Use this option to define the buckling length of members according to the CAN/CSA-S16.1-94, CAN/CSA-S16-01 + Supp. No.1 (2005), CAN/CSA-S16-09, and CAN/CSA-S16-14 codes. Access the option by clicking the appropriate icon (for the Y or Z direction) found in the Buckling Length Coefficient field of the Member Definition - Parameters dialog.
When one of the icons with the appropriate end support conditions is selected, the buckling length coefficient is entered automatically.
The icons are divided into two groups:
- The first group contains typical (code) methods of member support and the corresponding buckling coefficient values,
- The second group contains icons for calculating the buckling for columns of multi-story frames (calculation of buckling length coefficient for
one,
three and
six adjoining bars). Clicking one of the icons symbolizing the relevant operation of buckling length coefficient (
,
,
) results in opening an additional dialog.
Buckling is always included in calculations, even when compressive forces acting on a member are negligible in relation to other internal forces. Click
,to eliminate the buckling effects from the calculations. This indicates the exclusion of buckling in the calculation process.
Clicking
indicates the assumption that calculations of the buckling length of a column will be performed according to the automatic procedure (see:
Automatic buckling length).
The last icon
includes members with internal bracings (lateral stiffeners of the analyzed members that limit buckling length) in calculations. After clicking the icon, the
Internal bracing dialog displays and the parameters for lateral stiffeners can be selected.