Frames
Zensteel will find the most optimal and competitive steel frame structure for you. First you enter the overall geometry of your building. Then the type of building and thereafter you choose your EUROCODE standard and Zensteel will present you the various solutions. With just a few clicks, you are able to change the design criteria and change your frames so it meets your requirements a 100%. The Zensteel frames can be designed and calculated by the use of IPE, HEA, HEB and GOSH profiles as well as welded plates.
Gable frames
Gable frames with or without columns can be designed and calculated in Zensteel. Choose the desired number of columns in the gable frame and Zensteel will tell you the profiles needed for the frame as well as the columns. IPE, HEA, HEB or GOSH can be used as columns in the gable frames. Like when you designed your main frames, Zensteel will calculate the type, length, height, weight and surface of the profiles in the structure.
Truss works
The Zensteel 3D truss module is an unique tool for the design of steel truss structures. The module automatically generates a complete static model including geometry, nodes, members, sections, links, boundary conditions and all relevant loads such as dead load, snow load, wind load, grain load, etc. The Zensteel truss module supports various truss frames such as V, X and N bracings by the use of both welded or rolled profiles. The design can easily be exported to various Zensteel add-on modules or external CAD software solutions such as Tekla Structures, AVEVA Bocad Steel and AutoDesk.
Wind bracings
Place your wind bracings in the desired bay. Zensteel supports X-bracings with or without horizontals, V-bracings as well as tensile/compressive diagonals. Like all other parts in Zensteel, is it possible for the user to include the amount of bracings in the pricing module. Including wind bracings in your 3D model gives you a strong and visual presentation for any potential customer end reduces misunderstandings early in the process.
Wedges
Zensteel supports various types of frame wedges and will automatically present 4 different solutions:
✓ Rolled profiles with onwelded wedges at girder
✓ Rolled profiles with onwelded wedges at girder & leg
✓ Fully welded wedges
All structures generated by Zensteel are delivered with the most optimal length and height of the wedge ensuring minimum usage of steel. Should the user however like to remove or change the length of the wedges in order to meet design and production criteria, then just type your new design and Zensteel will recalculate the structure. This way is it easy to see the consequences of alternative designs and quickly choose the one that suits you and your customer’s desires and needs.
Purlins
Zensteel supports roof and wall purlins. Choose the number and distance and Zensteel will visualize them on the 3D plot of your steel frame building. The total amount and length of the purlins will be calculated and can be used in the Zensteel pricing module, where the total price of the building is being calculated.
Connections
The connections can be designed according to EUROCODE 3. The Zensteel connection module has a large variety of standard connections such as frame corners, base points, girder, ridge and field joints. Bolts, cross plates and welding seams are also being automatically dimensioned. Cross plates are designed in compliance with the yield line theory. All connections can be exported to the various 3D systems such as Tekla Structures, AVEVA Bocad Steel, AutoDesk as well as to the Zensteel bill of material add-on module.
Cladding
Enter the weight of your roof cladding or let Zensteel do it for you, based upon type of cladding and the type of purlin. Besides calculating the weight of the cladding, Zensteel is also able to determine the required amount of cladding in both the roof and wall section. This can be used in the Zensteel pricing modules and then exported to total a sales quote.
Foundations
Zensteel is able to generate the vertical and horizontal reactions to be used for calculation of foundations. Choose between point and stripe foundations and let them be plotted onto your drawings, or as an integrated part in the Zensteel 3D model.
Fire
The fire protection design and verification can easily be carried out in the Zensteel Fire Module. This is done and fully documented in accordance to the EUROCODE 3 EN1993-1-2. The Zensteel Fire Module offers the user the opportunity to find the best and most competitive solution. By the use of this module it is easy to find the optimum between steel and fire paint. This gives the user a competitive advantage and speed that is hard to find in other software solutions. Critical temperatures, fire curves and the gas temperatures are automatically calculated and documented in the Zensteel Fire Module.
Bill of materials
Complete bill of materials with standard XML-export and CNC-data (DSTV) for cutting details are automatically generated. The Zensteel bill of materials module ensures minimum usage of steel so that all profiles and plates are designed in the best way possible to save material. Beside the environmental perspective of reducing waste this ensures a competitive advantage for every Zensteel customer.
Position plan
The Zensteel position plans creates a plot of the building clearly showing dimensions and positioning of the frames, gable frames, columns, wind bracings and point or stripe foundations. This ensures that your project meets requirements and reduces the risk of misunderstandings which can be costly and very time consuming.
3D Plot
Zensteel automatically generates a 3D model of your building. Add extra elements such as wind bracings, purlins and cladding to your building and you will have a unique and strong presentation for any potential customer. The 3D Zensteel plot of your building can be exported to e.g. PDF and Word together with the Zensteel calculations and quotes.
Pricing / quotes
The Zensteel pricing module is able to automatically calculate the price of your steel frame building. Add and save your own prices in the Zensteel database and this will be used to generate the price of the building. With just a few clicks, the user is able to update prices on steel, paint, purlins, cladding, transport and other relevant elements in the pricing database. Having designed your building, Zensteel automatically present the price to the user. This can easily be exported to other software tools such as PDF, Word, CRM and ERP systems. Zensteel is a role based software which means that access to the pricing module can be restricted to a number of employees.
Storage
Store and share your projects and quotes online with Zensteel. By the use of the Zensteel online file storage, your projects and quotes are easily stored. Place all your data direct in the Zensteel cloud, or use one of the integration features to e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or Amazon Drive to store and share your data with your team members, partners and customers. The benefits of using the online Zensteel solution are, that all data is located in the cloud and accessible from anywhere. This saves you a lot of time and money in server maintenance and you will never have to worry about back-up again.
Integrations
Zensteel connects with the strongest business tools in the market such as Tekla Structures, AVEVA Bocad Steel, AutoDesk and many others. Optimise your business and export your CAD drawings, quotes, bill of materials and other relevant data by the use of the Zensteel API or the auto export module. Zensteel also supports import and export of CRM and ERP data, such as detailed pricing data and customer info.