This process incrementally checks increasing section profile sizes until a size is found that is AS 4100 compliant, or the largest section has been checked. Only section profiles of the same type as modeled are incrementally checked, with the increasing sizes based on a least weight per unit length criteria.
For example, a member specified initially as a channel will have a channel selected for it. Selection of members whose properties are originally provided from a user table will be limited to sections in the user table.
The design calculations for Member Selection are the same as for Code Checking.
Tip: A Fixed Group command is also
available, and can be used to force all members within a user-defined group to take the
same section size based on the most critical governing design criteria for all members
within that group. This is particularly useful when you want to use the Member Selection
feature, but want a group of elements to have the same size. Refer to
TR.50 Group Specification for information on using
this feature.
Note: Member Selection will change member sizes, and hence will change the structure’s stiffness matrix. In order to correctly account for this, a subsequent analysis and Code Check should be performed to ensure that the final structure is acceptable. This may need to be carried out over several iterations.
Note: Composite and prismatic sections cannot be selected.
Refer to
D1.B.1.4 Member Selection for general information on Member Selection. Refer to
TR.49.1 Member Selection Specification for details the specification of the Member Selection command.
Example of commands for member selection:
UNIT NEWTON METER
PARAMETER
FYLD 330E6 MEMB 3 4
NSF 0.85 ALL
KY 1.2 MEMB 3 4
RATIO 0.9 ALL
SELECT MEMB 3 4
