2B.

6 Design Parameters

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International Codes
British Codes - Steel Design Per BS5950:2000
2B.6 Design Parameters
Available design parameters to be used in conjunction with BS5950 are listed in table 2B.1
along with their default values. The f ollowing items should be noted with respect to their
use.
1.
(PY Steel Design Strength )
The design parameter PY should only be used when a uniform design strength for an entire
structure or a portion thereof is required. Otherwise the value of PY will be set according
to the stipulations of BS5950 table 9 in which the design strength is seen as a function of
cross sectional thickness for a particular steel grade (SGR parameter) and particular
element considered. Generally speaking this option is not required and the program should
be allowed to ascertain the appropriate value.
2.
(UNL, LY and LZ - Relevant Effective Length)
The values supplied for UNL, LY and LZ should be real numbers greater than zero in
current units of length. They are supplied along with or instead of UNF, K Y and KZ (which
are f actors, not lengths) to define lateral torsional buckling and compression ef fective
lengths respectively. Please note that both UNL or UNF and LY or K Y values are required
even though they are of ten the same values. The former relates to compression flange
restraint f or lateral torsional buckling while the latter is the unrestrained buckling length
for compression checks.
3.
(TRACK - Control of Output Formats )
When the TRACK parameter is set to 0.0, 1.0 or 2.0, member capacities will be printed in
design related output (code check or member selection) in kilonewtons per square metre.
TRACK 4.0 causes the design to carry out a def lection check, usually with a diff erent load
list to the main code check. The members that are to be checked must have the parameters,
DFF, DJ1 and DJ2 set.
An example of each TRA CK setting follows:TRACK 0.0 OUTPUT
---------------------------

STAAD CODE CHECKING - (BSI )

******************************

ALL UNITS ARE - KNS METR (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

MEMBER

TABLE RESULT/ CRITICAL COND/

RATIO/ LOADING/
FX
MY
MZ
LOCATION
=================================================================
1 ST UB686X254X170 PASS
86.72 C

BS-4.8.3.2
0.00

0.036
-22.02

3
4.50

--------------------------------TRACK 1.0 OUTPUT

---------------------------

STAAD CODE CHECKING - (BSI )

******************************

ALL UNITS ARE - KNS METR (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

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2B.6 Design Parameters

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MEMBER

TABLE RESULT/ CRITICAL COND/

RATIO/ LOADING/
FX
MY
MZ
LOCATION
=================================================================
1 ST UB686X254X170 PASS
86.72 C

BS-4.8.3.2
0.00

0.036
-22.02

3
4.50

CALCULATED CAPACITIES FOR MEMB 1 UNIT - kN,m SECTION CLASS 4

MCZ= 1141.9 MCY= 120.4 PC= 3451.5 PT= 5739.9 MB= 1084.1 PV= 1597.5
BUCKLING CO-EFFICIENTS m AND n : m = 1.000
n = 1.000
PZ= 5739.90
FX/PZ = 0.02
MRZ= 1141.9
MRY= 120.4

TRACK 2.0 OUTPUT

STAAD.Pro CODE CHECKING - (BSI )

---------------------------

***************************

ALL UNITS ARE - KN METE (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

MEMBER

TABLE

RESULT/ CRITICAL COND/

FX

MY

RATIO/

LOADING/

MZ

LOCATION

===================================================================
1 ST UB533X210X92

PASS

BS-4.3.6

0.902

0.00

0.00

585.41

100
0.00

===================================================================
MATERIAL DATA
Grade of steel

= S 275

Modulus of elasticity = 205 kN/mm2

Design Strength (py) = 275 N/mm2
SECTION PROPERTIES (units - cm)
Member Length = 325.00
Gross Area = 117.00

Net Area = 117.00

Major axis

Minor axis

Moment of inertia

: 55229.996

2389.000

Plastic modulus

2360.000

356.000

Elastic modulus

2072.031

Shear Area

58.771

228.285
53.843

DESIGN DATA (units - kN,m) BS5950-1/2000

Section Class

: PLASTIC

Moment Capacity

649.0

94.2

Reduced Moment Capacity :

