CSI SAFE Foundation Design Professional Master Course

Learn how to initialize a new model in safe software by choosing between default, model-file, or building settings, set display units and design codes, and start with a grid template.

Learn basic software tools and how to show or hide the model explorer. Use the tools menu to toggle the model explorer on or off.

Show or hide the boundary plane to visualize where you are working, using the red cursor and elevation to update the display.

Adjust graphics preferences to set font size, minimum size, and default values, then customize colors and transparency for columns and beams, and apply changes.

Navigate to settings, graphics, color, then display color to change the background for screen and print. Choose white or black, and set a default to apply across all screens.

Master how to modify the dimensioning system using dimension tools and switch to architectural dimensioning to display and adjust sizes, such as 24 ft 0 in.

Show or hide the cursor to control visibility for complex work, using the show cursor option to display a crossed cursor when needed and hide it to clear the screen.

Master customizing the tools bar by adding, removing, and rearranging options, using right-click menus to toggle snap, and assign frame, joint, shell, define, edit, and view settings.

Master basic skills to show or hide the axis in views, toggle visibility of the X, Y, and Z axes, and understand axis behavior in 3D.

Master how to hide and reveal the grid system by right-clicking to toggle visibility and using the view option to set grid system visibility.

Begin a new CSI SAFE foundation model, define material properties, build a single footing using the build option, and save the project to your desktop for future use.

Define concrete material properties by creating matrix properties, selecting the region and grade (3000–5000 psi), and setting density, modulus of elasticity, and Poisson’s ratio.

Define rebar properties in CSI SAFE by selecting country code, setting 72.5 ksi yield strength, applying 1.25 times tensile strength and 1.1 times yield strength, with elasticity and weight unchanged.

Define frame section properties for a concrete beam, set a default format, and calculate minimum clear cover to centroid (2.5 inches) for proper reinforcement and foundation design.

Define footing sections with the MAT method, set mat dimensions to 12 inches, and update or copy properties for the pile cap using the step matte property data.

Define footing sections by detailing a 12-inch pile cap and 12-inch piles, and adjust values per record to finalize the pile cap design.

Define load pattern to design the foundation for service and dead loads, with self-weight multiplier, and optionally lateral, seismic, wind, construction, and snow loads, then verify load cases and combinations.

Explains when to use a mass source in foundation design, showing mass data from analysis, with self-weight as the source and additional mass via specified load patterns per code.

define and modify load combinations for slab and foundation design using default, ultimate, and service conditions; manage dead and live load ratios, and consider earthquake and wind scenarios per code.

Calculate soil subgrade modulus as ultimate bearing capacity divided by settlement, using allowable bearing capacity and a factor of safety, then assign it via area spring for single foundations.

Define the soil subgrade modulus, assign area spring values to the footing, and then assign load on the foundation after confirming bearing capacity.

Assign gravity loads on a CSI SAFE foundation, including dead and live loads, with direction in the global Z axis and apply, replace, or delete options before planning and analyzing.

Run analysis and design to evaluate settlement under service loads and soil pressure, compare with allowable values, and perform punching shear checks; adjust foundation size as needed.

Apply punching shear checks for footing using CSI SAFE; adjust foundation thickness and loading data to pass punching shear and soil pressure checks for economical foundation design.

Explore footing design using finite element based method and strip base method, learn to specify reinforcement and analyze moments, shear, and axial forces to meet code requirements.

Apply soil subgrade modulus and identify foundation, assess bearing capacity, and proceed to load application, building on previously learned soil support models.

select the load point, replace loads, and set live load values from design data. apply punching area based on the column size in x and y, then run the analysis.

Explore advanced footing analysis in CSI SAFE by assessing settlement, soil pressure, and punching shear; adjust mesh, footing size, and reinforcement to achieve safe, optimized foundation design.

Design a combined foundation for staircases with close column spacing when single or isolated foundations fail under heavy loads or soil conditions, using analysis results to guide the design.

Open the software, modify the grid system to set the distance between columns to 8.5 ft, and draw the combined footing with columns.

Determine footing size from total dead and live loads against bearing capacity, then draw a rectangular shallow foundation with column placements in the CSI Safe software.

Master soil subgrade modulus and bearing capacity in CSI SAFE by defining spring properties, setting allowable bearing pressure and settlement, and assigning foundation size with zone load.

Apply advanced footing analysis in CSI SAFE to assess deflection, soil pressure, and punching shear, and iteratively adjust footing thickness, slab size, and column stiffness to meet allowable criteria.

Master finite element based footing design with detailing and reinforcement strategies in AutoCAD, optimizing bottom and top reinforcement, spacing, for continuous or combined footings.

The lecture demonstrates creating multiple foundations, including an eccentric foundation connected by a beam, copying and repositioning elements, adding columns and joints, applying loads and spring properties for foundation design.

Draw a beam on footing to form strap, define beam and footing sections, set dimensions, and use manual and quick-draw options to connect columns for plan, 3D views, and analysis.

Design and optimize a concrete beam in CSI SAFE by adjusting design combos, toggling reinforcement display, and resizing the section to meet moment demands across a 20 ft span.

Modify the grid system by adjusting grid data in the x and y directions, using spacing and ordinates to compute distances. Then refresh and begin creating the model.

Assign soil properties by setting allowable bearing pressure to 0.9 tsf and allowable settlement to 15 inch, then use soil subgrade modulus and spring properties to model bearing capacity.

Learn to assign dead and live loads to each column of a mat foundation, set base reactions, and export per-column data for analysis.

Apply walkthrough of settlement and soil pressure checks in a CSI SAFE model, adjust mat and column thickness to reduce deflection, and verify punching shear results.

Compute the required number of piles for a 406.643 kip gravity load using pile capacity, length, and diameter; apply a pile factor to estimate about four piles.

Calculate pile cap size for a multi-pile layout by measuring distances, converting inches to feet, and setting a 7.5 ft by 7.5 ft rectangular cap.

Place four pile points around center point to form pile layout, draw a circular 20 inch pile cap, and create a 12 by 18 inch column with 15 cap thickness.

Identify spring properties and calculate the pile's spring constant K = E*A/L, set compression-only springs with specified key pinch values, assign dead and live loads, and run analysis.

design a pile cap by applying bottom reinforcement in both directions with six to eight inch spacing, add top reinforcement where needed, and ensure spacing over piles for cap performance.

Model and analyze a pile cap under a lift core or shear wall using CSI SAFE; define grid, materials, reinforcement, and load patterns, then assess punching shear and design.

Design a reinforced concrete mat under a shear wall using fem method, set slab covers, choose design combinations, and determine bottom and top reinforcement in x and y directions.