distance dialog box blocking any of the model.
- Added the ability to measure multiple distances in the Distance dialog box and see all of your measurements simultaneously. Measure multiple distances (by using CTRL+click) and see all of your measurements at once.
- Redesigned and more user-friendly dialog box.
- Better snapping in the Line Drawing (single line) mode and ability to snap from piping elements to imported DWG pipe objects.
- Larger default font size setting on distance measurements for ease of reading.
Enhanced S3D/SPR (VUE) Model Imports:
- Improved rotation capabilities for imports with a more user-friendly interface.
- Added functionality to include zipped VUE (ZVF) or stitched VUE (SVF) files in a CAESAR II model.
Added Filter/View Capabilities on 3D Models:
- Filter by Line Numbers in the Static Output Processor 3D model.
- View only node names on the 3D model by selecting a new Names Only option in Piping Input, C2Isogen, and the Static Output Processor modules.
Upgraded User Documentation:
- Added edition dates and information for piping, equipment, and wind/seismic code editions supported (Quick Reference Guide).
- More white space and indentation for field property formats.
- New glossary of industry/software terms (User’s Guide): Updated the software to display the .chm-based help when you press F1 in the Material Database Editor, Accounting, Change Model Units, and Create/Review Units modules. Previously, these modules displayed in a text-based help dialog box.
- Moved the help for the Stress Isometrics module into the main help file for CAESAR II.
Learn the changes in the different versions of Caesar II software:
Caesar II Version 12 vs Caesar II Version 11
Major features of CAESAR II-2019, Version 11.00
Added Features of CAESAR II 2018, Version 10.00
What’s New in CAESAR II, 2016 (Version 8.0)
Practical changes in Caesar II version 7.0 (2014) with respect to its earlier version.
