A Look at Facha and Its Analysis Techniques
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Engineers usually deal with two-dimensional data in their designs, for example, the displacement of individual structural members, the bending moments of the columns and beams, and the tensile strengths and moments of the sections. However, the data is rarely analyzed using the same methodology or software. In addition, when considering the design of an architecture, the displacement data is not the only source of information to be analyzed. The structure should also be analyzed using a framework that incorporates both principal components. A design engineer would likely use ENGISSOL to derive the structural properties of the building from the data obtained using 2D Frame Analysis.
Englisol is a powerful finite element method for structural analysis, using optimal integration of finite elements and tensors to identify all components in the structure. Unlike other design analysis programs, such as PDE's (plate and drawing) or MDF (medium-dense fiberboard) that rely heavily on mathematical formulation, Facha relies on finite element and tensor techniques to provide accurate data that can be visualized using computer programs. Two different approaches, both derived from the field of finite element analysis, are applied in Facha analysis. The first approach is known as the fast Fourier transformation (FFT), which determines the thermal expansion value and internal stresses of the frame using only a single measurement. The second approach, called the finite element analysis (FEA), makes use of more than one measurement in order to derive the stresses and effects of structural design.
The second method, known as the finite element analysis (FEA) method, makes use of several measurements to derive the stresses on beams and columns. The first measure used is the displacement, or moment, of a beam or column against a reference frame. The second measure, known as the bending moments of a beam or column, is determined by using the dynamic or static consequences of the beam or column's motion. The third measure, known as the bending stiffness or tensile strength of a beam or column, uses the tensile strength of the beam or column against the center of mass of the structure. In addition, the angle of symmetry or tilt of a structure's axis is also measured.
