Use the Configuration dialog to define the parameters applied during the verification of a steel member according to the American ASD:1989 Ed.9th code. Access the dialog by clicking the Configuration button in the Calculations dialog. The following dialog displays:
The following calculation parameters are defined.
- Calculation points; they are defined in two ways.
- By defining a number of points along the member length (the points are evenly distributed along the member length) - the Number of points option.
- By defining coordinates of characteristic points; select the Characteristic points option and click the Options button; the Calculations in characteristic points dialog opens.
- Efficiency ratio defines the coefficient by which the plasticity limit will be multiplied (increasing or decreasing the plasticity limit)
- Maximum slenderness; if the option is selected, the slenderness of a member is verified.
If the Components of Complex Bars are not taken into account option is selected, the components of these bars are not included during calculations of complex bars.
If the option 33% Allowable Stress Increase for wind or seismic loads is selected, the material strength is automatically increased by 1/3 according to section A5.2 of the code for simple wind and seismic cases as well as for combinations including such cases.
Click the Exclude internal forces from calculations button to open the Internal forces not taken into consideration dialog. This dialog includes options that define the limit values of internal forces (thus the force values that are 'negligible' for a specific section may be disregarded). Moreover, the units for the presentation of results of the member design process is selected. The results are presented in the units used in the indicated steel code, or in the units used in Robot.
The lower part of the dialog contains a list used to select a load case (dead load), for which the defined displacements are treated as structure initial deflections. The option Take the deflections from the following case into consideration must be selected to activate the load case list.