Training 5: Units, and shapes from other markets
Each calculation has its own Units switch: US or Metric. The report and the sheet follow it. Switching converts every value, and nothing is lost going back and forth.
A new calculation in Metric #
Choose Metric in the Wizard. A new calculation starts from round metric values, not from converted ones: 345 MPa, 10.7 m. The steel beam's default in Metric:
The result is W530X74 beam, 10.7 m, on A992 at 345 MPa, with D = 6.6 and L = 11 kN/m.
| Check | Required | Available | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexural strength | 377.8 kN-m | 559.3 kN-m | 0.675 |
| Live load deflection | 22.9 mm | 29.7 mm | 0.771 |
| Total load deflection | 38.2 mm | 44.6 mm | 0.857 |
The shape list shows the AISC metric designations. A W530X74 is the W21X50 of Training 1. The design code is still AISC 360 and ASCE 7, in metric units.
Shapes from other markets #
On the steel beam and the steel column, the Shape list can change from AISC Shapes Database (US) to Other markets (section database). Then choose Region, Family and Designation.
For this example: Region Europe, Family HEB, Designation HEB 300, Fy = 355 MPa and Fu = 490 MPa, with the loads and span above.
HEB 300 beam, 10.7 m at 355 MPa is not adequate. Flexure is fine, 597.0 kN-m and a ratio of 0.645, but the total load deflection is 63.6 mm against 44.6 mm, a ratio of 1.426. Auto-design stays in the family you chose: it proposes HEB 340, ratio 0.988.
Three things to keep in mind:
- The code stays AISC 360. A shape from another market is checked to AISC 360 with your material, not to its own national code, and the sheet says so.
- Fy and Fu are yours. There is no default and no assumed grade. Whether that material suits AISC 360 (Section A3.1) is your judgment.
- No published example applies AISC 360 to a non-US shape, so this path is checked by hand calculations and by running US shapes through the same database. See Steel beam, verification.
Next: the worked calculations, starting with Steel.