Form: SD Section Data
Use the Section Designer utility to graphically define unusual sections. SAP2000 then calculates the section properties for that section.
Add frame section properties using Section Designer as follows:
Note: To specify the rebar to be used in the cross section, click the Define menu > Section Properties > Reinforcement Bar Sizes command to access the Reinforcing Bar Sizes form before opening Section Designer as described herein.
Click the Define menu > Section Properties > Frame Sections command to access the Frame Properties form. The Frame Properties form also can be accessed by clicking the + (plus) symbol that may appear next to a {Type} Section drop-down list, such as appears on the {Template} forms.
Click the Add New Property button to access the Add Frame Section Property form.
Alternatively, a previously defined SD Section can be modified by highlighting its name in the List of Sections display area on the Frame Properties form and then clicking the Modify/Show Property button. With the name of an SD Section highlighted in the List of Sections display area, the Add Copy of Property button can be used to start a new SD Section based on an existing list, and the Delete Property button can be used to delete an SD Section
Select Other from the Frame Section Property Type drop-down list.
Click the Section Designer button to access the SD Section Data form.
Use the SD Section Data form to provide parameters for the following:
Section Name. Specify or modify the name of the frame section.
Section Notes Modify/Show Notes button. Click this button to access the Frame Section Property Notes form and add section notes to the model file.
Base Material and Design Type. Select a previously defined material property from the Base Material drop-down list or click the + (plus) symbol preceding the list to access the Define Materials form, which can be used to define a new material property or revise an existing one. The material option selected determines which of the Design Type options are available.
When a steel material property has been specified, the No Design/Check option and the General Steel Section option are available for Design Type. If the Design Type is General Steel Section, any frame section assigned this property is designed by the Steel Frame Design postprocessor as a general section.
When a concrete material property has been specified, the No Design/Check option and the Concrete Column option are available. If the Design Type is Concrete Column, any frame section assigned this property is designed by the Concrete Frame Design postprocessor.
When an Aluminum, Cold Formed Steel, or Other material property has been specified material, No Design/Check is the only option available. If the section type is Other, any frame section assigned this property is not designed by any postprocessor.
Concrete Column Check/Design: This area is active only if the Concrete Column option has been selected in the Design Type area. Use this option to specify whether the concrete column is to have its specified reinforcing checked or new longitudinal reinforcing designed when it is run through the Concrete Frame Design postprocessor.
Section Designer button: After you have appropriately specified items in the rest of the form, click the Section Designer button in this area to go to the Section Designer utility and draw the section. When you exit the Section Designer utility, you return to the SD Section Data form. Click the OK button to complete the definition of the frame section property. Use the Help menu and the F1 key to access help topics when using the Section Designer utility.
Properties button. Click this button to display the Property Data form, which shows the frame section properties. When the form is accessed using this button, the values are not editable and are provided for review purposes only.
Set Modifiers button. Click this button to display the Frame Property/Stiffness Modification Factors form. When the form is accessed using this button, the values are not editable and are provided for review purposes only. Note that modification factors can be assigned directly to line objects, as explained in Frame - Property Modifiers.
Display Color. The display color box identifies the color that will be used to display the section. Click on the box to access the Color form. Use that form to select a different color. Click the OK button to close the Color form after selecting the new color.
See Also