Flat Steel Bar

To begin with, STAAD.Pro does not design flat bars. The only way to get a design out of STAAD for these type of sections is to define these as User table General Sections ( using menu option Tools > Create User table > New table and choosing section type as General ). You would need to enter the appropriate properties of the section like Cross Sectional Area, Moment of Inertia, Section Modulii and others. STAAD would then design the user table general section following rules applicable for wide flanges and generate unity ratios.

To begin with, STAAD.Pro does not design flat bars. The only way to get a design out of STAAD for these type of sections is to define these as User table General Sections ( using menu option Tools > Create User table > New table and choosing section type as General ). You would need to enter the appropriate properties of the section like Cross Sectional Area, Moment of Inertia, Section Modulii and others. STAAD would then design the user table general section following rules applicable for wide flanges and generate unity ratios.

Thanks Sye, I used the User table General Sections and used the define polygon and computed section properties. But I am getting a warning saying that Design not performed for User General Sections.

Most likely TB and TD values are specified as zero. These has to be non zero for the section to be classified and designed. The terms are explained below

TD

Thickness associated with section element parallel to depth (usually web). Used to check depth/thickness ratio

TB

Thickness associated with section element parallel to flange. Used to check width/thickness ratio

Dear Sye,

Is it not possible to define the flat bars with YD and ZD?

Yes you can but the only issue with that is, these are treated by STAAD as prismatic sections and hence not designed. If you do not need a design, you sure can use YD and ZD.

Dear Sye,

My TB and TD values are not 0, but I still have the "Design not performed for User General Sections" warning. Can you advise?