7C.

6 Design Parameters Page 1 of 16

European Codes - Steel Design to Eurocode 3 [EN 1993-1-1:2005]

7C.6 Design Parameters

Design parameters communicate specific design decisions to the program. They are set to default
values to begin with and may be altered to suite the particular structure.

Depending on the model being designed, you may have to change some or all of the parameter default
values. Some parameters are unit dependent and when altered, the n setting must be compatible with
the active “unit” specification.

Table 7C.4 lists all the relevant EC3 parameters together with description and default values.
Table 7C.2-Steel Design Parameters EC3 EN

Parameter Default Description

Name Value

CODE - Must be specified as EN 1993-1-1:2005 to

invoke design per Eurocode 3:2005 (EN 1993).

Design Code to follow.

See section 5.48.1 of the Technical Reference

Manual.

ALH 0.5 The ratio of the distance of the point torque

(from the start of the member) to the length
of the member. The default value of 0.5
represents torque acting at the mid-span of a
symmetrically loaded member. Values can
range from 0 to 1.

ALPHA 1.0 Used to input a user defined value for the α

factor in equation 6.41 for combined bending
and axial force checks.

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

BEAM 3
Parameter to control the number of sections
to checked along the length of a beam:

1. Check at location of maximum Mz

along beam

2. Check sections with end forces and

forces at location of BEAM 1.0 check.

3. Check at every 1/13th point along the

beam and report the maximum

BETA 1.0 Used to input a user defined value for the β

factor in equation 6.41 for combined bending
and axial force checks.

C1 1.132 Corresponds to the C1 factor to be used to

calculate Elastic critical moment Mcr as per
Clause 6.3.2.2

C2 0.459 Corresponds to the C2 factor to be used to

calculate Elastic critical moment Mcr as per
Clause 6.3.2.2

C3 0 Corresponds to the C3 factor to be used to

calculate Elastic critical moment Mcr as per
Clause 6.3.2.2

CAN 0 Member will be considered as a cantilever

type member for deflection checks.

0 indicates that member will not

be treated as a cantilever
member

1 indicates that the member will

be treated as a cantilever
member

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

CMM 1.0 Indicates type of loading and support

conditions on member. Used to calculate the
C1, C2, and C3 factors to be used in the Mcr
calculations.

Can take a value from 1 to 8.

Refer to Table 7C.5 for more information on

its use.

CMN 1.0 Indicates the level of End-Restraint.

1.0 = No fixity

0.5 = Full fixity

0.7 = One end free and other

end fixed

CMT 1
Used to indicate the loading and support
condition for torsion (ref. SCI publication
P-057).

Can take a value of 1-7. The values correspond

to the various cases defined in section 6 and
App. B of SCI-P-057.

Refer to Table 7C.6 for more information

DFF
0 "Deflection Length" / Max.. allowable local
(Mandatory deflection
for
See Note 1d below.
deflection
check,
TRACK 4.0)

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

DJ1
Start Joint Joint No. denoting starting point for
of member calculation of "Deflection Length" . See Note 1
below.

DJ2
End Joint of Joint No. denoting end point for calculation of
member "Deflection Length". See Note 1 below.

DMAX 100.0 cm Maximum allowable depth for the member.

DMIN 0 Minimum required depth for the member.

EFT Member Effective length for torsion. A value of 0

Length defaults to the member length.

ELB 0
Used to specify the method for combined
axial load + bending checks

0. Uses Cl. 6.2.9 of EN 1993-1-1:2005

1. Uses Cl. 6.2.1(7) - Eqn. 6.2 of EN 1993-

1-1:2005

ESTIFF 0
(For use with the Dutch NA only) Method for
checking columns forming part of
(non)/buttressed framework:

0. Checks per Cl 12.3.1.2.3 of NEN 6770:

Section 1

1. Checks per Cl 12.3.1.2.3 of NEN 6770:

Section 2

See "Clause 12.3.1.2.3 (NEN 6770):

Rotation/bending capacity" for additional
description on this parameter.

