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Bar Section

Bar Section​

The Bar – Section dialogue defines the cross-sectional properties of line elements.

It is used by multiple tools (beam, column, truss, pile, etc.), but not all tools display the full layout.

When you open the Section tab, the following window appears:

Bar Section tab

Section type​

At the top of the dialogue are three main buttons:

  • Regular – opens the standard library of steel, concrete, timber and predefined bar sections
  • Composite – opens the library of composite sections
  • DELTABEAM – opens the DELTABEAM section library

When Regular is selected, the following additional option is available:

  • The same at both ends – when ticked, both ends of the bar share the same section
  • Start / End – become active if the checkbox is unticked, allowing different sections to be chosen for the start and end of the bar
info

Composite and DELTABEAM sections are always constant and no option is available for different ends.


Main layout​

The main part of the dialogue window is divided into three zones:

Left-hand side – Library list​
  • Find – search library by typing the name
  • Library tree organised by:
    • Group – e.g. Steel section, Hollow Core
    • Type – e.g. IPE, HD-F
    • Size – e.g. 100, 120-27
Top-right – Section image​

  • Shows the shape of the selected section

  • Local axes (z′, y′) and principal axes (1, 2) are marked

    tip

    Hovering over the image displays a pop-up with dimensions.

Bottom-right – Section data​

  • Table with cross-sectional parameters (e.g. area, shear center, moments of inertia)

    tip

    Hovering over a parameter name shows a tooltip with its description.


Buttons below the library​

  • Stress points – opens a dialogue for editing stress points (not available for DELTABEAM)
Library manipulation​

For Regular sections:

  • New > – opens a small menu with three options, each with a dedicated dialogue (read below in more detail):
    • Group
    • Type
    • Size
  • Modify – overwrite the Size name of the selected section
  • Delete – remove the selected section
  • Import – load a saved .fdsect library file. Entries with matching names will be ignored, keeping the local definitions
  • Export – save the library (or parts of it) to an external file

For Composite and DELTABEAM sections:

  • New – opens a dedicated dialogue for creating new composite or DELTABEAM sections
  • Modify – overwrite the selected entry
  • Delete – remove the selected entry
  • (No Import / Export available)

Creating new section​

For regular sections, you could either use the current dialogue to create parametric section shapes or use the dedicated Section Editor module. For Composite and DELTABEAM sections, only the current dialogue method is available.


Regular section​

The New > button in the section dialogue opens a small menu with three options. Each option has its own dedicated dialogue:

  • Group
  • Type
  • Size

New Group​

New Group dialogue

  • Name – text field for the name of the new section group
  • Material – drop-down list of predefined material types: concrete, steel, timber, generic

New Type​

New Type dialogue

  • Group – drop-down list of all predefined and user-defined groups
    • + – button next to the list opens the new group dialogue without closing the current window
  • Name – text field for the name of the new type
  • Manufacturing – drop-down list that refines the material type (options depend on the selected group material)
  • Shape – drop-down list of shape categories, based on the group material (e.g. I-sections, hollow sections, solid rectangles)

New Size​

New Size dialogue

The Size dialogue defines the actual geometry of the section.

Left-hand side:

  • List of all available shape types
  • Each material type is shown in a unique colour for easier recognition

Top-right:

  • Geometry settings and numeric parameters for the selected shape type
  • Shape image updates dynamically to explain the geometric parameter names

Bottom-right:

  • Group – drop-down with the currently selected group name
    • + – add a new group from here if needed
  • Type – drop-down with the currently selected type name
    • + – add a new type from here if needed
  • Name – text field for the name of the new section size

Composite section​

When you press the New button in the section dialogue while Composite type is active, a dedicated dialogue opens.

New Composite section dialogue

Left-hand side​
  • Library list of all possible composite shapes, each shown as an image
Middle top​
  • Shape image of the selected composite section
  • Dimension parameters displayed with labels
Middle bottom​
  • Geometry fields for entering dimensions of the chosen shape
  • Material settings for assigning material to section parts
Top-right​
  • Calculation type – drop-down menu to apply different parameters for various analysis types
    (e.g. 1st order ULS, 2nd order SLS combinations)
  • Image of the section - with accurate relative dimensions object axis
Bottom-right​

  • Calculated cross-sectional data fields (area, inertia, etc.). This is updated after pressing Calculate button

    tip

    Hovering over a parameter name shows a tooltip with its description.

Bottom of the dialogue​
  • Calculate – button to compute the section properties based on entered geometry and material settings

DELTABEAM section​

When you press the New button in the section dialogue while DELTABEAM type is active, a dedicated dialogue opens.

New DELTABEAM section dialogue

Left-hand side​
  • Section image with labelled dimensions
  • Provides a visual reference for entering geometry
Right-hand side​
  • Geometrical properties – numeric fields for section dimensions
  • Material properties – drop-down menus and fields to assign the material characteristics for the beam

Stress points​

The Stress points… button is available for Regular and Composite sections.
It opens a dialogue where you can view or modify the stress-point coordinates used in section analysis results.

Stress points dialogue

Left-hand side​
  • Table of points – lists all stress points with their x′ and z′ coordinates
  • For Regular sections, you can edit the coordinates directly
  • For Composite sections, the coordinates are fixed and cannot be changed
Right-hand side​
  • Section image – shows the shape of the section with all characteristic stress points marked
  • Updates dynamically when you change coordinates in the table
tip

Stress points are used to monitor stress change along the bar in detailed bar stress results.