Concrete Extents
Typical Section
At the top of this block, you have a choice of several pre-defined section types, along with a user defined section type (polygonal). The contents of this block will change based upon which pre-defined section type you select.
T-Beam
T-Beams are used to model both single T and double T beams. By default only the stems are considered for shear.
Header | Description |
|---|---|
Flange | This section contains the width and thickness of the precast top flange. The full width may be entered with a joint gap if you want the true width of the concrete section to be used. |
Stem(s) | In this section you will need to input the top and bottom widths of the stems, along with the height (as measured from the bottom of the top flange) and number of stems in the member. The stem spacing is also input here. Typically, the stems are centered about the flange, but you can offset the stems within the flange by unchecking ‘Center Legs’. If you do so, you will be prompted for the location of the first stem (which is assumed to be the left-most stem). |
Bulb T-Beam
Bulb T-Beams are used to model double Bulb T beams.
Header | Description |
|---|---|
Flange | This section contains the width and thickness of the precast top flange. The full width may be entered with a joint gap if you want the true width of the concrete section to be used. |
Stem(s) | In this section you will need to input the top and bottom widths of the stems, along with the height (as measured from the bottom of the top flange) and number of stems in the member. The stem spacing is also input here. Typically, the stems are centered about the flange, but you can offset the stems within the flange by unchecking ‘Center Legs’. If you do so, you will be prompted for the location of the first stem (which is assumed to be the left-most stem). |
Bulb | This section defined the geometry of the bulb on each leg. |
Inverted T
The inverted T section can be used to design both IT-Beams and L-Beams (if the eccentricity is used). This section by default assumes only the stem is used for shear and torsion, but options exist to enable the ledges for both.
Header | Description |
|---|---|
Ledge | The flange section contains all information about the bottom flange, including both ledges. The full width of the bottom flange is entered with the ability to vary the thickness of each ledge. |
Stem | The stem geometry is entered as the portion above the bottom flange. By default the stem is centered on the flange but this may be moved if the user uses the eccentricity input. |
Ledge Options | Options exist here to instruct the program how to handle the ledge in both shear and torsion. The user may also enter a ledge draft here if desired. the draft on the ledge can also be defined here. |
I-Beam
Header | Description |
|---|---|
Section | This portion of the input contains the minimum width of the web and the overall height of the precast section. |
Top Flange | In this section you define the width and thickness of the top flange, along with the additional thickness (or bottom slope) and the contours of the web where it joins with the top flange (web slope and height). |
Bottom Flange | In this section you define the width and thickness of the bottom flange, along with the additional thickness (or top slope) and the contours of the web where it joins with the bottom flange (web slope and height). |
Hollow Core
The hollow core section is used to approximate the geometry of hollow core planks. The true geometry is often complex and for more accurate modeling, with non elliptical cores and non uniform size and spacing, a polygonal section must be used.
Header | Description |
|---|---|
Slab | This section contains the overall width and thickness of the precast slab. |
Cores | In this section you will need to input the dimensions of the cores, along with the number of cores and their horizontal locations. Note that all cores are assumed to have the same dimensions and vertical locations, and will have equal spaces between them. Cores are assumed to be elliptical. |
Spandrel / L-Beam
Header | Description |
|---|---|
Flange | This section contains the width and thickness of the bottom flange of the member. Note that the width is measured from the inside face of the stem. |
Stem | In this section you will need to input the width and height of the stem. Note that the height is measured from the top of the ledge. You can also place the bottom flange (also known as a ledge) on either side of the web. |
Stadium Riser
Stadium risers are assumed to be non-composite sections (always). The deck is the horizontal portion of the cross-section, the leg is the vertical portion below the deck, and the riser is the vertical portion above the deck.
