MASS User Documentation

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      • General Overview
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    • Beams
      • Introduction
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      • Introduction
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      • Loads Analysis Results
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    • Shear Walls
      • Introduction
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      • A Complete Design
      • Load Analysis Results
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      • Element Deflection
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      • Interaction Diagram
    • Multi-Storey Shear Walls
      • Introduction
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      • Load Distribution
      • Drift
    • Shearline
      • Introduction
      • Design Steps
      • Load Distribution
      • Pier Generation
      • Design Strategy
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Troubleshooting

Bug Notification

Known Bugs in MASS

Bugs are found from time to time and in our effort to be trustworthy and transparent, they are posted here as well as appearing on the MASS Welcome Screen   The known bugs page has moved from the MASS website to the MASS section of the CMDC website. Click here Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 5 months1 week ago
Bug Notification

MASS Bug Notification: Software Crashes Unexpectedly

Ever had MASS stop working while working on a design? You aren’t alone! In any windows architecture application, there is a limit of 10,000 GDI objects. Internally, there a number of these crated with every design and population of each results screen. Unfortunately, there are a number of these that Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 1 year ago
Licensing

MASS Website and Activation Server Outage – Updated

Server migration issues have resulted in a (now restored) temporary outage for all MASS software renewals and license activation attempts   Update for MASS Version 4.0 Release: Online Activation functionality has been restored. Click here for the full release notification and here for the full change log, including an explanation Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 2 years3 months ago
Bug Notification

MASS Bug Notification: Critical buckling load overestimated for some reinforced walls under high axial load

Understanding the issue, when it can come up, and what can be done to account for it   This article originally was featured on the MASS Software Blog, formerly hosted on the software section of the Canada Masonry Design Centre website. CMDC is the authorized technical service provider for the Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 4 years3 months ago
Troubleshooting

What is the Difference Between “.masonry” and “.masonry14” Projects?

With the release of MASS Version 3.0 comes a new design standard as well as a new type of project file.   What’s the difference? How can old projects be opened/converted? Which format should you be using? Continue reading for quick answers to all of your questions. This article originally Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 4 years3 months ago
Software Tips

Masonry Beam Design: How to design beams with what might seem like less than the minimum reinforcement ratio

When a design seems like it might not meet minimum steel, all hope is not lost While there is no way around satisfying the minimum steel requirements in the CSA S304, there is a clause that can be taken advantage of that is not used by MASS. By following the Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 4 years1 week ago
Software Tips

Why does MASS use unreinforced analysis for a design with reinforcement?

Adding steel to a wall design does not necessarily mean that the steel is being used. This article covers the basics on how to avoid adding steel that offers no performance benefit to your wall design   This article originally was featured on the MASS Software Blog, formerly hosted on Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 4 years3 months ago
Software Tips

How to use MASS to Design Walls that Span Horizontally

Getting the most out of MASS is easy once you understand how to model your design within the software   This article originally was featured on the MASS Software Blog, formerly hosted on the software section of the Canada Masonry Design Centre website. CMDC is the authorized technical service provider Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 4 years3 months ago
Software Tips

Understanding the χ factor and how it can help with masonry beam design

Beam design can be tricky but understanding the factors at play makes it easy to design beams with masonry   This article originally was featured on the MASS Software Blog, formerly hosted on the software section of the Canada Masonry Design Centre website. CMDC is the authorized technical service provider Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 4 years3 months ago
Software Tips

Bars spaced at 200mm? Consider fully grouting your walls

MASS might be telling you to place a bar in every cell. Maybe you need that much steel… but what if you don’t?   This article originally was featured on the MASS Software Blog, formerly hosted on the software section of the Canada Masonry Design Centre website. CMDC is the Read more…

By Brad Crumb, 4 years3 months ago

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Recent Posts
  • Notification: Seismic Shear Forces Amplification Change for Elements Above Critical Section
  • Bug Notification: Non-Seismic Lateral Companion Loads Amplified for Seismic Effects
  • Version 4.0 Feature Spotlight: Ductility Verification
  • Version 4.0 Feature Spotlight: Simplified National Building Code Seismic Design
  • Bug Notification: Out-of-Plane Shear Resistance checked only at location of maximum shear
  • Known Bugs in MASS
  • MASS Version 4.0 is now available – adds multi-storey design and more earthquake design options
  • MASS Version 4.0 Release Notification
  • Version 4.0 Feature Spotlight: Online Activation Restored!
  • Why doesn’t MASS consider Type 6 Structural Irregularities?
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