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

FAB 3
Used to specify the fabrication class to be
used to check for slender (Class 4) CHS/pipe
sections (EN 1993-1-6:2007)

1. Class A – Excellent

2. Class B – High

3. Class C – Normal

FU 0 Ultimate tensile strength of steel.

GM0 1.0 Corresponds to the γm0 factor in EN 1993-

1-1:2005

GM1 1.0 Corresponds to the γm1 factor in EN 1993-

1-1:2005

GM2 1.25 Corresponds to the γm2 factor in EN 1993-

1-1:2005

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

GST 0
Used to specify the section type to be used for
designing a “General Section” from the user
table. The member will be considered as the
specified type with the user defined
properties. The available options and
corresponding values are as below:

0. I-Section

1. Single Channel

2. Rectangular Hollow Section

3. Circular Hollow Section

4. Angle Section

5. Tee Section

This parameter will be ignored if it

has been assigned to any section
other than a General Section.

KC 1.0
Corresponds to the correction factor as per
Table 6.6 of EN 1993-1-1:2005. Program will
calculate kc automatically if this parameter is
set to 0.

For the British, Singapore, & Polish

NAs, kc will be calculated as given in
the NA by default.

KY 1.0 K factor in local y axis. Used to calculate the

effective length for slenderness and buckling
calculations.

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

KZ 1.0 K factor in local z axis. Used to calculate the

effective length for slenderness and buckling
calculations.

LEG 0
Slenderness values for angles as determined
from BS 5950-2000 Table 25.

See "British Codes - Steel Design per

BS5950:2000"

LVV Max. value Leg length for Lvv (length about v-v- axis of
of Lyy single angle section), as per Lyy. Used for
slenderness calculations.

LY Member Compression length in local y axis,

Length Slenderness ratio = (KY)*(LY)/(Ryy)

LZ Member Compression length in local z axis,

Length Slenderness ratio = (KZ)*(LZ)/(Rzz)

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

MTH 0
Used to select the clause to be used to
calculate the LTB reduction factor, χLT. The
available options and corresponding values
are as below:

0. Use default method based on section

type (default)

1. Use Cl.6.3.2.2

2. Use Cl.6.3.2.3

By default, the program will use Cl 6.3.2.3 for

rolled & built-up I-sections and Cl. 6.3.2.2 for
all other sections. If, however, the specified
National Annex expands on Cl. 6.3.2.3 to
include other section types (e.g., the UK NA),
the program will use Cl. 6.3.2.3 by default for
that particular section type.

See "European Codes - National Annexes to

Eurocode 3 [EN 1993-1-1:2005]" for
additional details on NA documents.

MU 0
To be used with CMM values of 7 and 8. See
Table 7C.4.

Currently valid only with the French &

Belgian NAs.

NA 0 Choice of National Annex to be used for EC3

design. See "European Codes - National
Annexes to Eurocode 3 [EN 1993-1-1:2005]"
for values allowed for this parameter.

(See "National Annex Documents" for more

information)

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

NSF 1.0 Net tension factor for tension capacity

calculation.

PLG 0
To be used to determine whether to include
the additional interaction checks as per CL.
NA.20(2) and NA.20(3) of the Polish National
Annex.

This parameter will be applicable only

to the Polish NA

PY Yield The yield strength default value is set based

Strength on the default value of the SGR parameter.

RATIO 1 Permissible ratio of loading to capacity.

SBLT 0.0 Indicates if the section is rolled or built-up.

