Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAFE
REVISION NO.: 4
INTRODUCTION
SAFE v12 is a reinforced concrete and post-tensioned slabs, beams and foundations
analysis, design and detailing program based on the finite element method. This
document provides example problems used to test various features and capabilities of the
SAFE program. The problems demonstrate the adequacy of the program for use in all
applications, including safety-related nuclear, as governed by 10CFR50 requirements as
well as other international QA standards, such as ISO 9000 requirements.
METHODOLOGY
A comprehensive series of test problems, or examples, designed to test the various
analysis and design features of the program have been created. The results produced by
SAFE were compared to independent sources, such as hand calculated results and
theoretical or published results. The comparison of the SAFE results with results
obtained from independent sources is provided in tabular form as part of each example.
To validate and verify SAFE results, the test problems were run on a PC platform that
was an HP Compaq dc7100 machine with a Pentium 4 processor and 2.0 GB of RAM
operating on a Windows XP operating system.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
The comparison of the SAFE validation and verification example results with
independent results is typically characterized in one of the following three ways.
Exact: There is no difference between the SAFE results and the independent
results within the larger of the accuracy of the typical SAFE output and the
accuracy of the independent result.
Acceptable: For force, moment and displacement values, the difference between
the SAFE results and the independent results does not exceed five percent (5%).
For internal force and stress values, the difference between the SAFE results and
the independent results does not exceed ten percent (10%). For experimental
values, the difference between the SAFE results and the independent results does
not exceed twenty five percent (25%).
Unacceptable: For force, moment and displacement values, the difference
between the SAFE results and the independent results exceeds five percent (5%).
For internal force and stress values, the difference between the SAFE results and
INTRODUCTION - 1
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAFE
REVISION NO.: 4
the independent results exceeds ten percent (10%). For experimental values, the
difference between the SAFE results and the independent results exceeds twenty
five percent (25%).
The percentage difference between results is typically calculated using the following
formula:
SAFE Result - Independent Result
Percent Difference 100
Maximum of Independent Result
SUMMARY OF EXAMPLES
Examples 1 through 7 verify the accuracy of the elements and the solution algorithms
used in SAFE. These examples compare displacements and member internal forces
computed by SAFE with known theoretical solutions for various slab support and load
conditions.
Examples 8 through 14 verify the applicability of SAFE in calculating design moments
in slabs by comparing results for practical slab geometries with experimental results
and/or results using ACI 318-95 recommendations. Examples 15 and 16 verify the
applicability of SAFE for temperature loading and cracked deflection analysis for creep
and shrinkage by comparing the results from published examples.
Design examples verify the design algorithms used in SAFE for flexural, shear design of
beam; flexural and punching shear of reinforced concrete slab; and flexural design and
serviceability stress checks of post-tensioned slab, using ACI 318-08, AS 3600-01, AS
3600-09, BS 8110-97, CSA A23.3-04, Eurocode 2-02, Hong Kong CP-04, IS 456-00,
NZS 31-01-06 and Singapore CP65-99 codes, by comparing SAFE results with hand
calculations.
Methodology - 2