This page specifies the technical details of the first version of the Engineering tool inside Scaffcalc.
Considerations
Generally, all necessary loads and requirements according to the EN 12811 are considered. The list below provides a simple checklist of considerations included in the first release of the calculation feature.
Loads
Included load cases:
- Self weight of all scaffold components
- Imposed load dependent on load class. Applied full on one level and half on one level. Applied on foremost the widest decked level, thereafter the highest.
- Characteristic wind load, dependent on user inputs. Increasing by height.
- Working wind load, 0.2 kN/m2
- Indoor case: Imposed horisontal load. 2.5% of the imposed load per bay (min 0.3 kN) plus an added 0.6 kN per bay.
- Inclination load, caused by initial inclination of the standards.
Load combinations
A minimum of 12 load combinations is evaluated per scaffold to determine worst-case results. At the end of the calculation, these are summarized as two worst-case load combinations: max compression and max tension, where the maximum of each is extracted per individual component. This is shown in the compression / tension toggle. For deformations, a single worst-case deformation shape is extracted.
Safety factors are applied to the load cases in the load combinations: Unfavorable: 1.35 on dead load and 1.5 on variable loads Favorable: 1.0 on dead load and 0 on variable loads
Each load combination is iterated by the number of facade directions of the scaffold, to simulate wind load / imposed horisontal load in any perpendicular direction on the scaffold.
Outdoor load combinations:
- Overturning: 1.5 x characteristic wind load + 1.0 x self weight
- Max pressure, out-of-use: 1.5 x characteristic wind load + 1.5 x self weight + 1.5 x reduced imposed load
- Max pressure, in-use: 1.5 x working wind load + 1.5 x self weight + 1.5 x full imposed load
Stability analysis
A linear buckling analysis (LBA) is performed to determine whether a second order analysis of the scaffold is required. This analysis is made per load combination. Three possible outcomes of the LBA analysis:
- Stable scaffold, linear analysis sufficient
- Some sway under the current vertical load for the current load combination: an amplification factor is applied to horizontal forces in that load combination.
- Large sway under the current vertical load: the scaffold is assessed as too unstable.
Limitations
Current limitations of the Engineering Tool. All limitations listed below will be addressed in future versions of the tool.
- No structural verification. All results must be compared with manufacturer manuals to confirm validation.
- 15 min time limit for any scaffold calculation
- Supports Layher Allround only
- Fully linear elastic, meaning:
- No P–Δ effects. Read about the stability analysis above.
- Constant connection stiffnesses
- Ground supports modeled as anchored to the ground
- Eccentricities of the connections are not included
- Base plates are always assumed to be of type Base Plate 60
For more information or questions about the considerations and limitations of the Engineering Tool, please reach out to support@scaffcalc.com, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.