649.0

97.9

Shear Capacity

969.7

888.4

Major axis

Minor axis

BUCKLING CALCULATIONS (units - kN,m)

(axis nomenclature as per design code)
LTB Moment Capacity (kNm) and LTB Length (m): 649.00, 0.001
LTB Coefficients & Associated Moments (kNm):
mLT = 1.00 : mx = 1.00

: my = 1.00 : myx = 1.00

Mlt = 585.41 : Mx = 585.41 : My = 0.00 : My = 0.00

CRITICAL LOADS FOR EACH CLAUSE CHECK (units- kN,m):
CLAUSE

RATIO LOAD

FX

VY

VZ

MZ

MY

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2B.6 Design Parameters

BS-4.2.3-(Y)

0.329

100

BS-4.3.6

0.902

BS-4.8.3.2

0.814

BS-4.8.3.3.1

1.027

Page 3 of 8

292.3

100

100

0.0

100

0.0

292.3

585.4

68.0

0.0

585.4

0.0

585.4

0.0

BS-4.8.3.3.2

0.902

100

0.0

585.4

0.0

Annex I.1

0.902

100

0.0

585.4

0.0

Torsion and deflections have not been considered in the design.

_________________________

4.
(M X, M Y , M Y X and M LT Equivalent M oment Factors)
The values for the equivalent moment f actors can either be specif ied directly by the user as
a positive value between 0.4 and 1.0 for MX, MY and MYX and 0.44 and 1.0 for MLT.
The program can be used to calculate the values f or the equivalent moment factors by
def ining the design member with a GROUP command (see the Technical Reference Manual
section 5.16 L isting of M embers/Elements/Joints by Specif ication of GROUPS). The nodes
along the beam can then be defined as the location of restraint points with J settings.
Additionally for the ML T parameter, the joint can be defined as having the upper flange
restrained (positive local Y ) with the a U setting or the lower f lange restrained (negative
local Y) with a L setting.
For example, consider a series of 5 beam elements as a single continuous member as shown
below:

To enable the steel design, the beam needs to be defined as a group, called MainBeam:
STA RT GROUP DEFI NITION
MEMBER
_MainBeam 11 2 38 12 3
END GROUP DEFINI TI ON
Note that this can be done in the GUI by selecting the beams and clicking on the menu
option:
Tools | Create New Group&

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2B.6 Design Parameters

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Theref ore, this 5 beam member has 6 joints such that:Joint

Joint
Joint
Joint
Joint
Joint

1=
2=
3=
4=
5=
6=

Node 3
Node 1
Node 33
Node 14
Node 7
Node 2

a) Consider MX, MY and MYX

Say that this member has been restrained in its major axis (local Y) only at the ends. I n the
minor axis (local Z) it has been restrained at the ends and also at node number 33 (joint 3).
For local flexural buckling, it has only been retrained at its ends. Hence:For the major axis, local Y axis:MX _MainBeam J1 J6
For the minor axis, local Z axis:MY _ MainBeam J1 J3 J6
For the lateral f lexural buckling, local X axis:MYX _ MainBeam J1 J6
b) Consider ML T
Say that this member has been restrained at its ends against lateral torsional buckling and
the top f lange has been restrained at node number 33 (joint 3) and only the lower f lange at
node number 7, (joint 5). Hence:MLT _MainBeam J1 T3 L5 J6
To split the beam into two buckling lengths for L y at joint 14:MY _groupname J1 J4 J6
5. (LEG - Table 25 BS5950 for Fastener Control)
The slenderness of single and double angle, channel and tee sections are specified in BS
5950 table 25 depending on the connection provided at the end of the member. To define
the appropriate connection, a LEG parameter should be assigned to the member.
The following table indicates the value of the LEG parameter required to match the BS5950
connection def inition:Clause
4.7.10.2
(a) - 2 bolts short leg
Single Angle
long leg
(b) - 1 bolt short leg
long leg

