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Design of members per AS 4100 - 1998 requires the STAAD CAN/AUS/SA Design Codes
SELECT Code Pack.
1B.1 General
The design philosophy embodied in this specification is based on the concept of limit state design.
Structures are designed and proportioned taking into consideration the limit states at which they
would become unfit for their intended use. Two major categories of limit-state are recognized -
ultimate and serviceability. The primary considerations in ultimate limit state design are strength
and stability, while that in serviceability is deflection. Appropriate load and resistance factors are
used so that a uniform reliability is achieved for all steel structures under various loading
conditions and at the same time the chances of limits being surpassed are acceptably remote.
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In the STAAD implementation, members are proportioned to resist the design loads without
exceeding the limit states of strength, stability, and serviceability. Accordingly, the most economic
section is selected on the basis of the least weight criteria as augmented by the designer in
specification of allowable member depths, desired section type, or other such parameters. The
code checking portion of the program checks whether code requirements for each selected section
are met and identifies the governing criteria.
The following sections describe the salient features of the STAAD implementation of AS 4100. A
detailed description of the design process along with its underlying concepts and assumptions is
available in the specification document.
Strength design capacities (Ru) are calculated and compared to user-defined design action effects
(S*), so as to ensure that S* Ru in accordance with AS 4100 3.4. Details for design capacity
calculations are outlined in the sections that follow.
STAAD.Pros AS 4100 implementation does not generally check deflections. It is left to the user
to check that both local member and frame deflections are within acceptable limits.
Local member deflections parallel to the local member y-axis can be checked against a user-
defined maximum span / deflection ratio. This can be performed using the DFF, DJ1, and DJ2
design parameters, however this is only available for MEMBER Design. Details are provided in the
sections that follow.
STAAD.Pro does not automatically account for minimum eccentricity distances for beam
reactions being transferred to columns as per AS 4100 4.3.4. However member offsets can be used
to model these eccentricities.
Refer to Section 5.25 of the Technical Reference manual for further information on the Member
Offset feature.
The following limit states are not directly considered in STAAD.Pros implementation of AS
4100.
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Code
Limit State
Reference
Other Design
Requirements
STAAD.Pro and Bentleys RAM Connection program currently do not support design of
connections in accordance with AS 4100. In some cases connection design may govern the size of
members. Such considerations are not considered in STAAD.Pros AS 4100 and should be
checked by separately.
Bolt holes and welds are not generally considered in STAAD.Pros AS 4100 member design.
NSC and NSF design parameters are used to manually specify a reduction in net section area for
compression or tension capacity calculations. These can be used to account for bolt hole area
reductions. Further details are provided in the sections that follow.
Either the elastic or dynamic analysis methods may be used to obtain the forces and moments for
design as per AS 4100 section 4.4. Analysis is done for the specified primary and repeat loading
conditions. Therefore, it is your responsibility to enter all necessary loads and load combination
factors for design in accordance with the AS/NZS 1170 Series or other relevant design codes. You
are allowed complete flexibility in providing loading specifications and using appropriate load
factors to create necessary loading situations. Depending upon the analysis requirements, regular
stiffness analysis or P-Delta analysis may be specified. Dynamic analysis may also be performed
and the results combined with static analysis results.
Plastic analysis and design in accordance with AS 4100 section 4.5 is not implemented in
STAAD.Pro.
Two types of elastic analysis can be performed using STAAD.Pro in accordance with AS 4100:
i. First Order Linear, Elastic Analysis - used to perform a regular elastic stiffness analysis as
per AS 4100 4.4.2.1. Refer to Section 5.37.1 of the Technical Reference Manual for
additional details on this feature.
ii. Second Order PDelta Linear, Elastic Analysis - Depending on the type of structure, a PDelta
analysis may be required in order to capture second-order effects as per AS 4100 4.4.1.2.
Second-order effects can be captured in STAAD.Pro by performing a PDelta second-order
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elastic analysis as per AS 4100 Appendix E. Refer to Section 5.37.2 of the Technical
Reference Manual for additional details on this feature.
