Specification tab

Table 1. Beam Profiles group
Tool name		Description
Database		Click the drop-down arrow to display a gallery list of all database section tables. Click a country name or material to open the corresponding section table dialog.
Prismatic		Opens the Property dialog, which is used to assign Circular, Rectangular, Tee, Trapezoidal, General(arbitrary), etc. cross sections to the members.
Tapered		Opens the Tapered I Property dialog, which is used to specify an I-section having a varying depth over the length of the member.
User Table >	User Table Manager	Opens the User Table Manager dialog, which is used for adding and managing previously created user table sections to the structure.
User Table >	Assign from User Table	Opens the User Property Table dialog, which is used to assign previously created user table sections to the structure. Note: If you have not created any user-provided tables, then you will asked if you would like to create one first.
Assign		Opens the Assign Profile dialog, which is used to select a section profile and optional material to a member for member selection during design.

Table 2. Plate Profiles group
Tool name		Description
Plate Thickness	Opens the Plate Element/Surface Property dialog, which is used to provide plate element properties (thickness) with or without the material specification. Plates can have a different thickness at each node. Surfaces have a constant thickness.

Table 3. Material Constants group
Tool name		Description
Constants >	Young's Modulus	Opens the Material Constant - Elasticity dialog, which is used to assign the modulus of elasticity, E, based on a predefined material value or a custom value.
	Shear Modulus	Opens the Shear Modulus - G dialog, which is used to assign the shear modulus, G, based on a predefined material value or a custom value.
	Poisson's Ratio	Opens the Material Constant - Poisson's Ratio dialog, which is used to assign Poisson's ratio, ν, based on a predefined material value or a custom value.
	Density	Opens the Material Constant - Density dialog, which is used to assign the material density, γ, based on a predefined material value or a custom value.
	Thermal Coefficient	Opens the Material Constant - Alpha dialog, which is used to assign the thermal coefficient, α, based on a predefined material value or a custom value.
	Damping Ratio	Opens the Material Constant - Damping Ratio dialog, which is used to assign the damping ratio, c, based on a predefined material value or a custom value.

Table 4. Specifications group
Tool name		Description
Node >	Add Control/Dependent Specification	Opens the Node Specification dialog to the Control/Dependent tab, which is used to select a control node and the directions which other dependent nodes follow actions.
Node >	Delete Control/Dependent Specification	Used to delete a control/dependent specification.
Beam >	Beta Angle	Opens the Beta Angle dialog, which is used to specify the beta angle for members.
	Beam Reference Point	Opens the Reference Point dialog, which is used to specify a reference point for the members from which the program calculates the beta angle.
	Cable	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Cable tab, which is used to assign standard cable and nonlinear cable specifications.
	Compression Only	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Compression tab, which is used to define compression-only members. These members are capable of carrying compressive forces only.
	Tension Only	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Tension tab, which is used to define tension-only members. These members are capable of carrying tensile forces only.
	Truss	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Truss tab, which is used to specify truss members. These members are capable of carrying axial forces only.
	Imperfection	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Imperfection tab, which is used to assign camber or drift values to members.
	Cracked Property	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Property Reduction Factors tab, which is used to assign reduced (i.e., "cracked") section property factors to members.
	Release	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Release tab, which is used to assign releases, partial moment releases, or spring values to member ends.
	Offset	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Offset tab, which is used to assign member end offset values to a member end.
	Inactive	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Inactive tab, which is used to instruct the analysis and design engine to ignore a member for analysis.
	Fireproofing	Opens the Member Specification dialog to the Fire Proofing tab, which is used to assign block or contour fire proofing material to a member for weight calculations.
Plate >	Plate Reference Point	Opens the Plate Reference Point dialog, which is used to specify options for determining the general direction of the local Z axis of elements,
	Release	Opens the Plate Specs dialog to the Release tab, which is used to assign released degrees of freedom at a plate node.
	Ignore Inplane Rotation	Opens the Plate Specs dialog to the Ignore Inplane Rotation tab, which is used to override the value that STAAD determines for the stiffness associated with the local axis Mz degree of freedom for plate elements
	Rigid Inplane Rotation	Opens the Plate Specs dialog to the Rigid Inplane Rotation tab, which is used to connect corner Mz "in-plane rotation" actions so that the element will carry the Mz moment to other joints rigidly. This is typically used for elements connected directly to beams.
	Plane Stress	Opens the Plate Specs dialog to the Plane Stress tab, which is used to model plate elements as Plane Stress elements.
	Ignore Stiffness	Opens the Plate Specs dialog to the Ignore Stiffness tab, which is used to instruct the program to neglect the stiffness of the selected plates while assembling the stiffness matrix. Hence, the stiffness contribution of the selected plates is not considered. This is similar to the Inactive command for the members.

Table 5. Supports group
Tool name		Description
Fixed		Opens the Create Support dialog Fixed tab, which is used to create a fixed support tag and (optionally) to assign that to selected nodes. A Fixed support is restrained in all 6 degrees of freedom.
Pinned		Opens the Create Support dialog Pinned tab, which is used to create a pinned support tag and (optionally) to assign it to selected nodes. A Pinned support is restrained in all three translational degrees of freedom and free in the 3 rotational degrees of freedom.
Custom		Opens the Create Support dialog Fixed But tab, which is used to create various types of roller, hinge and spring supports with specified restrained degrees of freedom and to assign them to selected nodes.
Foundation		Opens the Create Support dialog Foundations tab, which is used to create spring supports for independent footings and mat foundations and to assign them to selected nodes.
One-way Spring		Opens the Create Support dialog Tension/Compression Only Spring tab, which is used to designate certain support springs as Tension-only or Compression-only springs.
Other Supports >	Inclined	Opens the Create Support dialog Inclined tab, which is used to create supports that offer restraints in an axis system that is inclined with respect to the global axis system.
	Mulit-Linear Spring	Opens the Create Support dialog Multilinear Spring tab, which is used to enter displacement and spring stiffness data pairs for a multilinear spring definition, which is then used for a Fixed But support type.
	Enforced	Opens the Create Support dialog Enforced tab, which is used to create a fixed-condition support defined in terms of being stiff springs.
	Custom Enforced	Opens the Create Support dialog Enforced But tab, which is used to create a fixed-condition support defined in terms of being stiff springs with the option to release selected degrees of freedom.