General

The General tab, selected in the New Parameters dialog, defines basic plate and shell reinforcement parameters.

The dialog defines the following parameters:

Name of a set of plate and shell reinforcement parameters.
Type of reinforcement calculations for shells:
- Simple bending (plate).
- Bending + compression/ tension (shell).
- Compression or tension (membrane).
The Reinforcement calculations for shells option reduces a set of internal forces that are considered while calculating panel reinforcement. This can be performed for a complete set of forces (bending + compression/tension), only for bending moments (simple bending), or for membrane forces (compression/tension). Duration of the calculations depends on the selected type of shell calculations. This is only available for shells. When Plate is chosen, bending moments in a plate are considered in reinforcement calculations. In plane stress structure, membrane forces are taken into account.

Note that verification of user defined settings is not made. Improper use of the option may result in wrong results.
You can select the main plate and shell reinforcement direction (linking directions X of the main reinforcement and Y of the perpendicular reinforcement with the directions of the local coordinate system of a panel). This direction may be defined in one the five ways:
- Along the X axis. When selected, the main reinforcement axis will be parallel to the X axis of the global coordinate system.
- Along the Y axis. When selected, the main reinforcement axis will be parallel to the Y axis of the global coordinate system.
- Along the Z axis. When selected, the main reinforcement axis will be parallel to the Z axis of the global coordinate system.
- Any Cartesian system direction. Once selected, the main reinforcement axis will be parallel to a straight line defined by the user. The line may be defined by entering the coordinates of two points (P1 and P2).
- Any Polar system direction. Once selected, the main reinforcement direction will be the radial direction in the polar system with a peak in point P1. The other reinforcement direction will be perpendicular to the radial reinforcement (perimeter direction).