Multiframe - Steel Designers Manual

Steel Designer
Windows Version 8.6
User Manual
© Formation Design Systems Pty Ltd 1985 – 2003

License & Copyright
Steel Designer Program
© 1985-2003 Formation Design Systems
Multiframe is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. The license for use is granted to
the purchaser by Formation Design Systems as a single user license and does not permit
the program to be used on more than one machine at one time. Copying of the program
to other media is permitted for back-up purposes as long as all copies remain in the
possession of the purchaser.
Steel Designer User Manual

© 1990-2003 Formation Design Systems
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted,
transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or
by any means, without the written permission of Formation Design Systems. Formation
Design Systems reserves the right to revise this publication from time to time and to
make changes to the contents without obligation to notify any person or organization of
such changes.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
Neither Formation Design Systems, nor the author of this program and documentation
are liable or responsible to the purchaser or user for loss or damage caused, or alleged
to be caused, directly or indirectly by the software and its attendant documentation,
including (but not limited to) interruption on service, loss of business, or anticipatory
profits. No Formation Design Systems distributor, or agent, or employee is authorized to
make any modification, extension, or addition to this warranty.
iii
Table of Contents
License & Copyright.....................................................................................................iii
Table of Contents ..........................................................................................................v
About this manual..........................................................................................................1
Chapter 1 Introduction..................................................................................................3
Introduction ...............................................................................................3
Design Codes .............................................................................................3
Installing Steel Designer .............................................................................3
Design Overview .......................................................................................4
Design Members...............................................................................4
Bending Checks ...............................................................................4
Tension Checks................................................................................4
Compression Checks........................................................................4
Combined Checks ............................................................................4
Serviceability Checks .......................................................................4
Seismic Checks ................................................................................4
Checking a member..........................................................................5
Designing a member.........................................................................5
Reporting .........................................................................................5
Windows....................................................................................................5
Frame Window ................................................................................5
Data Window ...................................................................................6
Result Window.................................................................................6
Plot Window ....................................................................................6
Report Window................................................................................6
Design Members ........................................................................................7
Viewing Results Using Design Members...........................................7
Design Member Symbols..................................................................8
Rendering Design Members..............................................................8
Coordinate Systems....................................................................................8
Properties for Design .................................................................................9
Shear Area .................................................................................................9
Chapter 2 Using Steel Designer ................................................................................... 11
Design Procedure..................................................................................... 11
Design Members ...................................................................................... 11
Setting Design Properties ......................................................................... 12
Bending.......................................................................................... 12
Tension .......................................................................................... 12
Compression .................................................................................. 12
Combined Actions.......................................................................... 12
Serviceability.................................................................................. 13
Seismic........................................................................................... 13
Design Properties ..................................................................................... 13
Section Type............................................................................................ 14
Steel Grade............................................................................................... 14
Design Constraints ................................................................................... 16
Section Constraints .................................................................................. 16
Frame Type.............................................................................................. 17
Allowable Stresses ................................................................................... 17
Acceptance Ratio...................................................................................... 17
v
Capacity Factors....................................................................................... 18
Checking a Frame .................................................................................... 18
Displaying Efficiency ..................................................................... 19
Governing Load Cases ................................................................... 20
Designing a Frame ................................................................................... 20
Optimum Sections.......................................................................... 22
Tips On Optimisation..................................................................... 22
Finding Design Values ................................................................... 23
Printing.................................................................................................... 23
Printing the Report Window........................................................... 23
Saving your Work.................................................................................... 23
Saving the report...................................................................................... 23
Chapter 3 ASD and AIJ .............................................................................................. 25
Design Checks ......................................................................................... 25
Bending.................................................................................................... 25
Design Constraints (AIJ) ............................................................... 25
Unbraced Length ............................................................................ 25
Bending Coefficient (ASD) ........................................................... 25
Web Stiffener Spacing.................................................................... 26
Bending Dialog............................................................................... 26
Tension .................................................................................................... 26
Bolt Holes....................................................................................... 26
Area Reduction .............................................................................. 26
Tension Dialog............................................................................... 27
Compression............................................................................................ 27
Unbraced Length ............................................................................ 27
Compression Dialog....................................................................... 28
Combined Actions ................................................................................... 28
Default Design Properties......................................................................... 29
Code Clauses Checked ............................................................................. 30
ASD............................................................................................... 30
AIJ ................................................................................................. 30
Chapter 4 AS4100 and NZS3404................................................................................. 33
Notation ................................................................................................... 33
Design Checks ......................................................................................... 33
Bending.................................................................................................... 33
Lateral Restraints............................................................................ 34
Unbraced Length (le) and Bending Coefficient (αm)........................ 35
Load Height.................................................................................... 35
Bending Dialog............................................................................... 35
Generate Lateral Restraints Dialog.................................................. 36
Tension.................................................................................................... 37
Bolt Holes....................................................................................... 37
Correction Factor ........................................................................... 37
Tension Dialog............................................................................... 37
Compression............................................................................................ 38
Unbraced Length ............................................................................ 38
Serviceability ........................................................................................... 39
Serviceability Dialog ...................................................................... 39
Seismic (NZS3404) ................................................................................. 40
Seismic Dialog ............................................................................... 40
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AS4100 .................................................................................................... 42
NZS3404 .................................................................................................. 43
Chapter 5 LRFD.......................................................................................................... 47
Notation ................................................................................................... 47
Design Checks ......................................................................................... 47
Bending.................................................................................................... 47
Lateral Restraints............................................................................ 48
Unbraced Length (Lb) and Bending Coefficient (Cb) ....................... 49
Bending Dialog............................................................................... 49
Tension.................................................................................................... 51
Bolt Holes....................................................................................... 51
Reduction Coefficient..................................................................... 51
Tension Dialog......................................................................................... 51
Compression............................................................................................ 52
Serviceability ........................................................................................... 54
LRFD............................................................................................. 56
LRFD SAM.................................................................................... 57
Chapter 6 BS5950 ....................................................................................................... 59
Notation ................................................................................................... 59
Design Checks ......................................................................................... 59
Bending.................................................................................................... 59
Lateral and Torsional Restraints ..................................................... 60
Unbraced Length (Lb) and Bending Coefficient (mLT)..................... 61
Load Height.................................................................................... 61
Bending Dialog............................................................................... 61
Tension.................................................................................................... 64
Bolt Holes....................................................................................... 64
Area Reduction Coefficient ............................................................ 64
Tension Dialog............................................................................... 65
Compression............................................................................................ 65
Unbraced Lengths and Effective Length Factors ............................. 66
Column Segments .......................................................................... 66
Serviceability ........................................................................................... 69
BS5950..................................................................................................... 70
Chapter 7 User Code................................................................................................... 74
User Code ................................................................................................ 74
Chapter 8 Steel Designer Reference ............................................................................ 77
Windows ........................................................................................................... 78
vii
Frame Window ........................................................................................ 78
Data Window ........................................................................................... 78
Load Window .......................................................................................... 78
Result Window ........................................................................................ 78
Plot Window............................................................................................ 78
Report Window........................................................................................ 78
Menus................................................................................................................ 79
Group Menu............................................................................................. 79
Create Design Member ................................................................... 79
Remove Design Member ................................................................ 79
Design Menu............................................................................................ 79
Code .............................................................................................. 79
Check............................................................................................. 79
Design ............................................................................................ 79
Bending.......................................................................................... 79
Tension .......................................................................................... 79
Compression .................................................................................. 80
Combined ...................................................................................... 80
Serviceability.................................................................................. 80
Seismic........................................................................................... 80
Design Details ................................................................................ 80
Steel Grade..................................................................................... 80
Constraints ..................................................................................... 80
Frame Type.................................................................................... 80
Allowable Stresses ......................................................................... 80
Capacity Factors............................................................................. 80
Use Best Sections ........................................................................... 80
Code Submenu ........................................................................................ 81
AS1250 .......................................................................................... 81
AS 4100 ......................................................................................... 81
NZS 3404 ....................................................................................... 81
BS5 950.......................................................................................... 81
CISC.............................................................................................. 81
Eurocode........................................................................................ 81
AIJ ................................................................................................. 81
ASD............................................................................................... 81
LRFD............................................................................................. 81
User................................................................................................ 81
Edit User Code ............................................................................... 81
Display Menu........................................................................................... 81
Data / Design Details ...................................................................... 82
Results / Member Efficiency........................................................... 82
Efficiency....................................................................................... 82
Efficiency Submenu................................................................................. 82
AS 4100 and NZS3404 ................................................................... 82
Overall ........................................................................................... 82
Bending (Major Section) ................................................................ 82
Bending (Major Member) ............................................................... 82
Bending (Major Shear) ................................................................... 82
Bending (Minor Section) ................................................................ 82
Bending (Minor Shear)................................................................... 82
Tension .......................................................................................... 83
Compression (Section)................................................................... 83
Compression (Major Member) ....................................................... 83
viii
Compression (Minor Member) ....................................................... 83
Combined (Major Section) ............................................................. 83
Combined (Minor Section)............................................................. 83
Combined (Major In-Plane) ........................................................... 83
Combined (Minor In-Plane) ........................................................... 83
Combined (Out-of-plane)............................................................... 83
Combined (Biaxial Section)............................................................ 83
Combined (Biaxial Member) .......................................................... 83
Primary Deflection ......................................................................... 84
Secondary Deflection ..................................................................... 84
ASD / AIJ...................................................................................... 84
Overall ........................................................................................... 84
Major Bending................................................................................ 84
Minor Shear ................................................................................... 84
Major Deflection ............................................................................ 84
Minor Bending ............................................................................... 84
Minor Shear ................................................................................... 84
Minor Deflection ............................................................................ 84
Tension .......................................................................................... 84
Slenderness .................................................................................... 85
Compression .................................................................................. 85
Bending Tension ............................................................................ 85
Bending Compression .................................................................... 85
Sway .............................................................................................. 85
Help Menu ............................................................................................... 85
Steel Designer Help ........................................................................ 85
References ................................................................................................................... 87
Index ........................................................................................................................... 88
ix
About This Manual
About this manual

This manual is about Steel Designer, a structural steel design application for the
Windows operating system. Steel Designer is an add-on module to the Multiframe
structural analysis software.
Chapter 1 "Introduction” provides an overview of Steel Designer and it's capabilities.

Once you are familiar with the basic concepts and knowledge required to use Steel
Designer, you may refer to the detailed instructions in Chapter two.
Chapter 2 "Using Steel Designer” gives step-by-step instructions of how to use Steel
Designer. It describes all the commands and functionality provided by Steel Designer
except for the details specific to each of the design codes. The following chapters
provide the information particular to each design codes supported by Steel Designer.
Chapter 3 "ASD and AIJ" describes the design checks, dialogs and design properties
specific to the American ASD and Japanese AIJ allowable stress steel design codes.
Chapter 4 "AS4100 and NZS3404" describes the design checks, capabilities and
limitations, dialogs and design properties specific to the Australian AS4100 and New
Zealand NZS3404 limit state steel design codes.
Chapter 5 "LRFD" describes the design checks, capabilities and limitations, dialogs and
design properties specific to the American LRFD limit state steel design code.
Chapter 6 "BS5950" describes the design checks, capabilities and limitations, dialogs
and design properties specific to the British BS5950 limit state steel design code.
Chapter 7 "User Code" outlines the customisable, allowable stress, steel design code
provided by Steel Designer. This chapter describes how the user can specify an
alternative set of design rules that can be used by Steel Designer when designing a
frame.
Chapter 8 "Steel Designer Reference" gives an overview of the windows and menus of
Steel Designer and a summary of the commands used.
Page 1
Chapter One Introduction
Chapter 1
Introduction
This chapter provides an introduction to Steel Designer. It outlines the basic concepts
and knowledge needed to use the program as well as the additional functionality it
introduces to the Multiframe user interface.
Introduction
Steel Designer is an add-in module for Multiframe that is used for checking or designing
a steel frame in accordance with various codes of practice. After analysing a frame in
Multiframe you can use Steel Designer to check the members in the structure for
compliance with a design code. You can also use Steel Designer to choose the lightest
weight sections, which satisfy the design criteria.
A word of caution: Steel Designer is a very useful aid to the design of steel structures.
It is NOT an automatic design tool and it should be used in conjunction with
professional engineering judgment to produce well-designed frames.
Design Codes
Steel Designer supports checking and designing of your structure in accordance with a
range of design codes. At present, Steel Designer allows you to use
• AIJ (Architectural Institute of Japan 1979)
• ASD (American Institute of Steel Construction Allowable Stress Design, 9th Ed

1989)
• AS4100 (Australian Steel Design Code, Standards Australia, 1990)
• LRFD (American Institute of Steel Construction Load and Resistance Factor

Design, December 27th 1999)
• NZS 3404 (New Zealand Steel Design Code, Standards New Zealand, 1997)
• BS5950 (British Steel Design Code, British Standards Institution, 2000)
• A user definable allowable stress code

Other design codes will be supported in future releases of Steel Designer.
Only design codes licensed by the user will be active in the Code menu. A detailed
description of the design checks performed by Steel Designer for each of the design
codes is given in the following Chapters.
Installing Steel Designer

