Wind Posts
Use the Wind Posts option to introduce wind posts into the length of the wall panel.
If a masonry wind panel is failing, wind posts can be added at distinct positions along the wall.The distance of the posts from the left hand end of the wall can be entered.
The yield line analysis takes full account of the wall stiffening when it comes to a solution and the capacity of the post is implicitly checked in the analysis.
Steel Sections
To set the section size, click on the 'Add' button at the end of the cell. This will open a steel sections database from which the section type and size can be chosen and applied.
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The user can define whether the post is bending about its major or minor axis and whether to use the elastic or plastic capacity of the section.
User Defined Values
If the post section type or size is not a standard section found in the steel database, the user can enter the elastic moment capacity of a non-standard section for use in the analysis.
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Break Inner / Outer Leaf Continuity
The user can also define whether the wind post breaks the continuity of the wall or not. If the wall continuity is broken then the panel leaf is assumed to simply supported either side of the post.
Related - see ο»Ώπ Simulating a Break in Leaf Continuity using a Dummy Wind Postο»Ώ to read about how to simulate a hinge in the outer leaf, allowing rotation but still permitting shear transfer via the wall ties
Post Fixity Conditions
By default, the wind post is simply supported top and bottom. There are options to fix the post at the base and/or top and also to have the top of the post free in the situation where the wall itself is free-standing.
Post is fixed at base
Assume a 'fixed' nodal support at the base of the wind post.
Post is fixed at top
Assume a 'fixed' nodal support on the wind post at the top of the wall.
When the top of the wall is defined as 'Free', this will assume an out-of-plane restraint at the top of the post.
Post is free at top
Assume the post is 'released' at the top. Does not introduce any nodal restraint.