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Last revised: November 4, 2010
The download for this utility can be found here.
The following files can all be placed in the ..\MicroStation\mdlapps\ folder:
..\MicroStation\mdlapps\
The steel section data files (.stbl and .stf files) can be put in different directories if desired (see below).
Key in: MDL LOAD Steel from the Key-in Browser
MDL LOAD Steel
or
from Utilities > MDL Applications > Browse, select Steel
After the application is loaded, a 'Steel' tool box will be displayed. The tool box contains two icon: 'Place Steel Section', and 'Steel Section Parameters'. Clicking on place steel icon will start placing a steel section. The steel section is chosen in the Tool Settings dialog. Additional placement parameters are in the Steel Section Parameters dialog, accessible using the Steel Section Parameters Icon.
When the application starts up, it reads one or more steel section data tables from ASCII file(s). These files contain the section dimensions. Steel for MicroStation V8i supports two different steel table formats. One format is that of the "steel97" application that has previously been available, and the other is the steel table format from the Structural for TriForma application. The latter format have been updated more recently and are believed to be more reliable, however there is no warranty, express or implied regarding the accuracy of the steel table information in either format.
A number of steel section files have been included - steel99.stbl, which was compiled for the steel99 application available on the ProCADD web site (), modified to the steel97 format; and 12 steel files in the Structural for TriForma format (cisc.stf, corusCUSTOM.stf, German.stf, japan.stf, korean.stf, maisc.stf, pacific.stf, Polish.stf, Russion.stf, uk.stf, usAISC21.stf, usLRFDv3.stf). We recommend that you select the steel tables that are applicable to your work and delete the rest. Alternatively, they can be moved to different directories and the STEEL_TBL configuration variable set up to find the appropriate tables for a particular project (see below).
The format of steel97 application ASCII data format contains the section name, section type, and dimensions.
------- Example -------------------------------------------------- S12x35 2 12.000000 0.428000 5.078000 0.544000 1.187500 S12x31.8 2 12.000000 0.350000 5.000000 0.544000 1.187500 S10x35 2 10.000000 0.594000 4.944000 0.491000 1.125000 S10x25.4 2 10.000000 0.311000 4.661000 0.491000 1.125000 L8x8x1 7 8.000000 1.000000 8.000000 1.625000 L8x8x0.875 7 8.000000 0.875000 8.000000 1.500000 L8x8x0.75 7 8.000000 0.750000 8.000000 1.375000 ------------------------------------------------------------------
The section types are:
Type ID Shape type ----------------------------------------- 1 W-Shape 2 S-Shape 3 HP-Shape 4 M-Shape 5 C-Std. Channels 6 MC-Misc. Channels 7 L-Angles 8 WT-Tees 9 MT-Tees 10 ST-Tees 11 Struct. Tubing 12 Std. Pipe 13 X-Strong Pipe 14 XX-Strong Pipe
Files in this format must have the extension ".stbl".
The TriForma format differs in some particulars. See the beginning of the file usLRFDv3.stf for documentation. These files must have the extension ".stf". Note that the steel application cannot process steel sections with types 6,7,8,13,14,15,16, and 17 in .stf files - their definitions are simply ignored.
The TriForma format follows the new AISC guidelines and does not include fillets for many of the shapes, since these vary widely during manufacturing. The program supports nonzero radius values, but in many cases the radius is set to zero. More of the .stf format steel section files will be available soon.
The application finds the steel tables using the following algorithm:
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Bentley, the "B" logo, MicroStation, SELECT, and MDL are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated, or one of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.