Did you know that you could use Consteel to build 3D models with smart link elements which automatically adapt the model when profiles are changed?

Link elements are used to connect members that are not directly joined. In Consteel, three types of link elements are available: Link, Smart Link, and Constraints.

A smart link is a dynamic connection element designed to simplify the management of geometric changes between connected members. It automatically follows the movement, rotation, or profile changes of the primary member it is attached to, while also ensuring that any connected secondary member adapts accordingly.

A common application is connecting a main beam to a purlin or other secondary elements, with smart links positioned at specific points. They enable easy attachment of additional members while preserving the defined eccentricity, and automatically adapt to any changes in the main beam’s geometry or profile.

The Smart Link function, located on the Structural Members tab, opens the Edit Smart Link dialog box after activating the command. This allows you to:

• define the eccentricity of the link relative to the main section

• set the connection type in the Release field

The connection position can be specified manually or left to default automatically to the edge of the main member.

Defining the connecting section is optional. When specified, an eccentricity can be assigned, and the program automatically determines the link length based on the section height and reference point.

Smart links can be placed individually by clicking on a member or in groups by specifying distances from the member’s start. Any placement conflicts are indicated by a warning.

By combining associative behavior with precise control, Smart Links support efficient and reliable 3D modeling in Consteel. They help maintain structural intent throughout design changes, reduce manual corrections, and improve overall model consistency.

For workflows where geometry evolves and secondary members must remain accurately connected, Smart Links provide a clear advantage and enable a more resilient and adaptable modeling process.

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Did you know that you could use Consteel to determine the optimum number of shear connectors for composite beams?

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Did you know that you could use Consteel to perform local and distortional buckling checks for cold-formed members?

First, sections must be loaded into the model. To load cold-formed sections, you can choose from four options: From library, Macro section, Draw section, or My library.

After the first-order and buckling analyses are completed, you can proceed to the Ultimate limit state check settings and enable the steel design cross-section and buckling checks. At the bottom of the steel design section, there is an option to Consider the supplementary rules from EN 1993-1-3 for the design of cold-formed sections. This checkbox must be selected if you want to design cold-formed sections.

When the calculation is finished, by opening the Section module, we can review all the properties of the Effective section of the elastic plate segment model. By opening each plate element, we can verify the length, effective length, thickness, effective thickness, slenderness, and reduction factor separately. In addition, the properties of the stiffeners can also be verified: area, moment of inertia, lateral spring stiffness, critical stress, reduction factor, compressive stress, reduced effective area, and reduced thickness.

Similarly, the stresses can also be checked from the Properties tab. In the colored figure or diagram view, all the calculated stresses can be seen together with their resultants.

Consteel automatically takes into account the effect of distortional buckling when calculating the effective sections of cold-formed thin-walled sections.

Moving on to the Standard resistance tab in the Section module, all calculated results can be verified, not only the dominant one. By opening the Global stability resistance check, we can see that, since we enabled the option to consider the supplementary rules from EN 1993-1-3 for the design of cold-formed sections, results are available both according to EN 1993-1-1 and according to EN 1993-1-3.

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Did you know that you could use Consteel to calculate effective cross-section properties for Class 4 sections?

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When applying design rules in load combination filter, the most frequently used utilization type is Steel – Dominant results. What results are exactly considered by this option and what do corresponding limitations mean?

Introduction

There are four ways to apply load combination filter: based on limit states and load cases, manually, and by rules. Unlike the other three methods, filter by rules is only possible based on analysis and/or design results.

The most effective way to reduce the number of load combinations is definitely the use of design rules.

With design rules, load combinations can be selected based on utility ratios. Utilizations are available from several design checks, including dominant results and detailed verifications for steel elements, such as general elastic cross-section check, pure resistances, interactions, and global stability.

The meaning of the dominant check

The dominant check is not always the check which gives the maximal ratio but the one with the maximum RELEVANT ratio. Typical example: if plastic interaction formulas are valid, those results will be dominant over general elastic cross-section check results, although the latter are higher.

Steel – Dominant results

Steel – Dominant results option contains the utility ratio of the dominant check at every finite element node, in all load combinations. Meaning that there are as many utilization values as the number of load combinations calculated, in every FE node.

