Data Preparation Overview - Design Section

The following sequence lists the main steps involved in defining a Design Section and analyzing it for various analysis types, together with links to the relevant help topics. The steps are the same for a Project Design Section or a Single Design Section

Note: Multiple Design Sections can be added to a project.

More complete step by step guidance is contained in the Examples documentation.

Step 1: Choose project Type

Start new Project or Single Design Section.

Step 2: Define the Materials

The material properties to be used during the design must be defined before any section data can be entered.
Add material property as described in Steps 1 and 2 in the topic Data Preparation - Materials and repeat for each material to be defined.

Step 3a: Define the Section Elements

From the Navigation Pane select the Design Section(s) Group.
Click on the Add button and select type of section element required.
Repeat to build a complex section from a series of individual elements. There is no limit to the total number of elements that may be defined.
Once highlighted, elements may be positioned by clicking on the hook point (indicated by a cross) to lift the element, and clicking in a new position to deposit. Alternatively the coordinates of the hook point may be entered on the define section element forms.
To designate a part of the section as a cut line (in a continuous slab for example) click over the appropriate side of the component of the section. After one click, the side will be shown with a broken line, to indicate a cut line. After a second click, the side will revert to a normal line again. This continuity will be allowed for in the calculation of torsion properties.
Refer to the topic Graphics Edit Toolbar. Most editing options are self explanatory, but note the following:
- Merge will modify the current element by tracing around the outline of any intersecting elements. This is useful for example to define cast-in-place concrete around a precast beam.
- Join will create a single element from two or more elements that intersect or touch.
- Shove will move the element in the selected direction until another element blocks it from being moved any further. If there is no other element in the specified direction along the line from the hook point, the element will not be moved.
On exiting from the define section element forms the program will check that the property assigned is appropriate and that no elements intersect.

Step 3b: Import the Section Elements

Alternatively, the section elements can be imported. Select the Section Active Group Type in the Active Group Tree List and click on the Import button. Select a SXF or DXF file for import from the Import File dialog. If a DXF file is selected then the DXF layer selection form is displayed. Only shapes that are on selected layers shall be imported. Tendons and reinforcement can be imported from the import file if required.

Step 4: Define the Reinforcement

Select the Reinforcement item in the Active Group Tree List if rebar is required. There has to be a reinforcement material property defined for the item to be listed. Follow the guidance in the Define Bars topic.

Step 5: Define the Tendons

Select the Tendons item in the Active Group Tree List if tendons are required. There has to be a prestress strand material property defined for the item to be listed. Follow the guidance in the Define Bars topic.

Step 6: Analyze for Section Properties

Select Section Properties from the AnalyseAnalyze drop-down menu.

Step 7: Analyze for Temperature Gradient

Select Temperature Gradient from the Analyze drop-down menu.

Step 8: Define the Section Loadings

Click on the Add button and select Loadcase from the drop-down menu.

Follow the guidance in the Biaxial Bending Loads topic.

Step 9: Analyze

For Strength and Service Limit States

Select Bending, Axial and Shear from the Analyze.

For General Stress / Strain

Select General Stress/Strain from the Analyze drop-down menu.

Notes

For a Project, one or more design section (.SAM) files can be dragged from the Windows Explorer window or from any other file manager onto the Design Sections Active Group Tree to speed definition.

If the linked design section files are subsequently moved then the new location can be specified using the command Update Linked File Paths.

All linked design section files can easily be converted to embedded design sections using the single command Embed All Linked Sections. The original linked files are preserved.

All embedded design section files can easily be converted to standalone linked design sections using the single command Link All Embedded Sections.

One or more sections can be created from an existing project design beam, omitting Steps 1-5. Refer to the topic Create Design Sections from Design Beam. For a single design beam, only a single design section can be created.

Design Section Introduction

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