Flat Steel Bar

Question

How to model a Flat steel bar 150 wide x 10 Thk x 1000 Long and be able to design and get unity ratio for the member. 
 Thanks

Sye · Answer

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.

Sye · Answer

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

Sye · Answer

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.

Sye · Answer

Then most likely the design code you are using does not support design of user table general sections. For a flat bar I guess you are mostly trying to make sure that the axial forces are lesser than the axial capacities and so you may just compare the maximum axial force in these members to a pre calculated capacity value and check these manually. Other option would be to try to use a different design code.