Member Local Section Reductions

Local member section reductions allow for cross-section reductions, such as bolt holes or openings, to be taken into account in the design checks.

Dialog Box "New Local Member Section Reduction"

Reduction Type and Location

You can define the the reductions for different locations along a member or member set. Specify the relevant number of rows by selecting the “Design parameter” reduction type in the list.

Then, specify the position x on the member or member set. You can define the distance using an absolute or relative value. Use the button to switch between the two input options. If the weakening points are at regular intervals, select the “Multiple” option. You can then define the number and offset in the Parameter | Design Parameters section.

The button allows you to sort the defined design parameters in the table by the x-location in ascending order.

Parameters | Design Parameters

In this section, the design parameters for the selected location are defined. If you select the multiple definition, enter a number and an offset of the cross-section reductions. Again, the distance can be entered absolutely or relatively.

The local cross-section weakening is defined by entering the area of reduction. After assigning the member local section reduction to an object, a net sectional area is automatically calculated from the gross sectional area of the cross-section at the corresponding location, minus the area of reduction, and displayed in the dialog box.

If no clear net sectional area can be calculated due to the assignment to several objects or several locations, the minimum and maximum values of the net sectional areas are displayed in this dialog box. The design uses the corresponding value for the location.

If it is regulated in the selected design standard, you can also define a shear strain factor (for example, in the case of a single-leg connection of angle sections according to AISC).

For some design standards, it is also possible to specify the compression design; this is explicitly noted in the title of the option.

If a member local section reduction was taken into account in the design, the corresponding intermediate values are displayed under Design Check Details.

Design Details of Steel Design - Tension Design with Local Section Reduction

Graphical Display

In the Navigator - Display, you can activate the graphical display of the Member Local Section Reduction. For members and member sets to which a member local section reduction is assigned, a cross-section border is displayed at the locations of the reduction.