Calculate the Weight for Structural Steel Elements

Learn how to add the required parameters to correctly calculate the weight of structural steel elements.

When working with structural steel elements, some of the families from the library will not calculate the weight as expected (a 0.0 value is displayed). This happens because a few parameters need to be added manually.

To calculate the weight

1. Identify the element in your project that has a weight of 0.0.
2. Edit the family to make changes to the element. To do so, open the Family Editor.
3. Modify Section Shape in the Material Physical Properties (MPP), under the Structural category, adjust the Section Shape. If it is set to Not Defined, change it to match the desired shape for your element.
4. Access the Family Type Parameters to modify various parameters related to the element.
5. Under Structural Analysis, add a value for the Section Area.
6. Input data for all the Structural Section Geometry parameters applicable to the selected element shape.
7. After filling in all the necessary fields, click Apply and then OK in the Family Types dialog to save and apply your changes.
8. Load the edited family back into your project.
9. You will be prompted to overwrite the existing version of the element. Confirm to overwrite it.
10. Check the Weight: the weight of the selected element should be calculated as expected.

Now the weight value should be calculated in the project.