Dear customers and ATENA friends,

we hope you are doing well. We would like to share the latest development in ATENA as the year 2022 progresses.

We are just releasing ATENA 5.9.1, which represents an incremental upgrade with various minor improvements and bug fixes. Our main focus is on major new ATENA version including our new revolutionary user-friendly pre-processor that will help our users model in ATENA more effectively and quickly. This version is already undergoing intensive internal testing, and we estimate the release of a standard version for the first half of 2023.

For this reason, we would like to recommend all our ATENA users to renew their existing maintenance licenses. This means you will be ready to start using this new version ATENA 2023 once it is released next year. 

As we do care about your satisfaction with ATENA features and capabilities, we would like to receive your feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Please use the following form. We will implement your suggestions into the next releases. Knowing your opinion makes us aware of what's right or wrong in ATENA.

Moreover, we continue organizing webinars on miscellaneous topics for our users and friends. If you have any tips for future webinar topics, please kindly let us know.

All of our previous webinars are available on ATENA YouTube channel, so that you cannot miss any.

We look forward to continuing our successful mutual cooperation.

With best regards from Prague

Your ATENA team 

Fig. 1: Calculated crack widths from pushover analysis of internal structures in a nuclear containment vessel

This version is a regular yearly incremental software upgrade containing various improvements and corrections. Some of the major changes are listed below:

• new licencing options and the new trial version feature in ATENA software
• new models and improvements in ATENA v5.9.1:
  • new creep models: ACI 209-2R-08, Canadian code CS-S6-14
  • aging and deterioration in bond models based on time, temperature or corrosion levels
  • improvements and bug fixes in Microplane M7 concrete material model
  • Improvements of for the simulation of 3D Printing including G_code support for the element activation according to the printing process
• minor improvements in run-time and post-processing software AtenaStudio
  • possibility to name important load steps and display windows for easy identification
  • minor improvements in automatic report generation

ATENA version 5.9.1 can be downloaded from our website.

Fig. 2: ATENA Center screen for 30 days trial version registration

We are continuously working on expanding the capabilities of our ATENA software. Our main focus now is to bring our standard product ATENA Engineering to a higher level. We plan to release a completely new version of this product at the beginning of the next year.

This version will be available to our users with a valid maintenance license at the beginning of next year 2023. This is also why the name of this new version will be ATENA 23 So stay tuned and make sure your maintenance license is active so that you can start using this new version immediately. ATENA Engineering supports static analysis of reinforced concrete structures. The new version will be also compatible with the current Science version, which will still remain the main version for more advanced analyses such as creep, transport or dynamic. If compared to the existing ATENA 2D & 3D Engineering, it will contain the following main improvements:

- 2D and 3D modelling and preprocessing will be combined into a single environment,
- curved NURBS lines and surfaces will be supported,
- stronger compatibility with ATENA Science,
- import of *.gid models,
- scripting support using Python programming language,
- import of other data formats such as: ifc, iges,
- support for layers as in other modelling programs,
- possibility to develop user defined material libraries as well as materials,
- support for construction process modelling both in 2D and 3D,

Fig. 3: View of axi-symmetric analysis definition in the new ATENA 23 pre-processor

Fig. 4: Internal reinforcement defined in the new ATENA 23 pre-processing module

- durability models for reinforcement corrosion and alkali-silica reaction,
- modelling and simulation of 3D concrete printing,
- BIM based internal data format,
- our popular AtenaStudio program is used for unique runtime visualization and control,
- fully built on 64-bit technology and supporting larger computer memory capacity and speed.

The release of this new version will represent an important step in ATENA history. Our goal is to gradually combine our Engineering and Science product lines into a single transparent environment allowing users to perform all modelling and simulation in a single, powerfull and user-friendly package.

This first release will replace the original ATENA 2D and 3D programs, which are based on the old 32-bit technology. The new version will allow to fully exploit the current 64-bit computer technology. The compatibility with previous 2D and 3D programs will be preserved, which means that it will be possible to import the old *.cc2 and *.cc3 files.

Please, make sure your maintenance licence remains valid so that you are entitled to download this new version when it becomes available. Contact our sales representatives (cervenka@cervenka.cz) to be eligible for this new upgrade.

Fig. 5: 3D model of a historical bridge in the environment of the new ATENA 23 pre-processor

Partnership Cervenka and Safibra

We are happy to announce our partnership with SAFIBRA, s.r.o. for the application and promotion of "Digital Twin" concept for the assessment or reliability and safety of civil engineering structures. SAFIBRA s.r.o develops unique technology and products for structural health monitoring using advanced and innovative fibre optics products. The cooperation has been successfully tested on previous projects involving structural health monitoring of Wonka bridge in Pardubice (Czech Rep) and on the TwinBridge project supported by Czech Technological Agency.  The Digital Twin enables the owners to follow the overall structural behavior in real time on the basis of measured response at monitored locations. The Digital Twin approach allows for rapid assessment of the structural behavior and the prediction of the evolution of structural safety and reliability in the future. The project results will be used in the management and effective planning of the transport structure maintenance. The Digital Twin combines the technologies of three fields: advanced computational mechanics for nonlinear modeling of structures, artificial intelligence and deep learning and monitoring techniques using optical fiber sensors.

