Explanation of different "Section Databases" in STAAD (v22.02)?

I've tried looking in help files and older technical reference manuals, but I cannot seem to find any explanations on the different section database names and what they include. Take for example below:

It is quite clear that AISC_14.1 and AISC_15 databases respectively correspond to AISC 14th and 15th edition shapes, however it is unclear what years AISCSECTIONS, AISCSECTIONSRCECO, and AISCSECTIONS_ALL_EDITIONS correspond to.

  • Is AISCSECTIONS use 15th edition shapes or a much older database?

  • Does the AISCSECTIONS_ALL_EDITIONS database include the most recent 15th edition and all versions prior (including historical)?
  • Is there a page that goes into explanation of each of these databases?

This is the same with Canadian sections. There are two databases: CANADIANSECTIONS and CANADIANSECTIONS_OLD. Is the first database the based off the current CSA S16-14 / CISC Handbook of Steel Construction 11th edition, or is it still from S16-09 / CISC Handbook 10th edition?

        

Any clarification on the matter would be helpful.

Thanks!

  • The AISCSECTIONS database only contain sections that were part of the AISC databases prior to the AISC 14th edition. AISCSECTIONSRCECO corresponds to database created for a particular vendor and is not an AISC published database. The AISCSECTIONS_ALL_EDITIONS should include sections from all versions including the most recent AISC 15th edition. There is no place in the documentation that I am aware of, that mentions about these ( there should be). These days whenever we are adding a section database, we are adding the version numbers to it. Unfortunately it was not the case in the past.

    Regarding the Canadian section databases, to the best of my knowledge these have not been updated to the latest but I have asked for confirmation on that from our product management/development team.



  • Hi Sye,

    Some colleagues have sent some results of their in-house validation checks, and they have noticed that the properties of CANADIANSECTIONS appear to be from the CISC 9th edition catalog.

    Did the product management / development team get back to you on when these databases are being updated? Is the naming convention of current and old databases being improved? Can we expect any future documentation to be added in the STAAD help files?