To install Steel Designer you should follow the instructions on the CD-ROM containing
the Multiframe software.
Note that to use Steel Designer it is necessary to have correctly licensed the software. If
you do not have a license to run Steel Designer then the design options will fail to
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appear in Multiframe. You can turn on Steel Designer licensing using the Preferences
item from the Edit menu.
Design Overview
Steel Designer is used to check the compliance of a member or design a member to a
specific steel design code. Each of the steel design codes supported by Steel Designer is
divided into a number of design checks. The user can specify which of these checks are
performed when a member is designed or checked. The design checks are grouped into
the categories; Bending, Tension, Compression, Combined, and Seismic. However, not
all codes have checks in each category and the design checks listed within each category
vary according to the design code performed when a member is designed or checked.
Design Members
A design member is a single member or a group of co-linear members that are to be
considered as a single member for the purposes of design. In this manual, the term
member often refers to a design member when used in the context of design.
Bending Checks
Bending checks are usually used on members which resist the applied loads by flexural
and shear actions. Typically the horizontal members in a frame will support the live and
gravity loads in this way. A member may be subject to flexure and shear in either the
major or minor axis directions (or both) depending the orientation of the section and the
direction of the loading.
Tension Checks
Tension checks are performed on members that are subject to axial tension. This would
include members such as bracing and members in trusses which are under tension.
Compression Checks
Compression checks are used on members that support axial compression. Columns and
bracing in frames and compression members in trusses are some of the types of
members that are likely to be checked using this option. Some codes may also include a
check on the slenderness of a member.
Combined Checks
When a member is subject to combined actions, generally bi-axial bending or a
combination of axial tension or compression and bending, it is likely to be necessary to
carry out a combined check on the member's performance.
Serviceability Checks
Serviceability checks allow the user to specify the maximum deflection of a member.
For some codes the serviceability checks have been included with the Bending checks.
Seismic Checks
When a structure is located in a seismic region some additional design requirements are
imposed by some design codes. This typically requires that certain members within a
steel frame be designed for ductility.
4
Checking a member
Steel Designer can be used to check the compliance of a member to a steel design code.
When checking a member, Steel Designer computes an efficiency for each of the active
design checks. The efficiency is a measure of the member's design action, design stress
or deflection expressed as a percentage of the allowable capacity as calculated using the
design rules. That is, an ideal member is loaded or stressed to 100% of its allowable
design capacity (or slightly less) and a member labelled as being 50% efficient is twice
as strong as it needs to be.
When checking a member, the user has the option to output the design calculations
performed by Steel Designer to the report window.
Designing a member
As well as helping to check a frame's compliance with the design rules, Steel Designer
can also help you to select the lightest weight section that satisfies the design rules. In
this case, Steel Designer iterates through the current group of sections until it finds the
optimal section that satisfies the selected design checks. Steel Designer also computes
the efficiency of the optimal section for each of the active design checks.
Reporting
Steel Designer can produce a detailed report of the design calculations it performs for
each member. The level of reporting can be tailored by the user to reduce the amount of
detail shown in the report. The design calculations produced by Steel Designer are
displayed in the Report Window. You can copy and paste from this window into other
programs, save from it in RTF format, or directly print the contents of the window.
Alternatively you can choose to output the design calculations directly to Microsoft
Word 97 or Microsoft Word 2000. This option can be specified in the Preferences
Dialog. If this option is selected and Microsoft Word is installed on the computer,
Multiframe will automatically run Word when it is required for reporting. The design
report will be placed into a new document in Word. This method of reporting is very
fast and gives you direct access to the advanced printing and formatting options of
Microsoft Word.
Windows
When Steel Designer is activated within Multiframe the content and/or the behaviour of
the Frame, Plot, Data and Results windows is extended and the Report window is used
to display a summary of the design checks made by Steel Designer. You can also paste
text and graphics into the report to help document your calculations.
The following sections document the additional content and behaviour of the windows
in Multiframe when Steel Designer is activated.
Frame Window
When using Steel Designer, the Frame window sets up the design properties for the
members in the frame. You can do this by selecting members and then using the items
in the Design menu to set the various design values. You can also change the design
properties of a member by double clicking on it in the Frame window. This will
produce an extended Member Properties dialog that contains separate tabs for setting
many of the design options. The same dialog appears if you choose Design Details from
the Design menu.
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Data Window
The Data window includes an additional table named Design Details. You can display
this table by choosing Design Details from the Data sub-menu under the Display menu.
This table displays all of the design information required for each member so that Steel
Designer can carry out the design checks. You can change this data by clicking on the
value you wish to change, typing in the new value, and typing Enter. You may also copy
and paste data to and from the table.
Numbers in this table that are displayed in Italics (in the Cb, Cmx and Cmy columns)
will be calculated by Steel Designer, you do not have to enter them. If you wish
however, you can override the calculation of these values by typing in a value to be
used. Any values you enter will be displayed in normal type. To revert to the automatic
calculation of any value, type in a value of zero.
Result Window
In addition to the tables of results displayed in Multiframe, the Result Window contains
an additional table named Design Efficiency. If a member was checked for its
compliance to a code then this table displays the efficiency for each design check. If
Steel Designer was used to find the optimal section size then the table displays the
optimal section as well as the efficiency of that section.
Plot Window
With Steel Designer there is an additional display function in the Plot window that lets
you display a graphical representation of the efficiency of the members relative to the
design code requirements.
You can display efficiency by choosing the required item from the Efficiency sub-menu
under the Display menu. This displays the same information that is displayed
numerically in the Efficiency table in the Result window. Steel Designer uses a colour
display to show the stress or deflection level in the member relative to its allowable
value. The scale on the right hand side of the window indicates the relationship between
the colours and the level of efficiency. Members that are more highly loaded, stressed or
deflected than the level allowed by the code are shown in red.
You can use the Symbols command from the Display menu to turn on the display of
Plot values. When this option is on, the values of the efficiency will also be displayed
on each member that has been checked.
Report Window
This window is used to create a progressive summary of the design that has been carried
out.
6
This report can be edited via Cut, Copy, Paste and Clear, printed, or saved to and
recalled from a disk file. You can type directly into the report or edit the text in the
report however modifying the properties of the fonts in equations can easily corrupt the
formatting of the design equations as the Greek characters and mathematical symbols
are displayed using the Symbol font.
Design Members
A design member is a single member, or a series of connected members that can be
considered as a single member for design purposes. By default, each member in the
frame is a design member.
Members to be grouped together into a Design Member must satisfy the following
conditions-
• All members must have the same section type
• All members must have the same orientation
• All members must be rigidly connected internally (ends may be released)
• All members must be approximately co-linear
• All members must be connected with the local x’ axis facing the same direction
• Members may have rigid offsets at internal joints but the flexible portions of the
members must be continuous within the design group.
• There must not be any restraints on the internal connecting nodes
Viewing Results Using Design Members

The action and displacement diagrams for a design member may be viewed in the Plot
Window. Double-clicking on a design member produces a local member diagram for
the entire design member. If the design member consists of more than one member, the
diagram for a single member can be examined by simply clicking on that member within
the diagram.
Page 7
Design Member Symbols

In the Symbols dialog there are three check boxes grouped together which are dedicated
to viewing design members. If Design Members is checked then design members
containing more than a single member are displayed in the Frame window by a
patterned blue overlay. If Labels is checked the labels of the design members are
displayed in all the drawing windows. If Numbers is checked the numbers of all the
design members used in design are displayed in all the drawing windows.
Rendering Design Members

Design members are rendered in the Frame and Load windows as a single member.
Coordinate Systems
Much of the design information and many of the design variables are described relative
to the major and minor axes of the section used for each member. This corresponds to
the same terminology used to describe the properties of a section e.g. Ixx for moment of
inertia about the major (or strong) axis and Iyy about the minor (or weak) axis.
Y’
Local/Member
Axes
Joint 1
Joint 2 y
Z’ X’ x
y
x
Section
z Global Axes Axes
8
The coordinate systems corresponding to the naming conventions for the various results
of analysis, section properties and design values are shown in the diagram above.
Structure coordinates and global loads are defined relative to the Global Axes, member
actions, deflections and stresses resulting from the Multiframe analysis are defined
relative to the local member axes and design values are defined relative to the section
axes. Whenever a design variable carries a subscript this indicates that it applies to the
corresponding section axis. (E.g. fbx refers to the design bending stress about the x-axis)
Properties for Design

When checking or designing structures, Steel Designer uses sections properties stored in
the Sections Library. The key properties used by Steel Designer are:
Name Property
A Cross sectional area
Ix Major moment of inertia
Iy Minor moment of inertia
E Young's Modulus
D Depth
B Breadth or Width
tf Flange thickness
tw Web thickness
rx Major radius of gyration
ry Minor radius of gyration
rz Radius of gyration about weakest axis
Sx Plastic modulus about major axis
Sy Plastic modulus about minor axis
When you add a section to the Sections Library you must ensure that all of the
properties above are correctly entered and are all non-zero.
Shear Area
When calculating shear stresses for comparison with allowable shear stresses, Steel
Designer uses the following shear areas or the full sectional area for other sectional
shapes.
D*tw D*tw D*tw D*t 2*D*tw 0.6*Area
2*B*tf B*tf 2*B*tf B*t 2*D*tf
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Chapter Two Using Steel Designer
Chapter 2
Using Steel Designer
This chapter describes how to use Steel Designer with step-by-step instructions on the
basics of using the program.
Design Procedure
The basic procedure for checking or designing a frame using Steel Designer is as
follows;
• Set up the structure and loading
• Carry out the analysis
• Check the results to ensure your structural model is correct
• If necessary, group members into design members
• Enter the design information (such as effective lengths, steel grades etc.)
• Carry out the design checks or search for the optimum sections
When you use the Check or Design commands you have the option of specifying which
design checks will be carried out. The types of checks are grouped into the categories;
Bending, Tension, Compression, Combined, Serviceability (AS4600 and NZS3404 only)
and Seismic (NZS3404 only). The design checks listed within each category vary
according to the design code. The user may specify which of these checks are
performed when a member is designed or checked using Steel Designer.
Design Members
When designing a frame it is often convenient to group members together and treat them
as a single member for the purposes of design. This is often the case when a physical
member in a frame has been subdivided into a number of members in the Multiframe
model.
Members can be combined into a single design member in the Frame Window. To
create a design member,
• Select the members to be grouped
• Choose "Create Design Members" from Group menu.

or
• Press Ctrl+D
The members that form each design member are displayed in the Design Details and
Design Efficiency data tables.
Page 11
To delete or split design members, select members that are part of the design member(s)
and choose "Ungroup Members" from the Design menu.
Setting Design Properties

Before doing the checks, it is necessary to enter basic design data such as effective
length, grade of steel etc. This information can either be entered in the Frame, Load or
Plot windows by selecting design members and using the commands under the Design
menu, or it can be entered in tabular form in the Data window. The actual design
parameters that can be changed by the user will vary according to the current design
code. A list of design variables and their default values are described in subsequent
chapters in this manual.
Although most of the design variables are pre-set to the most commonly used values,
you will probably want to enter the design information for at least some of the members
in the frame that you wish to check. You set design variables by selecting the members
you wish to change and then choosing the appropriate command from the Design menu.
It is not necessary to enter the design data for all of the design checks. Usually you will
want to check some members for bending, others for compression and so on. The items
under the Design menu help you enter just the required information depending on what
type of check you are doing. The design properties are grouped according the categories
described above and the items in the Design menu reflect these groupings. The dialogs
displayed by each of these commands will vary according the current design code.
Bending
When performing a bending check, you may need to specify a number of properties
relating to the unbraced length, location and type of lateral restraints, and the stiffener
spacing on the member.
Tension
Tension checks usually require the user to specify the area of holes in the cross section
and a coefficient to account for the distribution of end forces or used to computing
effective net area of the section.
Compression
When checking or designing members for compression, it is necessary to specify the
effective length and unbraced length of the member.
Combined Actions
Some design codes require the user to specify a coefficient that accounts for the
distribution of moments along a member.
12
Serviceability
With some design codes, it may be necessary to specify the deflection limits used in
checking the serviceability of a member.
Seismic
Some design codes require a member to be categorised according to the required
ductility of the member.
For some design codes, no design data is required for the design checks in a particular
category and so the menu item will not be enabled. In other codes, there are no design
checks performed within a particular category and the menu item will again be disabled.
Design Properties
Sometimes you may wish to set or review all of the design properties for a member at
once. This may be quicker than setting each of the design values in turn using the
commands above.
To set all of the design variables

• Select the required members in the Frame window
• Choose Design Details from the Design menu
(AS4100 shown)
• Enter the design values
• Click OK
As a short cut, you can examine and change the design details for a single member by
double clicking on it in the Frame window.
Page 13
(NZS3404 shown)
Section Type
If necessary you can change the section type of a member manually in Steel Designer.
Note however, that if you do so, you will need to re-analyse the structure using the
Analyse command from the Case menu.
To set the section type for a member or group of members

• Choose Section Type… from the Frame menu
(United States sections library shown)

• Choose the section from the list
• Click OK
Steel Grade
To determine the allowable stresses or design capacities for a member, it is necessary to
know the grade of steel to be used for the section. This grade determines the yield
strength (Fy) and ultimate tensile strength (Fu) of the material of the section. The
strength of the steel may be specified by selecting a material standard and grade or by
specifying the values of the Fy and Fu directly. With some codes, a material standard is
not required and only a grade of steel need be selected.
14
The Japanese AIJ code does not require the ultimate tensile strength (Fu) but instead
requires the user to specify the yield strength (Fy) for steel thicknesses of less than and
greater than 40mm.
To set the Steel Grade

• Choose Steel Grade from the Design menu
(AS4100 shown)
Either
• Choose a standard and/or steel grade from the pop-up menu or…
• Type in values for Fy and Fu

(or Fy<40mm and Fy>40mm when using AIJ)
• Choose the fabrication type for the section
• Click OK
If you choose a standard and/or a grade of steel, the Fy and Fu values will be
automatically entered for you.
The initial value for the steel grade for all members is
Code Grade Fy Fu
ASD & LRFD A36 36ksi 58ksi
AS4100 AS3679 grade 250MPa 410MPa
250
NZS3404 AS3679 grade 250MPa 410MPa
250
BS5950 S235 235MPa 340MPa
User (US) - 36ksi 58ksi
User (Australia) - 250MPa 410MPa
User (New Zealand) - 250MPa 410MPa
Code Grade Fy<40mm Fy>40mm

