Defining a New Beam

1. Display the storey level in the drawing area which will contain the beam. 
   
2. Click the Beam Icon from the reinforced concrete category under the Modelling ribbon
   
1. Pick Normal beam for normal or standard reinforcement concrete beam.
   
2. Pick Wall Coupling Beam specifically for beam intended to improve lateral large force seismic resistance in accordance to selected seismic code. 
3. Edit the fields in the Beam Properties box. For example, users can edit the label of their beams in the Label field (max. 11 characters), modify the section dimensions and its eccentricities. 
   
4. To insert the beam, locate the insertion points in the plan view drawing area, or the 3D view. Click on two axes intersection points to insert the beam. 

Wall Coupling Beam are used to link shear walls for increased stiffness to resist large lateral loads (e.g. seismic and wind loads). Checks are performed to validate this system to ACI seismic code. This consequently decrease overturning effect and improve overall stiffness of a building system. This beam type enables ProtaStructure to : 

1. Use different cracked section properties as dictated by different seismic codes.
   
2. Assess and check the connected wall panels to see if they act as a coupled wall or not.
   
3. Currently, there is no special design nor detailing for coupling beam -  it will be designed and detailed as a normal beam.
   
4. Details are shown in the Post Analysis Checks Report > Wall / Frames Effect Check.
   

Defining a New Beam without Reference Axis

A new beam can also be defined without necessity of predefining the main reference axes that should run along the beam. However, true potential end points or the axes that will potentially generate end points, must be defined first. The following figures illustrate this. 

This feature is very useful but must be used with caution. If it is intended to define a beam by traditional method over an already existing axis, you must be sure to snap to the real intersection point. Program may draw the beam but not on the axis intended. Snapping options can be adjusted via Display Settings > Object Snap > in Display ribbon. 

Editing an Existing Beam 

1. Select an existing beam. 
   
2. Right-click and select Properties.
   
3. Modify the fields such as Label, "b", etc. in the Beam Properties box. 
   
4. Press the "Update" button in the form. 
   

Beam Properties

Gen tab

Label

Beam Section

1. "b" is the section width of the beam 
   
2. "e" is eccentricity of the beam along its section width which measured the distance between the insertion axis and the beam centreline. The "e" value cannot be greater than b/2 or less than -b/2.
   
3. "h" is the section depth of the beam. 
   
4. "e-z"  is the eccentricity of the beam along its section depth which measured the distance between top of the beam and the slab top reference level. Generally, all beams are inserted to stay below the slab reference level, having "e-z = 0". If you need to define beams spanning above the slab top edge, then e-z will be a non-zero value. 
   
1. The "e-z" value cannot be greater than "h" or  less than "-h".
   

Beam Section Manager  

This is covered below :  Beam Section Manager

Generate Properties to Other Storeys   

4.  Multiple select storey by holding down CTRL key

5.  Click OK

Beam Insertion Options Button 

Eccentricity Option Button 

1. Select a beam.
   
2. Press up/down (horizontal beam) or left/right (vertical beam).
   
3. The "e" value will be modified and beam will be displaced. 
   

The eccentricity  of the beam defined here will not modified the location of the actual analytical frame member used in analysis model. The frame member will be located on the insertion point of beam

Beam Anchor Point Button   

1. Select a beam, right-click > Properties. 
   
2. Click on Beam Anchor Point button and choose the desired anchor point. 
   

1. Select a beam > Right-click 
   
2. Beam Section Anchor Point > Choose the desired anchor point.
   

Insertion Axes

1. Insertion points can be selected in any preferred direction along the insertion axis. The defined of "I" and "J" points will be swapped automatically when necessary with lower left point priority. 
   
2. At least one common axis must exist among the axes found in the two intersections. This common axis is termed as "Intersection Axis" of the beam.
   
3. At every axis intersection at least a direction-1 and direction-2 axis must be found. 

Beam End Releases Condition

Beam ends are fixed by default. The End Releases enables users to release the internal forces of a beam with respect to the I-end and J-end.  This is done by clicking at beam end condition icon . 

