Forms: Materials, Quick Material Definition, Material Property Data
Use the Define menu > Materials command to add, modify, or delete a material property definition. The material property definitions are then used in defining structural objects (slab properties, beam properties, tendon properties, column properties, wall properties).
Note: The forms described in this topic can also be accessed by clicking the button adjacent to the material property drop-down list on the structural properties forms (e.g., Slab Material on the Slab Property Data form) or by expanding the tree under Property Definitions > Materials on the Model tab in the Model Explorer window.
Click the Define menu > Materials command to access the Materials form. Click the appropriate button to initiate one of the following actions:
Add New Material Quick button. Click this button to access the Quick Material Definition form. Use the Material Type drop-down list to specify Steel, Concrete, Rebar, or Tendon material and then use the Specification drop-down list to select an associated specification from a number of popular options. To review the specific parameters of the definition, go back to the Materials form, highlight the named definition, and click the button on to display the Material Property Data form.
Add New Material button. Click this button to access the Material Property Data form. Use the edit boxes and drop-down lists on that form to create a user defined material property. Input is typically separated into five categories:
General Data: Input the name of the material property, select the type of material from the drop-down list, set the display color, and add material notes.
Material Weight: Input the unit weight of the material.
{Isotropic, Uniaxial} Property Data: Input the modulus of elasticity, and other parameters depending upon the material type selected. For material types where a shear modulus is appropriate, the shear modulus will be calculated by the program from the specified modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio.
Other Properties for {Steel, Concrete, Rebar} Materials: Input the associated material capacities, such as yield and tensile stresses for steel material types and compressive strength for concrete. If the material type is concrete, check the Lightweight Concrete check box and input the shear strength reduction factor if using light-weight concrete. If the material type is rebar, there is an additional category where the prefixes and suffixes may be specified for the reinforcing bar labels.
Note: The button on the Material Property Data form can be used to access the Material Notes form. Use the form to add material notes to the model file.
Add Copy of Material button: Highlight a material in the list shown under Materials and click this button to access the Material Property Data form as described above in the button section. All edit boxes, drop-down lists and options (except for the Material Name) on that form will be populated with values identical to those of the highlighted material; values may be revised as necessary and then saved to create a new material.
Modify/Show Material button: Highlight a material in the list shown under Materials and click this button to access the Material Property Data form as described above in the button section. On that form, data in the edit boxes and drop-down lists may be reviewed, and revised if necessary.
Delete Material button: Highlight a material in the list shown under Materials and click this button to delete the highlighted material property from the model. Certain program defined default materials cannot be deleted.