The Steel Joist Institute (SJI) previously developed Virtual Joist tables to estimate the section properties for Open Web Steel Joists. These Virtual Joist sections are characterized as equivalent wide-flange beams which closely approximate the joist chord area, effective moment of inertia, and weight. Virtual Joists are also available in the RFEM and RSTAB cross-section database.
In the AISC 360 – 14th Ed. C2.2, the direct analysis method requires initial imperfections to be taken into consideration. The important imperfection of recognition is column out-of-plumbness. According to C2.2a, the direct modeling of imperfections is one method to account for the effect of initial imperfections. However, in many situations, the expected displacements may not be known or easily predicted.
In RFEM besteht die Möglichkeit, ein Antwortspektrenverfahren nach ASCE 7-16 durchzuführen. Diese Norm beschreibt die Ermittlung der Erdbebenlasten für den US-amerikanischen Raum. Dabei kann es vorkommen, dass man aufgrund der Steifigkeit der Gesamtstruktur den sogenannten P-Delta-Effekt berücksichtigen muss, um die internen Schnittgrößen zu berechnen und eine Bemessung durchzuführen.
Requirements for the design of structural stability are given in the AISC 360 – 14th Ed. Chapter C. In particular, the direct analysis method provisions, previously located in Appendix 7 of the AISC 360 – 13th Ed., are described in detail. This method is considered an alternative to the effective length method, which in turn eliminates the need for effective length (K) factors other than 1.0.