Header | Description |
|---|---|
Riser(s) | This section contains the height of the typical section, as measured from the top of the deck. Note that the top (or rightmost) riser may have a different height. You can also input the quantity of risers (1-3). |
Deck | This section contains the thickness and width of the deck. You can also input a cross slope of the top of the deck, which are always assumed to be sloping down from the ‘back’ leg to the ‘front’ leg. Note that the width is measured from the inside face of the riser to the outside face of the leg. |
Leg(s) | In this section you define the dimensions of the legs, including the top width and draft (applied to both faces), and the total extension (as measured from the bottom of the deck). Unchecking ‘Extend 1st Leg’ will remove the leftmost leg. |
Barrier | Checking this box will prompt you to input the width and height of a bottom ‘riser’. The height of this section is measured from the thickest part of the deck, and the width is measured from the end of the deck (that is, the deck width is not additive to this dimension). |
Polygonal
The polygonal section editor allows the user to ‘fine tune’ a typical section to meet the requirements of a specific precaster. Start with a typical section (such as a T-Beam), and then select ‘Polygonal’. The typical section will then be automatically converted to a polygonal section. Pressing the ‘Edit Verticies’ button will display a dialog box that allows you to do just that, edit the individual verticies of the section.
Polygonal Section Editor
The section editor contains 1-3 tabs. The ‘Flexure Section’ defines the section used to resist flexure (and optionally, both shear and torsion as well), and is required. The ‘Shear Section’ contains the section that will be used to resist shear. The ‘Torsion Section’ contains the section that will be used to resist torsion. If you select either of the options to use the flexure section for shear/torsion capacity, the corresponding tab will be hidden. Each of the sections can be manually defined by entering point data, or the data can be imported from a DWG file using the ‘Import from DWG’ option.
Flexure Section
You can have two or more solid polygons (you must have at least one solid polygon here). You can also have one or more blockouts. Both the section properties and the sketch will update in real time.
Shear Section
The shear section starts with a ‘best guess’ as to what is intended for the shear resistance section. It will initially be part or all of the original flexure section. You may keep this section, or you may complete revise it.
Torsion Section
The torsion section starts with a ‘best guess’ as to what is intended for the torsion resistance section. It will initially be part or all of the original flexure section. You may keep this section, or you may complete revise it.
Fillets and Chamfers
Fillets are assumed to be segments of circles, so you will be prompted for a radius. Chamfers are assumed to be triangular, so you will be prompted to input a leg length. Fillets and chamfers at a corner where the external angle is less than 180 degrees will add area where if the angle is greater than 180 degrees they will remove area.
Topping
The topping section is used to define the topping on the member. By default the weight of the topping is automatically added to the member. This can be overridden on the Structural Model tab and manually defined.
The inputs for topping are defined as follows:
Input | Description |
|---|---|
Topping Type | At the top of this section, you have a choice of topping profiles: None and Profile. As with section dimensions, the contents of this block will change depending on which topping profile you select.
|
Distance from Start / End | Start and end distances of the topping as measured from the ends of the beam. |
Start / Middle / End Thickness | Thickness of the topping at three points along the beam, start (left), midspan, and end (right). |
Effective Width | Width of the topping used for compression block. Note that the topping is modeled as a rectangular polygon. The effective width can be either user defined or calculated by the software. |
Offset | Horizontal distance between the centerline of the beam and the centerline of the topping. Positive offset moves the topping to the right, while a negative offset moves the topping to the left. |
Minimum Bay Width | The minimum bay width used for computing the effective width of the topping. |
Surface | The user has a choice between a roughened surface (with or without reinforcement) or a smooth surface where reinforcement is mandatory. |
Haunch Height | For some members, (IT beams, for example), there is additional input available for topping, the width and height of the haunch. The haunch is that portion of the topping that is directly over the web of the beam, and is usually the same width as the web. |
Holes and Solid Zones
Holes and solids are assumed to be rectangular, and can placed anywhere. Any reinforcement that intersects a hole is assumed to be cut, and the development length will be calculated starting from both sides of the opening.
Header | Description |
|---|---|
Type | Select between hold (or void) and a solid. Note that solids are typically only used for filling in voids in hollow core slabs. Most steel forms do not allow solid sections outside the boundaries of the section. |
Position along Length | The position along the length of the member of the hole/solid can be measure from either the start (left side) or end (right side) of the member. The dimension is to the nearest edge and the reference end, that is, if the hole/solid is positioned from the left end, then the length position is measured between the left end and the left side of the hole/solid. The sketches below are updated in real time. Moving the slider in this sketch to the hold/solid will display the updated section properties. You can also use the dimension labels in the sketches as your input. |
Position in Cross Section | Similar logic is used for the position within the cross section. Again, the sketches are updated in real time, and the dimension labels in the sketches can be used for input. |