Is there a way to offset a member load from the center of the member such that it causes torsion in the member? A wide brick ledge could apply this type of load.
A work-around may be to add a node every foot or so and add a moment with a vertical load at the nodes. However, adding the moments get complicated when you have beams turned at weird angles.
For single angles, the steel design parameter LPA can be used to account to eccentricity of applied distributed loads. See information from the Help Context explaining this parameter:
This option only applies to angle sections that are designed with respect to the geometric axis and not the principal axis. The section needs to be defined with the box "Laterally Restrained for Torsion" checked. The torsion force is considered in the design of the member only. When reviewing the analysis forces, the torsion force will be 0.
Otherwise, using a series of point torsional moments as you suggest is one way to account for the torsion. You could also use short, rigid members (length equal to the eccentricity) that cantilever from the member to account for this effect.
Answer Verified By: SVGregory
The current version of Ram Elements (14.00.01.08) does not show the "Laterally Restrained for Torsion" option for angles.
Is it address in some other location?
Yes, the "Laterally Restrained for Torsion" option is no longer a property of the section in v14.00 and later. There is now a parameter in the Steel Design worksheet for members that accomplishes the same thing. See the section titled "Laterally Restrained for Torsion" on the web page below for details:
https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram-staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/23793/ram-elements---local-versus-principal-axis-in-unsymmetrical-shapes