AIJ SS400 2.4t/cm2 2.2t/cm2
User (Japan) - 2.4t/cm2 2.2t/cm2
Page 15
Design Constraints
Steel Design uses the concept of Design Constraints to describe any design requirements
that are not dependent upon the design actions and can be tested independently of the
load cases. Design Constraints include constraints that may be imposed by the designer
upon the dimensions of a member as well as any constraints that may be imposed by
various design checks. (i.e. a slenderness check that may be required as part of a
bending design).
Design Constraints are applied when Designing and Checking a member. The
calculations associated with Design Constraints are output to the design report. These
calculations are performed at the start of the design before considering the design
checks for each load case. When using Brief Reporting, the calculations for failed
design constraints are output to the report. With detailed or full reporting, the
calculations for all Design Constraints are shown in the report.
The status of Design Constraints which were tested when Designing or Checking a
member are displayed in the "Constraints" column in the Design Efficiency table. If no
constraints were checked for a particular member, a dash is shown is this column.
Otherwise, this column displays the number of Design Constraints that were not
satisfied as part of the design checks.
Section Constraints
When designing a member to determine the lightest weight section that may be used,
you may wish to apply some constraints to the way the sections are selected. For
example, you may wish to limit the section's depth or width or you may wish to ensure
that a group of members all use the same section.
To constrain the selection of a member's section

• Choose Constraints… from the Design menu
• Check the boxes corresponding to the sizes you wish to constrain
• Type in the limits for the sizes you wish to constrain
• If you wish to make the sections the same, check the "Make sections the same"
check box
• Click OK
The initial value of constraints is for no limits on the sizes of sections and all members
are free to be designed using a different section.
16
Variable Description Default

Name
Max The maximum depth of section which may be Depth of the
Depth chosen when using the Design command initial
section
Min The minimum depth of section which may be Depth of the
Depth chosen when using the Design command initial
section
Max The maximum width of section which may be Width of the
Width chosen when using the Design command initial
section
Min The minimum width of section which may be Width of the
Width chosen when using the Design command initial
section
Frame Type
Some design calculations depend on whether the frame is free to deflect laterally (sway)
or is restrained by internal or external bracing to prevent side-sway (braced). A sway
frame develops all of its horizontal stiffness due to the flexural actions of the columns in
the structure. In contrast, the bracing in a braced frame absorbs the horizontal forces
and horizontal deflections of the columns are reduced to a minimum.
To set the type of frame

• Choose Frame Type from the Design menu
• Click on type of the frame
• Click OK
The initial setting for the frame type is a sway frame.
Allowable Stresses
Some steel design codes permit you to increase the allowable stresses by a set amount
(usually 33 or 50%) for load cases that only involve temporary loading. Steel Designer
allows you to utilize this option by using the Allowable Stresses option from the Design
menu. This allows you to enter a factor for the allowable stress increase for each load
case.
The initial value of the allowable stress increase factor is 1.0 for all load cases. If, for
example, you wanted the stresses for a load case to be allowed to increase by 33%, you
would enter a value of 1.33.
Acceptance Ratio
Some of the design codes within Steel Designer allow the user to modify the value of
the efficiency below which the design checks on a member have deemed to of passed.
This value is known as the Acceptance Ratio. Any design check on the member for
which the efficiency exceed this value will be marked as a failed check.
Page 17
The Acceptance ratio for a particular member is set via the Options command in the
Design menu. The initial value of the Acceptance Ratio for all members is 100%.
Capacity Factors
In limit state design the design capacity is obtained by multiplying the nominal capacity
by the capacity factor. The capacity factor will vary depending upon the specific design
check being considered. The design codes generally specify maximum values for the
capacity factors. In some circumstances the user may wish to specify other values for
the capacity. Steel Designer allows you to do this by using the Capacity Factors option
from the Design menu. A dialog is displayed which allows the user to change the
capacity factors for each of the design checks for a strength limit state.
The initial values of the capacity factors are the values specified by the design codes. In
most likely that the capacity factors will never be modified by a user.
Checking a Frame
Once you have set up the structure and its design properties, you can check it for
compliance with the code rules.
To check a member or group of members

• Choose Check… from the Design menu
ASD, AIJ
18
AS4100, NZS3404
• Check the boxes of the design rules to be checked
• Shift or Ctrl Click on the load case names in the list to include or remove them
from the check
• If you want a summary report in the Report window, check the Brief, Detailed or
Full report radio buttons
• Click OK
Steel Designer will work through the selected members checking the stresses for the
load cases you have chosen for compliance with the design rules you specified. The
result of the check for the current load case will be displayed in the Design Efficiency
table in the Result window. Each column in this table shows the member's strength as a
percentage of the allowable strength according to the code. For example, an efficiency
of 95% means that the member is being stressed to 95% of its allowable value. An
efficiency greater than 100% indicates that the member is being stressed to a higher level
than that permitted by the code. The Overall column shows the highest value of all of
the design checks for the member for the current load case. The subsequent columns
show the result for the individual checks, which have been carried out.
You can display the results for different load cases by choosing the appropriate item
from the Case menu.
The check will be much slower if you choose to have a summary report generated,
however the report will contain detailed information about all of the design checks
carried out. You will probably find it best to do an overall check on the areas of interest
without the report on and then check a few key members using the full report option.
Displaying Efficiency
As well as displaying the table of member efficiency in the Result window, you can
view these values graphically in the Plot window.
To view the member efficiency

• Choose the required item from the Efficiency sub-menu under the Display menu
Page 19
The members will be drawn in the Plot window with a colour code indicating the
efficiencies of the members. The scale shown in the legend may be used to determine
the relative values of the colours. Members, which exceed the allowable capacity, will
have an efficiency greater than acceptance ratio for the member (typically 100%) and
will be drawn in orange or red.
If you turn on the display of Plot Values in the Symbols dialog under the Display menu,
the values of the efficiencies will be displayed on the members.
Values and colours will only be drawn for members, which have been checked. You
can also use the clipping and masking commands to restrict which members have their
efficiency values displayed.
Governing Load Cases

The governing load case associated with the overall design of a member is recorded
when designing or checking a member. The governing load case associated with each
member is displayed in the Efficiency table in the Result Window.
The load cases governing the design of each of the individual design checks are also
recorded when designing or checking a member. The governing load case for a specific
design check can be displayed in two ways: as a cell tool tip in the Efficiency table or as
a member tool tip in the Plot Window when plotting the efficiency of the particular
design check.
Designing a Frame
As well as helping to check a frame's compliance with the design rules, Steel Designer
can also help you to select the lightest weight section that satisfies the design rules.
20
To design a member or group of members

• Choose Design… from the Design menu
ASD, AIJ
AS4100, NZS3404
• Check the boxes of the design rules to be used when designing
• Shift-Click on the load case names in the list to include or remove them from the
check
• If you want a summary report in the Report window, check the Brief or Full report
radio buttons
• Click OK
Steel Designer will design each of the selected members; searching through the group of
sections the member's original section comes from, to find the lightest section in this
group that meets the design rule requirements. Once the design has finished, you can
view the optimum section in the Best Section column in the Member Efficiency table in
the Result window. If you want to automatically assign all of the optimum sections to
their respective members, you can use the Use Best Sections command from the Design
menu to do this. Because changing the sections will change the results of the analysis,
you will have to re-analyse the structure after doing this. You may find it useful to wait
Page 21
until you have designed all of the members you wish to optimise before using the Use
Best Sections command.
Optimum Sections
Once you have computed an optimum weight section for a member using the Design
command, the best section will be displayed in the Design Efficiency table in the Result
window. You can refer to this table to compare the optimal section with the original
section. If you decide that you want to permanently replace the original section with the
best section you should use the Use Best Sections command from the Design menu. If
you have selected members in the front window you can choose to only update the
selected members or you can update the entire frame. In any case, only members, which
have been designed, will be updated.
To change sections to the optimum sections designed

• Choose Use Best Sections from the Design menu
• Click the radio button to change just the selected members or the entire frame
• Click OK
The sections of the member’s chosen will be changed to the optimal sections. After
using this command you will have to re-analyse the frame to determine the effect of
your change on the structure.
The user can override the design and specify the optimal section for a member using the
command from the Design menu in which case the select section dialog will be
displayed. As this command does not invalidate the results of analyses it can be used to
temporarily store the next section shape to be allocated to a member. In this way other
members in the frame can be investigated before having to reanalyses the structure.
Tips On Optimisation
When you use the Design command, Steel Designer will try to find the lightest weight
section in a member's group, which will satisfy the design requirements. If there are a
large number of sections in the group, this may take some time. If you use the options to
constrain the width or depth of the optimum section, Steel Designer will automatically
skip the check for any sections, which don't satisfy these criteria. This means you can
speed up the optimisation greatly by specifying constraints for the size of the section.
For example, if you are selecting an optimum section from the W sections in the United
States Section Library which contains a large number of sections, specifying an upper
and lower bound for the depth will let Steel Designer automatically skip most of the
sections and quickly find one of the right size.
Checking for sway when using the Design command is not recommended. It is unlikely
that Steel Designer will find an optimum size member because the amount of sway is
likely due to the stiffness of other members (probably the columns in another part of the
frame) rather than the member under consideration. These other members will not be
changed while the current member is being checked.
22
Finding Design Values

The Find command from the Edit menu can be used to automatically search through the
structure to find members that have design values exceeding a specified value for the
current load case. You can search for actions, deflections, stresses or efficiencies.
To search for a category of members

• Choose Find from the Edit menu
• Click on the pop-up menu to choose the category to search for
• Click on the radio buttons to set the criteria for the search
• Click OK
After searching through the frame, Steel Designer will select all of the members, which
meet the specified criteria.
Printing
You can print the contents of any of the windows including the Report window.
Printing the Report Window

To print the contents of the Report window
• Ensure the Report window is in front
• Choose Print Window from the File menu

As with the other windows in Multiframe, the user may review the output in the Print
Preview before sending the output to the printer.
•
Saving your Work

You can save your design work at any time and then open the frame later to continue
where you left off.
To save the frame and its design information to disk

• Choose Save from the File menu
The frame will be saved to disk complete with the design information you added to it.
Saving the report

You can also save the report to disk and recall it at a later date.
To save the report to disk

• Ensure the Report window is in front
• Choose Save from the File menu
Page 23
The report will be saved to disk. Use the Open command to read the report in again. If
you need to transfer the data in the report to another program like Microsoft Word, use
the Select All and Copy and Paste command to paste the data into the other program.
Steel designer places the report data on the clipboard in the RTF (Rich Text) format.
24
Chapter Three ASD and AIJ
Chapter 3
ASD and AIJ
This chapter describes the implementation of the ASD and AIJ steel design codes within
Steel Designer. It provides a step-by-step description of how to modify the design
properties used by each code.
Design Checks
The design checks performed using the ASD and AIJ codes are grouped into the four
categories; Bending, Tension, Compression, and Combined.
Bending
There are six design checks grouped under the Bending category. These checks verify a
member's capacity to resist bending moments and shear forces about the major and
minor axes. Design checks for the deflection of the member are also included in this
group.
When performing a bending check, you need to specify a number of properties relating
to the unbraced length and the spacing of stiffeners on the member. When using the
ASD code, the user may also specify a bending coefficient.
Design Constraints
(AIJ)
When checking or designing a member for bending, compression or combined bending
and compression, a design constraint is automatically imposed by Steel Designer. This
constraint verifies that the member satisfies the requirements of AIJ for the Width to
Thickness Ratio (b/t) of Plate Elements.
Unbraced Length
To determine the critical buckling condition of a member, it is necessary to know the
spacing of any bracing (if any) along the member. Purlins, girts or other structural
elements that are not modelled in Multiframe could provide this bracing. Some bracing
may only restrain lateral deflection in one direction. It is therefore necessary to enter
unbraced lengths for both axes of the section, Lbx corresponding to the spacing of
restraints preventing buckling about the x-x axis and Lby corresponding to the spacing
of restraints preventing buckling about the y-y axis.
The initial values of Lbx and Lby are the length of the member.
Bending Coefficient
(ASD)
The ASD code requires a bending coefficient Cb that is either calculated by the program
according to the rules in the code, or may be specified by the user. If you leave Cb
unchanged, Steel Designer will select a value for you, which will be displayed in Italics
in the Design Details table in the Data window. This value is most commonly 1.0. If you
Page 25
type in a value, Steel Designer will always use this value and display it in non-italic (i.e.
standard) text in the Design Details table.
Web Stiffener Spacing

When checking or designing a member for bending, you may need to specify the
spacing of any stiffeners along the web of the member. This affects the member’s
susceptibility to buckling due to bending. If there are no transverse stiffeners, you
should leave the stiffener spacing set to zero.
Bending Dialog
To set the properties for bending
• Choose Bending from the Design menu
• Type in values for Lbx and Lby
• If necessary enter a value for the bending coefficient Cb
• Type in the stiffener spacing (s)
Tension
The capacity of a member to resist tensile forces is implemented as a single design
check. A number of modification factors may be entered to change the section
properties used for checking tension. This includes the area of holes in the cross section
of the member and an area reduction coefficient used to compute the effective area of
the section.
Bolt Holes
When checking or designing a member for tension, you need to specify any reduction in
area due to boltholes or other reductions. If the members contain significant areas of
boltholes, which need to be taken into account when determining the cross-sectional
area of the section, you will need to enter the amount of cross-sectional area to be
deducted to allow for these holes. The initial value for the area of boltholes is zero.
The net area of the section is the gross area minus the combined area of boltholes in the
flange and web.
Area Reduction
The net area is multiplied by the area reduction coefficient, U, to give the effective net
area of the section. The default value of U is 1.0, i.e. no reduction in area.
Page 26
Tension Dialog
To enter the properties for tension
• Choose Tension… from the Design menu
• Type in the area of holes in the web and flanges
• Type in a value for the area reduction coefficient (U) if required
Compression
Steel Designer splits the compressive design of a member into two design checks. You
may choose to check the slenderness of a member and/or its compressive stress.

