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or the Division of Structural Mechanics at Lund University.

Vattenfall Utveckling AB, Scanscot Technology AB and the Division of Structural

Mechanics at Lund University assume no responsibility for any errors that may appear
in this document.

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without prior written agreement with Vattenfall Utveckling AB, Scanscot Technology
AB and the Division of Structural Mechanics at Lund University.

2001 Vattenfall Utveckling AB, Scanscot Technology AB and the Division of

Structural Mechanics at Lund University.

Printed in Sweden
All Rights Reserved
Contents
1. INTRODUCTION 1-1

2. INSTALLATION 2-1
2.1 Installation procedure 2-1
2.2 Starting HACON 2-1

3. GETTING STARTED 3-1

3.1 Introduction 3-1
3.2 Example: Concrete barrier 3-2
3.3 New project 3-3
3.4 Geometry 3-3
3.4.1 Nodes 3-3
3.4.2 Curves 3-5
3.4.3 Surfaces 3-6
3.5 Materials 3-8
3.6 Boundary conditions 3-10
3.6.1 Temperature boundary conditions 3-10
3.6.2 Mechanical boundary conditions 3-14
3.7 Calculation 3-15
3.8 Postprocessing 3-17
 1. Introduction Page: 1-1

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION
The aim of this manual is to give a quick introduction to the main features in HACON. This is
done by demonstrating an example where the risk of formation of surface cracks in a concrete
barrier is calculated.

A more detailed presentation of all features in HACON can be found in the two additional
HACON manuals:

Users Manual
The Users Manual provides practical instructions on how to use HACON.

Theory Manual
The Theory Manual provides a detailed theoretical description of HACON.

In the Users Manual appendix C, a more extensive example can be found.

 2. Installation Page: 2-1

Chapter 2

INSTALLATION
2.1 Installation procedure
Insert the HACON CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive. The program starts automatically. Chose
Installation in the menu and follow the instructions.

2.2 Starting HACON

The Hacon installation process adds the program group hacon3 to the Program folder in the
Windows Start menu. Click Hacon 3 to start HACON.

Figure 2.1: Start HACON using the Windows Start menu.

 3. Getting started Page: 3-1

Chapter 3

GETTING STARTED
3.1 Introduction
When using HACON, the following steps has to be performed:

New project
A new project is created, named and saved in the File menu.

Geometry
The geometry of the structure is defined in the Geometry window.

Materials
In the Material view window, materials are defined by the user or choosen from the
HACON material database. The materials are assigned to the different parts of the
structure.

Boundary conditions
The thermal and mechanical boundary conditions are stated, as well as the measures taken
to avoid thermal cracking. This is done in the Boundary conditions view window.

Calculation
The calculation settings is defined in the Calculation settings dialog window, and then
the analysis is performed.

Postprocessing
The relevant result components are studied in the Result window.

In the following, these steps will be briefly presented in the form of an example.
Page: 3-2 3. Getting started

3.2 Example: Concrete barrier

In this example, the risk for formation of thermally induced cracking in hardening concrete is
analyzed. The construction at hand is a concrete barrier casted on rock, see Figure 3.1.

1.0 m 1.0 m

2.0 m

Concrete barrier

Rock (underground)

Figure 3.1: Section: Concrete barrier casted on rock.

The extension of the structure in the longitudinal direction is long, so we can assume plane
strain conditions. Relevant mechanical and temperature conditions and parameters are listed
in Table 3.1. The concrete barrier is casted directly on the rock. 3 days after casting the
formwork is removed. We study the structure during the first 100 hours after casting.

Condition Description Comment

Material. Concrete material from HACON material Concrete according to Swedish
database, BRO94 Concrete. Bridge Code. Temperature at
casting: 20 C.

Rock, defined in HACON material database. Temperature at casting: 10 C.

Formwork. Formwork of wood, thickness 16 mm. The formwork is removed 3 days

(72 h) after casting.
Environmental. Surrounding mean temperature: 10 C.
Wind speed influencing the structure: 5 m/s.

Mechanical. The bottom of the barrier is restrained in

both the x- and y-direction.

