In the Settings and Options tab, you can adjust the specifications for the calculation as well as the geometric tolerances of the objects.
Manufacturing Method and Buckling Curve
You can select the manufacturing method of the section from the list. The following manufacturing methods are available for selection:
- --
- Hot-rolled
- Cold-formed
- Welded
- Sawn
- Glued-laminated timber
The manufacturing method determines in the Steel Design add-on which part of the standard is used for design.
You can select the buckling curve of the section about the y- and z-axes from the list. For RSECTION, the buckling curves are not relevant. The specifications for the approach of imperfections or for the stability analyses in the design add-ons only come into effect when using the sections in RSTAB/RFEM.
Stresses on Elements
The two check boxes control for which locations of the element the stresses are determined: You can calculate them for the most unfavorable element edge (default) or only the element center lines.
Effective Cross-Section Analysis Settings
The effective cross-section analysis settings are displayed if you have activated the 'Effective cross-section | Steel/aluminum section' check box in the Base Data tab.
Additional Bending Moments
For non-doubly-symmetric, compression-loaded cross-sections susceptible to local buckling, the centroid position of the effective cross-section shifts compared to the gross cross-section. The external compressive force acting centrically on the gross cross-section now acts eccentrically on the effective cross-section, resulting in an additional bending moment. This additional bending moment is considered in the calculation by default. Activate the check box if you want to neglect this additional bending moment.
Iterations
Determining the effective cross-section requires an iterative procedure. In the 'Maximum Number of Iterations' input field, you can specify the maximum possible number of calculation runs. The calculation ends as soon as the difference between the results of two iterations falls below the difference defined in the 'Maximum Difference Between Iterations' input field.
Consider effective widths according to EN 1993-1-5, Annex E
This check box is only accessible if you have selected the standard EN 1993-1-1 and EN 1993-1-5 in the Base Data tab. EN 1993-1-5 describes an alternative method for determining effective cross-sections for stresses below the yield strength in Annex E. Activate this check box if the effective cross-section is to be calculated according to Annex E.
Transverse Weld According to EN 1999-1-1
This check box is only accessible if you have selected the standard EN 1999-1-1 in the Base Data tab. Activate this check box if you want to consider the localized strength reduction in the HAZ due to transverse welds. The MIG and TIG welding processes are available for selection.
Model Tolerances
When modeling or importing data from a CAD program, minor geometric differences in the model objects can occur. RSECTION automatically cleans up these inconsistencies when certain distances are undershot. Thus, points lying very close together are merged, lines located outside of planes are integrated into parts, or two lines running in minimally different directions are considered parallel.
The preset tolerances are suitable for most models. With small model dimensions, it may be necessary to adjust the tolerances accordingly.
Mesh Settings
The two input fields offer the possibility to influence the discretization. A factor less than 1 creates a finer mesh, a factor greater than 1 creates a coarser mesh. You can only set the mesh refinement factor for the nonlinear analysis if you have activated the 'Proof of plastic capacity | Simplex method' check box in the Base Data tab.
Single Panel Generator Settings
With the tolerance for straight single panels, you can specify from which angle between two elements a support should be generated. If elements connect at an equal or smaller angle, they are considered as a contiguous single panel.
The 'Generate shallow curved single panels according to EN 1999-1-1, 6.1.4.3 (4)' check box is only accessible if you have selected the standard EN 1999-1-1 in the Base Data tab.
Weld Type
The welding process must be defined for the weld. The MIG | Metal inert gas and TIG | Tungsten inert gas processes are available for selection here.