Specify Minimum and Maximum Section Lengths

Model Reference Manual

Data Consistency Checking : Specify Minimum and Maximum Section Lengths

The derived lengths of structural Sections are checked against predefined minimum and maximum values and a diagnostic message is output if an actual length falls outside these limits.

Keywords:

SECTION DEFAULT RESET

Description:

The SECTION command allows the user to specify minimum and maximum acceptable lengths for Sections.

To set a single range of acceptable lengths for all unspecified types of Section by using the SECTION DEFAULT option, or to set different ranges for one or more specific types of Section (up to a maximum of ten named types). The standard default range of permissible lengths for all unspecified types of Section is from zero minimum to 10000 mm maximum.

Examples:

SECTION DEFAULT 1000 9500

Lengths of all types of Section must be in the range 1000‑9500 mm unless separately specified by a SECT generic_type option (as illustrated in the following examples)

SECT COLUMN 1500 7500

Column lengths must be in the range 1500‑7500 mm; lengths of other types of Section must be within the current default range

SECT BEAM 42 IN 9 FT

Beam lengths must be in the range 42 inches to 9 feet; lengths of other types of Section must be within the current default range

SECT COLUMN 0 12500 BEAM 8750 1000

Column lengths must be in the range 0‑12500 mm; Beam lengths must be in the range 1000‑8750 mm; lengths of all other types of Section must be within the current default range

Note:

As illustrated in the last example, always enter two values (a minimum and a maximum setting), even if one of these is a current default value (0 mm, say). The user may, however, enter them in either order (i.e. minimum value first or maximum value first).

SECT DEF RESET

Lengths of all types of Section must be in the range 0‑10000 mm unless separately specified by a SECT generic_type option (i.e. this command resets the original default settings)

SECT COLUMN RESET

Column lengths must be in the range 0‑10000 mm; the current settings for other types of Section are not changed by this command

SECT COL RESET BEAM RESET

Column and Beam lengths must be in the range 0‑10000 mm (Note that the RESET command word must be repeated for each type of Section)

SECT RESET

Lengths of all types of Section must be in the range 0‑10000 mm (i.e. this resets the original default settings and cancels any individual settings for specific types of Section)

Command Syntax:

                      .---------------------------------------.
                     /                                        |
>--- SECTion ---+---*--- DEFault ---.                         |
                |   |               |                         |
                |   ‘--- word ------+--- <uval> --- <uval> ---|
                |                   |                         |
                |                   ‘--- RESet ---------------+--->
                ‘--- RESet --->

where word is any valid Section GTYPE which conforms with the MODEL DB.

Querying:

                   .----------.
                  /           |
Q SECTion ---+---*--- word ---+---.
             |                    |
             |--- DEFault --------|
             |                    |
             ‘--------------------+--->

Querying Examples:


Q SECT DEFAULT	Gives settings for current default range
Q SECT BEAM	Gives settings for Beams only
Q SECT BEAM STRU COL	Gives settings for the three named types of Section
Q SECT	Gives settings for any specifically-defined types plus default settings applicable to other Sections