CivilFEM 14.5 offered dedicated wizards for post-tensioned and pre-tensioned tendons. Engineers could model tendon profiles (parabolic, straight, or broken), apply jacking forces, and account for friction losses, anchorage slip, and short-term/long-term relaxation. This was critical for bridge decks and containment structures.
In the world of advanced numerical simulation, few names carry as much weight as ANSYS. However, for civil and structural engineers, the raw power of a general-purpose solver like ANSYS Mechanical often requires significant customization to handle the unique nuances of concrete, soil, and complex construction staging. Enter ANSYS CivilFEM 14.5 —a specialized, vertical application embedded within the ANSYS environment, designed to speak the language of civil engineering.
One of the standout features was the ability to model sequential construction. For a deep excavation in an urban environment, users could deactivate soil elements, activate struts and shotcrete linings, and apply prestress—all within a multi-step analysis that tracked stress history. Tunnel boring machine (TBM) advance cycles could be simulated with remarkable fidelity.