In order to correctly capture second-order effects for combination load cases using a PDelta
Analysis, the Repeat Load feature must be used. Second-order effects will not be correctly
evaluated if the Load Combination feature is used. Load Combinations are combinations of
results where Repeat Loads instruct the program to perform the analysis on the combined
load actions. Refer to Section 5.32.11 of the Technical Reference Manual for additional
details on using Repeat Loads.
Dynamic analysis may also be performed and the results combined with static analysis results.
Refer Section 5.32.10 of the Technical Reference Manual for further information on Dynamic
Loading and Analysis features.
For specification of member properties, either the steel section library available in STAAD or the
User Table facility may be used. The next section describes the syntax of commands used to
assign properties from the built-in steel table. For more information on these facilities, refer to
Section 1.7 the STAAD Technical Reference Manual.
The following information is provided for use when the built-in steel tables are to be referenced
for member property specification. These properties are stored in a database file. If called for, the
properties are also used for member design. Since the shear areas are built into these tables, shear
deformation is always considered during the analysis of these members. An example of the
member property specification in an input file is provided at the end of this section.
A complete listing of the sections available in the built-in steel section library may be obtained by
using the tools of the graphical user interface.
Refer to Section 1.7.2 of the Technical Reference Manual for additional information.
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STAAD.Pro will not design the following section types to AS 4100: Double Profiles (D),
Composite Sections (C), Top Cover Plates (TC), Bottom Cover Plates (BC), and Top & Bottom
Cover Plates (TB), Double Channels (D, BA, & FR) and Double Angles (LD & SD). Refer to
Section Profile Tables in the Graphical Environment for these options.
When adding and assigning sections using the built-in steel section library through the Graphical
Environment, STAAD.Pros default tables are American. To change the default tables to
Australian, select File > Configuration from the STAAD.Pro Start page (no input file open). Set
the Default Profile Table to Australian on the Configure Program dialog Section Profile Table.
1B.4.1 UB Shapes
20 TO 30 TA ST UB150X14.0
36 TO 46 TA ST UB180X16.1
1B.4.2 UC Shapes
The designation for the UC shapes is similar to that for the UB shapes.
25 TO 35 TA ST UC100X14.8
23 56 TA ST UC310X96.8
25 TO 35 TA ST WB700X115
23 56 TA ST WB1200X455
25 TO 35 TA ST WC400X114
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23 56 TA ST WC400X303
1 TO 5 TA ST PFC75
6 TO 10 TA ST PFC380
Back-to-back double channels, with or without a spacing between them, are available. The letter D
in front of the section name will specify a double channel.
11 TA D PFC230
17 TA D C230X75X25 SP 0.5
In the above set of commands, member 11 is a back-to-back double channel PFC230 with no
spacing in between. Member 17 is a double channel PFC300 with a spacing of 0.5 length units
between the channels.
1B.4.7 Angles
Two types of specification may be used to describe an angle. The standard angle section is
specified as follows:
16 20 TA ST A30X30X6
The above section signifies an angle with legs of length 30 mm and a leg thickness of 6 mm. This
specification may be used when the local Z axis corresponds to the z-z axis specified in Chapter 2.
If the local Y axis corresponds to the z-z axis, type specification "RA" (reverse angle) may be
used.
17 21 TA RA A150X150X16
Single angles must be specified with an RA (Single Angle w/Reverse Y-Z Axis) in order to be
designed to AS 4100. This is to ensure that the major and minor principal axes align with the local
member z and y axes respectively, similar to other section profiles.
Short leg back-to-back or long leg back-to-back double angles can be specified by means of input
of the words SD or LD, respectively, in front of the angle size. In case of an equal angle, either SD
or LD will serve the purpose.
