Shape Editor/Multiframe

Hello,

I have a couple of questions about Shape Editor and Multiframe.

Shape Editor

I have an issue with DXF files, when valid shape is imported, shape editor doesn't recognize section shape and section dimensions in properties window are incomplete. Furthermore, shear area is calculated incorrectly, stated to be equal in x and y direction and equal to total sectional area.

When I insert same section via place shape command, everything works fine. Section in question is T120x5/50x8 with attached plate flange of 430x4mm. I'm using Shape Editor 21.02.00.05, running on Win7x64. So, what am I doing wrong?

Multiframe

Why does  Multiframe report stresses with opposite signs (for the same member), in Member stresses and Max stresses tabs, and is there a way to make reporting in those two tabs consistent?

In Member stresses tab signs follow chosen convention in preferences dialog, while in Max stresses tab, stresses are always of opposite sign. It’s bit annoying because you have to look into Signs row to be sure if member is in tension or compression.

 

Thanks

  • Hi Zdenko, thanks for your feedback on Multiframe and Shape Editor.  As to your questions:

    Shape Editor doesn’t automatically recognize shape types.  However, user can always assign a section type through section data window. Some of the section properties are calculated based on shape types, for example, Asx, Asy.  If a section has no shape specified, it will calculate the full section area as Asx, Asy.  Here are my suggestions: 1. Import a dxf; 2. Assign materials and add to section lib with unknown assigned. Save the lib.  3. Go to section data window, assign a correct shape type you think, and save the lib.  4. Go to menu Shape --> Place a Section, and navigate to the section you are editing; 5. Save the current section to the section lib and replace the one previously.  All properties should be correctly calculated and saved.

    About to Multiframe max stress questions, currently, max fields have the absolute max values of both negative and positive values with the sign that you set in the preference setting dialog. If you set positive for compression, the max value fields should be always positive, otherwise, it is always negative. In another word, the sign of max field values only indicates the sign convention you choose in preferences dialog.  Hope it make sense.

    Regards,

    Jason 

  • Sir,

    Thank you for your answers, your advice on Shape Editor works impeccably, but I think you misunderstood me a bit about stresses sign question or more probably is vice versa.

    My issue is that only values in member stresses tab follow chosen convention from preferences dialog, while in max stresses tab, stresses are displayed with with opposite sign of whatever I set in preferences.

    Here is an example, cantilever beam, fixed at origin and with two load cases.

    Load case 1, beam is loaded in tension and

    Load case 2, beam is loaded in compression.

    Preferences dialog is set to display tensile stresses as positive.

    Member stresses tab follows convention (for both LCs), Sx' is positive for LC1 and negative for LC2.

    Member stresses LC1

    Member stresses LC2

    Max stresses tab doesn't follow, for LC1 Sx' is reported as -0,127 N/mm^2, with correct notation +ve, and for LC2 0,127N/mm^2 again with correct notation -ve.

    Max stresses LC1


    Max stresses LC2

    So, sign column value in max stresses tab correctly indicates chosen preference in each LC (+ve, -ve) and in plot window T and C indicators always correspond to true stress state in member, it’s just that I can’t make reporting in member and max stress tabs uniform, in this particular case I want all tensile stresses to be reported as 0,127 N/mm^2 and all compressive stresses as -0,127 N/mm^2 regardless of which tab I’m currently looking at. Is there a way to do it witout resorting to Excel?