1. N releases the internal axial force
2. V2 releases the minor shear, in the floor plane 
3. V3 releases the major shear, out of floor plane
4. M2 releases the  major moment, out of floor plane
5. M3 releases the minor moment, in the floor plane

3D tab

Plane (Top) & (Bot)

This field will be state the plane number that is attached to this beam. The start & end node will automatically follow that of the attached plane. 

To detach it from the plane you can click the icon .

For information on plane, refer : Working with Planes

DelZ - I an DelZ - J

1. Select an existing beam, Right-click > Properties.
   
2. Click on 3D tab > Input the relative elevation from storey level in "Del-Z (I)" and "Del-Z (J)".
   

Negative values will lower the beam end with respect to storey level while positive value will elevate it.

3. Press Update.
   

Read these articles for illustration with example :  

How to model slanting / inclined beam

How to raise or drop a beam in elevation

Cantilever Mark

1. I End Free :  Marks I End as Cantilever
   
2. J End Fee :  Marks J End as Cantilever
   

This is discussed in more detail below : Mark Free End of Cantilever Beam

Vertical-Only Member

Enables users to design the beam to vertical load combinations only, as selected in the Vertical Loads Combination in the Load Combinations Editor : 

1. As an  example, when this option is checked.  the beam will be designed considering only gravity load combinations. 
   
2. Lateral load combinations such as notional, wind and seismic load combinations are excluded in accordance with their respective design practice.
   

Beam Shortcut Menu

Beam Sections Manager 

Beam section properties and materials can be defined in Edit Section/ Material  which is accessible under the Beam Ribbon tab after selecting a beam.

After selecting the Edit Section/ Material, the RC Beam  dialog window will be loaded. 

 

The dialog window comprised of “General” tab, “Properties” tab selection. 

• The section name, display color & grade of concrete can be changed in “General” tab. 

• The moment of inertia, section area and shear areas, etc can be reviewed in the “Properties” tab.

Split Beam Member

Split existing member into two by select a beam member, followed by right-click, select "Split Beam Member" then click an intersection point. 

Merge Beam Members

Merge existing two beam members into one member by select two beam members, followed by right-click, select "Merge Beam Members".

Mark Free End of Cantilever Beam 

A cantilever beam can be mark and defined using "Mark Free End of Cantilever Beam" command. 

After selecting a beam or group of beams > Right-click > choose "Mark Free End of Cantilever Beam". 

Three options show below : 

1. Both Ends Supported - Both LHS (Left hand side) of member and RHS (Right hand side) of member supported.
   
2. I End Free - Only LHS of member supported
   
3. J End Free - Only RHS of member supported
   

The "Red Arrow"  indicate the cantilever side and will always pointing towards the support side.

Please take note that all 3 options of cantilever are meant for design and detailing of cantilever beams and have nothing to do with analysis. For more information, refer to Mark Free End of Cantilever Beam and its Impact on the Analysis & Design of Cantilever Beam

Set Section Angle to Selected Member

Beam Table 

1. If no selection is made, all beams in the current storey or in the whole system can be listed by using right-click menu list > Member Tables > Beam Table. 
   
2. If a mixed selection is made involving beams, only selected beams can be listed using "Beam Table" option in shortcut menu. If some of the beams are selected, only the selected beams will be listed using "Properties" option in the shortcut menu. 
3. If "All Storeys" option is checked in "Beam Table", other beams defined in the Graphic Editor are displayed even they do not belong to current storey. 
   

Refer to this article for more details : Display and Edit Member Properties

Defining Curved Beam Members

The method for defining Curved Beam Members is as follows:-

1. Press the "Beam" button located in "Modelling" ribbon.
   
2. Right-click and select "Properties". When the "Beam Properties" form is loaded. 
   
3. Select "Curved Beam Insertion" from the insertion method . 
   
4. Pick the first and second points. The first and second points defined in this way will be the "I" and "J" points of beam respectively. 
   
5. Press "F2" on keyboard to enter the chord offset (h) of the curved beam or you can simple define the chord offset (h) of the curved beam by picking a point on the graphical editor plan view. 
   

      

Defining Beams out of Columns Insertion Points

This feature helps to prevent user errors or to work around some geometrical necessities. In normal conditions do not create your models relying on rigid links. Always work with “node-to-node” concept in mind.

For more detail discussion, refer to: Rigid links automatically created inside columns to support offset beams