Table 3.1: Summary of mechanical and temperature conditions.

 3. Getting started Page: 3-3

3.3 New project

After starting HACON according to the instructions in chapter 2, a new project have to be
defined. Choose New from the File menu. To name the project, save the file by choose
Save in the File menu.

Click to create a new project.

Click to save current project.

Figure 3.2: Create a new project and save it with the actual project name.

3.4 Geometry
3.4.1 Nodes

To modell the structure, a number of surfaces are defined describing the geometry. First, the
nodes (corners) of the surfaces have to be defined. This is done by selecting the Create point
button in the Geometry toolbar. Nodes are now generated by clicking at the accurate
coordinates in the Geometry window.

To facilitate placing of the nodes, make sure that both Show grid and Snap to grid buttons in
the View toolbar are selected. Note that the coordinates of the mouse pointer is shown in the
Coordinates toolbar.

Now, create the nodes listed in Table 3.2. Figure 3.3 shows the nodes placed in a correct way.
Here are also shown the relevant buttons and toolbars.

To remove a node, just select the Select objects button in the Geometry toolbar and mark the
actual node by clicking on it. Then press the Delete button in the Standard toolbar, or the
delete button on the keyboard. This method can also be used to remove other types of objects,
i. e. curves and surfaces.
Page: 3-4 3. Getting started

Node No. Coordinate [m] Comment

X Y
1 1.0 1.0
2 1.0 3.0 The corners of the concrete
3 2.0 3.0 barrier.
4 3.0 1.0
5 0.8 1.0
6 0.8 0.8
7 1.0 0.8 Nodes needed to define the
8 3.0 0.8 infinite rock (underground).
9 3.2 0.8
10 3.2 1.0
Table 3.2: Nodes to define the geometry of the structure.

Select objects button Select to activate snap

to nodes and to show
Select to create nodes grid respectively

Click to delete marked objects

The coordinates of the

mouse pointer are shown in
the Coordinates toolbar

Nodes created to define the

corners of the surfaces

Figure 3.3: Nodes created to define the geometry of the structure.

 3. Getting started Page: 3-5

3.4.2 Curves
After the nodes are created, they have to be connected by curves. These curves will later be
used to describe the boundaries of the surfaces. In this example, only the simplest type of
curves, straight lines, are used. A straight line is created by pressing the Create line button on
the Geometry toolbar. Then, in the Geometry window, mark the two nodes that should be
connected.

The nodes should be connected according to Table 3.3. Figure 3.4 shows the lines placed in a
correct way.

Select to enable line generation Click on the nodes to be connected

Line connecting two nodes

Figure 3.4: Curves created to define the boundaries of the surfaces.

Page: 3-6 3. Getting started

Curve No. Nodes to be connected Comment

1 1 2
2 2 3
3 3 4
4 4 1
5 1 5
6 5 6
7 6 7
8 7 1
9 7 8
10 8 4
11 8 9
12 9 10
13 10 4
Table 3.3: Curves to define the boundaries of the surfaces.

3.4.3 Surfaces
The next step is to define the surfaces. A surface is created by pressing the Create surface
button in the Geometry toolbar. Then mark the four lines that describe the boundaries of the
surface. Note that the lines have to be marked in counter clockwise order.

The surfaces should be defined according to table 3.4. Note that to define the surfaces
describing the underground (rock) in a correct way, you have to mark the curves in exactly the
same order as stated in table 3.4. To facilitate the picking of the lines, unselect the Snap to
grid button.

When a surface is defined, the description of the finite elements should be stated. This is done
by selecting the type of element to be used and to state the number of element rows and
element columns respectively, see Figure 3.5. Figure 3.5 also shows the surfaces defined in a
correct way.

