Hot Rolled Steel - Databases

Shapes are organized by Shape Type and Database / Manufacturer. Common shapes are supported such as; wide flanges, tubes, pipes, channels, etc. You can type in the names directly, select shapes from these databases or add your own shapes.

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RISA currently supports the following common Hot Rolled steel databases: AISC (United States), Australian, British, Canadian, Chilean, Chinese, European, Indian and Mexican.

Select a Database Shape

To select a Hot Rolled Steel database shape:

1. From the Hot Rolled tab on the Section Sets spreadsheet, or the Primary tab of the Members spreadsheet, click on the Shape column and then click the ellipsis button.

   • If opened from the Section Sets spreadsheet:

     A ‘Shape Selection: Hot Rolled’ window opens.

     

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     1. Choose the Database to select from.

     2. Choose the Shape Type you want to select.

        See Available Database Shapes for more information on shape types.

     3. In the Shape Name list, find and select the shape you want.

     4. Click OK in the ‘Shape Selection: Hot Rolled’ window to save your selection, close the window and return to the spreadsheet.

        The shape you’ve chosen is displayed in the Shape or Section/Shape cell you

   • If opened from the Members spreadsheet:

     A ‘Set Member Section Set or Shape’ window opens.

     

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     1. Click on the Hot Rolled option, if not already selected.

     2. Click on the Assign Shape Directly option.

     3. Click the Start Shape (ellipsis) button.

        A Shape Selection window opens to the Hot Rolled tab. The window has the same options as the ‘Shape Selection: Hot Rolled’ window.

     4. Choose the Database to select from.

     5. Choose the Shape Type you want to select.

        See Available Database Shapes for more information on shape types.

     6. In the Shape Name list, find and select the shape you want.

     7. Click OK.

        You are returned to the ‘Set Member Section Set or Shape’ window in which the Start Shape now displays the shape you chose from the list in the ‘Shape Selection’ window.

     Click OK in the Set Member Section Set or Shape window to select the shape you chose, close the window and return to the database spreadsheet.

     The shape you’ve chosen is displayed in the Shape or Section/Shape cell you

Add a Database Shape

To add a Hot Rolled Steel database shape:

1. On the Advanced ribbon, click the Shape Database icon.

   

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   The Shape Selection window opens.

   

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2. Click on the Hot Rolled tab as shown in the previous image.

3. Choose the Database and Shape Type you wish to add.

   See Available Database Shapes for more information on shape types.

4. Click the Add button.

   The Add Shape window opens.

   

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5. Under ‘Basic Properties’, specify a Shape Name for the shape and fill in the basic properties for it.
6. Click the Calculate button to determine the shape properties.

7. Click OK to accept the new shape and close the Add Shape window.

   The new shape is added to the bottom of the Shape Name list in the Shape Selection window.

Edit a Database Shape

To edit a Hot Rolled Steel database shape:

1. Go to the Advanced ribbon.

   

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2. Click on the Shape Database icon in the Libraries section.

   The Shape Selection window opens.

   

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3. Click on the Hot Rolled tab.
4. From the Shape Name list, choose the shape you wish to edit.

5. Click on Copy, if the ‘Edit Shape’ window opens stating that you cannot edit the default database shape.

   You will be able to edit the copy, once you provide a new name for the copy and click the Copy Shape button and answer the question as to whether or not to allow the shape to be made available for all models.

6. Click the Edit button.

   The shape copy opens in the Edit Shape window, as shown in the following example.

   

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7. Make whatever changes you need, based on what you want to do. You have the option to either:

   • Manually input the Geometric Properties and Section Properties.

   • Have the program calculate the Section Properties based on values you input for the Geometric Properties.

   Once an edit is made to the ‘Geometric Properties’ or to both the properties, you’ll need to run a recalculation.

8. Click the Re-Calc button to have the program calculate the new Section Properties automatically.
9. Click OK to save the newly calculated, edited shape.

10. Do one of the following in the Changes to Shape Database window that appears:

    • Click Yes, if you want the changes to apply to all new models created on your computer.

    • Click No, if you want the changes to apply to ONLY the current model.

    The newly calculated shape copy is saved to the Shape Name list in the Shape Selection window.

Available Database Shapes

Wide Flange Database Shapes

For the AISC database, wide flange shapes are called out by the designation given them in the steel manuals. For example, if you wanted to use a W10x33 you would enter W10X33 as the shape name in the database shape field. M, S and HP shapes are also available. Trade Arbed shapes are called out similar to AISC shapes but with a “_ARB” suffix. I.e. to call a Trade Arbed W12X96 would enter W12X96_ARB as the shape name in the database shape field. Canadian and British shapes use the same format as the AISC shapes, but their values are metric. The depth is called out in millimeters and the mass per length is kg/meter.

Tube Database Shapes(Hollow Rectangular shapes)

The HSS tube properties are also available in the AISC database. The prefix for these tube shapes is "HSS". The syntax is "HSSdepthXwidthXthick", where "depth" is the tube depth, "width" is the tube width and "thick" is the tube thickness in number of 1/16ths. The nominal wall thickness is always used to call out a HSS tube, even though the design wall thickness will vary based on the manufacturing process for the tube. Tubes manufactured using the ERW process will use .93 times the nominal wall thickness as their design thickness. Tubes manufactured using the SAW process will use the full nominal thickness as their design thickness. For example, an HSS12X10X8 would be a 12" deep, 10" wide tube, and a have a design wall thickness of .465” = .93*1/2" (8/16ths) . A HSS32X24X10 would be 32” deep by 24” wide, and have a design wall thickness of 5/8”(10/16ths)

For the Canadian database, tubes also have a “HSS” prefix and the dimensions are all called out in millimeters. British shapes use the prefix “SHS” for square tubes and “RHS” for rectangular tubes.

