RCC-2000 EDUCATION + CALcrete README.

TXT 20/10/00
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Introduction
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RCC-2000 Education + CALcrete is a special edition disc from
the Reinforced Concrete Council (RCC) LICENSED FOR STUDENT
USE IN THE UK ONLY. It may NOT be used by practising
professionals for CPD, design or other purposes.

It has three separate sections:

CALcrete - 13 CAL programs on concrete materials,
-------- design & construction

RC-Info - an interactive library of rc design guides

------- & case studies

and RC-Spreadsheets - 27 spreadsheets for rc element design

--------------- to BS8110 and EC2

Each of these sections is described below, under the relevent

section heading (underlined).

If you wish to speed the operation of the disc, you may

copy it onto your hard disc for your own personal use only.
In this case, the opening menu can be displayed by running the
'autorun.exe' (application) found at the highest level of the
directory structure.

If you have queries or problems in using this disc, consult

the FAQs at the end of this file. Also, see the 'Help'/'Readme'
files in each section of the disc when running the software.

CALcrete
--------
CALcrete is a suite of 13 computer aided learning (CAL)
modules on concrete, ranging from materials to design and
construction. It is suitable for both learning in higher
education and professional development. It has been made
available free to UK HEIs for network use and as a CD-ROM for
UK students' own use (distributed to selected students by
their department).

MODULES
- Foundations and retaining walls
- Reinforced concrete design part 1 (to EC2)
- Reinforced concrete design part 2 (to EC2)
- Reinforced concrete design to BS 8110 part 1
(with EC2 comparison)
- Reinforced concrete design to BS 8110 part 2
(with EC2 comparison)
- Cement and concrete in pavement construction
- Drawing and detailing
- Precast concrete
- Pre-stressed concrete
- Concrete as a material
- Buildability and construction techniques
- Concrete bridges
- Concrete site practice

Modules are available as a suite on this CD-ROM which runs in

Windows 95, 98 or NT. The suite can be run from the disc, but
will generally run more smoothly if the CALcrete folder or
the entire CD contents are copied to the user's hard disc
(see introduction at the start of this readme file).

THE BENEFITS OF CALCRETE

Flexible learning - learn where, when & how you want to
New skills, revision, awareness of other disciplines
Interactions, exercises, examples bring the subject to life
Concise presentation with colour, graphics,photos,animation
Up to 20 user hours of material per module,
many incorporating aspects of Eurocodes
Creating Eurocode awareness and skills
BS 8110 rc design with EC2 comment/comparison
High quality content with industry relevance
Robust, well proven software
Learning English as a second language

A joint venture between the BCA, Phoenix Systems and the RCC.

CALcrete contact is via the RCC:

Tel 01344 725733
Fax 01344 761214
E-mail rcc@bca.org.uk

For more details of the CALcrete launch to UK HEIs and their

students, see FAQ section near the end of this readme file.

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RC-INFO
-------
RC-info is a valuable research, information and educational
tool about reinforced concrete design and construction

WHAT'S ON RC-INFO?
- A powerful interactive library of most RCC publications in
pdf format permitting high definition colour illustrations
and photographs, plus sophisticated search facilities. The
publications include real life case studies, technical
material, and design manuals.
- A full working version of Concept - a program for the
structural concept design of reinforced concrete framed
buildings.
- Information about the Reinforced Concrete Council.
- Adobe Acrobat (c) Reader 4.05 + 'search' for viewing the
Portable Document Format (pdf) files on this disc. This
includes a powerful search facility for the text, and
allows magnification and 'capture' of the images and text
on screen.
- A Powerpoint presentation on Tilt-up construction
(see 'Activities' section of RC-Info,requires MS Powerpoint)
GETTING STARTED WITH ACROBAT READER
In order to read, navigate and/or print from the fully
illustrated pdf files in RC-Info (or UserGuid.pdf under the
UserGuid folder under RC-Spreadsheets) you need to have
Acrobat Reader (version 4.05 plus 'Search') already resident
on your computer.

To test this, select RC-Info from the opening RCC-2000 menu.

If this does not open successfully, use Windows explorer to
check your hard disc for a folder called Acrobat. If Reader
is not there, or the version number of your existing Acrobat
(found in 'Help','About Acrobat Reader' when running your
program) is incorrect, then install it from this disc as
follows:

In Windows Explorer, double click on the Acrobat Reader

self-extracting installer file (see below), which will install
the software onto your hard disc. Alternatively, open using
the Windows 'Run' facility, using the file path below.

- For Windows 95, 98 and NT the file is at

D:\RC-Info\Acrobat\rs405eng[1]
where D is your CD-ROM drive. If D is not your CD-ROM
drive, substitute the correct letter.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Acrobat Reader 4.0 for Windows

- i486 or Pentium processor-based PC
- At least 16Mb of RAM
- Windows NT, Windows 95, 98, or 2000.
- 10Mb of available hard disc space

If you already have an earlier version of Acrobat Reader

installed, the installer should advise you what to do.

