What's new in APSDS 5.0
APSDS 5.0 draws on the features that are in HIPAVE 5.0 and CIRCLY 5.0.
More convenient definition of Aircraft Loads
Earlier versions of APSDS modelled aircraft with more than one main gear on each side of the aircraft (such as the Boeing 747) as two separate load cases. APSDS 5.0 models these aircraft as a single entity, making it easier to define traffic spectrums that include such aircraft.
Enhanced Spectral Analysis
Like APSDS 4.0, APSDS 5.0 accumulates the contribution from each loading in the traffic spectrum at each analysis point by using Miner's hypothesis.
The procedure takes account of—
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the design repetitions of each vehicle model/gross weight combination; and
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the material performance properties used in the design model.
New to APSDS 5.0 is the way you can define a gross weight distribution for each aircraft model in your traffic spectrum, as shown below:
In addition to the usual graphs of damage versus distance, APSDS 5.0 generates spectral damage graphs like this:
Here there is a data point for each combination of aircraft model and gross weight.
These graphs let you check the sensitivity of designs to assumptions made about the gross weight distributions.
Standard Vehicle Library
APSDS 5.0 comes with a standard vehicle library - that can be automatically updated from our webserver.
Standard Vehicle Library – automatically updated from webserver
Automatic Import of APSDS 4.0 data
You can automatically convert your existing APSDS 4.0 data and merge it into the APSDS 5.0 database. This gives you the best of both worlds if you need to continue working on projects that were started in APSDS 4.0.
Wander can vary with Aircraft Model
APSDS 5.0 extends the lateral vehicle wander concept used in earlier versions of APSDS to include the capability of letting the degree of wander vary with each aircraft model in the traffic mix.
Reusable Aircraft Gross Weight Distributions
APSDS 5.0 lets you specify 'standard' aircraft gross weight distributions that you can conveniently re-use in your traffic spectrums.
The gross weight distributions are categorized as being "Standard" or "Custom". The "Standard" distribution feature lets you re-use a particular distribution across a range of aircraft models and projects. The "Custom" distribution is used for just one traffic spectrum / aircraft model combination.
Cost Optimization
A Parametric Analysis feature can loop through a range of thicknesses for one or two layers, while simultaneously designing the thickness of another layer. This feature will optimise up to three layers. Combining this with a Cost Analysis feature, allows for fine-tuning of layer thicknesses to minimize construction and maintenance costs.
For example, for the pavement structure shown below, you can automatically determine the thicknesses of the Base and Subbase that will minimize the total cost.
This automatically generated graph shows you the pavement configuration that corresponds to minimum total cost:
Automatically generated plot: Total Cost vs. Layer 3 Thickness
New "built-in" Graphics Engine
APSDS 5.0 uses its own "built-in" Graphics Engine to create on-screen graphics almost instantaneously. The graphics can be customized, exported and printed. In most cases, results for different layers or Z-depths in a layered system can be created without re-analysing the system.
Here is a sample "Three-dimensional" graph of vertical displacement:
You can also copy the graph to the clipboard and then paste it into another application such as Microsoft Word or Powerpoint. Numerical values can also be exported via the clipboard.
Duplicating Layered Systems and Traffic Spectrums
APSDS 5.0 lets you duplicate a Layered System or Traffic Spectrum. For example, sometimes you may want to create a Layered System that is similar to an existing one. The Duplicate function lets you duplicate an existing Layered System. Then you can change the settings that need to be different.