33 35 TA SD A65X50X5 SP 0.6
37 39 TA LD A75X50X6
43 TO 47 TA LD A100X75X10 SP 0.75
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Tubes can be assigned in 2 ways. In the first method, the designation for the tube is as shown
below. This method is meant for tubes whose property name is available in the steel table. In these
examples, members 1 to 5 consist of a 2X2X0.5 inch size tube section, and members 6 to 10
consist of 10X5X0.1875 inch size tube section. The name is obtained as 10 times the depth, 10
times the width, and 16 times the thickness.
1 TO 5 TA ST TUB20202.5
6 TO 10 TA ST TUB100503.0
In the second method, tubes are specified by their dimensions. For example,
is a tube that has a height of 8 length units, width of 6 length units, and a wall thickness of 0.5
length units. Only code checking, no member selection, will be performed for TUBE sections
specified in this latter manner.
Pipes can be assigned in 2 ways. In the first method, the designation for the pipe is as shown
below. This method is meant for pipes whose property name is available in the steel table.
1 TO 5 TA ST PIP180X5
6 TO 10 TA ST PIP273X6.5
In the second method, pipe sections may be provided by specifying the word PIPE followed by the
outside and inside diameters of the section. For example,
specifies a pipe with outside diameter of 25 length units and inside diameter of 20 length units.
Only code checking, no member selection, will be performed on pipes specified in this latter
manner.
STAAD SPACE
UNIT METER KN
JOINT COORD
1 0 0 0 11 100 0 0
MEMB INCI
1 1 2 10
UNIT CM
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* UB SHAPES
1 TA ST UB200X25.4
* UC SHAPES
2 TA ST UC250X89.5
* CHANNELS
3 TA ST PFC125
* DOUBLE CHANNELS
4 TA D PFC200
* ANGLES
5 TA ST A30X30X6
* REVERSE ANGLES
6 TA RA A150X150X16
7 TA SD A65X50X5 SP 0.6
8 TA LD A100X75X10 SP 0.75
FINISH
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The AS 4100 specification allows inelastic deformation of section elements. Thus, local buckling
becomes an important criterion. Steel sections are classified as compact, noncompact, or slender;
depending upon their local buckling characteristics. This classification is a function of the
geometric properties of the section. The design procedures are different depending on the section
class. STAAD determines the section classification for the standard shapes and user specified
shapes. Design is performed for all three categories of section described above.
Refer Section 5.26.2 of the Technical Reference Manual for further information on the Built-in
Material Constants feature.
Refer Section 2.26.1 of the Technical Reference Manual for further information on the Define
Material feature.
STAAD.Pros default steel materials E value is 205,000 MPa. However AS 4100 section 1.4
states that the modulus of elasticity should be taken as 200,000 MPa. There are a number of
options to change this value:
change the steel material through the input file or GUI for each file created
define a new steel material for each file created
Virtualization features of Windows Vista and Windows 7 may require additional files to be
modified. Contact Bentley Technical Support for assistance.
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The member resistance is calculated in STAAD according to the procedures outlined in AS 4100.
Calculated design capacities are compared to corresponding axial, bending moment, and shear
forces determined from the STAAD.Pro analysis. These are used to report the fail or pass status
for the members designed.
The nominal section capacity refers to the capacity of a cross-section to resists applied loads, and
accounts for cross-section yielding and local buckling effects. The nominal member capacity on
the other hand refers to the capacity of a member to resist applied loads, and includes checks for
global member buckling effects including Euler buckling, lateral-torsional buckling, etc.
The criteria governing the capacity of tension members are based on two limit states per AS 4100
Section 7. The limit state of yielding of the gross section is intended to prevent excessive
elongation of the member.
The second limit state involves fracture at the section with the minimum effective net area Nt
section axial tension capacities are calculated (Cl.7.2). Through the use of the NSF parameter (see
Table 1B.1), you may specify the net section area. STAAD calculates the tension capacity of a
member based on these two limit states per Cl.7.1 and Cl.7.2 respectively of AS 4100. Eccentric
end connections can be taken into account using the KT correction factor, perCl.7.3. The fy yield
stress is based on the minimum plate yield stress. Parameters FYLD, FU, and NSF are applicable for
these calculations.
