Features related to calculation and design of steel members and joints.
A full description of all the features is available in the other Help sections.
It is now possible to force the analysis of steel members in elastic state (class 3) - even though according to the Eurocode 3 EN 1993-1-1:2006 cross sections satisfy the requirements of Class 1, 2 and could be analyzed in a plastic state.
It is possible now to perform steel member design according to requirements of the Belgian National Annexes for Eurocode 3, published recently:
Common label NBN EN 1993-1:2005/AC:2009/ ANB:2010 is used in the software to allow selecting design procedures according to the above documents.
Automatic buckling length calculation procedure was designed for the regular frames of semi‑perpendicular systems of columns and beams. The procedure analyzes an individual element and its end node stiffness according to the code regulations. This involves analyzing all chains all adjoining elements.
The procedure modification limits the adjoining elements chains to the elements lying in the considering buckling plane. Thus additional 'out-of-plane' elements do not influence any longer on the length, and stiffness of adjoining branches as shown on the picture below. Marked with yellow color beam was previously understood as ended in a middle length, where a calculation node was created by adjoining perpendicular beam. Now, when only elements lying in the same planes are considered, the length of a horizontal beam is two times bigger which influences on the upper column node stiffness.
Summarized results windows displayed automatically after steel member verification are now placed in the top left corner of the graphical viewer allowing on easy access to all menu and toolbar commands. Adding or closing windows creates automatically ordering tiled windows sequence.
Windows moved manually to different position keeps it position until closing.
Transverse plates are subjected to use in case of overlapping diagonal (post) bars. This usually occurs when bars have different dimensions or when, from constructional reasons, adjoining elements can't be welded directly to each other. The use of such plates facilitates the installation of such connection as well as increases its capacity.
Another way to increase connection capacity is to add chord transverse plates, which increases web shear capacity and eliminating buckling effects in chord web.
Both elements may be defined now for tube truss connections
Until now capacity of bolted connections was calculated taking into account shear on untreaded part of bolts. This is a typical approach which allows taking full advantage of the maximum bolts capacities.
However in some situations shear plane may pass through the threaded part of a bolt which decreases bolt capacity and the resultant connection capacity.
To allow this - bolted connections may be now checked taking into account reduced bolts capacities sheared through threaded or untreaded portion.