CHS not available?

[Wonky]

Hi, I am doing a column calc and want to use a CHS section. The post is 2.4 high and is carrying about 32kn. The programe just gives me a 'range check error' when I apply it. All other sections are working ok and I haven't tried to check a section!

Help!

Wonky

[Tony Bryer]

I have tried a similar calculation here and cannot replicate this. Can you provide the exact length and loading please?

[Wonky]

Hi, thanks for the response, the post is 2.4m high, load is 32.02kN (from BF but I've tried manually entering it!), axially loaded and eff length 1.2L. All other sections etc. are ok but I want to use a tube!

Martin aka Wonky

[Tony Bryer]

What release are you running - select Help, About if you're not sure. If you select the Configuration, Information option you will see a window with a lot more detail. Look at the line labelled Steel Section Data File. What is the name of the file (just the bit immediately before .dta, not the rest) and how many sections is it shown as having.

[Wonky]

Sorry it's a bit long but I have copied the whole page for your info (please edit as and if necessary)



!0SuperBeam 4 program information

Information compiled 17 Mar 2009 1:41:06 p.m.

OS: Windows XP Computer name: OFFICE

SuperBeam 4 release 4.52e (24/06/2008) Serial number 440028

This copy is licensed to Penn Planning

Maximum number of concurrent users: 1

Your update cover expires at the end of July 2008

This program has been used 1037 times

Current user initials MLW

Files used by this program:

Program file: C:\Program Files\SDA\sb4.exe
Help file: C:\Program Files\SDA\sbw.chm
Steel section data file: C:\Program Files\SDA\ALLSTEEL.DTA: 600 sections
Timber data file: Program internal default data: 21 species
Standard notes file: C:\Program Files\SDA\StdNotes.MLW

Current project folder: G:\SDA\SBWPRJ\

Current text file folder: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\SDA\TextPages

Current PDF file folder: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\

Program settings (INI) file(s):

Shared settings: C:\Windows\SDA_Apps.ini
(file location stored in registry: key HKLM\Software\SDA\AppsMasterIniFile)
Current user settings: C:\Windows\SDA_Apps.ini
(file location stored in registry: key HKCU\Software\SDA\AppsIniFile)

Screen fonts: Normal: 10pt Arial
Notes: 10pt Comic Sans MS bold
Emphasis: 10pt Lucida Sans Unicode bold+underline
Section name: 11pt Cairo SF
Subhead: 11pt Arial bold
Toolbar captions: 7pt Tahoma
Project Manager: 10pt Arial

Printer fonts for current printer (OKI C3100):
Normal: 10pt Arial
Notes: 10pt Comic Sans MS bold
Emphasis: 10pt Arial bold
Section name: 12pt Wide Latin bold
Subhead: 12pt Arial bold


For technical support please contact Survey Design Associates Limited - E-mail: support@sda.co.uk - or visit our website support forum, www.sda.co.uk/support

[Tony Bryer]

Thanks for this info. Select the Configuration, User Setup option, File Names and Locations page. Press the button at the end of the Stell Data File line and look for a file called AdvSteel.dta and select it, exit the program and restart. You may need to navigate up or down the folder tree. If you cannot easily find the file use Start, Search, Files or Folders to find its location - enter AdvSteel.dta (case immaterial) as the file name.

Please come back if you still have problems

[Wonky]

Oh dear!

I have tried this several times and it has not only not helped but the column in question seems to be 'corrupted' now as all loads have disappeared and I cannot get in to edit it!

HELP!

Martin

[Tony Bryer]

Can you send the project file please. Send it as an attachment to support@superbeam.co.uk and hopefully I can see what the problem is.

[Wonky]

Another symptom is now that the project will not open without the error message (range) popping up. The project does not then display until you hit the tile all button. The columns (both of them now), cannot be accessed.

I will send throught the project file if you can give me an address!

[Tony Bryer]

Email it to support@superbeam.co.uk

[Wonky]

Done, thanks!

Martin

[Wonky]

All working now thanks Tony - a small glitch in the programme that will be sorted!

[Tony Bryer]

For anyone else reading this, the problem is down to an obscure bug in the SuperBeam: if the combination of the column length and effective length returns a slenderness ratio of exactly 180[.0000] when a particular section is checked the error is triggered. This will be fixed in the next release; in the meantime the workaround is to adjust the column length fractionally.