The compressive strength of members is based on limit states per AS 4100 Section 6. It is taken as
the lesser of nominal section capacity and nominal member capacity. Nominal section capacity,
Ns, is a function of form factor (Cl.6.2.2), net area of the cross section, and yield stress of the
material. Through the use of the NSC parameter (see Table 1B.1), you may specify the net section
area. Note that this parameter is different from that corresponding to tension. The program
automatically calculates the form factor. The kf form factors are calculated based on effective
plate widths per Cl.6.2.4, and the fy yield stress is based on the minimum plate yield stress.
Nominal member capacity, Nc, is a function of nominal section capacity and member slenderness
reduction factor (Cl.6.3.3). This value is calculated about both principal x and y axes. Here, you
are required to supply the value of b (Cl.6.3.3) through the ALB parameter (see Table 1B.1). The
effective length for the calculation of compressive strength may be provided through the use of the
parameters KY, KZ, LY, and LZ (see Table 1B.1).
1B.7.3 Bending
Bending capacities are calculated to AS 4100 Section 5. The allowable bending moment of
members is determined as the lesser of nominal section capacity and nominal member capacity
(ref. Cl.5.1).
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The nominal section moment capacity, Ms, is calculated about both principal x and y axes and is
the capacity to resist cross-section yielding or local buckling and is expressed as the product of the
yield stress of the material and the effective section modulus (ref. Cl.5.2). The effective section
modulus is a function of section type (i.e., compact, noncompact, or slender) and minimum plate
yield stress fy. The nominal member capacity depends on overall flexural-torsional buckling of the
member (ref.Cl.5.3).
For sections where the web and flange yield stresses (fy,web and fy.flange respectively) are different,
the lower of the two yield stresses is applied to both the web and flange to determine the
slenderness of these elements.
Member moment capacity, Mb, is calculated about the principal x axis only (ref. Cl.5.6). Critical
flange effective cross-section restraints and corresponding design segment and sub-segments are
used as the basis for calculating capacities.
Combined section bending and shear capacities are calculated using the shear and bending
interaction method as per Cl.5.12.3.
This check is only carried out where Vv section web shear capacities are calculated. Refer Table
1B.6-1 for details.
The member strength for sections subjected to axial compression and uniaxial or biaxial bending
is obtained through the use of interaction equations. Here, the adequacy of a member is also
examined against both section (ref. Cl.8.3.4) and member capacity (ref.Cl.8.4.5). These account
for both in-plane and out-of-plane failures. If the summation of the left hand side of the equations,
addressed by the above clauses, exceeds 1.0 or the allowable value provided using the RATIO
parameter (see Table 1B.1), the member is considered to have FAILed under the loading
condition.
1B.7.5 Shear
Section web shear capacity, Vv, is calculated per Cl.5.11, including both shear yield and shear
buckling capacities. Once the capacity is obtained, the ratio of the shear force acting on the cross
section to the shear capacity of the section is calculated. If any of the ratios (for both local Y &
Z-axes) exceed 1.0 or the allowable value provided using the RATIO parameter (see Table 1B.1),
the section is considered to have failed under shear.
Table 1B.6-1 below highlights which shear capacities are calculated for different profile types.
I-SECTION
WB, WC, UB,
(i.e., parallel to minor Calculated for web only
UC
principal y-axis)
T-SECTION BT, CT
CHANNEL PFC
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Australian
General Profile Type Shear Checks
Section
ANGLE EA, UA No checks performed
Calculated parallel to both x & y
TUBE SHS, RHS
principal axes
PIPE CHS Per AS 4100 5.11.4
Only unstiffened web capacities are calculated. Stiffened webs are not considered. Bearing
capacities are not considered.
1B.7.6 Torsion
STAAD.Pro does not design sections or members for torsion for AS 4100.
The design parameters outlined in Table 1B.1 are used to control the design procedure. These
parameters communicate design decisions from the engineer to the program and thus allow the
engineer to control the design process to suit an application's specific needs. The design scope
indicates whether design parameters are applicable for MEMBER Design, PMEMBER Design, or both.