0.0 = Rolled
1.0 = Built-up
2.0 = Cold-formed (uses the
appropriate buckling curve from Table
6.2)

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

SGR 0 Steel grade as in Table 3.1: EN 1993-1-1: 2005:

0.0 - indicates S 235 grade steel -

EN10025-2
1.0 - indicates S 275 grade steel
2.0 - indicates S 355 grade steel
3.0 - indicates S 450 grade steel
4.0 - indicates S 275 N/NL grade steel -
EN10025-3
5.0 - indicates S 355 N/NL grade steel
6.0 - indicates S 420 N/NL grade steel
7.0 - indicates S 460 N/NL grade steel
8.0 - indicates S 275 M/ML grade steel -
EN10025-4
9.0 - indicates S 355 M/ML grade steel
10.0 - indicates S 420 M/ML grade steel
11.0 – indicates S 460 M/ML grade
steel
12.0 – indicates S 235 W grade steel -
EN10025-5
13.0 – indicates S 355 W grade steel
14.0 – indicates S 460 Q/QL/QL1 grade
steel - EN10025-6
15.0 – indicates S 235 H grade steel -
EN10210-1
16.0 – indicates S 275 H grade steel
17.0 – indicates S 355 H grade steel
18.0 – indicates S 275 NH/NLH grade
steel
19.0 – indicates S 355 NH/NLH grade
steel
20.0 – indicates S 420 NH/NLH grade
steel
21.0 – indicates S 460 NH/NLH grade
steel
22.0 – indicates S 235 H grade steel -
EN10219-1

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value
23.0 – indicates S 275 H grade steel
24.0 – indicates S 355 H grade steel
25.0 – indicates S 275 NH/NLH grade
steel
26.0 – indicates S 355 NH/NLH grade
steel
27.0 – indicates S 460 NH/NLH grade
steel
28.0 – indicates S 275 MH/MLH grade
steel
29.0 – indicates S 355 MH/MLH grade
steel
30.0 – indicates S 420 MH/MLH grade
steel
31.0 – indicates S 460 MH/MLH grade
steel

As EN 1993-1-1:2005 does not

provide a buckling curve in table 6.2
for grade S 450 steel (in Table 3.1 of
EN 1993-1-1:2005), the program will
use the same buckling curves as for
grade S 460 when calculating the
buckling resistance as per clause 6.3.

STIFF Member Distance between transverse stiffener plates,

Length or used to prevent web shear buckling. If not
depth of specified or if a value of 0 is provided, the
beam, program will assume the web is unstiffened.
whichever is
lesser

TOM 0 Total torsion for design used for torsion

checks. Can be used to override the total
torsional moment to be used for member
design.

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

TORSION 0
Method to be used for a specific member or
group of members:

0. Perform basic torsion checks if member

is subject to torsion.

1. Perform basic stress check (Ignore

warping effects).

2. Perform detailed checks (including

warping effects).

3. Ignore all torsion checks

For options 1 or 2, the program will

perform the torsion related checked
even if torsional moment is absent
and will use a value of zero for the
torsional moment.

TRACK 0
Specify level of detail in output.

0. Summary of results only.

1. Summary with member capacities.

2. Detailed results.

4. Deflection check results only.

UNF 1 Unsupported length as a fraction of the actual

member length.

UNL Member Unrestrained length of member used in

Length calculating the lateral-torsional resistance
moment of the member.

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Parameter Default Description

Name Value

ZG +Section
Distance of transverse load from shear center.
Depth/2
Used to calculate Mcr.

For Tee sections, ZG will have a

default value of (+Flange thickness/2)

7C.6.1 Notes
1. CAN, DJ1, and DJ2 – Deflection

a. When performing the deflection check, you can choose between two methods. The first
method, defined by a value 0 for the CAN parameter, is based on the local displacement.
Local displacement is described in Section 5.44 of the Technical Reference Manual.

If the CAN parameter is set to 1, the check will be based on cantilever style deflection. Let
(DX1, DY1, DZ1) represent the nodal displacements (in global axes) at the node defined by
DJ1 (or in the absence of DJ1, the start node of the member). Similarly, (DX2, DY2, DZ2)
represent the deflection values at DJ2 or the end node of the member.

Compute Delta = SQRT((DX2 - DX1)2 + (DY2 - DY1)2 + (DZ2 - DZ1)2)

Compute Length = distance between DJ1 & DJ2 or, between start node and end node, as
the case may be.