Fig. 6: Digital Twin model of Wonka bridge in Czech Republic (top) photo of the bridge, (bot) bridge failure during the overloading test in the virtual numerical model

Fig. 7: Project flow in the monitoring part of the Digital Twin model (Safibra s.r.o.)

Our Digital Twin partnership provides new unique benefits compare to standard health monitoring systems:

• provide real time data on structural health and existing safety margins
• provide predictions on structural safety and reliability into the future
• full 3D numerical model available in the backend for visualization and data interpretation

Our technology does not overloaded the owner with gigabytes of monitoring data, but rather provides answers and insight into the real structural behavior and its future development.

If you are interested in our Digital Twin technology or want to learn how it can be applied for your structural health monitoring projects, please contact us at cervenka@cervenka.cz.

Comparison of advanced semi-probabilistic methods for design and assessment of concrete structures

Let us introduce you our publication in Structural Concrete Journal of the fib using ATENAsoftware: Novák, L., Červenka, J., Červenka, V., Novák, D., Sýkora, M.: Comparison of advanced semi-probabilistic methods for design and assessment of concrete structures, https://doi.org/10.1002/suco.202200179
It was written in cooperation with TU Brno and Klokner’s Institute in Prague and it is the outcome of our long term effort in the development of suitable safety formats for the application of nonlinear analysis in engineering practice. The work was financially supported by Czech Grant Agency under the contract 20-01781S.

Fig. 8: Crack pattern and reinforcement yielding for different bending failure modes in the investigation of the model uncertainty for reinforced concrete design by nonlinear analysis

Fig. 9: ATENA prediction of crack pattern and crack spacing by nonlinear analysis

Simulation of the crack width in reinforced concrete beams based on concrete fracture

Our next publication in Elsevier magazine: Cervenka, V., Rimkus, A., Gribniak, V., Cervenka, J. (2022), Simulation of the crack width in reinforced concrete beams based on concrete fracture, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2022.103428.  

The concrete cracking is simulated by the finite element method combined with the constitutive model based on the nonlinear fracture mechanics. The model uncertainties for mean and maximum crack widths are found by comparing the simulated crack widths with data obtained by laboratory testing of 18 reinforced concrete beams.

The reinforcement arrangement, dimensional simplification, and numerical discretisation effects on the model uncertainty are investigated. The presented numerical model represents an advanced tool for the crack width assessment in the design of reinforced concrete structures in serviceability limit states.

Past webinars 2022:

Webinar 1: Safety formats of RC structures according to FiB standards: presentation part1, part2

Webinar 2: How to model reinforcement bond in ATENA software

Webinar 3: Bond modelling in ATENA

Webinar 4: Modelling of pre-stressed concrete structures in ATENA software

Webinar 5: Simulation and modelling of durability and strengthening in reinforced concrete structures

Fig. 10: ATENA modelling and simulation of 3D concrete printing

Fig. 11: Fire analysis in ATENA software

Webinar 6: The latest development in ATENA software and the update of the latest release version 5.9.1

Webinar 7: Thermal analysis in ATENA software including high temperature modelling

Webinar 8: Modelling of the hydration process and temperature distribution in fresh concrete 

Future webinars:
 

Webinar 9: Basics of probabilistics analysis and modelling in FReET software (November 22th, 2022)

Webinar 10: Stochastic nonlinear reliability assessment of concrete structures using SARA and ATENA software (December 8th, 2022)

Webinar 11: Identification of material model coefficients for cementitious composites using APIS FRC software and problematics of the analysis of fibre-reinforced concrete structures (December 20th, 2022)

Open Workshop Invitation on Phase-Change Cementitious Materials

The first public workshop presenting the development of unique phase change material to improve the energy performance of buildings took place in Prague, Czech Republic in October 27th. 

The workshop was targeted for professionals and researchers working in the area of sustainable and energy efficient buildings or in modern materials and technologies for thermal insulation.