The default parameter values have been selected such that they are frequently used numbers for
conventional design. Depending on the particular design requirements, some or all of these
parameter values may be changed to exactly model the physical structure.
Once a parameter is specified, its value stays at that specified number until it is specified again.
This is the way STAAD works for all codes.
Must be specified as
AUSTRALIAN to invoke design
per AS 4100 - 1998.
CODE -
Design Code to follow. See
section 5.48.1 of the Technical
Reference Manual.
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Parameter Design
Default Value Description
Name Scope
6.3.3(1), 6.3.3(2); otherwise
the input value is used.
Deflection Length/
None (Mandatory for
DFF Maximum Allowable local
deflection check)
deflection.
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Parameter Design
Default Value Description
Name Scope
1 = At top flange
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Parameter Design
Default Value Description
Name Scope
Any value greater than 1.0 is
used as the limit for
slenderness in compression.
0.0
SGR 0 = normal grade
1.0
= high strength grade
steel
0.0
= report only minimum
design results
1.0
= report design strengths
in addition to TRACK 0.0
output
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Parameter Design
Default Value Description
Name Scope
2.0
= provide full details of
design
1B.8.1 Notes
Compute Length = distance between DJ1 & DJ2 or, between start node and end node, as the
case may be.
a. A straight line joining DJ1 and DJ2 is used as the reference line from which local
deflections are measured.
For example, refer to the figure below where a beam has been modeled using four
joints and three members. The Deflection Length for all three members will be
equal to the total length of the beam in this case. The parameters DJ1 and DJ2 should
be used to model this situation. Thus, for all three members here, DJ1 should be 1 and
DJ2 should be 4.
PARAMETERS
DJ1 1 ALL
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DJ2 4 ALL
b. If DJ1 and DJ2 are not used, "Deflection Length" will default to the member length
and local deflections will be measured from original member line.
c. It is important to note that unless a DFF value is specified, STAAD will not perform a
deflection check. This is in accordance with the fact that there is no default value for
DFF.
b. LHT Parameter
If the shear force is constant within the segment, longitudinal position of the load is
assumed to be at the segment end.
If there is any variation of the shear force and the load is acting downward determined from
shear force variation and load height parameter indicates the load is acting on top flange
(flange at the positive local y axis) and restraints at the end of the segment is not FU (FRU)
or PU (PRU) Kl is assumed to be 1.4.
If there is any variation of the shear force and the load is acting upward determined from
shear force variation and load height parameter indicates the load is acting on top flange
(flange at the positive local y axis) and restraints at the end of the segment is not FU (FRU)
or PU (PRU) Kl is assumed to be 1.0 as the load acting at the top flange is contributing to
stabilize against local torsional buckling.
c. SGR Parameter
AS 4100 defines the values of steel grades that are used as either normal steel or high grade
steel. The following table explains the material values used when either option is specified
for a particular shape:
If a value for the FYLD parameter has been specified, then that value will be used.
Otherwise, the SGR value will be used to determine the yeild strength and tensile strength
values for the steel. based on maximum thickness of the individual elements of the section.
Only for shear capacity calculation web thickness is used. Similarly, Tensile Strength is
determined either from FU parameter or from SGR parameter.
A check is introduced to see if yield stress is more than 450 MPa or not. If it is, a warning is
issued and the yield stress is set to 450 MPa.
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The following example uses the Member design facility in STAAD.Pro. However, it is strongly
recommended to use the Physical member design capabilities for AS 4100:
PARAMETER 1
CODE AUSTRALIAN
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The purpose of code checking is to evaluate whether the provided section properties of the
members are adequate for the specified loads as per AS 4100 requirements.
The member selection facility can be used to instruct the program to select a different section if
the specified section is found to be inadequate.
Code checking for an analytical member is done using forces and moments at every twelfth point
along the beam. The code checking output labels the members as PASSed or FAILed. In addition,
the critical condition, governing load case, location (distance from the start joint) and magnitudes
of the governing forces and moments are also printed. The extent of detail of the output can be
controlled by using the TRACK parameter.
