The standardized sections are available in a library for entering cross-sections.
List
The 'list' manages all cross-sections of the model. The List of Object Types table describes the buttons you can use to create, copy, or delete objects of a list.
Name
The cross-section's name is automatically specified by the cross-section parameters. However, you can also enter a description in this text box and use it to search for the cross-section in the library. If the description matches an entry in the library, RSECTION imports the stored section properties. To select the cross-section from the library, click the button
at the end of the input line. The transfer of cross-sections is described in Chapter 003085 Cross-Section Library.
Base
The Main tab manages the basic section parameters.
Material
A material must be assigned to each section. You can select it from the list of already defined materials. The buttons next to the input field allow you to select a material from the library or to define a new one (see Chapter 000961 Materials).
Section type
For cross-sections from the library, the 'cross-section type' is preset according to the usual classifications there (see Chapter 003085 Cross-Section Library).
Manufacturing Type
The section's production method is displayed for sections from the library.
Sectional areas
The cross-sectional areas are subdivided into the total area 'Axial A' and the areas for 'Shear Ay' and 'Shear Az'. The shear area Ay is related to the moment of inertia Iz; the shear area Az is accordingly related to Iy.
For unsymmetrical cross-sections, shear areas are displayed around the cross-section's principal axes u and v.
Moments of inertia
The second moments of area define the section stiffness with regard to loading by moments: The torsional constant IT describes the stiffness against rotation about the longitudinal axis. The second moments of area Iy and Iz describe the stiffnesses against bending about the local axes y and z. Axis y is considered to be the "major" axis. The warping moment of inertia Iω is used to describe the resistance to warping.
For unsymmetrical cross-sections, the second moments of area are displayed around the cross-section's principal axes u and v. The local section axes are shown in the cross-section graphic.
Inclination of principal axes
The inclination of principal axes describes the position of the principal axes in relation to the standard principal axis system of symmetrical cross-sections. For asymmetrical sections, this is the angle α between the axis y and the axis u (clockwise positive). The principal axes are called y and z for symmetrical sections, and u and v for asymmetrical sections (see the image Section Properties and Axes).
The principal axis inclination is determined according to the following equation:
| α | Principal anxis inclination |
| Iyz | Biaxial second moment of area |
| Iz | Moment of inertia about the z-axis |
| Iy | Moment of inertia about the y-axis |
Dimensions (for non-uniform temperature loads)
The dimensions concerning width b and depth h of the section are required for the calculation of temperature loads.
US notation for section properties
Activate the check box to display the symbols of section properties according to the US convention.
Section location/rotation/mirroring
In this tab, you can define the position and rotation angle of the cross-section. For asymmetrical cross-sections, this tab also provides options to 'Mirror' the cross-section.
Offset point location
Der Versatzpunkt des Querschnitts dient als Referenzpunkt, um den Querschnitt zu platzieren. This point is highlighted in red in the section sketch. Coordinates y and z refer to the centroid of the section.
You can enter the reference point directly in the text boxes or define it by clicking one of the blue points in the section sketch
Lage des Querschnitts
You can enter the insert point of the cross-section directly into the text boxes or using
in the work window. The cross-section is placed at the defined offset point at the insert point.
Rotation about x-axis
You can rotate the cross-section about a freely selectable angle α.
Mirror
You can mirror unsymmetrical cross-sections. To do this, select the corresponding check box.
Hybrid
You can assign different materials to cross-section parts of cross-sections of the type 'Parametric - Massive II'.
Stress points
Stress points are required to determine the stresses acting on the cross-section. All library sections are provided with stress points at the design-relevant locations of the cross-section.
The Stress Points tab consists of up to four sub-tabs containing the coordinates of the stress points, static moments, and warping coordinates with the corresponding thicknesses (only for thin-walled cross-sections) as well as the unit stresses calculated with the thin-walled theory (only for thin-walled cross-sections) and unit stresses calculated with the finite element method.
You can check the statical moments and stress curves in the cross-section graphic: Click in the column of the value, or select the type in the list below the graphic.
Convert into Normal Geometry
This function dissolves the cross-section into its individual objects such as points, lines, elements, parts, and so on. Then, you can edit the individual objects.