📺Steel design in complex design situations [WEBINAR RECORDING]

Posted on April 23rd, 2021 in Webinars

Summary

This MasterSeries software webinar demonstrates the comprehensive capabilities of their structural analysis and design tools, with a specific focus on steel and composite structures. The presenter guides viewers through various design scenarios, including portal frames, multi-story buildings, and specialized elements like curved beams and connections. A key emphasis is placed on the software's ability to automate complex design checks and optimize member sizing by grouping similar elements and applying various loading conditions, deflection limits, and code-specific regulations. The presentation also highlights advanced features such as P-delta analysis, plate girder design, slim floor systems, and connection detailing, showcasing the software's versatility for intricate engineering challenges.

Key Concepts

• Steel Design Software
• frame analysis
• Composite Beam Design
• Connection Design
• Curved Member Design

Decription

This source provides a comprehensive overview of the MasterSeries software's capabilities, particularly focusing on steel and composite design in complex structural situations, as presented in a webinar.

Here's a summary of the key aspects discussed:

• MasterSeries Product Overview

    ◦ MasterSeries is a modular system offering a range of products for structural analysis and design.

    ◦ It includes features for frame analysis, portals, simple beams, wind loading, BIM integration, finite elements, dynamic and seismic analysis, steel, concrete, slabs, composite, connections, timber, and retaining walls.

    ◦ Different product ranges like the Building Design Suite, PowerPad, and MasterPort Plus offer varying levels of functionality, all including steel design.

• Steel Design Capabilities

    ◦ While a simple steel beam designer exists for basic elements (cantilevers, continuous beams), the webinar primarily focuses on more complex frame design.

    ◦ Portal frame design is highlighted as a core skill, covering principal design functions for most steel work.

    ◦ The software can handle notional horizontal loads and includes these in ultimate loading cases.

    ◦ Design checks can be applied manually or automatically. The manual process is demonstrated for understanding.

    ◦ Deflection checks are critical, with the ability to define different limits (e.g., span over 360, span over 250, or absolute values like 25mm) for various loading cases (e.g., live load only, dead plus live) using a "table" approach.

    ◦ Column design accounts for eccentric moments from shear loads and additional nominal moments, with options to include or exclude these.

    ◦ Rafter design for portal frames addresses buckling and requires considering intermediate restraints (purlins). This involves both individual intermediate checks and an overall Appendix G (Eurocode Appendix BB) check for the full length, which often requires torsional restraints.

    ◦ Auto-design functions allow for sizing single members, all visible members, or members within a design group to achieve the lightest or desired section size.

    ◦ The software calculates unity utilization values to indicate how efficiently members are designed, and can display the maximum ratio for each section size or only failing members.

    ◦ Bracing design for flats (tension only) and roof bracing (strut and tie for compression members) is also covered.

    ◦ Combined/Compound Members can be modeled by adding plates (top/bottom) or secondary sections (e.g., a UB coming off a column), making it flexible for complex section requirements.

    ◦ Curved Members can be designed for minor or major axis curves, accounting for torsional design (often requiring rectangular hollow sections for better torsional stiffness) and buckling.

• Composite Design Capabilities

    ◦ The software handles various composite elements, including primary and secondary beams, slim floors, and plate girders.

    ◦ Design groups are crucial for efficiently designing multiple similar members on a floor.

    ◦ It considers different load intensities, patch loads, and line loads across various floor levels.

    ◦ Shear connection design (e.g., number of studs per trough) is a key aspect, especially for composite beams and slim floors, where issues like insufficient studs or stud head height warnings can arise.

    ◦ For very heavy loads, the software allows for the design of built-up plate girders, including calculations for web welds.

    ◦ Slim floor construction is acknowledged as expensive and awkward, often requiring very heavy sections and careful attention to shear connections.

• Advanced Analysis and Checks

    ◦ Lambda Crit (elastic load factor) analysis is used to determine the stability of the frame. If values are below 10, P-Delta analysis (second-order analysis) is required to account for additional loading from buckling.

    ◦ Connection Design for various types (e.g., column fin plates, portal moment connections with hunches) is integrated, allowing for checks on welds, bolt spacing, and stiffeners. Connections can also be grouped for design.

    ◦ Differential Deflections can be viewed, showing the displacement between specific points of interest (e.g., between a column and a beam) and considering factors like column shortening, beam curvature, and pre-compression shrinkage.

• Resources and Support

    ◦ MasterSeries offers video resources, tutorials, and manuals to help users get started and understand complex design aspects.

    ◦ Users can request trial versions and demonstrations.