It is also important to understand the difference between the utilizations of Maximum of dominant results and Steel -Dominant results. Maximum of dominant results option contains the dominant utility ratio of the dominant load combination at every node, like an envelope of Steel-Dominant results. Meaning there is only one utilization value in every FE node. Also, it is the same as the dominant result table on Global checks tab.

When a rule is applied, the utilizations of the chosen utilization type are compared against the limitation. The load combinations which give the results that correspond to the limitation, are selected by the rule. Every FE node of the selected model portion is examined.

Limitations in case of Steel – Dominant results

• Maximum: to select the combinations which cause the maximum utilization at any node. It can be the same as Maximum of dominant results, except if there are combinations where the utilization is the same and it is maximal. In this case, here all the combinations are selected, while with Maximum of dominant results, there is always one maximum.
• More than % of maximum: to select the combinations as in ’Maximum’ plus those which cause utilization that is more than the given percentage of the maximum. E.g. at a certain point max utility ratio is 80%, Limitation= More than 90% of maximum. This rule will select all the load combinations which cause utility ratios between 0,9*80=72% and 80%.
• More than: to select the combinations which cause utilization more than the defined value at any point.

Let’s see an example of a simple 2D frame for better explanation. Right-side beam is in the portion for which three design rules were applied. Five points are selected for representation but of course all the nodes of the portion are examined against the rules’ limitations.

The utilizations of the five dedicated FE node in all 11 load combinations are shown on the below diagram. (To find all of these utilizations in the attached model, global checks must be calculated for the load combinations one-by-one.)

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Did you know that you could use Consteel to Consider the shear stiffness of a steel deck as stabilization for steel members?

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Did you know that you could use Consteel to draw a user-defined cross section and calculate its section properties?

In our previous article, we showed how predefined macro geometries make modelling fast and efficient. Later, we demonstrated how Consteel evaluates local and distortional buckling according to EN 1993-1-3.

This article focuses on the most flexible solution within this workflow: creating your own cross-section from scratch using the Section drafter module.

For line member modelling, the cross-section must first be loaded into the model. Besides using standard library profiles or macro sections, you can also choose the Draw Section option. This function is especially useful when a special geometry is required that cannot be reproduced with predefined macros, for example manufacturer-specific shapes, research sections, welded thin-walled members, or prototype geometries.

The Section drafter can be started from the Section Administration dialog by pressing the Draw section button. After launching the function, you need to select the section type, material quality and assign a name.

Two types of cross-sections are available: Cold formed section and General thin-walled section. This selection is not only geometric but also analytical.

Cold-formed sections are drawn with a single reference line and uniform thickness. During the calculation, Consteel automatically considers distortional buckling effects according to EN 1993-1-3. These sections can later be used in purlin line objects if they are defined as Z- or C-like shapes.

General thin-walled sections allow different thicknesses along the contour and closed geometries. They are typically used for welded or fabricated sheet sections. In this case, strength, local and global stability checks are available, but distortional buckling evaluation is not included.

The drawing environment provides full control over geometry. Plate segments can be defined by coordinate input or by graphical selection. Cartesian or polar coordinates can be used, in local or global systems. Roundings are generated automatically between segments and can be modified later. The nominal thickness is also specified at this stage.

For cold-formed sections, stiffeners can be inserted using predefined macros, making it easier to model edge or intermediate stiffeners. However, these become structurally effective only after they are properly defined in the final phase of the section creation process.

Once the geometry is complete, the required design parameters must be specified. For cold-formed sections, this includes the manufacturing type, thickness tolerance category and buckling curves. These inputs influence the calculated design wall thickness and stability verification. In the next step, the program evaluates the classification of each plate segment and determines the effective widths used in resistance calculations.

If stiffeners are present, they must be defined explicitly. When the section is identified as Z- or C-like, Consteel can automatically determine the critical stress of the stiffeners in accordance with EN 1993-1-3. This ensures that distortional buckling and stiffener interaction are properly considered during design.

After saving the section, it can be assigned to line members just like any library or macro profile. Following structural analysis, steel design checks can be performed. As shown in our article on buckling checks, the Section module allows detailed review of effective cross-sectional properties, reduction factors, slenderness values and stiffener behaviour. Consteel automatically accounts for distortional buckling when the supplementary rules of EN 1993-1-3 are enabled.

