Global Load input

[Robert Rowley]

Tony,

I have been trying to make the reports from Prosteel easier to follow, and have been writing the loads per metre run IE 0.6 KnM x 1.5 m, would it be possible to bring in the project agreed loads, in this instance we have agreed a roof load for a small internal lobby of 0.6 Kn per Square metre dead loads and 1 Kn per Square metre for live loads, could the 0.6 and the 1 be stored in a project constant box or the like and when you add the loads to a beam the user brings the load forward and multiplies this by the area that the beams is supporting.

Bob

[Tony Bryer]

This has been suggested in the past. I have always been somewhat hesitant as to giving guidance on loadings as they are such a key element of the calculations.

Does this sound like what you are looking for? We currently have the list of standard load names that you can modify to suit yourself. Suppose we add columns for total (SB only), dead and live loads, in which you put part load expressions of your choice. So then when you enter U D and select Floor from the drop-down, (say) 2.0 x ?/2 is filled in, with the ? highlighted to be replaced by whatever you enter.

I don't promise this is possible, and I would want to think about it more carefully in case there were unhelpful implications. Where it is problematic is in the following situation: you do the above, then realise that it is a roof not a floor, so click on the drop-down and pick roof. Should the loading expression be changed accordingly? Yes, because it's obviously a different case than before? No, because the program shouldn't be changing a user's load input?

As elsewhere, input from other users is welcome.

[Robert Rowley]

Tony

This is what I had in mind, it's just that the customer requested a change to the loadings and I had to go in to every load entry and change them all manually, then he realised that your program even though it is clearly stated treats the load in it's own correct way ie dead and load loads are factored, so I had to change them all back again, over 12 beams so 24 entries had to be altered dead and live, twice.

I can see the danger of mixing the load location however perhaps you concatenate, the identity of the pick list for load global load entry,

RoofLL, RoofDL, FloorDL, FloorLL and so on, the user would then have the option to mass update only if He/She had used the master load entry screens data from the outset, perhaps with the option to mass update or not?

I share your view that it could be quite dangerous and needs a great deal of thought.

The user would still be responsible for selecting the correct loads not ProSteel, the user would still have the responsibility to ensure the assumptions are compliant and valid.
Bob

[Tony Bryer]

I think I can safely say that I would not want to add an option to go back through a number of beams, changing the loads automatically as getting the loads right is the key to the whole process (which is why we don't give too much help in this direction: if you need hand holding you probably shouldn't be doing the calcs in the first place). If I do add something it will be some form of autofill when the load is first added.

[Robert Rowley]

I don't know how we got on the subject of hand holding, I did not see that one coming?

[Tony Bryer]

A quick autofill load option will be added to SuperBeam 4.53 which is nearing release, and this will then be added into the next ProSteel release. More info at http://www.superbeam.co.uk/sb453.htm