To determine the critical buckling load for a member, it is necessary to enter an effective
length to indicate the type of restraint on the ends of the member. The effective length is
given by an effective length factor multiplied by the length of the member. The effective
length may be different for buckling in the major and minor axis directions. The
effective lengths are given by
Lx=Kx*L and Ly=Ky*L
Where L is the length of the member and Kx and Ky are the two effective length factors
for the major and minor axes respectively.
The initial values of Kx and Ky are 1.0.
The slenderness is measured as

Kx L/rx
Slenderness=Maximum of {
Ky*L/ry
Unbraced Length
To determine the critical buckling condition of a member, it is also necessary to know
the spacing of any bracing (if any) along the member. Purlins, girts or other structural
elements, which are not modelled in Multiframe, could provide this bracing. Some
bracing may only restrain lateral deflection in one direction, therefore it is necessary to
enter unbraced lengths for both axes of the section, Lcx corresponding to the spacing of
Page 27
restraints preventing compression buckling about the x-x axis and Lcy corresponding to
the spacing of restraints preventing compression buckling about the y-y axis.
The initial values of Lcx and Lcy are the length of the member.
Compression Dialog
To set the properties for compression
• Choose Compression… from the Design menu
Either
• Click on the icons for the end conditions in each direction
Or
• Type in values for Kx and Ky
• Type in values for Lcx and Lcy
• Click OK
If you choose a standard end condition, the recommended Kx and Ky values will be
Combined Actions
When a member is subject to bi-axial bending or a combination of axial tension or
compression and bending, it is likely to be necessary to carry out a combined check on
the member's performance as a beam-column. This combined check usually takes the
form of a comparison of the sum of the ratios of the actual stress to the allowable stress
for each of the considered actions. As columns are frequently subject to these types of
actions, there is also an option to check the side sway of a beam-column. The side sway
check usually takes the form of a comparison of the horizontal deflection at the top of
the member with a proportion of its height above ground level.
When checking or designing members for combined bending and compression actions
under the ASD code, you may wish to enter coefficients as prescribed by the code. If
you leave the Cm unchanged, Steel Designer will select a value for you, which will be
displayed in italics in the Design Details table in the Data window. This value is most
commonly 1.0.
Page 28
To set the coefficients for combined checks

• Choose Combined… from the Design menu
• Enter the values for Cmx and Cmy
• Click OK
Default Design Properties

There are a number of design variables, which are used when doing checking to the
code. A summary of all of the design variables is as follows;

Fy Yield strength of the section's steel 36ksi
Fu Ultimate Tensile Strength of the section's steel 58ksi
Kx Effective length factor for buckling about the section's 1.0
strong axis
Ky Effective length factor for buckling about the section's 1.0
weak axis
Lbx Unbraced length for bracing preventing buckling about Member’s
the section's strong axis length
Lby Unbraced length for bracing preventing buckling about Member’s
the section's weak axis length
a Spacing of web stiffeners. This is the spacing of any 0.0 (i.e. no
stiffeners along the web of a beam stiffeners)
Flange Hole Area of any bolt holes in the flanges of the section. This 0.0
Area area will be deducted from the cross sectional area
when computing tensile stress
Web Hole Area of any bolt holes in the web of the section. This 0.0
Area area will be deducted from the cross sectional area
when computing tensile stress
U Area Reduction factor. This factor is applied to the 1.0
sectional area (after bolt holes have been deducted)
when calculated tensile stress. You can use it to reduce
the effective area by a defined amount. It must have a
value between 0 and 1.0
Cb Moment modification factor used to determine 1.0
allowable compressive stresses in bending. (See ASD
code for details)
Cmx Moment reduction coefficient for bending about the 1.0
section's strong axis (see ASD code)
Cmy Moment reduction coefficient for bending about the 1.0
section's weak axis (see ASD code)
Fabrication The method by which the section was manufactured. Rolled
This describes the residual stresses in the section.
Page 29
Code Clauses Checked

When carrying out code checks, Steel Designer uses the following clauses of the
applicable codes to check your structure. No other checks are performed unless they are
specifically listed below.
ASD
"Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, Allowable Stress Design and Plastic
Design", American Institute of Steel Construction, June 1, 1989 (contained in Manual of
Steel Construction, Allowable Stress Design, 1989, 9th Edition).
Clauses used are A5.1, A5.2, B1, B3, B5, B7, C2, D1, E1, E2, F1, F2, F3, F4, G1, G2,
G3, H1, H2
The design checking procedure is as follows;
The section is classified and tensile area and limiting slenderness ratios are determined
according to section B.
For major and minor bending checks, the bending stress is checked to be less than the
allowable Fb as found in sections F1, F2 and F3.
For major and minor shear, the shear stress is checked to be less than the allowable Fs
found from section F4. The shear stress is computed using a shear area as shown above.
For major and minor deflection due to bending, the maximum deflection is checked to
be less than L/300. No specific check is made for cantilevered members.
For tension checks, the tensile stress is checked to be less than the allowable Ft on both
the gross and net areas as computed in section D1.
For slenderness checks, the slenderness ratio is computed as the maximum of KxL/rx
and KyL/ry. This is checked to be less than the allowable slenderness ratio of 200 for
compressive members or 300 for tensile members in accordance with clause E1.
For compression checks, the compressive stress is checked to be less than the allowable
Fa as computed in section E2.
For combined compression and bending checks, the stresses are checked to be low
enough to satisfy equations H1-1 to H1-3.
For combined tension and bending checks, the stresses are checked to be low enough to
satisfy equation H2-1.
For sway checks, the horizontal deflection of the highest part of the member is checked
to be less than Y/300 where Y is the height of the highest part of the member above the
plane y=0.
Checks are not carried out on hybrid members, composite members or tapered
members.
AIJ
"Design Standard for Steel Structures", Architectural Institute of Japan, March 1979.
Page 30
Clauses used are 5.1, 5.6, 6.1, 6.2, 8.1, 10.1, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3
Allowable stresses are determined from table 5.1 and according to equations 5.1, 5.2,
5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8 as appropriate.
For major and minor bending checks, the width-thickness ratio of the section's elements
are checked in accordance with equations 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5 and 8.6 as appropriate. The
bending stress is checked to be less than the allowable fb as found in section 5.1.4.
For major and minor shear, the shear stress is checked to be less than the allowable fs
found from equation 5.2. The shear stress is computed using a shear area as shown
above.
For major and minor deflection due to bending, the maximum deflection is checked to
be less than L/300 in accordance with clause 10.1. No specific check is made for
cantilevered members.
For tension checks, the tensile stress is checked to be less than the allowable ft as
computed using equation 5.1.
For slenderness checks, the slenderness ratio is computed as the maximum of KxL/rx
and KyL/ry. This is checked to be less than the allowable slenderness ratio of 200 for
vertical members or 250 for non-vertical members in accordance with clause 11.2 (A
vertical member is assumed to be one which is within 100mm of vertical).
For compression checks, the compressive stress is checked to be less than the allowable
fc as computed in equation 5.3 or 5.4.
For combined compression and bending checks, the stresses are checked to be low
enough to satisfy equations 6.1 and 6.2.
For combined tension and bending checks, the stresses are checked to be low enough to
satisfy equations 6.3 and 6.4. The area of bolt holes as specified in the Bolt Holes dialog
is deducted from the gross section area to calculate the net section area.
For sway checks, the horizontal deflection of the highest part of the member is checked
to be less than H/300 where H is the height of the highest part of the member.
Page 31
Chapter Four AS4100/NZS3404
Chapter 4
AS4100 and NZS3404
This chapter describes the implementation of the Australian AS4100 and New Zealand
NZS3404 steel design codes within Steel Designer. It provides a step-by-step description
of how to modify the design properties used by each code.
Notation
The notation used in Steel Designer generally follows that used in AS4100 and
NZS3404. There are some minor differences that are noted below. In addition, some
extra notation has been introduced to help clarify the different design quantities.
kte Correction factor for distribution of forces in a tension

member (equivalent to kt in AS4100).
Ncx1 nominal member capacity in axial compression for
buckling about the major principle axis computed using
a maximum effective length factor (ke) of 1.0.
Ncy1 Nominal member capacity in axial compression for
buckling about the minor principle axis computed using
a maximum effective length factor (ke) of 1.0.
Design Checks
The types of checks are grouped into the categories; Bending, Tension, Compression,
Combined, Serviceability and Seismic (NZS3404 only). The user may specify which of
these checks are performed when a member is designed or checked using Steel
Designer.
Bending
The design of a member for bending consists of five design checks. These check the
section capacity of the member about the major and minor axes, the shear capacity about
both axes and the member, or buckling, capacity about the major axis.
When performing a bending check it is necessary to specify how lateral buckling of the
member is resisted. Restraint could be provided by other members, purlins, girts or by
other structural elements that are not modelled in Multiframe such as concrete slabs.
Steel Designer provides three methods of specifying how a member is restrained against
lateral buckling. The user may specify
i) That the member is fully restrained against lateral buckling in which case no
lateral buckling checks will be performed.
ii) The location and type of lateral restraints applied to the member in which case
Steel Designer will appropriately divide the member into a number of spans and
consider the capacity of each of these spans in determining the capacity of the
member.
iii) The laterally unbraced length (le) and moment modification factor (αm).
Page 33
You may need to specify a number of properties relating to the location and type of
lateral restraints and the stiffener spacing along the member
Lateral Restraints
To determine the moment member capacity of a member, it is necessary to know the
spacing of any lateral restraints (if any) along the member. The restraints could be
provided by purlins, girts or other structural elements, which are not modelled in
Multiframe. Steel Designer uses this information to determine the length of segments
used in the design calculations. The lateral restraints acting at a particular section on a
member are dependent upon which flange is the critical flange. For a member/segment
restrained at both ends the critical flange is the flange under compression. For a
cantilever or a segment with an unrestrained end, the critical flange is the tension flange.
For each restraint on the member, the user must specify the type of restraint. As this
depends upon which flange is the critical flange, the user must specify the type of lateral
restraint that would be present at a section if
i) The top flange were the critical flange, and

ii) The bottom flange was the critical flange.
Lateral restraints must always be specified at the ends of the beam and so the minimum
number of lateral restraints is two. If no restraint exists at the end of a member then it
should be specified as unrestrained. The initial lateral restraints applied to the member
are full restraints at each end for either of the flanges being the critical flange.
The different restraints acting on the member can be specified as;
Restraint Type Abbreviation

Fully restrained F
Partially restrained P
Laterally Restrained L
Unrestrained U
Continuous restraint C
Fully or partially restrained sections may also be specified as lateral rotational restraints
using;
Restraint Type Abbreviation

Fully restrained and Rotationally restrained FR
Partial restrained and Rotationally restrained PR
The initial position of the loads is at the shear centre. If there are no transverse
stiffeners, leave the stiffener spacing set to zero.
The location and type of lateral restraints can be displayed in the Frame and Plot
windows. The display of lateral restraints can be turned on or off via the Symbols
Dialog which now contains options for displaying lateral restraints and labelling these
restraints.
The restraints are draw as a short line in the plane of the major axis of the member.
These lines extend each side of the member for a distance that is roughly the scale of a
purlin or girt. Lateral restraints are also displayed in the rendered view of the frame in
which they are draw to extend from each flange by approximately the size of a purlin.
The restraints may be labelled using a one or two letters to indicate the type of restraint
(e.g. F - fixed, P - partial).
Page 34
Note that lateral restraints at the end of a member are draw slightly offset from the node
so that restraints at the ends of connected members may be more readily distinguished.
Unbraced Length (le) and Bending Coefficient (α m)
Instead of specifying the position of lateral restraints it may be preferable to directly set
the laterally unbraced length of the member. When doing this, it is also necessary to
specify the bending coefficient (αm) as this can no longer be automatically determined
by Steel Designer. The design codes permit a conservative value of αm=1.0 to be
adopted which is the default value used by Steel Designer.

Load Height
When checking or designing a member for bending, you may need to specify the load
height position. This is used in determining the effective lengths of segments or sub-
segments along the member.
Bending Dialog
If the member is fully braced against lateral torsion buckling

• Select the “Member is fully laterally restrained” option
or if the location of lateral bracing along the member is to be specified
• Select the “Position of Lateral Restraints” option
To add new restraint to the member
• Position the cursor with the table and click the Insert button to add a lateral
restraint to the member.
Page 35
• Select the position of each restraint
• Select the type of each lateral restraint from the combo provided in each cell.
or
• Click the Generate button to automatically generate a number of restraints.
To delete a restraint from the member
• Position the cursor within the table on the lateral restraint to be deleted and
click the Delete button.
or if the unbraced length of the member if the be specified directly
• Select the “Unbraced Length” option
• Enter the unbraced length (le )
• Enter the moment modification factor coefficient (α m) to be used in the design of

this length of the member.
And then
• Choose the position of the load from popup menu
• If there are transverse stiffeners on the web, type in values for the stiffener
spacing (s)
• Click OK
Generate Lateral Restraints Dialog
When the user selects to generate the lateral restraints from the Bending dialog, the
Generate Lateral Restraints dialog is displayed. This dialog enables the user to generate
lateral restraints are a specified spacing along the member.
• From the Bending dialog, click the Generate… button
• Select the type of restraints to be used at the ends of the member
• Select the type of restraints to be used at intermediate points within the member
• Enter the offset length at which the first intermediate restraint will be positioned.
Leave this field as zero if no offset is same as the spacing
• Enter the number and size of spacings for the intermediate restraints.
Page 36
• Click OK
All lateral restraint applied to the member will now be regenerated and will replace all
existing restraints.
Tension
properties used for checking tension. This includes the area of holes in the flange or
web of the member and a correction factor to account for the distribution of forces at
the ends of a member.
Bolt Holes
area due to boltholes or other openings within the section. If the members contain
significant areas of boltholes, which need to be taken into account when determining the
cross-sectional area of the section, you will need to enter the amount of cross-sectional
area to be deducted to allow for these holes. The net area of the section is the gross area
minus the combined area of boltholes in the flange and web.
The reduction in area can be specified by setting the number and diameter of holes in
the web or flanges or the member. Alternative, the user may override this and directly
specify the height of holes across the flanges and webs of the cross section. These
heights are multiplied by the thickness of the section to determine the total reduction in
area of the section. The initial value for the area of boltholes is zero.
Correction Factor
When checking or designing a member for tension using AS4100 or NZS3404, you need
to specify the correction factor for the distribution of forces at the ends of the member.
The correction factor kte has a default value of 1.0
Tension Dialog
• Type in the number and diameter of holes in the webs and flanges (and the total
height of holes will be computed automatically) or…
Page 37
• Type the total height of holes in the webs and flanges directly
• Choose a value for the correction factor (kt) if required
• Click OK
Compression
Steel Designer splits the compressive design of a member to AS4100 and NZS3404 into
three design checks. You may choose to check the section capacity and/or the member
capacities about the major and minor axes.

