Why is Tekla Structural Designer Running Slowly?
Below are a few options for you to consider that might help with speeding up the general operation of Tekla Structural Designer.
System Requirements
Does your PC meet the recommended system requirements?
RAM
Free up RAM by closing any many unnecessary programs and services.
Graphics Card
Do you have a dedicated graphics card with its own internal RAM that’s meets the requirements for the Hoops visualize engine?
File Storage
We recommend working on the model on the local computer. Copy from the server or NAS to the local PC, work on it and then copy back to the server or NAS using Windows Explorer once finished.
- This saves the information travelling across the network and prevent it being effected by network traffic restrictions and other third party programs impacting the file i.e. anti-virus and backup programs.
Saving
If you want to save only the input information of a model you can File > Save Model Only. This creates a smaller input only file, that can easily be emailed. Analysis and Design would need to be performed again on this model file.
Validation
Validation Errors will prevent an analysis or design from occurring.
- Resolve these on a regular basis as you are building up the model by running the Validate command regularly.
Validation Warnings do not prevent an analysis or design, however, if they cause instabilities they can extend the analysis time considerably, or even prevent it from completing, particularly for higher order forms of analysis.
If this occurs click the Cancel button to the right of the Show Process button on the Status bar and review the model carefully for instabilities.
Perhaps run via the Analyse ribbon for 1st-order analysis for a few load cases, resolve and then extend to all cases/combinations. Once clean extend to higher form of analysis.
Refer to the Tekla User Assistance Article “(N-1) rule for the number of pins to apply at a node where N members meet”, to the right against "Related To" articles for further information.
Loadcases and Combinations
The more loadcases and combinations you have, the longer the processing time.
If using the combination Generator… think pragmatically about the number of combinations to generate. The more wind cases you have the more combinations are created. This is especially applicable to Eurocode based models where EHF’s are included in each load combination and loads need to play a leading and accompanying role with different load factors applied.
If you are concentrating on the Analyse ribbon you can:
- Reduce loadcases and combinations by unticking them when running analyses. Thus, only run applicable load cases and combinations
- Analyse (All), will run all cases and combinations and additional analysis for models containing concrete elements (Grillage Analysis and FE Chasedown).
If you are concentrating on the Design ribbon, all load cases and combinations are run. You therefore need to turn them off via the Load ribbon tab > Load case or Combination commands if you do not want to consider them.
Member Properties
If a beam is in the middle of a floor and not effected by lateral loads, provide it with the Member Property - Gravity only option, so it is only designed for gravity combinations.
Analysis
Choose an appropriate analysis, if you only need a 1st order analysis, only run this to reduce running time.
Multiple Models
Don’t run large models simultaneously. Run models separately, do not run more than one session of Tekla Structural Designer on a single PC at a time, especially if complex, to free up RAM and Processor cores.
Meshing
Avoid meshing slabs on all levels. See the Tekla User Assistance Article “When should I use the "Mesh 2-way Slabs in 3D analysis" option?”, to the right against "Related To" articles for further information.
Adjust the meshing parameters to suit the space and geometry of slabs and walls.
- Finer mesh takes longer to apply and process. Perhaps have a course mesh to start for feasibility design and then a finer mesh, once stability investigations or final design is appropriate.
Updates
Ensure you are using the latest version. You can check for updates via the Home ribbon tab > Check for Updates.
- We are constantly updating the software to improve functionality and process times.
Final Comment
Please note that the above is not an exhaustive list and after following all or some of the above steps, larger models may still take a while to process. The above are recommendations to reduce the time.