By combining library, macro, and user-defined sections, Consteel provides a complete workflow: fast modelling with macros, precise verification through buckling checks, and full flexibility with custom cross-sections.

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Did you know that you could use Consteel to include in your model a wide range of cold-formed macro sections?

For line member modelling, the cross-section must first be loaded into the model. In Consteel, there are four options to do this, either starting from the Section Administrator or directly during beam or column modelling: From Library, Macro Section, Draw Section, or My Library.

Cold-formed sections can be created using any of these four methods. Standard cold-formed cross-sections can simply be selected from the library. However, if a special cold-formed section is needed, it can be created via Macro Sections, including: RHS, CHS, L profile, Z shape, C shape, Sigma section, Zeta section, Hat section with stiffeners, double C section, double Sigma section, and double user-defined sections.

Macro sections are easy to create because the essential geometric characteristics are predefined, and the parameters can be modified intuitively. It is also possible to add profile stiffeners. Flange and web stiffeners can be configured in various forms, including single and double options. These defined stiffeners are included in the structural evaluation of distortional buckling, according to EN 1993-1-3.

The thickness tolerance category must be specified. This determines the design wall thickness for the section. In practice, macros follow the commonly applied tolerance categories used for coated steel sheet products.

If you want to use a double section, make sure to load into the model first the section that you want to duplicate.

For very special or unique sections, the Draw Section function can be used. This allows users to create fully custom cross-sections when standard or macro shapes are insufficient, by manually sketching the geometry.

Sections can be defined as cold-formed or general thin-walled, which determines how they are analyzed: cold-formed sections have uniform thickness and account for distortional buckling, while general thin-walled sections allow varied thicknesses and closed shapes, typically for welded or fabricated profiles.

This approach is especially useful for modelling unique shapes, prototypes, or as-built sections, giving full control over every segment to accurately capture geometries that standard libraries or macros cannot reproduce.

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Did you know that you could use Consteel to perform structural analysis at room and elevated temperatures as part of design process for fire resistance?

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Consteel offers a range of load combination filtering options, which can be applied based on limit states, load cases, and analysis and design results. By applying different series of filters, designers can streamline their workflow and reduce calculation time.

Filtering options

Filtering is realized through the Load combination set definition window.

Filtering by limit states and by load cases are handled together with the checkboxes under the Limit states and Load cases buttons.

The 3-state checkboxes affect each other as they are not only used for selection but also for indication of the content. They can be manually set only to checked or unchecked. The middle state only appears when other filters are applied.

Filtering by limit states or load cases does not require any calculation results.

Filter by rules, on the other hand,is based on the actual analysis and/or design results. Different types of rules can be applied one by one or at the same time to select the desired load combinations.

When a rule is applied, all the load combinations that are selected on the Load combination set definition dialog- either with filtering by limit states/load cases or checked in manually- are examined at every position the rule indicates. Load combinations that meet the rule’s criteria are selected (remain checked in), while those that do not, become unchecked.

• With analysis rules, load combinations can be selected based on deformations or internal forces at either every finite element node or only at the member ends. This last one is included specifically for connection design. Deformations are checked in SLS combinations, internal forces are checked in ULS combinations only.
• With buckling rules, those ULS load combinations can be selected which have the elastic critical load factor (first buckling eigenvalue) less than the given limit.
• With design rules, load combinations can be selected based on utility ratios checked in every finite element node of the chosen portion. Utilizations are available from several design checks: dominant results and detailed verifications for steel elements such as general elastic cross-section check, pure resistances, interactions and global stability. Only ULS combinations can be filtered with design rules.

Interaction of the different filter types

Let’s see an example.

It is a simple 2D frame model, with 27 load combinations of various limit states generated. Analysis and design results are calculated for all load combinations.

If applying design rule to select only those load combinations which result dominant utilization over 50%,

4 load combinations will be selected (Load combination set 1):

But if ULS Accidental limit state is turned off before applying the same 50% filter,  

only one load combination is selected (see Load combination set 2).

Application of multiple rules

Applying multiple rules together results in the sum of the lists that would have been created separately.

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