given by an effective length factor multiplied by the length of the member. The effective
length may be different for buckling in the major and minor axis directions. The
effective lengths are given by
Lx=Kx*L and Ly=Ky*L
Where L is the length of the member and Kx and Ky are the two effective length factors
for the major and minor axes respectively.
The initial values of Kx and Ky are 1.0.
Unbraced Length
the spacing of any bracing (if any) along the member. This bracing could be provided
by purlins, girts or other structural elements, which are not modelled in Multiframe.
Some bracing may only restrain lateral deflection in one direction, therefore it is
necessary to enter unbraced lengths for both axes of the section, Lcx corresponding to
the spacing of restraints preventing compression buckling about the x-x axis and Lcy
corresponding to the spacing of restraints preventing compression buckling about the y-
y axis.
The initial values of Lcx and Lcy are the length of the member.
Compression Dialog
Page 38
Either
• Click on the icons for the end conditions in each direction or…
• Click OK
Combined Actions
The design of a member for combined actions is divided into seven design checks. The
user can select to check the section capacity and/or the member capacity about either the
major and/or minor axes as well as in biaxial bending.
When using NZS3404, the combined actions checks are only performed if the member
has a significant axial force as defined in the design code.
No design properties are required when checking or designing members for combined
actions using AS4100 or NZS3404.
Serviceability
Steel Designer provides two design checks for the serviceability of a member. These
design checks are used to check that the deflection of a member about either the major
or minor axes does not exceed a specified deflection limit.
Serviceability Dialog
To set the design properties of a member for serviceability
• Choose Serviceability … from the Design menu
Page 39
• For each deflection check, select the axis about which the deflection will be
checked.
• Type in values for the deflection limits.
• Click OK
Seismic
(NZS3404)
The design of a member for seismic actions is divided into four design checks and four
design constraints. The four design checks consider the axial force limits of clause
12.8.3.1 and the user can choose to check the member for the General Axial Limit
(clause 12.8.3.1(a)), Axial Compression Limit for both major and minor axes (clause
12.8.3.1(b)) and the Axial Force Limit (clause 12.8.3.1(c)). The Axial Force Limit is
applied using N* g=N*.
The four design constraints check the member for the Beam, Material and Section
Geometry requirements of clauses 12.4.1, 12.5.1 and 12.7.2.1. The user can select which
of these constraints are to be applied to the design of a member via the Seismic dialog.
When checking or designing members using NZS3404 it is necessary to specify the

category of a member. The category of a member is specified by choosing the
appropriate category from the list provided in the Seismic Dialog. The default category
for all members is category 4.
Seismic Dialog
To set the seismic design properties of a member
• Choose Seismic… from the Design menu
Page 40
• Choose the member category from popup menu
• Select each of the design constraints to be tested
• Identify if the member is part of the seismic resisting system.
• Click OK


Fy Yield strength of the section's steel 250Mpa
Fu Ultimate Tensile Strength of the section's steel 410Mpa
Kx Effective length factor for buckling about the 1.0
section's strong axis
Ky Effective length factor for buckling about the 1.0
section's weak axis
Lcx Unbraced length for bracing preventing buckling Member’s
about the section's strong axis length
Lcy Unbraced length for bracing preventing buckling Member’s
about the section's weak axis length
Lateral The lateral restraints acting on the member. Each end of
restraints the member is
fully
restrained at
both flanges.
Load Height The position of the loading on beam (shear centre or Shear Centre
top flange).
s Spacing of web stiffeners. This is the spacing of any 0.0 (i.e. no
No. of Flange The number of holes in the flanges of the section. 0
Holes
Diameter of Diameter of holes in the flanges of the section. 0.0
Flange Holes
Total Height of Total height of any boltholes in the flanges of the 0.0
Flange Holes section. This value may be input directly or
computed automatically when the number and
diameter of flange holes are specified.
No. of Web The number of holes in the webs of the section. 0
Holes
Page 41
Diameter of Diameter of holes in the webs of the section. 0.0

Web Holes
Kt Correction factor for the distribution of forces. 1.0
Total Height of Total height of any bolt holes in the webs of the 0.0
Web Holes section. This value may be input directly or
Member Category of member for purposes of seismic design. 4
Category (NZS3404 only)
It is not necessary to enter all of the above information for all members. Usually you
will want to check some members for bending, others for compression and so on. The
items under the Design menu help you enter just the required information depending on
what type of check you are doing.

Checks are not carried out on hybrid members, composite members or tapered
members. Checks on mono-symmetric I sections are not considered as are checks using
actions computed using plastic analysis.
The alternative design provisions provided by the code for combined actions checks are
automatically used if the member meets the required criteria.
AS4100
"Australian Standard AS4100-1990: Steel Structures", Standards Australia, October 26,
1990 including Amendment No.1 (August 3, 1992), Amendment No.2 (June 14, 1993)
and Amendment No.3 (December 5, 1995).
Clauses used are 4.4, 4.6, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.6, 5.11, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.3 and 8.4
For first order analyses, the design bending moments are amplified using the factors
determined using clause 4.4.2 and 4.6.2. Amplification factors for sway frames are not
considered and a second order analysis should be used for sway frames requiring
moment amplification.
The section is classified as compact, non-compact or slender about its major and minor
axes using clause 5.2. The effective area and form factors are determined using clause
6.2.
For major and minor bending section checks, the design bending moment is checked to
be less than the nominal section moment design capacity as found using clause 5.2.
For bending member checks, the design bending moment about the major principle axis
is checked to be less than the nominal member moment design capacity as found using
clauses 5.3 and 5.6. Clause 5.6.3 and clause 5.6.4 are NOT considered.
Page 42
For major and minor shear checks, the design shear force is checked to be less than the
nominal shear capacity found from section 5.11. The flange restraint factor (αf) of
clause 5.11.5.2 is always set to 1.0.
For tension checks, the design axial tension force is checked to be less than the nominal
section design capacity in tension as computed using clause 7.2.
For compression section checks, the design axial compressive force is checked to be
less than the nominal section design capacity in compression as computed using clause
6.2.
For major and minor compression member checks, the design axial compressive force is
checked to be less than the nominal member design capacity in compression as
computed using clause 6.3. Clause 6.3.4 is NOT considered.
For all combined action section checks, the design axial force (N*) is the maximum
axial force in the member, and the design bending moments (Mx*, and My*) are the
maximum bending moments in the member.
For major and minor combined section checks, the design bending moment is checked
to be less than the nominal section moment design capacity reduced by axial force
(compression or tension) as computed using clause 8.3.2 and 8.3.3.
For combined biaxial section checks, the design bending moments are checked to satisfy
clause 8.3.4.
For major and minor combined in-plane member checks, the design bending moment is
checked to be less than the nominal in-plane member moment design capacity as
computed using clause 8.4.2. Clause 8.4.3 is NOT considered.
For combined out-of-plane member checks, the design bending moment about the
major axis is checked to be less than the nominal in-plane member moment design
capacity as computed using clause 8.4.4.
For combined biaxial member checks, the design bending moments are checked to
satisfy clause 8.4.5.
Clause 8.4.6 is NOT considered.
NZS3404
"New Zealand Standard NZS3404-1997: Steel Structures", Standards New Zealand, 26th
June 1997, including Draft Amendment No.1 (August, 2000).
Clauses used are 4.4, 4.8, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.6, 5.11, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, 8.3, 8.3,
12.4, 12.5,12.7 and 12.8.
determined using clause 4.4.2 and 4.8.2. Amplification factors for sway frames are not
Page 43
considered and a second order analysis should be used for sway frames requiring
moment amplification.
The section is classified as compact, non-compact or slender about its major and minor
axes using clause 5.2. The effective area and form factors are determined using clause
6.2.
The member is checked for compliance to clauses 12.4.1.1, 12.5.1.1 and 12.7.2.1.
Compliance of clause 12.4.1.1 only considers the maximum yield stress and the
maximum ratio of (fy/fu).
For major and minor bending section checks, the design bending moment is checked to
be less than the nominal section moment design capacity as found using clause 5.2.
For bending member checks, the design bending moment about the major principle axis
is checked to be less than the nominal member moment design capacity as found using
clauses 5.3 and 5.6. Clause 5.6.3 and clause 5.6.4 are NOT considered.
nominal shear capacity found from section 5.11. The flange restraint factor (αf) of
clause 5.11.5.2 is always set to 1.0.
For tension checks, the design axial tension force is checked to be less than the nominal
section design capacity in tension as computed using clause 7.2.
For compression section checks, the design axial compressive force is checked to be
less than the nominal section design capacity in compression as computed using clause
6.2.
For major and minor compression member checks, the design axial compressive force is
checked to be less than the nominal member design capacity in compression as
computed using clause 6.3. Clause 6.3.4 is NOT considered.
For all combined action section checks, the design axial force (N*) is the maximum
axial force in the member, and the design bending moments (Mx*, and My*) are the
maximum bending moments in the member.
If any combined action checks are to be considered, the member is first checked to
determine if it has a significant axial force in accordance with clause 8.1.4. For members
without a significant axial force all combined action checks are skipped.
The member is checked to see if the use of alternative design criteria is acceptable. This
check is conducted to clause 8.1.5 but does not consider the plate slenderness limits of
clause 8.1.5 (b)(i). Hence, alternative design provisions will only be used if the cross
section is compact.
For major and minor combined section checks, the design bending moment is checked
to be less than the nominal section moment design capacity reduced by axial force
(compression or tension) as computed using clause 8.3.2 and 8.3.3.
For combined biaxial section checks, the design bending moments are checked to satisfy
clause 8.3.4.
Page 44
For major and minor combined in-plane member checks, the design bending moment is
checked to be less than the nominal in-plane member moment design capacity as
computed using clause 8.4.2. Clause 8.4.3 is NOT considered.
For combined out-of-plane member checks, the design bending moment about the
major axis is checked to be less than the nominal in-plane member moment design
capacity as computed using clause 8.4.4.
For combined biaxial member checks, the design bending moments are checked to
satisfy clause 8.4.5.
Clause 8.4.6 is NOT considered.
For seismic member checks, the design axial force is checked to satisfy clauses
12.8.3.1(a), (b) and (c). Note that clause 12.8.3.1(c) is checked using N* g=N*.
Page 45
Chapter Five LRFD code
Chapter 5
LRFD
This chapter describes the implementation of the AISC “Load and Resistance Factor
Design Specification for Structural Steel Buildings “ (LRFD) and “Load and Resistance
Factor Design Specification for Single Angle Members” (LRFD SAM) steel design codes
within Steel Designer. It provides a step-by-step description of how to modify the
design properties used by the code.
Notation
The notation used in Steel Designer generally follows that used in the LRFD and LRFD
SAM. Use has been made of subscripts to clarify the axis of the member to which a
quantity refers. For example, the nominal flexural strengths about the X and Y axes are
denoted Mnx and Mny respectively.
The geometric axes of a member are denoted as the X and Y axes where X represented
the horizontal axis of the member and Y the vertical axis of the member. For design to
LRFD, it is assumed that the X axis is the major axis and Y is the minor axis. For most
sections these corresponds to the principal axes but for some sections, such as angles,
the geometric axes do not correspond to the principal axes. In this case, quantities
pertaining to the major and minor principle axes are denoted using U and V respectively.
Design Checks
Combined and Serviceability. The user may specify which of these checks are
performed when a member is designed or checked using Steel Designer.
Bending
The design of a member for bending is divided into four design checks. These check the
flexural and shear capacity of the member about the major and minor axes. Each of
these checks may consider one or more limit states depending upon the section and the
actions within the member.
When performing a bending check it is necessary to specify how lateral buckling of the
member is resisted. Restraint could be provided by other members, purlins, girts or by
other structural elements that are not modelled in Multiframe such as concrete slabs.
Steel Designer provides three methods of specifying how a member is restrained against
lateral buckling. The user may specify
iv) That the member is fully restrained against lateral buckling in which case no
lateral buckling checks will be performed.
v) The location and type of lateral restraints applied to the member in which case
Steel Designer will appropriately divide the member into a number of spans and
Page 47
Chapter Five LRFD
consider the capacity of each of these spans in determining the capacity of the
member.
vi) The laterally unbraced length (Lb) and bending coefficient (Cb).
You may need to specify a number of properties relating to the location and type of
Lateral Restraints
If the spacing of lateral restraints along the member is specified, Steel Designer uses this
information to break the member up into a number of spans in order to determine lateral
torsion buckling capacity of each span. In Steel Designer, these spans are known as
segments.
Each lateral restraint specified by the user is assumed to provide bracing against lateral
displacement of the critical flange and/or prevent twist of the cross section. At any
cross section, the critical flange is the flange that, in the absence of any restraint at that
cross section, would deflect the furthest during buckling of the member. In most
members the critical flange will be the compression flange. However for a cantilevered
member, the critical flange is the tension flange.
For each restraint located along a member, the user must specify the type of restraint. As
this depends upon which flange is the critical flange, which is not know a priori, the
user must specify the type of lateral restraint that would be present at a section if
• The top flange was the critical flange, and
• The bottom flange was the critical flange.

