Member Strengthening

The section library in Mstower supports standard structural sections and a limited range of compound sections composed of angles and channels. All compounds must use sections of the same size. When tower members are strengthened it is common for sections of different size and possibly type to be used. While some non-standard compound sections may be modelled by adjusting library properties, this is not a transparent procedure and may not be able to completely define the properties to be used. To enable these compounds to be better modelled, it is proposed to add a number of optional parameters to the specification of sections in the SECTION block of the tower data file.

n sname [X|Y] . [FU fu] [ WW ww ] [ NSA nsa ] [ AT at ] [AC ac ] [ RX rx ] [ RY ry ] [ RV rv ] WW ww Key-word. Wind width, the total width of the compound section to be used in solidity and wind load calculations.

NSA Key-word. nsa Non-structural cross sectional area. The sum of the structural and non-structural crosssectional area is used in mass calculations. AT at Key-word. Cross-sectional area to be used in calculating the tensile capacity of the member. The program will use this value without any further allowance for bolt holes or eccentricity of connection. If not specified, the tensile cross-sectional area of the parent section will be used. Key-word. Cross-sectional area to be used in calculating the compressive capacity of the member. The program will use this value without further adjustment to take account of slender plate elements in the compound section. If not specified, the full cross-sectional area of the parent section will be used. Key-word. Radius of gyration about the compound sections XX axis. If not specified, that of parent section will be used. Key-word. Radius of gyration about the compound sections YY axis. If not specified, that of parent section will be used. Key-word. Radius of gyration about the compound sections minor principal, VV, axis. If not specified, that of parent section will be used.

AC ac

RX rx

RY ry

RV rv

The modified properties must be in millimetre units, regardless of the units of the section library from which the parent section comes. When determining the modified properties, you must make an assessment of the structural behaviour of the compound section is the load shared between the components of the compound or does the additional section just stiffen the original member.

If the load is fully shared, the structural properties should be those of the full compound. Particular attention should be paid to detailing joints and shear connections between the components to ensure that the assumption of load sharing is achieved. If the added section is used to stiffen the original member, the cross-sectional areas should be those of the original member but the radii of gyration those of the compound section. Again, particular attention must be paid to ensure that the structural behaviour is as assumed.