Design RC Section Task

Software packages nowadays provide their user with a lot of features and capabilities. It’s hard to keep track and getting out the optimum for ones. Deadlines and the use of different software packages causing a shortage of time too. And this isn’t helpful at all to achieve a reasonable level of knowledge of all available capabilities.

In this post, I’d like to introduce you to one of the hidden features in SOFiSTiK FEA – the “Design RC Section” Task.

To Insert the Task simple right-click in the “project tree” on the left side and select “Insert Task”. The “SOFiSTiK: Insert New Task” will open and allows you to select the “Design RC section” Task. You may need to scroll down finding the task in the Task collection “Additional Modules”. Select the task and hit OK.

To open the “Design RC section” Task from the “project tree” just double click it.

Let’s have a look at the different sections of the task

Section 1: As the project needs to be designed according to a specific design code – select the correct code in this section.

Section 2: The task allows to use all available cross-sections in the central database (CDB). Select the right cross-section in the drop-down menu. You can verify quickly if it’s the correct one in the preview on the right.

Section 3: The Task section gives the option to choose what design you like to perform – if it’s an Ultimate Limit State or Accidental design. You can select the “Net cross section” and if all forces in the table below should be shown.

Section 4: This part is assigned to section 3 and represents the input of forces to be considered for your design. Please keep in mind, no automatic combination will be performed – ensure you enter design forces.

The Tab “Text Output” allows modifying the scale of your printouts. If you’re already familiar with SOFiSTiK – pick “manually controlled” to reduce the output to the most interesting parts. If you start using the software I recommend choosing “Full text output”. It’ll allow you to track and interpret the printout better.

The third Tab gives you the options of creating graphics of the most important information of your design.  If you messed up the settings by mistake, the “Default Settings” rescue button might be useful.

Finally, at the bottom of the dialog box you will find on the left the tick box “Process immediately” and on the right, the “OK”, “Cancel” and “Help” button. The “Help” button is linked to the “AQB – Design of Cross Section” user manual.

The “Design RC section” Task is a time saver to run quick designs of RC cross sections within SOFiSTiK Structural Desktop. And definitely worth to give it a try in one of your next projects.

Software version related to this post: SOFiSTiK FEA v2018-03.