There are many useful features within the output window that can save the designer time and energy. Here is a video to illustrate these features and how to navigate the calculation output.
Navigating the Output Like a Boss
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Articles
Fastest-Mile Wind Speed
Many times we have the difficult task of analyzing a structure that was designed long ago. In such cases, you may find that the wind speed used may appear significantly lower than the wind speed you would expect for that location using today's standards. In these...
Climbing the Ladder
MecaStack allows the user to enter ladders and platforms on their stack. These are considered an appurtenance, and not adding any structural stiffness to the stack. MecaStack does consider the wind area and weight added by these ladders and platforms, which can be...
ASCE 7 Wind on Stacks and Similar
This article will explain how to calculate wind loads per ASCE 7 on stacks/chimneys and similar structures. ASCE 7-16, Chapter 29 covers "Other Structures". This is a very broad section that covers a lot of different types of structures. Even if you don't design...
Troitsky Breach Analysis
This article covers the Troitsky Breach Analysis method. A breach is an opening in the cylindrical shell of the stack that compromises its structural integrity. This is usually either a rectangular ducting connection or a cylindrical pipe nozzle penetrating the stack...
Piggy-Back Stacks
We often get the question of how to model a Tandem or Piggy back stack in MecaStack. One can be handled by the software and the other cannot. Piggy-Back Stacks:A Piggy-Back stack is one where one or more stack is supported by another stack. Usually the biggest stack...
Ultimate Guide to Material Properties
MecaStack has a built in database for stack material properties, which are intended to help the designer. There are some common questions and problems that we see when it comes to the use of the stack material properties. Material Properties are NOT Automatically...
Life is a Breach
Updated April 16, 2020: The method of breach analysis discussed in this article is referred to as the "Section Property" method in MecaStack. As of v5506 there is now a method available called the "Troitsky" method, and an article discussing that method is in another...
ASCE 7 Flexible Gust Factor
When I was a new Engineer my boss had his stack design questioned by a client. My boss responded "Sir, I will serve you tea on the downwind side of that stack on the windiest day of the year." That line (and disturbing image) has never left my mind. Designing tall...