Surface Curves to be marked Description of finite elements Comment

No. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Element Element Element
rows columns type
1 1 4 3 2 12 16 Eight node Concrete barrier
2 4 8 9 10 1 12 Five node Rock (infinite)
3 8 5 6 7 1 1 Three node Rock (infinite)
4 13 10 11 12 1 1 Three node Rock (infinite)
Table 3.4: Curves to be marked to define the surfaces of the structure.
 3. Getting started Page: 3-7

Select to enable surface generation Finite element

description
Unselect Snap to grid

Surface defining the

concrete barrier

Surfaces defining the

rock (underground)

Figure 3.5: Surfaces created to define the geometry of the structure. Definition of finite
elements.
Page: 3-8 3. Getting started

3.5 Materials
Definition of material properties is done in the Material view window. To enable this
window, select the Materials button in the Hacon toolbar.

First materials has to be added to the Materials window. In this example, we are using
predefined materials from the HACON material database. To add a material from the
database, just click the New from database button in the Materials window, see figure 3.6.
Mark BRO94 Concrete and press the Add material button. Follow the same procedure to
add Rock to the Materials window.

New from database

button

Figure 3.6: Add material from HACON database to the Material window.

To adjust the material parameters, doubleclick on the material in the Materials window. The
Material properties dialog window is then shown. Change the temperature at casting for the
rock material to 10 C under the General tab in the Material properties box, see Figure 3.7.
The other default settings correspond to our needs, so they do not have to be changed.
 3. Getting started Page: 3-9

Click this button to open the Materials

window if it is not already shown

Figure 3.7: The temperature at casting for the rock material is changed to 10 C.

Figure 3.7: Changing temperature at casting for the rock material.

The Material view window is used to connect materials to the surfaces. Mark the required
material in the Materials window and then click on the surface in the Material view window.
BRO94 Concrete should be connected to the concrete barrier (surface 1) and Rock to the
underground (surface 2, 3 and 4), see Figure 3.8.
Page: 3-10 3. Getting started

Select to open the Material view

and Materials windows

Figure 3.8: Materials connected to the surfaces of the structure.

3.6 Boundary conditions

3.6.1 Temperature boundary conditions
Definition of the boundary conditions is done in the Boundary conditions view window. To
open this window, select the Boundary conditions button in the Hacon toolbar.

First boundary condition descriptions has to be added to the Boundary conditions window,
see Figure 3.9. To add these descriptions, just click the Add condition button in the
Boundary conditions window. We add three descriptions. Name them Air>0, Air>72 and
Formwork<72 respectively.
 3. Getting started Page: 3-11

Boundary condition window

Add condition button

Figure 3.9: Add boundary condition descriptions to the Boundary conditions window.

The Boundary conditions view window is used to connect boundary conditions to the
boundaries of the structure. Mark the required boundary condition in the Boundary
conditions window and then click on the boundary in the Boundary conditions view
window. Air>0 should be connected to the top of the concrete barrier (curve 2),
Formwork<72 and Air>72 to the sides of the barrier (curve 1 and 3), see Figure 3.10.

To specify the parameters for the boundary conditions, mark the actual condition and press
the View constants button in the Boundary conditions window. For the both (surrounding)
air conditions (Air>0 and Air>72 respectively), choose No insulation as Insulation type, and
set the wind speed to 5 m/s, see Figure 3.11. Proceed in the same way to set the parameters
for the Formwork<72 condition:
View constants: Insulation type = Wood
Wind speed = 5 m/s and
Thickness = 0.016 m.

The History editor is used to specify the changes in time of the surrounding temperature. In
this example only the mean temperature (10 C) is defined, i. e. a constant temperature.
Therefore we only need to specify the temperature at the beginning and at the end of the time
interval studied. To do this, mark the Air>0 boundary condition in the Boundary conditions
window and press the View history button. At time zero, set the temperature to 10 C and
press the change button. Then press the right event number arrow to change to event number
two. Set the time to 100 h and the temperature to 10 C and press the change button, see
Figure 3.12. Set the following temperature histories for the other two boundary conditions:
Air>72;
History editor: Event no. 2, Time = 100 h, Temperature = 10 C
Event no. 1, Time = 72 h, Temperature = 10 C
(in this order!)
Page: 3-12 3. Getting started

Formwork<72;
History editor: Event no. 1, Time = 0 h, Temperature = 10 C
Event no. 2, Time = 72 h, Temperature = 10 C.

