(Or "How to Modify the Cross Section Database SectionData.txt")

Introduction

Dr. Frame and Dr. Beam Pro share a common member cross section database format. In many situations users may want to modify the default database. This page documents the current format as an aid to users wanting to augment or replace the default sections.

Overview

Dr. Frame and Dr. Beam Pro read cross section property data from the file CrossSection.txt file which must be located in the same folder as each application.

CrossSection.txt is an ASCII text file and the data is organized by section families. Each section family definition includes some header information and section cross section properties in a simple tabulated format.

The Member Info Dialog will report all property values in the currently selected unit system (as selected in the Units Dialog, available via the Options>Units menu selection).

Database Structure

Consider the following sample section family definition for reference:

BEGINFAMILY

englishUnits

test1

2

Section Number Area Ix Sx Zx end Sample1 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Sample2 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4

END

Which results in the following when viewed in the Member Info Dialog.

Notes:

• The beginning of a section family is denoted by a leading line containing the text BEGINFAMILY.
• The unit system used to define the section family is specified on the second line.
  • The keyword metric indicates that all section properties are specified in millimeters (mm, mm^2, mm^3, in^4).
  • The keyword englishUnits indicates all section properties are specified in inches in, in^2, in^3, in^4).
• The third line contains the name of the section family assigned by the user.
• The fourth line indicates the number of sections being defined in the family.

The section properties are defined in tabulated data in the remaining lines.

• The fifth line contains the headings of the tabulated property data. Note that these tags are case sensitive.
  • The first two headings must be Section and Number, signifying the section name and a section ID number, both of which are arbitrarily assigned by the user.
  • The last heading must be end, indicating the end of the section definition.
  • The intermediate headings can be included in any order. In its present implementation Dr. Frame requires section properties to be named by the tags specified in the table below. Other data could be included for reference as well, however, it is important to note that Dr. Frame will internally consider all other values to have units of length (mm for metric definitions and inch for englishUnit definitions). 

    Tag		Property (Units)
    Section Number Area d tw bf tf k bf/2tf d/tw Ix Sx rx Iy Sy ry J Zx Zy X1 X2 end		User-defined name (N/A) User-defined ID Number (N/A) Area (length^2) section depth (length) web thickness (length) width of web (length) flange thickness (length) fillet distance (length) ratio (dimensionless) ratio (dimensionless) moment of inertia, strong axis (length^4) section modulus, strong axis (length^3) radius of gyration, strong axis (length) moment of inertia, weak axis (length^4) section modulus, weak axis (length^3) radius of gyration, weak axis (length) torsional constant (length^4) plastic section modulus, strong axis (length^3) plastic section modulus, weak axis (length^3) indicate end of section definition

• The remaining lines for each family will specify the section property values in the order specified in the fifth line.
• The last line contains the word END indicating the end of the section definition.
• A blank line separates section family definitions.

It is worth noting that the Dr. Frame cross section database is in the process of being renovated. The next generation section database will be implemented in XML and will allow more general and flexible section and property definition. Dr. Software will provide a means for updating existing section databases when the new format is available so that you need not worry about losing currently customized databases.