In LRFD no distinction is made between different types of lateral restraints. However, to
be compatible with other design codes, Steel Designer allows for lateral restraints at a
cross section to be classified as follows
• Full Restraint –supports the cross section against lateral displacement of the
critical flange and prevents twist of the cross section.
• Partial Restraint – provides support against lateral displacement of the section at

a point other than the critical flange and prevents twist of the cross section.
• Lateral Restraint – resists lateral displacement of the critical flange only.

For the purpose of design in LRFD, each of these restraint types is consider adequate to
provide lateral support to the cross section at which they are applied.
Lateral restraints must always be specified at the ends of the beam and so the minimum
number of lateral restraints is two. If no restraint exists at the end of a member then it
should be specified as unrestrained in which case the member would be regarded as a
cantilever. The initial lateral restraints applied to the member are full restraints at each
end for either of the flanges being the critical flange.
Dialog which contains options for displaying and labelling lateral restraints. The
restraints are drawn as a short line in the plane of the major axis of the member. These
lines extend each side of the member for a distance that is roughly the scale of a purlin
or girt. Lateral restraints are also displayed in the rendered view of the frame in which
they are draw to extend from each flange by approximately the size of a purlin. The
Page 48
restraints may be labelled using a one or two letters to indicate the type of restraint (e.g.
F - fixed, P – partial, L - lateral).
Unbraced Length (Lb) and Bending Coefficient (Cb)
specify the bending coefficient (Cb) as this can no longer be automatically determined by
Steel Designer. LRFD permits a conservative value of Cb=1.0 to be adopted which is the
default value used by Steel Designer.
Bending Dialog
• Select the “Member is fully laterally restrained” option, or
• Select the “Position of Lateral Restraints” option, and then
Page 49
Chapter Five LRFD

• Position the cursor with the table and click the Insert button to add a lateral
restraint to the member.
• Select the type of each lateral restraint from the combo provided in each cell.
or
• Position the cursor within the table on the lateral restraint to be deleted and
click the Delete button.
• Or select the “Unbraced Length” option, and then
• Enter the moment modification factor coefficient (α m) to be used in the design

of this length of the member.
• Choose the position of the load from popup menu
spacing (s)
• Click OK
lateral restraints are a specified spacing along the member.
• Select the type of restraints to be used at intermediate points within the member
• Enter the offset length at which the first intermediate restraint will be positioned.
Leave this field as zero if no offset is same as the spacing
Page 50
• Enter the number and size of spacings for the intermediate restraints.
• Click OK
Tension

web of the member and an area reduction factor to account for the distribution of forces
at the ends of a member.
In addition to checking the tensile capacity of the member, a design constraint will be
applied to the member enforcing the slenderness of the member to be less than 300.
Bolt Holes
Reduction Coefficient
When checking or designing a member for tension using LRFD, you need to specify the
reduction coefficient for the distribution of forces at the ends of the member. This
coefficient is used to factor the net area in order to compute the effective area. The
reduction coefficient U has a default value of 1.0
Tension Dialog

• ·Select the required members in the Frame window
• ·Choose Tension… from the Design menu
Page 51
Chapter Five LRFD
• Type in the number and diameter of holes in the webs and flanges (and the total
height of holes will be computed automatically) or…
• Choose or enter a value for the reduction coefficient (U)
• Click OK
Compression
Steel Designer splits the compressive design of a member to LRFD into two design
checks. You may choose to check the member capacity and/or the member’s
slenderness about the major and minor axes.

effective length factors and unbraced lengths of the member.

the spacing of any bracing (if any) along the member. This bracing could be provided
by purlins, girts or other structural elements, which are not modelled in Multiframe.
Some bracing may only restrain lateral deflection in one direction, therefore it is
necessary to enter unbraced lengths for both axes of the section, Lcx corresponding to
the spacing of restraints preventing compression buckling about the x-x axis and Lcy
corresponding to the spacing of restraints preventing compression buckling about the y-
y axis.
given by an effective length factor multiplied by the unbraced length of the member.
The effective length may be different for buckling in the major and minor axis
directions. The effective lengths are given by
Lx = Kx * Lcx , Ly = Ky * Lcy and Lz = Kz * Lcz
Page 52
Where Lcx and Lcy is the unbraced length of the member and Kx, Ky the two effective
length factors for the major and minor axes respectively. Lcz is the unbraced length and
Kz is the effective length factor of the member for torsional buckling. The initial values
of Kx, Ky and Kz are 1.0 and the initial values of Lcx, Lcy and Lcz are the length of the
member.
In addition to checking the compressive capacity of the member, a design constraint will
be applied to the member enforcing the slenderness of the member to be less than 200.
Compression Dialog
Either
• Click on the icons for the end conditions in each direction or…
• Type in values for Kz and Lcz
• Click OK
Combined Actions
Page 53
Chapter Five LRFD
The design of a member for combined actions is divided into three design checks. The
user can select to check the member for biaxial bending or biaxial bending in
conjunction with either a tensile or compressive axial force. The user is not required to
provide any additional design properties for the combined actions checks as it uses
results already derived from the tension, compression and bending checks.
Serviceability
• For each deflection check, select the axis about which the deflection will be
checked.
• Click OK

Fy Yield strength of the section's steel 250Mpa
Fu Ultimate Tensile Strength of the section's steel 410Mpa
Page 54

section's weak axis
Kz Effective length factor for torsional buckling. 1.0
Lcy Unrestrained length for bracing preventing torsional Member’s
buckling length
fully
restrained at
both flanges.
Lb Unrestrained length of member for lateral torsional Member’s
buckling. length
Cb Bending coefficient. 1.0
Holes
Flange Holes
Total Height of Total height of any boltholes in the flanges of 0.0
Flange Holes the section. This value may be input directly
or computed automatically when the number
and diameter of flange holes are specified.
Holes
Web Holes
U Correction factor for the distribution of forces. 1.0
Total Height of Total height of any boltholes in the webs of the 0.0
Fabrication The method by which the section was manufactured. Hot Rolled
Checks are not carried out on composite members or tapered members. Checks on
mono-symmetric I sections are not considered as are checks using actions computed
using plastic analysis.
Page 55
Chapter Five LRFD
LRFD
"Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Structural Steel Buildings”,
American Institute of Steel Construction, December 27, 1999.
The design checking procedure is as follows:
The net area of the section is computed by subtracting the area of holes in the section.
The effective area is then calculated as the net area (An) times the area reduction
coefficient (U).
If the member is been checked for tension of compression, the slenderness of the
section is checked to ensure that it meets the limits set out in Section B7. For angle
members, the slenderness about either of the geometric axes is determined using the
minimum radius of gyration of the section.
If the member is a plate web girder, the section is checked to determine is if meets the
web slenderness limits specified in Appendix G1.
For each serviceability load case:
The maximum local displacement of the member is compared to the deflection limits
specified deflection limits.
For each load case representing a strength limit state,
The design actions, or required strengths, of the member are determined as the
maximum moment, shears and axial forces within the member.
determined using clause C2. Only moment amplification of braced frames is
considered which corresponds to the situation in which no moments result from the
lateral translation of the frame. As such, moment amplification is computed using
only the first term of the right hand side of equation C1-1. Amplification factors for
sway frames are not considered and a second order analysis should be used for sway
frames requiring moment amplification.
The plate elements of the section will be classified as Compact/Non-

Compact/Slender as per the requirements of clause B5.1 and Table B5-1. These
elements may also be classified as Very Slender if they exceed the limitations set out
in Table A-F1.1. If the moments in the member are less than one ten thousandth of
the yield moments the section is considered to be in pure compression and will be
classified accordingly. If an element of the section is found to be slender, the
stiffness reduction factors Q, Qa and Qs will be determined as set out in Appendix B.
For tension checks, the capacity of the member is determined in accordance with
section D1.
For compression checks, the capacity of the member is firstly computed for the limit
states of flexural buckling about the major and minor axis is accordance with clause
E2. The capacity of the member for the limit state of flexural torsional-buckling is
then computed using clauses E3 and Appendix E. The compressive capacity of the
member is regarded as being the minimum capacity determined for these three limit
states.
Page 56
For bending checks the provisions of Appendix F1 are used. For each of the failure
modes, yielding, flange local buckling, web local buckling and lateral torsional
buckling, λ, λ p and λ r values are calculated. The values are based upon the section
shape and the axis of bending and are derived from Table A-F1.1. After the various
λ values have been calculated they are then compared to find the appropriate
equation to calculate Mn, Equ. A-F1-1 to 4. Each Mn value for the failure modes are
then compared with the lowest value governing.
Flange local bucking will only be considered for sections with non-compact flanges.
Similarly, web local buckling will only be considered for sections with non-compact
webs.
The design for shear is carried out in accordance with clause F2 using the provisions
of Appendix F2.2 when a stiffener spacing is specified. For plate girders with
slender web elements, the provisions of Appendix G3 will be utilised instead. No
calculations are conducted using Chapters K or J.
For the biaxial bending check, interaction equations of Appendix H1 are evaluated
ignoring the axial force term. The expressions are computed using the maximum
actions in the members. If this check fails, the user
For the combined action check for flexure and compression, the member is checked
in accordance with clause H1.1 using the design moments about the major and minor
axes. A more refined
LRFD SAM
"Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Single Angle Members”,
American Institute of Steel Construction, November 10, 2000.
The design checking procedure is the same as described above for LRFD except that:
The section is classified using the limits set out in clause 4 of LRFD SAM. The same
clause is used to compute the slenderness reduction factors and effective area of the
section.
Clause 2 of LRFD SAM is used to determine the tensile capacity of the member.
For the bending checks, the shear is determined using clause 3 of LRFD SAM while the
flexural capacity is determined using clause 5 of LRFD SAM.
The lateral-torsional buckling capacity of the member for the limit state of lateral-
torsion buckling of unequal angle sections without lateral torsion restraint or
sections modelled about their principle is not yet supported. When such a section
is encountered, the member will have determined to have no flexural capacity.
The capacity of a member under combined forces is computed using clause 6 of LRFD
SAM in place of the provisions in clause H or LRFD.
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Chapter Six BS5950
Chapter 6
BS5950
This chapter describes the implementation of the British BS5950 steel design code
within Steel Designer. It provides a step-by-step description of how to modify the
design properties used by the code.
Notation
The notation used in Steel Designer generally follows that used in BS5950.
Design Checks
Combined and Serviceability. In addition, a number of auxiliary combined action
checks have been included that consider axial force and bending about a single axis
only. The user may specify which of these checks are performed when a member is
designed or checked using Steel Designer.
Bending
The design of a member for bending consists of five design checks. These check the
section capacity of the member about the major and minor axes, the shear capacity about
both axes and the member, and the buckling, capacity about the major axis.
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Chapter Seven User Code
When performing a bending check it is necessary to specify how lateral-torsional

buckling of the member is resisted. Restraint could be provided by other members,
purlins, girts or by other structural elements that are not modelled in Multiframe such as
concrete slabs. Steel Designer provides three methods of specifying how a member is
restrained against lateral buckling. The user may specify
• That the member is fully restrained against lateral buckling in which case no
lateral buckling checks will be performed, or
• The location and type of lateral and torsional restraints applied to the member in
which case Steel Designer will appropriately divide the member into a number of
spans and consider the capacity of each of these spans in determining the
capacity of the member, or
• The laterally unbraced length (L b) and moment modification factor (mLT).
You may also need to specify a number of properties relating to the location and type of
Lateral and Torsional Restraints

To compute the buckling capacity of a member it is necessary to know the spacing of
any lateral and torsional restraints (if any) along the member. The restraints could be
provided by purlins, girts or other structural elements, which are not modelled in
Multiframe. Steel Designer uses this information to determine the length of segments
used in the design calculations for lateral torsional buckling. In Steel Designer, The
restraint provided by a support is described by how it restraints the top and bottom
flanges and how it restraints the cross-section of the member at that location against
torsion.
Restraints must always be specified at the ends of the member. If no actual restraint
exists at the end of a member then it should be specified as unrestrained. Lateral
restraints at the ends of a member may also be specified as providing either full or
partial restraint against rotation on plan. By default, the ends of a member will be
assumed to be laterally restraint at both the top and bottom flange but provide no
resistance to on plan rotation of the member. Torsional restraints at the ends of a
member may be specified as unrestrained, fully restrained, partially restrained or
frictionally restrained. Partial restraints inhibit the rotation of the cross section by the
connection of the bottom flange to the supports while frictional restraints resist rotation
of the member about its longitudinal axis by only the pressure of the bottom flange onto
its supports (Refer to Table 13 of BS5950).
Intermediate restraints applied to the member may provide lateral and torsional restraint.
No distinction is made for the on-plan rotational resistance that may be provided by
lateral restraints.
Dialog which now contains options for displaying lateral restraints and labelling these
restraints.
The restraints are draw as a short line in the plane of the major axis of the member.
These lines extend each side of the member for a distance that is roughly the scale of a
purlin or girt. Lateral restraints are also displayed in the rendered view of the frame in
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Chapter Six BS5950
which they are draw to extend from each flange by approximately the size of a purlin.
The restraints may be labelled using a one or two letters to indicate the type of restraint.
Lateral are labelled using the following notation
U – Unrestrained
L – Lateral restraint
LR – Lateral restraint with full restraint against rotation on plan
LP – Lateral restraint with partial restraint against rotation on plan
Unbraced Length (Lb) and Bending Coefficient (mLT)
specify the bending coefficient (mLT) as this can no longer be automatically determined
by Steel Designer. The design codes permit a conservative value of mLT =1.0 to be
adopted which is the default value used by Steel Designer.