Refer to Section 2.5 of the Technical Reference Manual for general information on Code
Checking. Refer to Section 5.48.2 of the Technical Reference Manual for details the specification
of the Code Checking command.
PARAMETER
CODE AUSTRALIAN
KY 1.2 MEMB 3 4
For physical members (PMEMBERs), code checks are performed at section stations positioned at
1/12th points along each analytical member included in the PMEMBER. It is up to you to determine if
these locations cover critical sections for design, and adjust as necessary. The number of stations
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for PMEMBER Design cannot be altered, however the analytical members can be split so that in
effect more stations are checked for a PMEMBER.
For each section station along a PMEMBER, section capacity checks are carried for design actions at
that station location. Member capacity checks are also carried out for each station. For these the
program searches each side of the station to find adjacent effective restraints and design forces and
moments. This allows the program to determine the segment / sub-segment that the section station
resides in, and then proceeds to calculate the member capacities. Enough section stations should
be included to capture all segments / sub-segments for checking.
When checking combined actions for the section capacities, the design actions at the section
station are used. However when checking combined actions for the member capacities, the
maximum forces from anywhere along the segment / sub-segment being considered are used. This
is as stipulated in AS 4100 8.2.
The output reports whether the member has PASSed or FAILed the design checks, as well as the
critical condition, critical load case, magnitudes of design actions for the most critical cross-
section location (distance from the start joint), and complete calculations for design. The TRACK
design parameter can be used to control the level of detail provided in the output. Color-coded
results can also be viewed in the GUIs Post Processing Beam | Unity Check page.
In some cases some of the output will report N/A values. This occurs where a calculation does
not apply to a member. For example if a member never goes into tension then no values can be
reported in the tension capacity output sections.
As per AS 4100 1.4, the TRACK 2.0 detailed level of output for PMEMBER Design uses x and y
subscripts to refer to major and minor principal axes respectively. These differ to STAAD.Pro
local member axes, where z and y refer to major and minor principal axes.
This process incrementally checks increasing section profile sizes until a size is found that is AS
4100 compliant, or the largest section has been checked. Only section profiles of the same type as
modeled are incrementally checked, with the increasing sizes based on a least weight per unit
length criteria.
For example, a member specified initially as a channel will have a channel selected for it.
Selection of members whose properties are originally provided from a user table will be limited to
sections in the user table.
Refer to Section 2.6 of the Technical Reference Manual for general information on Member
Selection. Refer to Section 5.48.3 of the Technical Reference Manual for details the specification
of the Member Selection command.
The design calculations for Member Selection are the same as for Code Checking.
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A Fixed Group command is also available, and can be used to force all members within a user-
defined group to take the same section size based on the most critical governing design criteria for
all members within that group. This is particularly useful when you want to use the Member
Selection feature, but want a group of elements to have the same size. Refer to Section 5.49 of the
Technical Reference Manual for information on using this feature.
Member Selection will change member sizes, and hence will change the structures stiffness
matrix. In order to correctly account for this, a subsequent analysis and Code Check should be
performed to ensure that the final structure is acceptable. This may need to be carried out over
several iterations.
PARAMETER
KY 1.2 MEMB 3 4
SELECT MEMB 3 4
Results of code checking and member selection are presented in a tabular format. The term
CRITICAL COND refers to the section of the AS 4100 specification which governs the design.
There are two methods available in STAAD.Pro for checking members against the requirements
of AS 4100:
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Herein these are referred to as MEMBER Design and PMEMBER Design respectively.
Traditionally STAAD.Pro performed code checks based on single analytical members (i.e., single
members between two nodes). This implementation remains in place as shown in the example in
Section 1B.8. Physical Member (PMEMBER) Design on the other hand allows you to group single or
multiple analytical members into a single physical design member for the purposes of design to
AS 4100.
Thus, it is strongly recommended that PMEMBER Design be used, even for the design of single
analytical members.
