Creating Steel Elements

Creating Steel Elements

Steel Elements

In ProtaSteel, you can only create joist, purlin, girt, stair member, plates, eaves beam & sag rods.  Main members such as beam, column & brace must be created in ProtaStructure.  
Each type of element is defined with different command. These commands are accessible from the Steel Ribbon:


Place the mouse cursor on the command icon and read the tooltip carefully on how to use it.

All types of elements are created by clicking the appropriate icon from the ribbon and selecting two points generally. When elements are created they are positioned according to default orientation rule.
To learn more about the default orientation rule read Overview of Coordinate System & Workplane Concept.

Elements are created with default settings, such as end releases, materials, section properties, etc. These parameters can be changed using Profile Editor which is displayed by double clicking on it. Properties of more than one element can be set simultaneously by selecting multiple elements.

Profiles of frame elements are selected from a database. Almost all standard shapes in the world exist in the profile database of the ProtaSteel.

However, if you wish to use a non-standard (arbitrary) shape or a standard shape that doesn't exist in the profile database, it is possible to add new shapes to the profile database using the  Profile database editor.

Creating Steel Elements

Generally, a steel element, eg. girt is creating using the following steps :
  1. Make sure that visibility and selectability of points are on.
  2. Click Frame Creation toolbar icon
  3. Select the start point of the element. A yellow temporary line is drawn to represent the item:
  4. Select the end point of the element. The element is placed according to default orientation rule.

Elements must be defined between points. However, instead of creating points you can use Fast entry mode. To learn more about creating points click here, and to learn more about fast entry mode click here.

ProtaStructure and ProtaSteel are integrated software and structural members (members such as columns, beams, braces, trusses) must be created in ProtaStructure and transferred to ProtaSteel.

However, some secondary members are allowed to be defined in ProtaSteel. Purlin, girder, joist, and staircase elements can be added to ProtaSteel as secondary members. 

With the "floor beam=joist" command, both horizontal and vertical members can be created.

"Joist" connections can be made with some macros:
  1. Beam to Beam End Plate Connection
        
  1. Stiffened  End Plate Connection

  1. Fin Plate End Connection

  1. Beam to Beam Angle Cleat 

  1. Fitting Connection

  1. Beam to Beam Fixed Connection 

  1. Beam to Column Angle Cleat Connection
     

  1. Splice Connection 

  1. End Plate Splice Connection

  1. Stiffened Web Opening Macro 

  1. Handrail Macro

  1. End Plate Detail Connection 

  1. Purlin and Girt Connection 





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