Beam Design

The beam design process is categorized into two types: gravity beams and lateral beams. The design procedure for lateral beams differs from that of gravity beams due to the consideration of axial load effects as well.

Design Summary

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In this section, the "Last Analysis Time" is reported to provide you with information about the most recent analysis performed on the beams (Figure 1). This allows you to verify that the beam analysis results available are up-to-date and reflect any recent changes or modifications made to the model.

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Figure 1

Gravity Beam

The "Gravity Beam" spreadsheet serves as the primary interface for managing and overseeing the design of all beams in the project. It offers a comprehensive overview of each beam's design, including the assigned code check and rebar templates, as well as their current status across all storeys. This spreadsheet acts as a centralized platform, enabling you to access and track the progress of beam design and analysis. It consolidates essential information, providing a convenient way to manage and monitor the design process for gravity beams throughout the project.

In the context of beam design, the analysis source to be considered during the verification process is indicated in the corresponding cell labeled "Analysis Source". The selection and handling of the analysis source in the code check process are explained in detail in the section titled "Revisiting Code Check Templates with a Special Focus on Beams" section.

Revisiting Code Check Templates with a Special Focus on Beams

Under the "Design Criteria" section, you can navigate to the "Code Check Templates" subsection. Once there, you will find a spreadsheet that displays a collection of imported code check templates (as shown in Figure 3d).

This spreadsheet provides an overview of the available code check templates that have been imported into the design project. Each template represents a specific set of design criteria and standards that can be applied to columns and other structural elements.

To access and interface with the beam design code check templates, you can click on the "Code Checks" button (Figure 3d). This will open a menu where you can select the specific code check template that corresponds to beams (as shown in Figure 3e).

By clicking on the specific beam code check template, you will have access to a comprehensive set of code check parameters based on the ACI 318-14 standard. These parameters encompass various design considerations and requirements specific to beam elements (Figure 3f).

One important aspect of the code check template is the source of the analysis result, which determines how the ultimate capacity of the beam is calculated. To modify the analysis result source for the selected code check template, you can click on the button located under the "Analysis Result Source" cell. If multiple analysis sources are selected, the envelope of those selections will be considered.

Clicking on this button will open a menu or dialog box where you can make the desired selection for the analysis result source. The available options may include different analysis methods or sources, such as finite element analysis (SAFE), AECBOLTGlobal, AECBOLTLocalBeam or AECBOLTLocalStory. Figure 1g provides a summarized visual representation of the steps involved in selecting the analysis result resource for a beam code check template.

Upon a quick glance at the beam code check template, let's return to the "Gravity Beam" spreadsheet to resume the remaining work.

The analysis source that will be considered during the verification process is indicated in the column cell labeled "Analysis Source". The selection and treatment of the analysis source in the code check process are explained in detail in the part “Revisiting Code Check Templates with a Special Focus on Beams”.

The drop-down menu in these cells allows you to select the beam code check template that are applied to the beam. These templates determine the specific design criteria and code checks that are used for the beam. For more information about “Code Check Template” parameter, please refer to the sections:

"Revisiting Code Check Templates with a Special Focus on Beams",
"Code Check Templates", and "Design Criteria".

The reported DC (Demand-Capacity) ratio in beam design reflects the most critical scenario and represents the envelope value of the design.

When the design state of a beam reflects a "failed" situation and is accompanied by the term "Compatibility," it indicates that the beam is not suitable to function as a "b" within the structural design. In other words, it does not meet the necessary design criteria and requirements to serve its intended purpose.

For more detailed information about the code check compatibility checks, it is recommended to refer to the section “Basic Compatibility Checks” under “Code Check Objects: Main Considerations”.

The "Design State" cell in the spreadsheet displays the status of the beam design.

Design State: “No Reinforcement”: If it shows "No Reinforcement," it means that the beam rebar templates need to be defined in the "Reinforcements" section.

Design State: “Need Verification”: On the other hand, if all the rebar assignments have been completed, the design state will be shown as "Need Verification". This signifies that the beam is ready for further verification and code check procedures.

The up-to-dateness of the beam design is monitored and indicated through several indicators presented below:

Design State: “red-dotted cell: If the project data has been modified after the code check, a red-dotted cell serves as a reminder that the code check needs to be re-run.

The status label "No Changes" indicates that the code check report for the beam is up-to-date.

The spreadsheet cell labeled "Changes After Last Code Check" provides information on the modifications made to the model following the completion of a code check. It displays the updates or revisions implemented as a result of the code check analysis.

Figure 4 depicts the newly opened spreadsheet that appears when the "View Changes" cell button is clicked, displaying any changes that have been made.

If the changes made are not significant enough to require re-running the code check, you can click on the "Ignore Changes" button. This action will change the status of the button from "View Changes" to "No Changes".

The "Back" button (Figure 4) enables you to return to the previous spreadsheet window.

The spreadsheet cell named "Code Check Timestamp" records the time at which the last code check was conducted. It serves as a reference to indicate the specific moment when the code check analysis was performed on the model.

These two cells, "Changes After Last Code Check" and "Code Check Timestamp," offer valuable insights into the code check process, allowing users to track and review the alterations made to the model and refer to the timestamp for the most recent code check operation.

The analysis source that will be considered during the verification process is indicated in the column cell labeled "Analysis Source". The selection and treatment of the analysis source in the code check process are explained in detail in the part “Revisiting Code Check Templates with a Special Focus on Beams” under the "Beam Design" section.

By clicking on the cell-button labeled "Show" in the "Detailed Report" cell, you can access the corresponding detailed reports for each set of load combinations based on the selected analysis results. These detailed reports provide information such as design parameters, analysis results, section analysis and code checks with relevant references. Figures 5a-5d showcase some screenshots from the column code check detailed report, highlighting the available information.

Lateral Beam

Please refer to the section labeled "Gravity Beam" for the design parameters, as they are identical to the ones mentioned previously, except for the type of code check template used.