Fig. 12: Logo of the NRG-STORAGE project

Fig.13: Michaela Herzfeldt presented a paper titled: Structural Analysis of NRG-STORAGE DemoHouses

The workshop covered the following topics:

- development of a new phase change cementitious materials starting from micromechanical simulation and modelling up to laboratory tests
- thermal and mechanical properties of the new material
- experimental program and results for sample wall panels including the new material
- field testing and performance evaluation of the new material in experimental buildings

For more information about the project see our website: https://nrg-storage.eu

October 23-27, 2022 (has already taken place)
ACI Concrete Convention
Dallas, TX, USA
ATENA demonstration you can watch here.
Event website

November 28-30, 2022
Global Meet on Infrastructure and Construction
Paris, France
Event website

December 7-9, 2022
International Accelerated Bridge Construction Conference
Miami, FL, USA
​Event website

Fig.14: Martin during indepth discussions at ATENA exhibition booth, ACI Concrete Convention 2022, Dallas, TX, USA

Fig.15: Jiri Rymes during his presentation at CCC Conference 2022, Zakopane, Poland

April 2-6, 2023
ACI Concrete Convention
San Francisco, CA, USA
Event website

June 5-7, 2023
fib Symposium
Istanbul, Turkey
Event website

June 20-22, 2023
67. BetonTage
Ulm, Germany
Event website

APOSTOLIDI, E., SOMODIKOVA, M., STRAUSS, A., NOVAK D., PUKL, R., LEHKY, D. (2022), Modelling of Nonlinear and Uncertain Behavior of Concrete Bridges. In: Pellegrino C., Faleschini F., Zanini M.A., Matos J.C., Casas J.R., Strauss A. (eds) Proceedings of the 1st Conference of the European Association on Quality Control of Bridges and Structures. EUROSTRUCT 2021. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 200. Publisher Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91877-4_29, Print ISBN 978-3-030-91876-7, Online ISBN 978-3-030-91877-4

CERVENKA, J., ATENA GiD Interface – Modelling of Reinforced Concrete Structures 3D Concrete Printing, GiD Convention 2022,  https://www.gidsimulation.com/gid-convention/gid-convention-2022/

CERVENKA, J., HERZFELDT, M., CAGGIANO, A., KOENDERS, E., Evaluation of Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Demonstration Wall utilizing Phase Change Cementitious Materials, Central Europe towards Sustainable Building, July 4-6, 2022, Prague,

CERVENKA, V., RIMKUS, A., GRIBNIAK, V., CERVENKA, J. (2022), Simulation of the crack width in reinforced concrete beams based on concrete fracture, Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, VOLUME 121, 103428, ISSN 0167-8442, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.TAFMEC.2022.103428; https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1fFyucAT7Ek9S

CERVENKA, J., RYMES, J., Digital Twin for Modelling Structural Durability, Numerical Modeling Strategies for Sustainable Concrete Structures, Marseille, France, 4-6.7.2022, https://sscs2022.sciencesconf.org/

CERVENKA, J., RYMES, J., PUKL, R., Assessment of long-term reliability of reinforced concrete bridges using digital twins, 13th Central European Congress on Concrete Engineering, 13-14th Sept., Zakopane, Poland

CERVENKA, J., SMEJKAL, F., CERVENKA, V., On the application of nonlinear analysis in the design and assessment of reinforced concrete structures, EuroC 2022, Computational Modelling of Concrete and Concrete Structures, ISBN 978-1-032-32724-2, eBook ISBN 978-1-00-331640-4,  DOI: 10.1201/9781003316404-2, 766 pages, pp. 8-21

NOVAK, L., CERVENKA, J., CERVENKA, V., NOVAK, D., SYKORA, M., Comparison of advanced semi-probabilistic methods for design and assessment of concrete structures, Structural Concrete 2022, 1-17, 2022, DOI: 10.1002/suco.202200179

NOVAK, D., LEHKY, D., PUKL, R., SLOWIK, O., NOVAK, L., Integrated Approach To Probabilistic Nonlinear Assessment Of Concrete Bridges, The 8th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering - ECCOMAS Congress 2022, June 5 – 9, 2022, Oslo, Norway, https://www.eccomas2022.org/frontal/default.asp

NOVAK, D., PUKL, R., 70 years old concrete bridge - is it still safe for the today´s heavy traffic?, 10th International Congress of Croatian Society of Mechanics, September 28-30, 2022, Pula, Croatia, http://iccsm2022.fsb.hr/?page=home

NOVAK, D., PUKL, R., Advanced Integrated Assessment of Concrete Bridges Considering Nonlinearities, Uncertainties and Degradation, Structural And Physical Aspects Of Construction Engineering - SPACE 2022, October 12-14, 2022, Strbske Pleso, High Tatras, Slovakia, https://space.uis.svf.tuke.sk/

PUKL, RYMES, J., CERVENKA, J., Advanced modelling of concrete bridges, IABSE Symposium Prague 2022, Challenges for Existing and Oncoming Structures, May 25-27, 2022, Prague, Czech Republic, eid=2-s2.0-85133548836, ISBN 978-385748183-3

RYMES, J., CERVENKA, J., PUKL, R., Advanced Modelling Of Concrete Structures For Improved Sustainability, Central Europe towards Sustainable Building (CESB), July 4-6, 2022, Prague