2D member with extended functionality

SCIA Engineer 17.01 introduced a new and improved 2D member with extended functionality that gives users greater control and flexibility over the 2D member’s behaviour and includes new options to efficiently model diaphragms for lateral load transfer.

New options and features of the 2D member include:

Diaphragms have been added to seamlessly transfer lateral load through the structure.

• Three new diaphragm behaviours are available for composite and metal decks: flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid.
• Rigid diaphragms have an infinite stiffness and transfer lateral load according to the flexibility and location of the elements to which the load is transferred. Flexible diaphragms have no in-plane shear stiffness nor bending stiffness; in-plane loading can be transferred only axially, without transverse diffusion. Semi-rigid diaphragms transfer lateral load according to their actual in-plane stiffness determined from their material(s) and geometry.
• Diaphragm behaviours are modelled as load panels with varying degrees of in-plane stiffness so that they require less computation time and can distribute load in an intuitive way. This allows 1D members that support plates, metal decks, and composite decks to receive load according to their tributary area.

The type and behaviour of the 2D member can be set and changed at any time as needed. The element type has the option to be set to standard plate, metal deck, composite deck, or load panel and the element behaviour can be set to one of the new diaphragm behaviours or to standard FEM behaviour.

First introduced in version 17.01