If you experience problems with the installer supplied on

this disc, you may wish to visit the Adobe website
(www.adobe.com) for information and downloads of the version
of Adobe 'Acrobat Reader+Search' appropriate to your system.

WORKING WITH ACROBAT SEARCH

You must have Acrobat Reader 4.05 plus 'Search' installed
(see above). To search the whole CD-ROM, including the
publications, click the Search button on the Acrobat toolbar
(to the right of the large binoculars symbol). Then type in
the word(s) for which you are searching. You will be provided
with a full list of occurrences of the given word(s), together
with a direct link to the publications or page(s) concerned.

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RC-Spreadsheets
----------------
This section of the disc contains spreadsheets for concrete
design to BS 8110 and EC2, jointly funded by RCC, DETR and
industry. It also includes programs by others.

The spreadsheets may be used as powerful design tools, but

also as teaching and learning aids. They present examples of
current commercial reinforced concrete design and will help
students and inexperienced engineers gain an understanding of
practical reinforced concrete design. The spreadsheets will
allow younger users to understand concrete design and help
them to gain experience by studying their own 'what if'
scenarios. For the experienced engineer, spreadsheets allow
the rapid production of clear and accurate design
calculations.

THE SPREADSHEETS
The spreadsheets are intended to help with the rapid
production of clear and accurate design calculations for
reinforced concrete elements.

The spreadsheets are offered as shareware ie. try before you

buy/ register. Registration costs - 50 + VAT. Use
Printreg.xls to register.

UK students and UK HEIs ONLY may use the spreadsheets free

of charge.

The spreadsheets shall not be sold or hired to others

Registrants gain access to free updates over the internet.

See UserGuid.pdf or UserGuid.doc under the UseGuid folder on

the CD-ROM for further details of use and registration.

Please note conditions of use and disclaimers associated

with the use of these spreadsheets.

The spreadsheets are normal Excel '97 (xxx.xls) files. Load

from Excel '97, via Windows Explorer or My Computer.

Always start from the base versions on the CD-ROM

The publication 'Spreadsheets for concrete design to

BS 8110 and EC2' (printed version of UserGuid.pdf) complete
with CD-ROM is available from the Concrete Bookshop at BCA
on (01344) 725704.

CONTENTS OF SPREADSHEETS SECTION

Spreadsheets to BS 8110: Part 1

RCC11 Element design

RCC12 Bending and axial force
RCC13 Punching shear
RCC14 Crack widths
RCC21 Subframe analysis
RCC31 One-way solid slabs (A & D)
RCC32 Ribbed slabs (A & D)
RCC33 Flat slabs (A & D)
RCC41 Continuous beams (A & D)
RCC42 Post-tensioned slabs & beams
RCC51 Column load take-down design
RCC52 Column chart generation
RCC53 Column design
RCC54 Circular column charts
RCC61 Basement wall
RCC62 Retaining wall
RCC71 Stair flight & landing - single
RCC72 Stairs & landings - multiple
RCC81 Foundation pads
RCC91 One-way solid slabs (Tables)
RCC92 Ribbed slabs (Tables)
RCC93 Flat slabs (Tables)
RCC94 Two-way slabs (Tables)
RCC95 Continuous beams (Tables)

Spreadsheets to EC2 (ENV 1992)

RCCe11 Element design

RCCe21 Subframe analysis
RCCe41 Continuous beams (A & D)

Supporting folders

Admin containing folders with fonts and files

Printreg.xls and Readme.txt

ByOthers

Brc Folder containing a program for the design

of Studrails by BRC.
CBuck Folder containing bar scheduling
spreadsheet templates, etc. by
C Buczkowski.
Techno Folder containing spreadsheet templates
for beam analysis and determining individual
loads in groups of piles by Techno
Consultants Ltd.
CID Folder containing spreadsheets for the design of
2 to 6 pile pilecaps.

UserGuid Folder containing UserGuid.doc and

UserGuid.pdf.

Notes: All spreadsheets are .xls, templates are .xlt.

(A & D) = Analysis and Design

HELP FOR SPREADSHEETS IS AVAILABLE.

Within Excel under Help.
A printed version of the User Guide is available from the
Concrete Bookshop at the BCA on 01344 725704.
Within the UserGuid folder on the CD-ROM, the Word 97 file
UserGuid.doc and the Adobe Acrobat file UserGuid.pdf. (For
help with Adobe Acrobat Reader see details under the RC-Info
section above, or by selecting 'Install Acrobat Reader'
from the disc's opening menu.)
To the right hand side of the spreadsheets, cells under
'Operating Instructions' contain help and error messages.
For those who register as users via e-mail.

