Form: Select Sections
Because design is an iterative process, after an aluminum frame design has been run, it may be necessary to change the design section property assigned to one or more objects. SAP2000 allows multiple design iteration runs without rerunning the analysis, which can save computing time.
Change a design section and redesign the structure without rerunning the analysis as follows:
Select the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command to analyze the model.
Select the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Start Design / Check of Structure command to complete the initial design. As necessary, use the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Interactive Aluminum Frame Design command to evaluate the results.
Select/click on the section(s) to be changed. If no sections are selected, the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Change Design Section command will not be available.
Select the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Change Design Section command to access the Select Sections form. Choose the new section from the display list.
Repeat Steps 2 through 4 as necessary.
Note: The Change Design Section command only changes the design section for the beam. The forces used in the design are not based on this new section size but are instead based on whatever section was used in the last analysis. Recall, however, that the design section property is used for the next analysis section property. Thus changing the design section property also changes the next analysis section property. If an auto select section is assigned to a frame/cable, control the section property used for that frame/cable in the next analysis by setting the design section property to the desired section using the Change Design Section command and then rerunning the analysis.