PRO_SAM: Advanced Analysis for Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures
PRO_SAM is an advanced plugin for PRO_SAP, designed to perform nonlinear static analysis (pushover) using the SAM II calculation engine. This tool is essential for engineers and professionals in the construction field, particularly for seismic assessments of existing buildings and the design of new constructions.
Development and Validation of SAM II At the core of PRO_SAM is SAM II, a calculation program developed by experts in the field, including Professor Magenes and Engineers Manzini and Morandi. Originally proposed in the 1990s, SAM II has been rewritten and improved to include analyses of reinforced masonry (RM), unreinforced masonry (URM), and mixed reinforced concrete (RC) structures click here for a Springer article on SAM II.
Technical Features of PRO_SAM PRO_SAM stands out for several advanced features:
- Equivalent Frame Modeling: Utilizes an equivalent frame (EF) modeling approach that allows detailed analysis with reduced computational effort compared to more sophisticated methods like finite elements (FE).
- Multi-Material Management: Fully integrated with PRO_SAP, enabling simultaneous management of different materials and interaction with modules for foundation verification and local failure mechanisms calculations.
- Multimodal Force Distributions: Includes new multimodal force distributions that enhance analysis accuracy.
- Advanced Export and Modeling: Allows automatic export of floor failure mechanisms to PRO_CineM and automatic generation of the D3 model for foundation analysis.
Technical Norms and Applications The Technical Standards for Construction (NTC 2018) introduced significant updates that PRO_SAM is designed to meet. These updates include a revamped input system and both tabular and graphical output, essential for compliance verification and detailed analysis.
Supported Technical Norms PRO_SAM supports both Italian and European norms, ensuring comprehensive coverage for structural verifications. The supported norms include:
- Technical Standards for Construction (NTC 2018): The Italian standard outlining the criteria for construction design, execution, and testing.
- Eurocode 6 (EC6): The European standard specific for masonry structure design.
- Eurocode 8 (EC8): The European standard providing requirements for seismic design of structures, enhancing safety and resistance to seismic stresses.
Verification of FRCM Reinforcements With the latest version of PRO_SAM, it is now possible to verify reinforcements with FRCM (Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix), a significant advancement that expands the analytical capabilities and practical applications of the software.
Collaboration with Confindustria Ceramica PRO_SAM is promoted by Confindustria Ceramica Raggruppamento Laterizi, ensuring a high-quality product developed in collaboration with prestigious industrial and academic entities. This support has ensured that PRO_SAM meets the needs of the construction sector, offering advanced and reliable solutions for analysis and design.
PRO_SAM free for scientific research
PRO_SAM available on PRO_SAP free version (Start Up) dedicated to students, educational purposes, scientific research or evalution purposes.
