Beam Cross-Section Libraries

Note: The information in this section applies to beam elements in both linear and nonlinear structural analyses.

The following libraries of standard beam cross-sections are provided as part of the Autodesk Simulation Mechanical installation. These libraries are included as FoxPro database files (*.dbf). The library files and are located in the AISC subfolder under the program installation folder (usually C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Simulation 20xx):

Table 1: Installed Cross-Section Libraries
Description of Library Name as Listed in User Interface Database Filename
AISC Revision 7 aiscrev7 AISCREV7.DBF
AISC Revision 8 aiscrev8 AISCREV8.DBF
AISC Revision 9 aiscrev9 AISCREV9.DBF
AISC 20011 aisc2001 AISC2001.DBF
AISC 2005 1 aisc2005 AISC2005.DBF
AISC 14.1 (2013) 1 aisc14.1 (2013) AISC2013.DBF
DIN Steel Construction Profiles 22nd Edition DIN – Stahlbau – Profile 22. Auflage DIN2013.DBF
European Sections Europe – European Sections Database EURO2013.DBF
Japanese Sections Japan – Japanese Sections JAP2013.DBF

1 Note: Only the AISC 2001, AISC 2005, and AISC 14.1 (2013) libraries contain the dimensional data required for 3D visualization of the sections within the Results environment. In addition, you can use only these three libraries for beam elements in nonlinear analyses. For the AISC Rev. 9 and earlier libraries and for the DIN, European, and Japanese libraries, the cross-sectional properties required for linear structural analyses are included, but not the complete shape definition needed for nonlinear beam elements and 3D visualization. In addition, user-defined libraries cannot contain 3D visualization data, but only the properties shown in the Sectional Properties table in the Element Definition dialog box.

Tip: To verify the proper orientation of beams that cannot be visualized in 3D, activate one or more of the following three options. In the FEA Editor, these options are listed under View Visibility Object Visibility. In the Results environment, these options are listed under Results Options View Element Orientation:

For information regarding creating your own cross-section libraries and adding custom shapes to your libraries, see the page Create Custom Cross-Section Libraries and Shape Entries.

Cross-Sections Database Format

All of the cross-sections libraries, except for AISC Revisions 7 through 9 and user-defined libraries, have a common database format. Values in columns holding 3D visualization data are 0.0 when this data is absent. Similarly, 0.0 is entered for parameters that are not applicable to a given shape. For example, the flange thickness (tf) is not applicable to pipe sections, and therefore, the flange thickness value is zero for pipes.

The database files can be opened and viewed in Microsoft® Excel®, but they cannot be modified and saved. However, you can create your own custom libraries and cross-sections through the Simulation Mechanical user interface. See the Create Custom Libraries and Cross-Sections page for more information.

AISC 2001 and Newer, DIN, European, and Japanese Libraries

The following list describes the columns within the database files and the variables they contain. The designations are according to AISC standards, but the international section data has been adapted to suit the same data configuration. There are 52 columns of data, and the data for each cross-section occupies a single row. The database file format is the same for the AISC 2001 and newer, DIN, European, and Japanese libraries. However, the complete shape data needed for nonlinear analyses and for 3D visualization is only included in the three AISC libraries (as previously explained). Zeros are entered for properties that would otherwise contain these dimensional parameters. Zeros are also entered when a particular property is not applicable to a given type of standard section.

Table 2: Cross-Sections Database File Format (AISC 2001 and Newer, DIN, European, and Japanese Libraries)
Column Variable Name Description
A Metric Units The default length unit is inches. If this column is blank, the inch length unit is assumed. Other values are m, cm, and mm.
B Type The type of cross-section shape (such as W, C, HP, L, MT, HSS, Pipe, and others).
C EDI_Std_Nomenclature The shape designation according to the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).
D AISC_Manual_Label The shape designation as seen in the AISC Steel Construction Manual. The exception to this is the designation for double angles. There is a separate listing (row) for each back-to-back spacing and configuration. Therefore, the shape designation reflects these two variables. The listings for double angles follow the convention specified in the AISC Naming Convention for Structural Steel Products for Use in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).
E T_F

A true/false variable. A value of T (true) indicates that there is a special note for that shape (see below). A value of F (false) indicates that there is not a special note for that shape.