Then, if CAN is specified a value 1, dff = L/Delta

Ratio due to deflection = DFF/dff

b. If CAN = 0, deflection length is defined as the length that is used for calculation of local
deflections within a member. It may be noted that for most cases the “Deflection
Length” will be equal to the length of the member. However, in some situations, the
“Deflection Length” may be different. A straight line joining DJ1 and DJ2 is used as the
reference line from which local deflections are measured.

For example, refer to the figure below where a beam has been modeled using four joints
and three members. The “Deflection Length” for all three members will be equal to the
total length of the beam in this case. The parameters DJ1 and DJ2 should be used to
model this situation. Thus, for all three members here, DJ1 should be 1 and DJ2 should
be 4.

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D = Maximum local deflection for members 1, 2, and 3.

PARAMETERS
DFF 300. ALL
DJ1 1 ALL
DJ2 4 ALL

c. If DJ1 and DJ2 are not used, "Deflection Length" will default to the member length and
local deflections will be measured from original member line.

d. It is important to note that unless a DFF value is specified, STAAD will not perform a
deflection check. This is in accordance with the fact that there is no default value for DFF
(see Table 2B.1).

e. The above parameters may be used in conjunction with other available parameters for
steel design.

2. CMM Parameter

The values of CMM for various loading and support conditions are as given below:
Table 7C.3-Values for the CMM Parameter
CMM Value Loading and Support Conditions
1

varying end moments and uniform loading

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CMM Value Loading and Support Conditions

8

varying end moments and central point load

3. Checking beam deflection

With the TRACK parameter set to 4, the members included in a BEAM CHECK command will be
checked for the local axis deflection rather than for the stress capacity using the current LOAD
LIST.

If both stress capacity and deflection checks are required, then 2 parameter blocks with code
checks are required, one with a TRACK 4 command and one with a TRACK 0, 1 or 2, thus:
LOAD LIST 1 TO 10
PARAMETER 1
CODE EN 1993
TRACK 2 ALL
CODE CHECK MEMBER 1
***************************
LOAD LIST 100 TO 110
PARAMETER 2
TRACK 4 ALL
DFF 300 MEMB 1
DJ1 1 MEMB 1
DJ2 4 MEMB 1
CHECK CODE MEMB 1

While both sets of code checks will be reported in the output file, only the last code
check results are reported in the STAAD.Pro graphical interface.

4. CMT Parameter

The values of CMM for various loading and support conditions are as given below:
Table 7C.4-Loading and Support Conditions represented by CMT Parameter
Values
Description Diagram
CMT
Value

1 (Default) : Concentrated Torque at

Ends. Ends Torsion fixed and Warping
fixed

2 Concentrated Torque along length of

member. Ends Torsion fixed and
Warping free

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Description Diagram
CMT
Value

3 Concentrated Torque along length of

member. Ends Torsion fixed and
Warping fixed

4 Uniform Torque in member. Ends

Torsion fixed and Warping free

5 Uniform Torque in member. Ends

Torsion fixed and Warping fixed

6 Concentrated Torque in cantilever. End

Torsion fixed and Warping fixed

7 Uniform Torque in cantilever. End

Torsion fixed and Warping fixed

For CMT = 2 and CMT = 3, you have the option of specifying the distance at which the
concentrated torque acts, measured from the start of the member. This can be done by
using the ALH design parameter. The ALH parameter indicates the ratio of the distance
of the point torque (from the start of the member) to the length of the member. This
parameter will have a default value of 0.5 (i.e., the torque acts at the center of the
span) and will accept values ranging from 0 to 1.

The GB1 parameter that is being used for compression checks in builds preceding this release
(STAAD.Pro 2007 build 06) has been removed as this parameter is no longer required in EN
1993-1-1:2005. Hence any legacy files that use GB1 parameter will indicate an error message
and you will be required to substitute GB1 with GM1, in accordance with EN 1993-1-1:2005.

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