Load Height
When checking or designing a member for bending, you may need to specify the load
height position. This is used in determining the effective lengths of segments or sub-
segments along the member.
Bending Dialog
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If the member is fully braced against lateral torsion buckling

• Select the “Member is fully laterally restrained” option
or if the location of lateral bracing along the member is to be specified
• Select the “Position of Lateral Restraints” option
• Position the cursor with the table and click the Insert button to add a
lateral restraint to the member.
• Select the type of each lateral restraint from the combo provided in each
cell.
or
• Position the cursor within the table on the lateral restraint to be deleted
and click the Delete button.
And then to display the list so segment defined by the restraints
• Click on the Segments tab
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Chapter Six BS5950
• For each segment choose the position of the load from popup menu
or if the unbraced length of the member if the be specified directly
• Select the “Unbraced Length” option
• Enter the moment modification factor coefficient (mLT) to be used in the

design of this length of the member.
spacing (s)
• Click OK
lateral restraints at a specified spacing along the member.
The Generate Lateral Restrains dialog will appear allowing you to specify the restraints
to be generated.
• Select the type of restraints to be used at intermediate points within the

member
• Enter the offset length at which the first intermediate restraint will be
positioned. Leave this field as zero if offset is the same as the spacing
• Enter the number and spacing between the intermediate restraints.
• Click OK
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Tension
web of the member and a correction factor to account for the distribution of forces at
the ends of a member.
Bolt Holes
Area Reduction Coefficient

The reduced tensile capacity of members with eccentric connections is specified by
clause 4.6.3 of BS5950. Steel Designer does not use this clause but instead
approximates the tensile capacity using a similar calculation to that specified by Clause
4.6.1 but which includes an extra factor to account for the reduction in area. As such
that the tensile capacity is computed in Steel Designer using the expression
Pt = pyktAe
in which kt represents an area reduction coefficient.
While this method does not directly represent the calculation of clause 4.6.3.1 it
provides a simple method by which to account for the reduced tensile capacity
described in this clause. For the tensile capacity expressions of clause 4.6.3 is can be
shown that minimum values of kt are
Clause 4.6.3.1 – bolted connections Pt = py(Ae-0.5a2) → kt = 0.5

– welded connections Pt = py(Ag-0.3a2) → kt = 0.7

– welded connections Pt = py(Ae-0.15a2) → kt = 0.85
while less conservative values of kt based upon the gross area of the connected element
taken as half the gross are of the section are as follows.


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Chapter Six BS5950
Tension Dialog
• Type in the number and diameter of holes in the webs and flanges (and the
total height of holes will be computed automatically) or…
• Choose or enter a value for the Area Reduction Coefficient (kt) if required
• Click OK
Compression
Steel Designer splits the compressive design of a member to BS5950 into three design
checks. You may choose to check the section capacity and/or the member buckling
capacities about the major and minor axes.
The section capacity check calculates the capacity of the members cross-section to carry
the axial load and computes the capacity of the members as simply the gross area times
the yield strength. This check is not explicitly defined in BS5950 as the capacity of the
cross section will always be adequate if the member satisfies the member buckling
checks. However, this check has been provided within steel designer to help distinguish
this type of failure mechanism in the design of the column.
To determine the buckling capacity for a column it is necessary to know the spacing of
any bracing (if any) along the member. This bracing could be provided by purlins, girts
or other structural elements, which are not modelled in Multiframe. Some bracing may
only restrain lateral deflection in one direction therefore it is necessary to enter unbraced
lengths for both axes of the section. In Steel Design the unbraced length of a member
may be specified in either of the following ways;
i) By specifying a single unbraced length and effective length factor for buckling
about each axis, or
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ii) By breaking the member into column segments and setting the effective length
factor for each segment. Each column segment is then designed separately for
compression.
Unbraced Lengths and Effective Length Factors

To determine the buckling load for a member the user may choose to specify a single
unbraced length of the member for buckling about each principle axis. It is also
necessary to enter an effective length factor to indicate the type of restraint applied to the
ends of the unbraced span of the column. These may be different for buckling in the
major and minor axis directions. The effective lengths for determining the buckling
capacity of the member are given by
Lx=Kx*Lcx and Ly=Ky*Lcy
where Lcx and Lcy are the unbraced lengths of the member and Kx and Ky are the two
effective length factors for the major and minor axes respectively.
The initial values of Lcx and Lcy are the length of the member and the initial values of
Kx and Ky are 1.0.
Column Segments
A more sophisticated method for the design of a member for compression allows for the
division of the member into a number of column segments. These segments are defined
by restraints that resist column buckling that are applied at intervals along the member.
In Steel Designer, restraints against buckling can be specified at joints along a
design member. These restraints are used to break the member into a number of
column segments that may differ for the design of the member about its major and
minor axis. The effective length associated with each segment may also be specified to
account for the restraint conditions at each ends of the segment.
When column segments are specified, the design of the member will be performed by
considering the design of each segment separately.
Compression Dialog

If the unbraced lengths of the member are to be specified directly then
• Select the Unbrace Length radio button.
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Chapter Six BS5950
• Click OK
Otherwise if the design for compression is to be performed using column segments.
• Select the Column Segments radio button.
The tabbed control in the dialog will become active. The first page in this table lists the
location of joints along the members and indicates if they provide restraint against
column bucking about either axis of the member.
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• Enter the restraints associated with each node.

The restraint information is used to build a list of column segments that span between
the specified restraints.
• Click on the Major Axis tab.
This displays a table of column segments that will be used for the design of the member
for compression when considering buckling about the major axis.
• Enter the effective length factor (K) for each segment.
• Click on the Minor Axis tab and enter the effective length factors for the
minor axis column segments.
• Click OK.
Combined Actions
The design of a member for combined actions is divided into four design checks. The
user can select to check the capacity of the member for biaxial bending combined with
axial tension and or axial compression. The combined bending and axial compression
check is split into three separate calculations, these determine the capacity of the
member based upon in-plane bucking, out-of-plane buckling and section failure.
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Chapter Six BS5950
In addition to the four main combined action checks, 11 auxiliary design checks may be
considered. These checks determine the capacity of the member using various
combinations of two combined actions. These include checks for biaxial bending (no
axial force), axial tension or compression combined with bending about the major or
minor axis.
No design properties are required when checking or designing members for combined
actions using BS5950.
Serviceability
• For each deflection check, select the axis about which the deflection will
be checked.
• Click OK


py Design strength of the section's steel 235Mpa
Us Minimum Tensile Strength of the section's steel 340Mpa
section's weak axis
Page 69

fully laterally
restrained at
both flanges.
Lb Unbraced length for lateral torsional buckling Member’s
length
mLT Equivalent uniform moment factor for lateral 1.0
torsional buckling
Load Height The position of the loading on beam (shear centre or Shear Centre
top flange).
Holes
Flange Holes
Total Height of Total height of any boltholes in the flanges of the 0.0
Flange Holes section. This value may be input directly or
Holes
Web Holes
Kt Correction factor for the distribution of forces. 1.0
Total Height of Total height of any bolt holes in the webs of the 0.0

The alternative design provisions provided by the code for combined actions checks are
automatically used if the member meets the required criteria.
BS5950
"British Standard BS5950-1:2000: Structural use of steelwork in buildings – Part 1",
British Standards Institution, May 15, 2000.
Clauses used 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 4.7, and 4.8. Reference is also made to
Annex’s B.2, C1, C.2, I.2 and I.3.
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Chapter Six BS5950
Any section properties missing from the sections library that are required for the design
of the section are computed.
The section is classified as plastic, compact, non-compact or slender using clause 3.5.2.
Any section shape not supported by Steel Designer shall be classified as compact.
For sections classified as class 3 semi-compact, the effective plastic moduli are
computed using clause 3.5.6.
For sections classified as class 4 slender, the effective area and effective elastic moduli
are computed using clause 3.6. Only the design of symmetric I sections with slender
flanges, rectangular hollow sections, equal angles and circular hollow sections are
supported by this design module.
shear capacity found from clause 4.2.3. No allowance is made for the effect of boltholes
when computing the shear capacity of the member.
For major and minor axis bending checks, the design bending moment is checked to be
less than the moment capacity as found using clause 4.2.5. Note that the moment
capacity is conservatively computed on the basis of interaction with the design
shear force.
For the lateral torsion buckling check, the design bending moment about the major
principle axis is checked to be less than the buckling resistance moment as computed
using clause 4.3.6 and annex B.2.
For tension checks, the design axial tensile force is checked to be less than the tension
capacity of the member as computed using clause 4.6 with reference to Annex I.2. The
capacity of single angle, channel and tee section member is computed using clause
4.6.3.1 if the specified bolt holes indicate that the member is connected via only the
flange or web as appropriate. Clauses 4.6.3.2 and 4.6.3.3 are not considered.
The compression section check is a supplemental check not explicitly covered by

BS5950. It checks that the design axial compressive force is less than the compressive
section capacity that is computed as the product of the gross area of the section and
the design strength of the steel (i.e. Pc=Agpy).
For major and minor compression buckling checks, the design axial compressive force
in each column segment is checked to be less than the compressive resistance of each
column segment as computed using clause 4.7.5 with specific reference to Annex C.1
and Annex C.2. Clauses 4.7.6 to 4.7.13 are NOT considered.
For all combined action section checks, the design axial forces (Ft and Fc) is the
maximum tensile and compressive axial forces in the member, and the design bending
moments (Mx, and My) are the maximum bending moments in the member.
For the combined axial tension and bending check, the design bending and axial force
are checked to determine if they satisfy clause 4.8.2.
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For the combined axial compression and bending checks, the design bending and axial
force are checked to determine if they satisfy clause 4.8.3.
The auxiliary combined action checks consider a combination of two actions and take
the value of the action not considered as zero.
For combined biaxial checks, the design bending moments are checked to satisfy clause
4.9.
For the combined axial tension and major bending check, the design bending and axial
force are checked to determine if they satisfy clause 4.8.2 taking the value of My as zero.
Similarly, the combined axial tension and minor bending check, the design bending and
axial force are checked to determine if they satisfy clause 4.8.2 taking the value of Mx as
zero.
For the combined axial compression and major bending checks, the design bending and
axial force are checked to determine if they satisfy clause 4.8.3 taking the value of My as
zero.
For the combined axial compression and minor bending checks, the design bending and
axial force are checked to determine if they satisfy clause 4.8.3 taking the value of Mx as
zero.
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Chapter Six BS5950
Page 73
Chapter 7
User Code
At times, you may find you want to carry out design checks, which are different from
those prescribed in the standard codes. To facilitate this, Steel Designer has an
additional code named User, which lets you enter design rules and check members
according to these rules.
User Code
To activate the User code, choose User from the Code menu. Now whenever you do any
checking or designing, Steel Designer will use the User code rules to determine a
member's efficiency. You can view and edit the design rules in the User code by
choosing the Edit User Code item from the Code menu. The rules in the User code are
grouped into the four groups which appear in the Check and Design dialogs, that is
Beams, Ties (or tension) Struts (or compression) and Beam-Columns (or combined).
To edit the User code

• Choose Edit User Code… from the Code menu
• Click on the button of the part of the code you wish to change
• Type in new rules or modify the existing design rules

The syntax of the design rules is the same as that of the Calculation sheet in Multiframe.
This is very similar to the format used in most programming languages and
spreadsheets. The following variables are available to help you construct your design
rules. These variables are evaluated for each member as the member is checked.
Variable Value
L Length of member*
Kx Effective length factor in major plane
Ky Effective length factor in minor plane
Lbx Unbraced length for buckling about the major
axis*
Lby Unbraced length for buckling about the minor
axis*
rx radius of gyration about major axis*
ry radius of gyration about minor axis*
E Young's modulus of steel
ft maximum tensile stress
fc maximum compressive stress
fbx maximum bending stress about major axis
fby maximum bending stress about minor axis
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Chapter Six BS5950
fy yield stress of the steel

fu ultimate tensile strength of the steel
y height of the highest end of the member above
y=0*
a web stiffener spacing*
Cb bending coefficient
Cmx major interaction coefficient
Cmy minor interaction coefficient
Note that all length variables (marked with an asterix * above) are given values in the
same units as the units for deflection as specified in the Units dialog. This ensures that
the dimensions of the resulting calculations will be consistent. All stresses and strengths
have units as set for the Stresses option in the Units dialog.
The four different parts of the User code correspond to the four groups of checks
available when using the Check and Design commands.
The bending checks can be used to check bending stresses, shear stresses and
deflections. These formulas will be applied to both the major and minor axis beam
calculations.
The tension checks will be used to evaluate the tensile stress on the member.
The compression checks will be used for the Slenderness and Compression check
options when using the Check and Design commands.
The combined checks will be used for the Combined check options when using the
Check and Design commands. The combined stress checks check the user formula
against a combined stress ratio (CSR) of 1.0.
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Only the calculations that have their check box checked will be used when you use the
Check or Design commands.
Page 76
Chapter Eight Steel Designer Reference
Chapter 8
Steel Designer Reference
This chapter summarises the extended functionality of windows and the extra menu
commands that are available in Multiframe when Steel Designer is enabled.
Page 77
Chapter Seven Steel Designer Reference
Windows
Steel Designer operates within the standard Multiframe windows and adds a Report
window.
Frame Window
This window is used for specifying the sections and design properties of the members in
a frame.
Data Window
This window is used for viewing the data describing the geometry and loading of the
frame and for displaying and editing the design properties of the structure.
Load Window
This window is used for viewing the loading applied to the frame. One load case at a
time may be viewed in this window. You can choose which load case is displayed by
choosing the appropriate item from the bottom of the Case menu.
Result Window
This window is used for viewing the results of the analysis and design calculations
carried out on the frame. The results for one load case at a time may be viewed in this
window. You can choose which load case is displayed by choosing the appropriate item
from the bottom of the Case menu. You can also view the Design Efficiency table in this
window.
Plot Window
This window is used for viewing diagrams of the results of the analysis carried out on
the frame. The results for one load case at a time may be viewed in this window. You
can choose which load case is displayed by choosing the appropriate item from the
bottom of the Case menu. You can also view a colour plot of design efficiency in this
window.
Report Window
This window is used for viewing a summary report of the design checks carried out on
the frame. You can turn on or off the option to create a summary report when you use
the Check or Design commands.
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Menus
When the Steel Designer module is active some extra menu items are displayed in the
Multiframe menus. In addition, the function of some of the Multiframe menu items
change in order to support the Report Window: The menu items with modified
behaviour and the additional menu items are as follows:
Group Menu
The Group menu provides commands for organising the members in the structural
model into groups or assemblies. The entries in this menu relevant to design are list
below.
Create Design Member

