CFS Version 9 Changes Released August 2015

CFS^® has been rewritten as a .NET application for compatibility with the latest versions of Windows. The basic operation of the software is essentially the same, but a number of enhancements have been made.

• User interface includes the latest graphical standards, such as menu icons and toolbar buttons.
• New help file format compatible with the latest version of Windows.
• Navigation of the section and analysis graphics have been updated to modern techniques (mouse wheel scroll, zoom, pan, etc.)
• Dimensions can be measured between points in the analysis window.
• The analysis graphic displays a rendering of the members used.
• A column analysis will now display the member in a vertical orientation.
• The Elastic Buckling analysis now uses a very fast solution technique. Run times can be over 100 times faster.
• Elastic Buckling of point-symmetric or non-symmetric sections may optionally be analyzed with unsymmetrical bending stress distributions.
• The Elastic Buckling mode shape display has several new features:
  • Display other mode shapes at different lengths without returning to the stress plot.
  • Adjust the magnitude of the deflected shape.
  • Reverse the direction of the deflected shape.
  • Display and rotate a 3D rendering of the buckled member.
  • Copy the current display image for pasting into another application.
• New file extensions to avoid conflicts with other software: .cfss, .cfsa, .cfsl
• Improved method of combined shear strength when section contains multiple webs.
• Calculation trace added for web-crippling strength.

• In the Analysis Wizard, the minimum bearing width is now enforced to be 0.75 in.
• In the Analysis Wizard, bracing for fully brace members now extend to the end of cantilevers.
• Correction to the distortional buckling moment when the web stresses are near zero.
• Correction to the detection of some intermediate stiffener cases.
• Don't apply the stiffness reduction for large radii if a plate buckling coefficient is specified.
• Use the more conservative safety factors and resistance factors when rational analysis is used.