Pipe Database Shapes

Pipe shapes, which are hollow circular shapes, are entered as on-line shapes. The syntax for these shapes is "PIdiaXthick", where "dia" is the pipe outside diameter and "thick" is the pipe thickness (in inches or centimeters). For example (assuming US Standard units), PI10X.5 would be a 10" diameter pipe with a wall thickness of 1/2".

Channel and Double Channel Database Shapes

Channel shapes are entered with the "C" or “MC” prefix. For example C15X50 would be a valid entry. For Canadian and British shapes, the depth is called out in millimeters and the mass per length is in kg/meter. Double channels are entered with the “2C” or “2MC” prefix.

Tee Database Shapes

The Tee shapes are entered with the "WT", “MT” or “ST” prefix. For example WT15X74 would be a valid entry. For Canadian and British shapes, the depth is called out in millimeters and the mass per length is in kg/meters.

Tapered Wide Flange Shapes

Tapered Wide Flange shapes are called out by referring to the shape name that was given when it was defined in the database shape editor. Tapered WF shapes can only be defined as database shapes using the “ADD” shape function in the database editor.

Tapered WF shapes are special in that the cross sectional properties change along the length of the member. This is as opposed to prismatic members, which have the same cross sectional properties along their length. (All other shapes are prismatic members). Keep this in mind when defining the I and J joints for tapered shapes. To obtain alternate tapered shape suggestions it is best to define all Tapered WF members consistently in the shape database and handle orientation with the I and J joints.

The Tapered WF shape can also be used to define a prismatic WF with unequal flanges. Tapered wide flange shapes can taper all cross section properties independently and can also have unequal top and bottom flanges. Each basic property is assumed to taper linearly from the Start value to the End value. Shape properties like the area and the moments of inertia will be computed at any required intermediate point from the linearly interpolated basic properties. (This means that the area and moments of inertia will probably NOT vary linearly along the member length). Intermediate shape properties are used to calculate the member stiffness and stresses. The member stiffness is computed internally from a series of piecewise prismatic sections. The error in the member stiffness computed in this manner, as opposed to the theoretically “correct” stiffness, is always less than 10%.

Note that tapered members are always treated as physical members – not finite members. All the rules and behaviors described for physical members always apply to tapered members even if the physical member flag is not set for those members. See Physical Members to learn more about this feature.

Add a Tapered Wide Flange

To add a Tapered Wide Flange to the database:

• Click the Tapered WFshape type, then click Add. Enter the basic shape properties at the Start and End locations and all the necessary parameters calculated for analysis and design at the member end points and at all the required intermediate locations.

Double Angle Database Shapes

These shapes are entered with the prefix "LL". The syntax is "LLbackXflangeXthickXspace" where "back" is the back to back leg length, "flange" is the single angle flange leg length, "thick" is the angle thickness in number of 1/16ths and "space" is the space between the angles in 1/8ths. For example, LL6X3.5X5X3 would be L6X3.5 angles 5/16" thick, long legs back to back with a spacing of 3/8". For the Canadian and British shapes, all the dimensions are called out in millimeters.

Single Angle Database Shapes

Angles are entered with an "L" prefix. The syntax is "LlongXshortXthick", where "long" is the long leg length, "short" is the short leg length, and "thick" is the thickness, in number of 1/16ths. For example, L9X4X8 is a 9" by 4" angle 1/2" (8/16ths) thick. The thickness is entered as 8, because the number of 1/16ths in 1/2 is 8. For the Canadian and British shapes, all the dimensions are called out in millimeters.

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Solid Rectangle Shapes

These shapes can be defined as on-line shapes. The syntax is "REhtXbase", where "ht" is the rectangle height and "base" is the rectangle base (in inches or cm). For example, RE10X4 would be a 10" deep, 4" width rectangular shape (assuming US Standard units). These shapes can also be defined in the Shape Editor. When defined in the Shape Editor the depth of the solid rectangular section must always be greater than or equal to the width.

Solid Round Bar Shapes

These shapes are defined as on-line shapes. The syntax is "BARdia", where "dia" is the circle diameter. For example (assuming metric units), BAR2 would be a circular bar with a diameter of 2 cm.

Buckling-Restrained Brace Database Shapes

BRB shapes can be selected by choosing the BRB shape type and one of the BRB-related databases. Currently, only CoreBrace database is supported.

When CoreBrace database is chosen, the syntax for CoreBrace BRB shapes is “CoreBRB_area”, where “CoreBRB” is the prefix for the manufacturer and shape, and “area” is the steel core area. For example, CoreBRB_0.50 refers to a BRB shape manufactured by CoreBrace with a 0.50 in² steel core area. Other properties such as the casing size of the brace are based on the data provided by the manufacturers.

BRBs are not prefabricated with specific core sizes, casing sizes, or brace lengths. Instead, they are custom-fabricated for each project. Therefore, the BRB properties in RISA-3D may not be the final and shall be carefully reviewed by BRB manufacturers.

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