Click this button to open

Boundary conditions window
if it is not already shown

Figure 3.10: Temperature boundary conditions connected to the structure.

 3. Getting started Page: 3-13

Boundary condition window

View constants button

Figure 3.11: Definition of boundary conditions for the surrounding air.

View history
button

Event number
arrows

Figure 3.12: Definition of temperature history for the boundary conditions.

Page: 3-14 3. Getting started

3.6.2 Mechanical boundary conditions

To start defining mechanical boundary conditions, select the Displacement button in the
Boundary condition toolbar. Use the procedure described in section 3.6.1 to create the
following mechanical boundary conditions (see Figure 3.13):
Add condition: Name = Restraint X/Y
View constants: Displacement type = Prescribed in X and Y Direction
History editor: Event no. 1, Time = 0 h, Displ. X = 0, Displ. Y = 0
Event no. 2, Time = 100 h, Displ. X = 0, Displ. Y = 0

Boundary condition
window
Add
condition
button
View
history
button
View
constants
button

Figure 3.13: Definition of mechanical boundary conditions.

The Boundary conditions view window is used to connect boundary conditions to the
boundaries of the structure. Mark the required boundary condition in the Boundary
conditions window and then click on the boundary in the Boundary conditions view
window. Restraint X/Y should be connected to the bottom of the concrete barrier (curve 4),
see Figure 3.14.
 3. Getting started Page: 3-15

Figure 3.14: Mechanical (displacement) boundary conditions connected to the structure.

3.7 Calculation
Before starting the analysis, some calculation settings must be made. This is done by clicking
the Calculation settings button on the Hacon toolbar. The Calculation settings dialog
window contains two tabs, General and Timestep respectively.

Under the Generel tab, do the following settings (see Figure 3.15):
Analysis type = Plane strain
Simulation type = Simulation of temperature and maturity
Thickness = 1 m
Internal meshing = 6400000 bytes, Simulation = 6400000 bytes and
Postprocessing = 6400000 bytes.
Also mark the Calculate displacement and stresses check box.
Page: 3-16 3. Getting started

Under the Timestep tab, do the following settings (see Figure 3.16):
Initial time = 0
Time = 0 100 h
Time step = 1 h
Time increment for the storage of results = 1 h
Intervals = 1.

To start the analysis, now press the Execute calculation button on the Hacon toolbar.

Figure 3.15: Definition of calculation settings (General tab).

Figure 3.16: Definition of calculation settings (Timestep tab).

 3. Getting started Page: 3-17

3.8 Postprocessing
The results are shown by pressing the Show results button on the Hacon toolbar. The result
component to be studied is choosen in the Result type drop list on the Results toolbar, see
Figure 3.17.

Figure 3.17: Result type to be shown.

Study, for example, the temperature development in the structure. The color plot shows the
temperature distribution at a specific point-in-time. Use the Time slider arrows on the Results
toolbar to change point-in-time. The time is shown to the right of the Time slider. By
studying the distributions, we see that the highest temperature in the structure appears
approximatly 32 h after casting, and in the middle right of the structure (at the cursor
position), see Figure 3.18.

Temperature can also be studied as time history in a specific point in the structure. First,
define the position of the cursor in the Cursor propeties dialog window (Results toolbar) to
X1 = 1.75 m and Y1 = 1.9 m, which is the point where the highest temperature occur, see
Figure 3.18. The current cursor position is marked with a cross. Then select History button on
the Results toolbar to see the temperature history according to the current cursor position (see
Figure 3.19). Press the Table button on the Results toolbar to show the history results in table
form (Figure 3.19).

To study the risk for formation of cracks, change the result component from temperature to
Stress/Strength ratio.
Page: 3-18 3. Getting started

Click to open cursor properties dialog window

Time slider arrows

Time slider
Current point-in-time

Cursor properties
dialog window

Current cursor position

Figure 3.18: Temperature distribution at time = 32 h.

 3. Getting started Page: 3-19

Table button
History button

Figure 3.19: Temperature history for the position x = 1.75 m and y = 1.9 m.