Group the selected members together to form a multi-member design member.
Remove Design Member

Delete or split the selected members from multi-member design member(s).
Design Menu
The Design menu provides commands for checking and optimising the members in
your structure.
Code
See “Code Submenu”
Check
Check the selected members in the Frame window for their compliance with the current
code. You may use the Check dialog to choose which design calculations should be
carried out and which load cases should be checked.
Design
Select the lightest weight sections for the selected members in the Frame window that
will satisfy the design criteria. You may use the Design dialog to choose which design
calculations should be carried out and which load cases should be examined.
Bending
Specify the design parameters controlling bending checks. Enter the unbraced lengths
for the selected members in the Frame window and specify any web stiffener spacing.
Tension
Specify the design parameters used for tension checks. Specify the area of any
boltholes, which must be subtracted from the cross-sectional area of the section when
doing design calculations.
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Compression
Specify the design parameters controlling compression checks. Allows you to select the
effective lengths and the unbraced lengths for the selected members in the Frame
window.
Combined
Specify the design parameters controlling combined bending and compression checks.
Serviceability
The Serviceability command allows you to set design information regarding
serviceability of the frame this is currently only used for the AS4100 and NZS3404
design codes.
Seismic
Specify the design parameters controlling seismic design checks. This is currently only
used for the NZS3404 design code to specify the category of a member.
Design Details
This command allows you to set all of the design information for the members selected
in the Frame window. As a short cut, you can double click on a member to bring up this
design dialog for that member.
Steel Grade
Specify the grade of steel for the selected members in the Frame window. You can
choose from a list of standard grades or enter custom values for the yield and ultimate
tensile strength.
Constraints
Specify whether there are any constraints on the size of section, which may be chosen
for the selected members. You can also specify if you require all of the selected
members to be of the same section type.
Frame Type
Specify whether the current frame is able to sway or is braced against horizontal
movement.
Allowable Stresses
This command allows you to specify the allowable stress increase for each load case on
the structure. The allowable increase is entered as a factor (usually 1.33 or 1.5).
Capacity Factors
The Capacity Factors command allows you to modify the capacity factors for the frame.
This is only used with limit state design codes.
Use Best Sections

Automatically replace the section type of each member with its lightest weight section as
chosen using the design command.
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Code Submenu
The code menu allows you to select the design code you wish to use for checking. The
current code is indicated with a check mark beside the item. This determines which code
is used when you do design calculations.
AS1250
Not currently implemented
AS 4100
Australian steel design code.
NZS 3404
New Zealand steel design code
BS5 950
British steel design code.
CISC
Eurocode
AIJ
Current Japanese steel design code.
ASD
American ASD steel design code.
LRFD
American LRFD steel design code
User
Allows the user to set their own design criteria and checks.
Edit User Code

This command lets you edit the design calculations that will be used when you choose
to check or design a frame using the User code. You can choose which checks should
be performed and what calculations should be used for each check. You can type in
your own equations
Display Menu
The Display menu lets you control what s displayed in each of the windows.
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Data / Design Details

Display a table in the Data window of the design information for each of the members
in the frame. The table includes steel grade, effective and unbraced lengths and limits on
the size of the section for the member
Results / Member Efficiency

Display a table in the Results window of the computed efficiency for each of the
members in the frame. The efficiency is the ratio of the design action or stress to the
design strengths according to the current design code expressed as a percentage.
Efficiency
See “Efficiency Submenu”
Efficiency Submenu
The items in this menu may be used to control which type of efficiency diagram is
displayed in the Plot window. The items listed in this menu change according to the
current design code.
AS 4100 and NZS3404

The following items are available in the Efficiency submenu when using the Australian /
International version of Steel Designer.
Overall
Display the Overall efficiency as a colour on each member for the current load case in
the Plot window.
Bending (Major Section)

Display the Major Bending/Major Section Bending efficiency as a colour on each
member for the current load case in the Plot window.
Bending (Major Member)

Display the Major Member Bending efficiency as a colour on each member for the
current load case in the Plot window.
Bending (Major Shear)

Display the Major Shear efficiency as a colour on each member for the current load case
in the Plot window.
Bending (Minor Section)

Display the Minor Bending/ Minor Section Bending efficiency as a colour on each
Bending (Minor Shear)

Display the Minor Shear/Bending (Minor Shear) efficiency as a colour on each member
for the current load case in the Plot window.
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Tension
Display the Tension efficiency as a colour on each member for the current load case in
the Plot window.
Compression (Section)
Display the Compression/Section Compression efficiency as a colour on each member
Compression (Major Member)

Display the Major Member Compression efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Compression (Minor Member)

Display the Minor Member Compression efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Combined (Major Section)

Display the Combined (Major Section) efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Combined (Minor Section)

Display the Combined (Minor Section) efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Combined (Major In-Plane)

Display the Combined (Major In-Plane) efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Combined (Minor In-Plane)

Display the Combined (Minor In-Plane) efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Combined (Out-of-plane)
Display the Combined (Out-of-plane) efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Combined (Biaxial Section)

Display the Combined (Biaxial Section) efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Combined (Biaxial Member)

Display the Combined (Biaxial Member) efficiency as a colour on each member for the
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Primary Deflection
Display the Primary Deflection efficiency as a colour on each member for the current
load case in the Plot window.
Secondary Deflection
Display the Secondary Deflection efficiency as a colour on each member for the current
load case in the Plot window.
ASD / AIJ
The following items are available in the Efficiency submenu when using USA and Japan
versions of Steel Designer.
Overall
Display the Overall efficiency as a colour on each member for the current load case in
the Plot window.
Major Bending
Display the Major Bending/Major Section Bending efficiency as a colour on each
Minor Shear
Major Deflection
Display the Major Deflection efficiency as a colour on each member for the current load
case in the Plot window.
Minor Bending
Minor Shear
Minor Deflection
Tension
Display the Tension efficiency as a colour on each member for the current load case in
the Plot window.
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Slenderness
Display the Slenderness efficiency as a colour on each member for the current load case
in the Plot window.
Compression
Display the Compression/Section Compression efficiency as a colour on each member
Bending Tension
Display the combined Bending Tension efficiency as a colour on each member for the
Bending Compression
Display the combined Bending Compression efficiency as a colour on each member for
the current load case in the Plot window.
Sway
Display the Sway efficiency as a colour on each member for the current load case in the
Plot window.
Help Menu
Provides access to an on-line help system.
Steel Designer Help

This command allows you to launch the table of contents of the Steel Designer help file.
Page 85
References
References
You may find the following books useful to refer to if you need information on the
methods used to check members in Steel Designer.
• Manual of Steel Construction, Allowable Stress Design

American Institute of Steel Construction, New York, 1989, 9th Edition
• Manual of Steel Construction, Load & Resistance Factor Design

American Institute of Steel Construction, New York, 1986, 1st Edition
• Steel Buildings, Analysis and Design

S W Crawley & R M Dillon, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1984, 3rd Edition
• Structural Steel Design, LRFD Fundamentals

J C Smith, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1988, 1st Edition
• The Behaviour and Design of Steel Structures

N S Trahair and M A Bradford, Chapman and Hall, London, 1988
• Australian Standard AS4100-1990: Steel Structures

Standards Australia
• New Zealand Standard NZS 3404-1997: Steel Structures

Standards New Zealand
• Steel Designers Handbook

B.Gorenc, R. Tinyou and A. Syam, UNSW Press, Sydney, 1996, 6th Edition
Design Capacity Tables for Structural Steel. Volume 1: Open Sections

Australian Institute of Steel Construction, Sydney, 1994, 2nd Edition
• Design Capacity Tables for Structural Steel Hollow Sections

Australian Institute of Steel Construction, Sydney, 1992, 1st Edition
Page 87
Index
Index
Coordinate Systems, 8
A
Create Design Member, 79
About this manual, 1
D
Acceptance Ratio, 17
AIJ, 30, 81 Data, 82
Allowable Stresses, 17, 18, 80 Data Window, 6, 78
area reduction coefficient, 26 Design, 79
AS 4100, 81, 82 Design Constraints, 16
AS1250 to User, 81 Design Contraints, 25
ASD, 81 Design Details, 80, 82
ASD / AIJ, 84 Design Members, 4
Design Members, 7
B
Design Members, 11
Bending, 12, 25, 33, 59, 79 Design Menu, 79
Bending (Major Member), 82 Design Properties, 13
Bending (Major Section), 82 Designing a Frame, 20
Bending (Major Shear), 82 Display Menu, 81
Bending (Minor Section), 82
E
Bending (Minor Shear), 82
Bending Checks, 4 Edit User Code, 81
bending coefficient, 26 Efficiency, 19, 82
Bending Compression, 85 Efficiency Menu, 82
Bending Tension, 85 Eurocode, 81
bolt holes, 26
F
BS5 950, 81
Finding Design Values, 23
C
Frame Type, 17, 80
Capacity Factors, 80 Frame Window, 5, 78
Check, 79 Fu, 14, 15
Checking a Frame, 18 Fy, 14, 15
CISC, 81
G
Code Menu, 81
Column Restraints, 66 Governing Load Cases, 20
Combined, 80 Group Menu, 79
Combined (Biaxial Member), 83
H
Combined (Biaxial Section), 83
Combined (Major In-Plane), 83 Help Menu, 85
Combined (Major Section), 83
K
Combined (Minor In-Plane), 83
Combined (Minor Section), 83 Kx, 28, 39, 67
Combined (Out-of-plane), 83 Ky, 28, 39, 67
Combined Actions, 12, 28, 39, 68
L
Combined Checks, 4
compression, 28, 38, 66 Lbx, 25
Compression, 12, 27, 38, 65, 80, 85 Lby, 25
Compression (Major Member), 83 Lcx, 27, 38
Compression (Minor Member), 83 Load Window, 78
Compression (Section), 83 LRFD, 81
Compression Checks, 4
Constraints, 80
Page 88
Index
Saving your Work, 23

M
Secondary Deflection, 84
Major Bending, 84 Section Constraints, 16
Major Deflection, 84 Section Type, 14
Member Efficiency, 82 Seismic, 80
Menus, 79 Seismic, 40
Minor Bending, 84 Seismic Checks, 4
Minor Deflection, 84 Serviceability, 39, 69, 80
Minor Shear, 84 Serviceability Checks, 4
Set Best Section, 22
N
Setting Properties, 12, 29, 41, 69
NZS 3404, 81 Shear Area, 9
Slenderness, 85
O
Steel Designer Help, 85
Optimization, 22 Steel Grade, 14, 80
Optimum Sections, 22 Sway, 85
Overall, 82, 84
T
P
Tension, 12, 26, 37, 64, 79, 83, 84
Plot Window, 6, 78 Tension Checks, 4
Primary Deflection, 84
U
Printing, 23
ultimate tensile strength, 14, 15
R
Unbraced Length, 25, 27, 38
Remove Design Member, 79 Unbraced Lengths, 66
Report Window, 6, 78 Use Best Sections, 22, 80
Result Window, 6, 78 User, 81
Results, 82
Y
S
yield strength, 14, 15
Saving the report, 23
Page 89

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Steel Designer

Windows Version 8.6

© Formation Design Systems Pty Ltd 1985 – 2003

Steel Designer User Manual

About this manual

Chapter 1 "Introduction” provides an overview of Steel Designer and it's capabilities.

• ASD (American Institute of Steel Construction Allowable Stress Design, 9th Ed

• AS4100 (Australian Steel Design Code, Standards Australia, 1990)

• LRFD (American Institute of Steel Construction Load and Resistance Factor

• BS5950 (British Steel Design Code, British Standards Institution, 2000)

• A user definable allowable stress code

Installing Steel Designer

• All members must have the same section type

• All members must have the same orientation

• All members must be rigidly connected internally (ends may be released)

• All members must be approximately co-linear

• There must not be any restraints on the internal connecting nodes

Viewing Results Using Design Members

Design Member Symbols

Rendering Design Members

Properties for Design

D*tw D*tw D*tw D*t 2*D*tw 0.6*Area

2*B*tf B*tf 2*B*tf B*t 2*D*tf

• Set up the structure and loading

• Carry out the analysis

• Check the results to ensure your structural model is correct

• If necessary, group members into design members

• Choose "Create Design Members" from Group menu.

Setting Design Properties

To set all of the design variables

• Choose Design Details from the Design menu

To set the section type for a member or group of members

• Choose Section Type… from the Frame menu

(United States sections library shown)

To set the Steel Grade

• Choose Steel Grade from the Design menu

• Type in values for Fy and Fu

• Choose the fabrication type for the section

Code Grade Fy<40mm Fy>40mm

To constrain the selection of a member's section

• Choose Constraints… from the Design menu

• Check the boxes corresponding to the sizes you wish to constrain

• Type in the limits for the sizes you wish to constrain

Variable Description Default

To set the type of frame

• Click on type of the frame

The initial setting for the frame type is a sway frame.

To check a member or group of members

• Choose Check… from the Design menu

To view the member efficiency

Governing Load Cases

To design a member or group of members

• Choose Design… from the Design menu

To change sections to the optimum sections designed

Finding Design Values

To search for a category of members

• Click on the pop-up menu to choose the category to search for

Printing the Report Window

• Choose Print Window from the File menu

Dtw Dtw Dtw Dt 2Dtw 0.6*Area

2Btf Btf 2Btf Bt 2Dtf

Lx=KxL and Ly=KyL

Lx=KxL and Ly=KyL