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This short section describes why in some situations beams that you want to be composite are not appearing as composite in the MasterFrame model, and how to rectify this situation. When the model is shown in 3D, the composite beams will appear in yellow, steel beams in green and bracing members in blue.
In the Member Information window, from the 'stats' icons on the top toolbar, there is a ‘Check Composite Construction’ button to report on the status of the MasterFrame edit stage checks on the selected member. This will indicate if the beam is seen as a valid composite member.
At composite design stage the program reports in the output window or message box why a composite brief cannot be applied to a yellow composite member, if that is indeed the case.
If a particular beam is showing as a steel only (green) member and you want to have it as a composite (yellow) member, then check the following possible reasons as to why it hasn't appeared as composite:-
1. A composite beam needs to be released in the major axis at each end so that it is seen as a simply supported beam. It may or may not be released in the minor axis, it is only the major axis that is important.
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2. A composite beam can be made up of several members, for example, primary beams. These members should be joined so they are seen as a structural element. Use the Modify Geometry > Merge Members option to join them into a physical entity. Note the member numbers being included together in these primary beams.
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3. Occasionally a beam may be orientated at a beta angle other than zero. Thus the program sees the beam as slightly rotated and not as a composite beam. Check the member orientation from the Properties > Member Cross Section Orientation (beta angle) option and ensure it is zero.
4. A composite beam must have concrete slab to at least one side along its full length. If there is a portion of the beam where there is no slab, then the beam cannot be designed as composite.
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5. The beam may have been set as a non-composite member in the Design > Composite Beam to Slab Construction Type Member Groups (Pro) option as shown below for member 121. Remove it from this group to re-establish it as a composite beam.
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6. Check that the floor level has been set for composite construction in the Loads > Floor and Roof Panels - Area Loading and Construction (Pro) > Default Loading and Construction Per Level panel under the Composite Properties heading. The Profiled and Composite options should both be set to 'True' to allow that floor level to be all or partially composite in nature.
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To summarise:-
Firstly, a member is identified in MasterFrame as a composite member at the MasterFrame (editing) stage using the following criteria. These beams are then displayed as yellow members.
1. It is an I section or channel section
2. Has a beta angle of exactly 0
3. Has both ends released in the major axis
4. Is not set as a ‘bracing’ member
5. Is not a curved member
6. Is not set as non-composite in the level defaults
7. Is not set as non-composite in the member construction type groups
8. Is not an FE attached beam
9. Does not have a top plate or top channel on an I section – compound section
10. Is not a double member
Then at the composite design stage when the brief is applied, we further check
1. Is there any hogging moment in the member
2. Is there a slab thickness of more than 85mm on at least one side
3. If the profile is the same on both sides and along the length of the member
There is an option in the MasterFrame menu to delete composite design briefs from all non-composite beams. This will delete all briefs that are not applied to a valid composite beam in the MasterFrame model, which includes stand-alone briefs not applied to any MasterFrame member.
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