PROGRAMS BY OTHERS
The BCA and RCC disclaim any responsibility for programs by
others. These programs and files are provided to help
dissemination. They are subject to the authors' conditions
of use. See respective files and readme text.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Windows '95 and Microsoft Excel 97 SR-2. Recommended 20 Mb
disc space

PLEASE NOTE
Users and managers should be aware that spreadsheets can be
changed and must address change control and versions for use
under a QA procedure.

Appropriate levels of supervision and checking, including

self-checking, must, as always, be exercised when using these
spreadsheets.

Spreadsheets demand an initial investment in time and effort

- but the rewards are there for those who take advantage.

Good design requires sound judgement based on competence

derived from adequate training and experience - not just
computer programs.

Please read the disclaimer on each spreadsheet before use.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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SPREADSHEETS
*Why are the colours funny on the initial screen?
You need more than 256 colours on your display. Change using
My Computer\Control Panel\Display\Settings\color palette to
at least 64k colours.

*Why doesn't anything happen when I press the RC-Info button?

Have you installed Adobe Acrobat Reader(see opening menu of
the disc and earlier sections of this Readme for details)?

*How do I get into the spreadsheets?

From the front screen button and Explorer window, double
click on the spreadsheet of your choice. Excel should load,
followed by the spreadsheet. There may be a warning about
macros - please enable macros. You will need Excel (R) '97
SR2 or above.

CALCRETE
*Can I have more details about CALcrete?

Details of the CALcrete launch to UK HEIs and their students

The complete suite of 13 modules is being supplied to HEIs

offering degree courses in Civil, Structural and
Architectural studies. The intention is that it be placed on
the institutions' networks for their students' use.

Individual UK student CD-ROMs are also being supplied for

Institutions to distribute to their resident students on
the above courses with sufficient supplies for at least two
 year levels e.g. second and third years.

Both the above include the Reinforced Concrete

Council's suite of RC design spreadsheets and RC-Info,
an interactive library of pdf versions of around thirty of
its technical and cases study publications, best practice
guides, and design guides.

*How does CALcrete fit in with RC-Cal and Compact?

RC-Cal was the precursor to Compact and was produced by the
RCC and Phoenix to cover rc design to BS8110. The RCC and
Phoenix later worked with a university consortium in
producing Compact, which incorporated EC2 in a wider suite.
Since the launch of Compact, the university consortium has
been funded to embed its use (including web-based versions),
but not to update or extend it.

*So what is CALcrete and why is it being presented to HEIs?

CALcrete has taken the original material and revised, updated
and extended it to current standards. There are currently
three new modules, and others have been considerably
upgraded (see below and next question).

Status of CALcrete modules

- Foundations and retaining walls
- Reinforced concrete design part 1 (to EC2)
- Reinforced concrete design part 2 (to EC2)
- Reinforced concrete design to BS 8110 part 1 NEW
(with EC2 comparison)
- Reinforced concrete design to BS 8110 part 2 NEW
(with EC2 comparison)
- Cement and concrete in pavement construction NEW
- Drawing and detailing
- Precast concrete
- Pre-stressed concrete REVISED
- Concrete as a material REVISED
- Buildability and construction techniques
- Concrete bridges MAJOR REVISION
- Concrete site practice MAJOR REVISION

*Can CALcrete be used alongside Compact and RC-Cal?

Because the introduction of EC2 has been delayed, there is a
need to continue teaching to BS8110. RC-Cal has been updated
to the latest code version and incorporated into CALcrete
with its higher standards and presentation. It has also been
given an EC2 comparison function, to smooth transition to
EC2. CALcrete effectively replaces RC-CAL, and provides
additional modules to Compact. CALcrete and Compact may be
used alongside each other but must be accessed from different
opening pages/programs. CALcrete can be run from CD-ROM or
from hard-disc.

*Why is it also being made available on student CD-ROM?

- to reduced pressure on university networks and allow maximum
access for private study. The CALcrete partners see an
important future role for the Internet in learning, but
recognise current problems of access and supply of large
files.
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REINFORCED CONCRETE COUNCIL

Century House, Telford Avenue, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6YS

Tel(01344)725733, Fax(01344)761214,

e-mail rcc@bca.org.uk www.rcc-info.org.uk

Published by the British Cement Association on behalf of the

industry sponsors of the Reinforced Concrete Council.
First published 2000. (C) British Cement Association 2000

British Cement Association,

Century House, Telford Avenue, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6YS
Tel (01344) 762676, Fax (01344) 761214

All advice or information from the British Cement Association

and/or Reinforced Concrete Council is intended for those who
will evaluate the significance and limitations of its
contents and take responsibility for its use and application.
No liability (including that for negligence) for any loss
resulting from such advice or information is accepted by the
BCA, RCC or their subcontractors, suppliers or advisors.
Users should note that all BCA software and publications are
subject to revision from time to time and should therefore
ensure that they are in possession of the latest version.