Cold-formed Steel Design

[awa5114]

I am new to cold formed steel design. I need to check some purlins which are designated (PUR) 10x2-1/2 Z12 in the as-builts. As-builts date from 2006. These are cold-formed steel members, I assume. I was planning to use LG Beamer to do cold-formed steel checks but the beam designations they use are unrecognizable (550 S137-33, For example). And it doesn't seem like they have z-clips. Can this, or alternative software give me a proper check for these members? Thanks

 

[MacGruber22]

550S137-33 is a standard nomenclature per SSMA (Steel Stud Manufacturers Association). "S" = stud section.

Try going to Section --> Geometry --> Custom

I have never used Lg Beamer for custom shapes - I will use "CFS". Same company who makes LG Beamer makes CFS, which can handle any custom CF shape.

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."

 

[awa5114]

MacGruber,

LGBeamer appears to also be able to handle custom CF shapes. I have a question though, what standard nomenclature does 10x2.5 Z12 follow? I'm seeing several manufacturers (Garco, ACI building systems) using this nomenclature so am of the opinion that it is general rather than proprietary... would you agree?

 

[Guastavino]

I would hazard a guess, albeit a guess, that a 10x2.5 z12 is a 10" deep, 2.5" wide flange, 12 gage zee shape. Try google and try getting your hands on some old cold formed manuals. Contact garço and ask for an old pdf manual, etc.

 

[MacGruber22]

I agree with njlutzwe - the problem is knowing the angle and length of the bent lip on the flanges.

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."

 

[Ron]

Why would you rely on software to do such a design check? You obviously have too many questions about the efficacy of the software and the sections involved. Gut it out and do it by hand. You learn something and you'll have a better handle on whether it is correct or not.

 

[awa5114]

Hi njlutzwe. Thanks for your help. My issue here is I'm trying to get a database for cold-formed shapes following this nomenclature. I believe I could input this into LGBeamer which would then be able to run the design calculations. The issue here is getting a hold of such a database. My assumption here is that if I know what nomenclature convention 10x2.5 z12 is using, ( I believe it might be MBMA (Metal Building Manufacturers Association)) I could check any other members using this nomenclature. I need this because the current project I'm working on is a set of many structural drawings for a cold-formed building all using this convention (and 10x2.5 z12 is only one of them). Maybe, given the nomenclature, I could get my hands on something similar to the AISC shapes excel database. Thanks for your help.

 

[hokie66]

Isn't Google your friend? When I input 10x2.5Z12, I get lots of hits, some with all the properties listed.

 

[awa5114]

Allright, heres what I have found out since the last post. I emailed MBMA and got the following response:

"Thank you for contacting us regarding a Z-shape database. Although building manufacturers use a similar nomenclature for their Z-shapes, Z-shapes used in metal buildings are not standardized; the dimensions of similar sections vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, such as the flange stiffener length and angle. The nomenclature is not a MBMA convention. The best source of information would be from the building manufacturer.

You may find the attached article helpful on your project. The article contains information on reinforcing metal buildings, and includes information on material strengths.

We hope you find the information helpful. Please contact us if you need additional information."

The article attached I have included in this post. It's clear to me the nomenclature follows a particular manufacturer, now the question is WHAT manufatcturer? Garco has an identical shape. However the as-builts date from 2014 and were developed by "GEM Buildings". GEM buildings do not have a catalog or sub-manufacturer listed on their website. Ideally I'm looking for span tables or a clause that gives me a legitimate code under which to design these members.

 

[BSVBD]

I use ENERCALC to design CFS.

There is an ability to enter "User Defined" Steel Database.

Admittedly, it takes time to develop a database, but, over the years, when entering data for those sections that i am seeking to use, the database grows.

Unfortunately, i HAVE lost data through past software updates, but, that's all part of the mishaps we have to deal with on occasion.

 

[XR250]

Why would you rely on software to do such a design check? You obviously have too many questions about the efficacy of the software and the sections involved. Gut it out and do it by hand. You learn something and you'll have a better handle on whether it is correct or not.

Gawd, those are awful equations to go through. I went thru them to create a spreadsheet for design about 20 years ago., but simply use AISIWIN 8 now or CFS.

 

[wannabeSE]

XR250,
What's wrong, you don't like going through iterative calculations to find the effective section properties

 

[BUGGAR]

AISI design calculations are male childbirth

 

[dik]

You might want to look at a program called CUFSA, this is a free finite strip approach to CFS.

Dik