Depending on the model being designed, the user may have to change some or all of the parameter default values. Some parameters are unit dependent and when altered, the new setting must be compatible with the active “unit” specification.

The following table lists all the relevant EC3 parameters together with description and default values.

Notes

1. LEG – (Ref: Table 25 BS5950)  

   The slenderness of single and double angle, channel and tee sections are specified in BS 5950 table 25 depending on the connection provided at the end of the member (Refer to section 5B.5(A).2).  To define the appropriate connection, a LEG parameter should be assigned to the member.

   The following table indicates the value of the LEG parameter required to match the BS5950 connection definition:

   Table 2. LEG Parameter values

   Clause	Bolt Configuration	Leg	LEG Parameter
   4.7.10.2 Single Angle	(a) - 2 bolts	short leg	1
   		long leg	3
   	(b) - 1 bolts	short leg	0
   		long leg	2
   4.7.10.3 Double Angles	(a) - 2 bolts	short leg	3
   		long leg	7
   	(b) - 1 bolts	short leg	2
   		long leg	6
   	(c) - 2 bolts	long leg	1
   		short leg	5
   	(d) - 1 bolts	long leg	0
   		short leg	4
   4.7.10.4 Channels	(a) - 2 or more rows of bolts		1
   	(b) - 1 row of bolts		0
   4.7.10.5 Tee Sections	(a) - 2 or more rows of bolts		1
   	(b) - 1 row of bolts		0

   For single angles, the slenderness is calculated for the geometric axes, a-a and b-b as well as the weak v-v axis.  The effective lengths of the geometric axes are defined as:

   La = KY * KY

   Lb = KZ * LZ

   The slenderness calculated for the v-v axis is then used to calculate the compression strength pc for the weaker principal axis (z-z for ST angles or y-y for RA specified angles).  The maximum slenderness of the a-a and b-b axes is used to calculate the compression strength pc for the stronger principal axis.

   Alternatively for single angles where the connection is not known or Table 25 is not appropriate, by setting the LEG parameter to 10, slenderness is calculated for the two principal axes y-y and z-z only.  The LVV parameter is not used.

   For double angles, the LVV parameter is available to comply with note 5 in table 25. In addition, if using double angles from user tables, ( G.6.3 User-Provided Steel Table ) an eleventh value, rvv, should be supplied at the end of the ten existing values corresponding to the radius of gyration of the single angle making up the pair.

2. BEAM

   Ensure that this parameter is set to either 1 or 2 while performing code checking for members susceptible to Lateral - Torsional Buckling.

   Table 3. Values for the CMM Parameter

   CMM Value	Loading and Support Conditions
   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   6

3. Checking beam deflection

   With the TRACK parameter set to 4, the members included in a CHECK CODE command will be checked for the local axis deflection rather than for the stress capacity using the current LOAD LIST.

   If both stress capacity and deflection checks are required, then 2 parameter blocks with code checks are required, one with a TRACK 4 command and one with a TRACK 0, 1, or 2, thus:

   LOAD LIST 1 TO 10
   PARAMETER 1
   CODE EN 1993
   TRACK 2 ALL
   CHECK CODE MEMBER 1
   ***************************
   LOAD LIST 100 TO 110
   PARAMETER 2
   TRACK 4 ALL
   DFF 300 MEMB 1
   DJ1 1 MEMB 1
   DJ2 4 MEMB 1
   CODE MEMB 1

   Note: While both sets of code checks will be reported in the output file, only the last code check results are reported in the GUI.