(Or "How to Modify the Dr. Frame 2.0 Cross Section Database SectionData.txt")

Introduction

Dr. Frame uses a simple 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 reads cross section property data from the file SectionData.txt file which must be located in the same folder as the application.

The cross sections defined in the default file are a subset of those defined in AISC's LRFD Manual of Steel Construction, 2nd Edition.

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

Cross section property values can be defined in either English or S.I. (metric) units, but the software assumes specific units for each recognizable property (as described further below).

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 consisting of the text BEGINFAMILY.
• The unit system used to define the section family is specified on the second line.
  • The keyword metric indicates that all measured section properties are specified in millimeters (mm) and all computed properties are in centimeters (e.g., area = cm^2, section modulus = cm^3, moment of inertia = cm^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.
• 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 of the family definition.

• 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 (Alt Tag)		Property Represented	English Units	Metric Units
    Section * Number * d (h) d_f tw (s) bf (b) tf (t) k * r * bf/2tf (b/2t) * d/tw (d_f/s) * Area (A) Ix Iy Sx Sy rx * ry * J * Zx Zy X1 X2 end		Section name Section ID Number section depth (height) depth between fillets web thickness width of web flange thickness fillet distance root radius ratio ratio Area moment of inertia, strong axis moment of inertia, weak axis elastic section modulus, strong axis elastic section modulus, weak axis radius of gyration, strong axis radius of gyration, weak axis torsional constant plastic section modulus, strong axis plastic section modulus, weak axis LRFD beam buckling factor (eqn. F1-8) LRFD beam buckling factor (eqn. F1-9) indicate end of section definition	N/A N/A in in in in in in in N/A N/A in^2 in^4 in^4 in^3 in^3 in in in^4 in^3 in^3 ksi 1/ksi^2 N/A	N/A N/A mm mm mm mm mm mm mm N/A N/A cm^2 cm^4 cm^4 cm^3 cm^3 cm cm cm^4 cm^3 cm^3 -- -- N/A

    • * denotes values are for reference only.
      N.B.: the elastic modulus is denoted S and the plastic modulus is denoted Z and not the reverse.
• 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.