Special notes:

  • W-shapes: a value of T indicates that the shape has a flange thickness greater than 2 in.
  • M-shapes: a value of T indicates that the shape has sloped flanges.
  • WT-shapes: a value of T indicates that the shape has a flange thickness greater than 2 in.
F W Nominal weight, lb/ft (kg/m for metric data).
G A Cross-sectional area .
H d Overall depth of member, width of shorter leg for angles, width of the outstanding legs of long leg back-to-back double angles, or width of the back-to-back legs of short leg back-to-back double angles.
I Ht Overall depth of square or rectangular HSS sections.
J OD Outside diameter of round HSS sections or Pipe.
K bf Flange width.
L B Overall width of square or rectangular HSS sections.
M ID Inside diameter of round HSS sections or Pipe.
N tw Web thickness.
O tf Flange thickness.
P t Thickness of angle leg.
Q tnom Nominal wall thickness of HSS sections and Pipe.
R tdes Design wall thickness of HSS sections and Pipe.
S kdes Design distance from outer face of flange to web toe of fillet.
T kdet Detailing distance from outer face of flange to web toe of fillet.
U k1 Detailing distance from center of web to flange toe of fillet.
V x Horizontal distance from designated member edge, as defined in the AISC Steel Construction Manual, to member centroidal axis.
W y Vertical distance from designated member edge, as defined in the AISC Steel Construction Manual, to member centroidal axis.
X e0 Horizontal distance from designated member edge, as defined in the AISC Steel Construction Manual, to member shear center.
Y xp Horizontal distance from designated member edge, as defined in the AISC Steel Construction Manual, to member plastic neutral axis.
Z yp Vertical distance from designated member edge, as defined in the AISC Steel Construction Manual, to member plastic neutral axis.
AA bf/2tf Slenderness ratio.
AB b/t Slenderness ratio for single angles.
AC h/tw Slenderness ratio.
AD h/tdes Slenderness ratio for square or rectangular HSS sections.
AE D/t Slenderness ratio for round HSS, Pipe, or Tee shapes.
AF Ix Moment of inertia about the X-axis.
AG Zx Plastic section modulus about the X-axis.
AH Sx Elastic section modulus about the X-axis.
AI rx Radius of gyration about the X-axis.
AJ Iy Moment of inertia about the Y-axis.
AK Zy Plastic section modulus about the Y-axis.
AK Sy Elastic section modulus about the Y-axis.
AM ry Radius of gyration about the Y-axis.
AN rz Radius of gyration about the Z-axis.
AO J

Torsional moment of inertia.

Note: This is not the same as the polar or axial moment of inertia. Non-round sections, particularly open sections, typically exhibit a much lower stiffness in torsion than the polar moment of inertia would indicate.
AP Cw Warping constant.
AQ C Torsional constant for HSS sections.
AR Wno Normalized warping function, as used in Design Guide 9.
AS Sw1 Warping statical moment at point 1 on cross section, as used in Design Guide 9.
AT Qf Statical moment for a point in the flange directly above the vertical edge of the web, as used in Design Guide 9.
AU Qw Statical moment for a point at mid-depth of the cross section, as used in Design Guide 9.
AV ro Polar radius of gyration about the shear center.
AW H Flexural constant.
AX tan(α) Tangent of the angle between the y-y and z-z axes for single unequal angles.
AY Qs Reduction factor for slender unstiffened compression elements.
AZ G Gap between the adjacent faces of double angle sections (2L).

AISC Revisions 7 through 9

The structure of the earlier AISC libraries databases (Revisions 7 through 9) is quite different from the structure described in Table 2. Each of the three older AISC libraries contains only three fixed-width columns. The first column contains the name of the section and has a data field width of 30 characters. The second column (width = 12 characters) describes the property that is assigned to this section name. The third field (width = 50 characters) contains the value for each property. There is a new row for each property of the cross-section (one property per row). The section name is repeated in each row until the list of properties for a particular beam is complete. Then, the name of the next section name appears in rows that follow.

The Revision 9 library contains the greatest amount of information per cross-section among these three libraries. The following table lists the variables used within the AISC Revision 7 through 9 libraries. The properties that are not applicable to the Revision 7 and 8 libraries are indicated by a footnote.

Table 3: Cross-Sections Database File Format (AISC Revisions 7 through 9)
Column A Column B Column C

Section Name

(repeated for each row of associated data in Columns B and C)

Property (one property per row)

The following list contains the variables included in the AISC Rev. 9 library. Earlier revisions contain a subset of these variables:

  • A: Area
  • BF: Width of flange
  • BTF: bf/2tf, the ratio of the flange width to twice the flange thickness 2
  • CW: Cw, warping constant 2
  • D: Depth, actual
  • DAF: d/Af, the ratio of the depth to the compression flange area 2
  • DI: Inner diameter of pipe 2
  • DN: Nominal depth. Nominal Diameter in case of pipe sections (P, PX, PXX) 2
  • DSG: Shape designation, (for example, W or C) 2
  • DTW: d/tw, the ratio of the depth to the web thickness 2
  • EO: eo, distance from outside face of web to shear center 2
  • FYP, FYPPPA, FYPPPL:Fy, per LRFD (Load & Resistance Factor Design) 2
  • H: H, flexural constant LRFD Formula (A-E3-9) 2
  • H38: H, flexural constant, double angles 3/8 back to back 2
  • H34: H, flexural constant, double angles 3/4 back to back 2
  • HL: Horizontal leg or side dimension
  • HTW: hc/tw, ratio of assumed web depth for stability to thickness of web 2
  • JSHP: JUMBO SHAPE (J), value = J for jumbo shapes, blank otherwise 2
  • NT: Tensile type number per ASTM A6 2
  • OD: Outer diameter of pipe
  • QF: Qf, statical moment at point in flange 2
  • QW: Qw, statical moment at mid-depth 2
  • RA: Minimum fillet radius, detailing value (in.); flange toe value for M, S, C, and MC shapes 2
  • RI: Minimum fillet radius, design 2
  • RO: ro, shear center coordinate 2
  • RO38: ro, double angles 3/8 back to back 2
  • RO34: ro, double angles 3/4 back to back 2
  • RT: The radius of gyration of a section comprising the compression flange plus 1/3 of the compression web area, taken about an axis in the plane of the web 2
  • RX: rx, radius of gyration about axis XX
  • RY: ry, radius of gyration about axis YY
  • RY38: ry, double angles 3/8 back to back 2
  • RY34: ry, double angles 3/4 back to back 2
  • RZ: rz, radius of gyration about principal axis 2
  • SX: Sx, elastic section modulus about axis XX
  • SY: Sy, elastic section modulus about axis YY
  • SW: Sw, warping statical moment 2
  • T: Thickness of leg or wall
  • TAN(ALPHA): tan(α), tangent of the angle between the y-y and z-z axes for single unequal angles.
  • TF: Thickness of flange
  • TW: Thickness of web
  • VL: Vertical leg or side dimension
  • WGT: Nominal weight 2
  • WNO: Wno, normalized warping function 2
  • XB: x, centroid of section in X direction from outer web 2
  • XI: Ix, moment of inertia about axis XX
  • XJ: J, torsional constant
  • XK: k, distance from outer face of flange to end of web toe fillet
  • XK1: k1, distance from centerline of beam (Y-axis) to end of web toe fillet
  • X1: X1, beam buckling factor LRFD Formula (F1-8) 2
  • X2: X2, beam buckling factor LRFD Formula (F1-9) 2
  • YB: y, centroid of section in Y direction from outer top flange face 2
  • YI: Iy, moment of inertia about axis YY
  • ZX: Zx, plastic modulus about axis XX 2
  • ZY: Zy, plastic modulus about axis YY 2
  • LOCK SECTION: (= 1 for all sections)
  • ID: (sequentially numbered section identifier)
  • DESCRIPTION: (such as AISC PROP OF W44.00X285.00, ID1 )

Value

(one value per row of properties in Column B)

(value may be blank for some properties)

2 Note: These properties are excluded from the AISC Revision 7 and 8 databases.

Description of AISC Beam Cross-Sections

Standard designations of beam shapes have changed over the years. The table below list the letter designations and descriptions of the shapes for the included versions of the AISC libraries.

Table 4: Shape Designations Used in the Different AISC Library Revisions
AISC 2001, 2005, and 2013 AISC Rev 9 AISC Rev 8 & 7 Shape
W W Type W Type W shapes (wide flange beams)
M M Type M Type M shapes (similar to W)
S S Type S Type S shapes (also called I-beams, narrower than W beams and with tapered flanges)
HP HP Type HP Type HP shapes (used as piles)
C C Type C Type Channels - American Standard
MC M Type (MC) M Type (MC) Channels - Miscellaneous
L L Type L Type Angles - equal legs
L L Type UL Type Angles - unequal legs
WT WT Type WT Type Structural tees cut from W shapes
MT M Type (MT) M Type (MT) Structural tees cut from M shapes
ST S Type (ST) S Type (ST) Structural tees cut from S shapes
2L 2L Type DL Type Double angles - equal legs 3
2L (LLBB on end of name) 2L Type (first dimension is back-to-back dimension) UD Type (UDL) Double angles - unequal legs (long legs back to back) 3
2L (SLBB on end of name) 2L Type (first dimension is back-to-back dimension) UD Type Double angles - unequal legs (short legs back to back) 3
Pipe (schedule on end of name) P Type S Type (SP, schedule on end of name) Pipe - STD standard weight
Pipe (schedule on end of name) P Type (PX) S Type (SP, schedule on end of name) Pipe - XS extra strong
Pipe (schedule on end of name) P Type (PXX) S Type (SP, schedule on end of name) Pipe - XXS double extra strong
HSS TS Type RTU Structural tubing - rectangular
HSS TS Type S Type (STU) Structural tubing - square
AISC Library Section Type - If the section name differs from the type, it is noted in parentheses ( ).
3 Note: When four numbers are given, the fourth number is the distance (gap) between the legs of the angle. For example, the 2L8x4x7/8x3/4LLBB are double 8x4 angles, 7/8 inch thick legs with the long legs back to back and separated by 3/4 inch.

References

Topics in this section
Parent topic: General Information (Common to Multiple Analysis Types)