LEG
1.0
3.0
0.0
2.0

4.7.10.3
(a) - 2 bolts short leg
Double Angle
long leg
(b) - 1 bolt short leg

3.0
7.0
2.0

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2B.6 Design Parameters

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long leg
(c) - 2 bolts long leg
short leg
(d) - 1 bolt long leg
short leg

6.0
1.0
5.0
0.0
4.0

(a) - 2 or more rows of

bolts
(b) - 1 row of bolts

1.0

4.7.10.5
(a) - 2 or more rows of
Tee Sections bolts
(b) - 1 row of bolts

1.0

4.7.10.4
Channels

0.0

0.0

For single angles, the slenderness is calculated f or the geometric axes, a-a and b-b as well
as the weak v-v axis. The eff ective lengths of the geometric axes are def ined as:L a = KY * KY
Lb = KZ * LZ
The slenderness calculated for the v-v axis is then used to calculate the compression
strength pc f or the weaker principal axis (z-z f or ST angles or y-y f or RA specified
angles). The maximum slenderness of the a-a and b-b axes is used to calculate the
compression strength pc for the stronger principal axis.
Alternatively for single angles where the connection is not known or Table 25 is not
appropriate, by setting the LEG parameter to 10, slenderness is calculated f or the two
principal axes y-y and z-z only. The LVV parameter is not used.
For double angles, the LV V parameter is available to comply with note 5 in table 25. In
addition, if using double angles from user tables, (Technical Reference Manual section
5.19) an eleventh value, r vv , should be supplied at the end of the ten existing values
corresponding to the radius of gyration of the single angle making up the pair.
6. (SWAY Sway Loadcase)
This parameter is used to specif y a load case that is to be treated as a sway load case in the
context of clause 4.8.3.3.4. This load case would be set up to represent the k amp M s
mentioned in this clause and the steel design module would add the forces from this load
case to the f orces of the other load case it is designed f or.
Note that the load case specified with this parameter will not be designed as a separate load
case. The following is the correct syntax for the parameter:SWAY

ALL
(load case number) MEMBER (member
list)
_(group name)

e.g.
SWAY 5 MEM 1 to 10
SWAY 6 _MainBeams

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2B.6 Design Parameters

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* current units must be considered.

* * For angles, if the original section is an equal angle, then the selected section will be an equal angle
and vice versa for unequal angles.
(note there was an NT parameter in STAAD.Pro 2005 build 1003 which is now automatically
calculated during the design as it is load case dependant)
NOTES:
1) " Def l ecti on L ength" i s def i ned as the l ength that i s used for cal cul ati on of l ocal def l ecti ons wi thi n a
member. I t may be noted that for most cases the " Def l ecti on L ength" wi l l be equal to the l ength of the
member. However, i n some si tuati ons, the " Def l ecti on L ength" may be di f f erent. For exampl e, refer to the
fi gure bel ow where a beam has been model ed usi ng f our j oi nts and three members. Note that the
" Def l ecti on L ength" f or al l three members wi l l be equal to the total l ength of the beam i n thi s case. The
parameters DJ1 and DJ2 shoul d be used to model thi s si tuati on. A l so the strai ght l i ne j oi ni ng DJ1 and DJ2
i s used as the ref erence l i ne f rom whi ch l ocal def l ecti ons are measured. Thus, f or al l three members here,
DJ1 shoul d be " 1" and DJ2 shoul d be " 4" .
EX A M PL E :PA RA M ETERS
DFF 300. A L L
DJ1 1 A L L

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2B.6 Design Parameters

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DJ2 4 A L L

2) I f DJ1 and DJ2 are not used, " Def l ecti on L ength" wi l l defaul t to the member l ength and l ocal def l ecti ons
wi l l be measured f rom ori gi nal member l i ne.
3) The above parameters may be used i n conj uncti on wi th other avai l abl e parameters f or steel desi gn.

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