STAAD.Pro Editor - Directly specify physical members in the input file. Refer to Section
5.16.2 of the Technical Reference Manual for additional information.
Graphical Environment - Using the tools in the Steel Design toolbar, members can be
manually or automatically formed. Refer to Section 1.4 of the Graphical Environment
manual for additional information.
When creating PMEMBERs for AS 4100, this must be performed in STAAD.Pros Modeling
mode. Do not use the Steel Design mode.
For calculation of member bending capacities about the principal x-axis, the PMEMBER Design
uses the concept of segment / sub-segment design. By default PMEMBERs are automatically
broken up into design segments and sub-segments based on calculated effective restraints. User-
defined restraints assigned using the PBRACE design parameter are checked to see if they are
effective (i.e., if they are placed on the critical flange as per AS 4100 5.5). Restraints not applied
to the critical flange are ineffective and hence are completely ignored.
Refer to Section 1B.7 for further information on how user-defined restraints are applied using the
PBRACE design parameter, including available restraint types, and restraint layout rules.
Segment and sub-segment layouts for PMEMBERs may change for different load cases
considered for design. Some restraints may be effective for one particular load case as they are
found to apply to the critical flange, however for another load case may be found not to act on the
critical flange, and found to be ineffective. In other words the critical flange can change for each
load case considered.
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Australian Codes: Steel Design per AS 4100-1998 Page 23 of 28
Typically the critical flange will be the compression flange, except for segments with a U
restraint at one end, in which case it will be the tension flange (as is the case for a cantilever).
The PMEMBER Design uses the following routine to determine effective cross-section restraints
for each load case considered:
i. first all user-defined restraints are checked to see if they are applied to the compression
flange, with those that arent ignored;
ii. next a check is made to see if a U type restraint is found at either end of the PMEMBER.
If this is the case then any adjacent L restraints up to the next F, FR, P or PR
restraint are also ignored, regardless of whether they are placed on the critical or non-critical
flange. Refer AS 4100 5.4.2.4.
The compression flange in step 1 of the routine above is calculated based on the bending moments
at the locations of the restraints being considered. If the bending moment is zero at the same
location as a restraint then the following method is used to determine which flange is critical at the
zero moment location:
a. If the zero moment is at the end of the PMEMBER, then the compression flange is based on
the bending moment at a small increment from then end;
b. If the zero moment is along the PMEMBER and is a peak value, then the compression
flange is based on the bending moment at a small increment from that location;
c. If neither 1 or 2 above is valid, then the stiffer of the restraints at that location is taken. The
stiffness of different restraint types from the most stiff to least stiff are taken as outlined in
Table 1B.9-3.
Once the effective restraints have been determined, the PMEMBER is divided into segments
bounded by F, P, FR, PR or U effective restraints. These segments are then further
divided into sub-segments by effective L restraints.
Sub-segment lengths are not automatically checked to determine if they provide full lateral
restraint as per AS 4100 5.3.2.4.
For design of cantilevers, the free tip should have user-defined U restraints applied to both top
and bottom flanges.
If the effective restraints for any load case consist of U or L restraints only, an error will be
reported.
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Australian Codes: Steel Design per AS 4100-1998 Page 24 of 28
The PBRACE parameter is used to specify the restraint condition along the top and bottom flange of
a PMEMBER.
General Format
Where:
Fully and
FR rotationally
restrained
Partially and
PR rotationally
restrained
The flange is assumed to be
continuously supported at that flange
Continuously up to next restraint location. For
C
restrained continuously supported flange
unbraced length is assumed to be
zero.
Example
PBRACE TOP 0.85 FR 0.33 PR 0.33 PR 0.25 F 0.75 L 0.5 PR 1.0 U 0.0 U
1.0 U PMEMB 3 7
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Australian Codes: Steel Design per AS 4100-1998 Page 25 of 28
Description
Refer to AS 4100 Section 5.5 for a full definition of the critical flange. Typically this will be the
compression flange, except for segments with U restraint at one end, then it will be the tension
flange (as is the case for cantilever portion at the end).
when gravity loads are dominant (i.e., negative local y-axis direction), the critical flange of
a segment shall be the top flange (i.e., tension).
when upward wind loads are dominant (i.e., positive local y-axis direction), the critical
flange shall be the bottom flange (i.e., tension).
