Yes, Diamonds can do a design for cold formed cross-sections on the condition the relevant parameters are available. In the article below, we’ll discuss which parameters you need.
Regular versus thin-walled cross-sections
Eurocode makes a distinction between
- Regular steel cross-sections who can have the production methods: hot rolled, welded or cold formed
These cross-sections have a thickness t >= 3mm and are designed using EN 1993-1-1. - Thin walled steel cross-section who have the production method: cold-formed
These cross-sections have a thickness t < 3mm and are designed using EN 1993-1-3.
Diamonds contains a library of common thin walled cross-sections (MRP, Brause, Joris Ide, Sadef). For those sections, Diamonds will automatically apply EN 1993-1-3.
Any other type of cross-section is default calculated according to EN 1993-1-1. However, if the thickness < 3mm and the production method is defined as ‘cold formed’, you can impose Diamonds to use EN 1993-1-3 by checking this option. The parameters VzRd, VyRd and fya required for the design, need to be imposed by the user.
Effective properties
Eurocode organizes cross-sections into four classes that describe the behaviour of that cross-section.
- Class 1 & 2 are plastic cross-sections
- Class 3 are elastic cross-sections
- And Class 4 are slender cross-sections.
For classes 1 to 3, it’s easy to determine the section properties required to do a design according to EN 1993. Class 4 on the other hand, requires effectieve properties to do a design according to EN 1993… which are much harder to determine.
‘Regular’ steel cross-sections can be of class 1 to 4. Thin walled cross-sections are almost always of class 4.
The table below gives an overview for which cross-sections Diamonds has these effective properties.
| Effective properties if of class 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
 You choose from the available dimensions1 |
All cross sections proceeded by  |
can be calculated by Diamonds or are provided by manufacturer2 |
 You pick a shape and impose the dimensions yourself |
 |
are calculated by Diamonds |
 |
must be imposed by the user | |
 |
cannot be calculated or imposed thus a design it not possible | |
 |
cannot be calculated or imposed thus a design it not possible2 | |
 |
these shapes are only avaiblable for concrete design |
category.
2 Diamonds contains a lot of commercial thin walled cross-sections (see list below). Buildsoft has received the effective properties of those sections from the manufactureres. For that reason, you cannot just adjust the dimensions and expect Diamonds to calcualte the effective properties.
Which commercial thin walled cross-sections are in Diamonds
The table below gives an overview of all commercial thin walled cross-sections in Diamonds:
| MRP | Brausa | Sadef | Joris Ide |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
