Step by Step Auto Design

 

The step by step auto design approach provides the user with more control over decisions the program has made. After each step the user may decide to alter information before proceeding to the next one.

 

Auto Sizing Members

1.Elastic Analysis: Performs a pure elastic analysis based on the current section sizes, removing any plastic hinges previously formed.

2.Auto Size Current Group: Auto sizes all members in the current group

. The current group members are highlighted (in black) in the frame graphics area. At this stage the engineer may wish to preview the suitability of selected sections before continuing.

3.Select the next member group by clicking on any of the associated members in the frame graphics area. Repeat step 2 for all member groups

4.Plastic Analysis: Once all the groups have been sized perform a plastic analysis.

 This detects the formation of plastic hinges, and calculates plastic moment redistribution. This is recommended even while sizing elastically to confirm that the frame is elastic, as intended.

Important note:-  The automatically selected section sizes are dependent on the bending moments, which are influenced by the stiffness of the original section sizes. Where the difference in stiffness of the altered and original section sizes is considerable, the altered section sizes may not be the most suitable for continuing with a plastic analysis. This situation is mitigated by conducting steps 1 to 3 twice before performing plastic analysis.

 

Auto Restraining Members

1.Activate an Axial with Moments, or Appendix-G design brief. The member design group associated with the brief will be activated.

2.Auto Restrain Current Group:

 This function is available in either the Lateral or Torsional Restraints tab. In the lateral restraints tab the control will perform both lateral and torsional stability auto restraint, whereas in the torsional restraints tab, the same control carries out torsional stability auto restraint only.

After auto restraining the engineer has the option to rationalise the lateral restraint and stay arrangements for the current group. An alternative initial value of equal spacing may yield a more economical design.

3.Repeat steps 1 and 2 for additional member design groups.