Design members must have either a F, P, FR, PR, or U restraint specified at both ends, for both
flanges.
If UNL is not specified, segment length is used as UNL and used as L in effective length
calculation as per 5.6.3.
If ALM i.e., _m is not provided, automatic calculation of ALM is done based on moments
within the segment.
If SKR i.e., Kr is not provided, it is automatically calculated based on table 5.6.3(3)
considering restraint conditions are the end of the segment. If FR or PR is found at only one
of the end, Kr is assumed to be 0.85; if FR or PR is found at both the ends, 0.70 is used as
Kr.
If SKT i.e., Kt is not provided, it is automatically calculated based on Table 5.6.3(1)
considering end restraints of the segment and section geometric information and segment
length.
If SKL i.e., Kl is not provided, it is automatically calculated based on Table 5.6.3(2)
considering end restraints of the segment, Load Height Position parameter, LHT and shear
force variation within the segment.
Notes
a. If PMEMBER list is not provided, all the PMEMBERS are restrained by same
configuration.
b. It is not necessary to provide the restraint locations in sequence as the program sorts them
automatically.
c. Unless specified, PMEMBER ends are assumed to be Fully Restrained (F).
d. While designing any section of the member, effective restraints are searched on each side of
the section along the critical flange.
e. The types of restraints applied to the top and bottom flanges at each location determines the
effective section restraints. These are outlined in the table below:
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Australian Codes: Steel Design per AS 4100-1998 Page 26 of 28
Restraint on a Effective
Restraint on a
Case Flange Non-Critical Section
Critical Flange
Flange Restraint
I U U U
1 L Nothing L
II
2 Nothing L None
1 P or F Nothing or U F
III
2 Nothing or U P or F P
1 PR or FR Nothing or U FR
IV
2 Nothing or U PR or FR PR
1 L, P or F L, P, F, FR or PR F
V
2 FR or PR L, P, F, FR or PR FR
The critical flange can change for each load case considered.
The AS 4100 PMEMBER Design automates many design calculations, including those required
for segment / sub-segment design.
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Australian Codes: Steel Design per AS 4100-1998 Page 27 of 28
PMEMBER
Automated Design
Design Comments
Calculations
Parameter
See "Load Height Position" for
details.
When LHT is set to 1.0 to specify a top flange load height position, STAAD.Pro takes the top to
be the positive local y-axis of the member.
This may not literally be the top flange for say a column or beam with a beta angle. The local
member axes can be viewed in the GUI by selecting Beam Orientation in the Diagrams Labels
dialog (or Ctrl+O keyboard shortcut).
To automate kl using AS 4100 Table 5.6.3(2), the longitudinal position of the load also needs to
be considered, i.e., as either within segment or at segment end.
To determine which of these applies, the shear forces at the ends of each design segment / sub-
segment is considered. If the shear force is found to have the same direction and magnitude at both
ends, it is assumed that loads act at the segment end.
If on the other hand the shear force at each end is found to have different directions or magnitudes,
loads are assumed to act within the segment.
The above method includes an allowance for the self-weight of the member to be considered, as
the self-weight always acts through the shear center.
The net sum of the end shears is also used to determine if the load is acting in the positive or
negative local member y-axis direction. If LHT is set to 1.0 for top flange loading, the net sum is
used to determine whether the top flange loading is acting to stabilise or destabilise the member
for lateral torsional buckling. Negative local y-axis net loads act to destabilise the segments / sub-
segments, whereas positive local y-axis net loads act to stabilise segments / sub-segments.
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Australian Codes: Steel Design per AS 4100-1998 Page 28 of 28
1B.12.6 Example
PARAMETER 1
CODE AUSTRALIAN
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