RA Top (Restraint arrangement top)
These terms define the restraint arrangement of the top flanges of the designed member or segment. The restraint types are:
- F: Full
- P: Partial
- L: Lateral
- U: Unrestrained
These restraints must be defined for each of the ends of the segments defined in the designed member. The following figure illustrates a situation:
As shown in the figure, the top flanges restraints arrangement will be: Full, Partial, Partial and Full. Therefore:
Notes:
- The L-type restraint only applies for intermediate restraints
- The U-type restraint only applies for the ends of the member
A cross section should be considered to be fully, partially, rotationally or laterally restrained if its restraints satisfy Clause 5.4.3.