Shapes Properties ( Home > Utilities > )

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   To start Shapes Properties :

1 . Home > Utilities > " Shapes Properties ."

Password protection: If somebody on your network has set up a " Delete Password ," you will be prompted to enter that exact password before you are permitted to go on to step 2.

2 . A window opens. On it is a single entry field for defining the file path to the material you want to edit or review in step 3.

To enter a file path to an existing shape file: Option 1 : Type in the file path (if you know it), Option 2: Press " Local " to automatically enter the file path to the local shape file that is stored in your current Job. Changes made to the local shape file affect connection design , various Modeling operations and auto detailing for your current Job only. Option 3: Press the " Browse... " button and select a shape file, thus causing Shapes Properties to automatically enter the path to that file. Then press the " OK " button. Go to step 3.

Examples of file paths:
/*/main/job_mtrl   * = path to your current Job . This is the " local " shape file in your current Job. Pressing the " Local " button enters this path automatically.
/*/conf_mtrl/SDS2/usa_mtrl
/*/conf_mtrl/SDS2/can_mtrl
/*/conf_mtrl/SDS2/all_mtrl   		* = path for your current version of this program. These are the default USA, Canadian and All shape files. These files automatically update when you install a new version of an SDS2 program. Do not edit these files.
  /*/conf_mtrl/usa_mtrl
/*/conf_mtrl/can_mtrl
/*/conf_mtrl/all_mtrl		 * = path for your current version of this program. These are the USA, Canadian and All shape files. These are copies of the default files that you can edit yourself. These files are not overwritten when you update your current version of an SDS2 program.

To create a new shape file: 1 . Press the " Create New " button. 2 . On the Create New Shape File window, enter the file path to the " New shape file " you want to create and (optionally) enter a " Copy from " file path to the shape file you want to copy to the new file. 3 . Press the " OK " button. 4 . The path to that file will automatically be entered to the " Shape file " field. Press the " OK " button if you want to go to step 3.

If you don't want to continue: Press the " Cancel " button to close this window without going to step 3. Note: If you created a new shape file, that shape file continues to exist after this window closes.

3 . You should now be in Shapes Properties window. The shape file that this window shows you is the " Shape file " whose path was entered in step 2. You can do the following on this window:

Add Material
Edit Material
Delete Material

Exceptions: If you are denied full access to Shapes Properties by Access Control , the editor will present information that is read-only .

4 . When you are done making changes to the shape file, press the " OK " button.

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   Sections (material types) on this window :

Wide Flange Channel Angle W Tee Pipe HSS/TS
Welded Wide Flange Welded Plate Box Joist: Default Joist: Canam Joist: Nucor-Vulcraft Cold Formed Channel
Cold Formed Z S Shape S Tee Beaded Flat Round Bar Clevis
Turnbuckle Rail Cruciform
WF-WT 		Cruciform
WF-PL 		Cruciform
PL-WT 		Cruciform
PL

    to add a material
  To delete a material
  Also see: To find material

Note 1: You can enter any " Section Size " name that you like. For example, you can use W or M or HP for section sizes under " Wide Flange ." Shapes Properties sorts section sizes with the same initial letter together. Modeling in solids form is done per the material type section a section size is under . For example, an S24x100 under the " Wide Flange " section looks different in Modeling and on drawings than does an S24x100 under the " S Shape " section.

Note 2: Section sizes of the same type are sorted together per their initial letter (last letter in the alphabet first). For example, W section sizes may be listed first in the " Wide Flange " section, followed by M then HP section sizes. Sorting for section sizes of the same type is by " Nominal Depth " (longest first), then " Weight per Unit " (heaviest first).

Report Writer: MemberMaterial.Material.SubMaterial.MaterialFile.MaterialType

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   Specifications in the Shapes Properties :

Material dimensions : || Wide Flange || Channel || Angle || Pipe || HSS/TS || W Tee || Joist || Welded Plate Wide Flange || Welded Plate Box || Cold Formed Channel || Cold Formed Z || S Tee || S Shape || Beaded Flat || Round Bar || Clevis || Turnbuckle | || Rail ||

Section Size: The shape designation that conventionally describes the material.

Naming conventions : || Wide Flange || Channel || Angle || Pipe || Rail  || HSS/TS || W Tee || Joist || Welded Plate Wide Flange || Welded Plate Box || S Tee || S Shape || Cold Formed Channel || Cold Formed Z || Round Bar ||

Naming rules: Shapes Properties uses the following rules for the canonical section size format: 1) All uppercase, except as noted. 2) Uppercase " X " becomes " x " unless it's next to an alphabetical character (e.g., BOX20X20 becomes BOX20x20). 3) " * " becomes lower-case " x ". If you make a "noncanonical" entry, a yes-no dialog lists your original entry and a suggested alternative. Either press the " Yes " button to keep the original entry, or press the " No " button to change the entry to the suggested alternative.

Sorting: Shapes Properties sorts sections with the same initial letters together.

Nominal Depth: This is usually the depth as reported in the section size of the material, though it does not have to be. For example, in the default USA shape file, W18x35 , W18x40 , W18x65 section sizes all have a nominal depth of 18 . Nominal depth may or may not be the actual measured " Depth " of the channel , pipe , W tee , S tee , S shape or wide flange material.

Nominal depth is used to reference specific section sizes in the Schedule of Minimums for Structural Members , the Schedule of Minimums for Single-Plate Shear Connections and the table for Channel splice section size selection .

For wide flange and channel beams, executing Con Lines Thru Material generates a construction line on the beam web at half of the material's nominal depth.

Weight per Unit ( lbs/ft or kg/m ): The pounds or kilograms per foot/meter along the longitudinal axis ( X material axis ) of the material.

This value is used in SDS2 programs to calculate the actual weights of submaterials and members, so it is important that any value you enter here be accurate.

Moment of Inertia ( ix ): See " Structural Properties ."

General Information: Moment of inertia (ix) is one of a number of " Structural Properties " that may be stored in a shape file. The ix value represents the resistance of material to flexure and torsion. Connection design uses the ix value to, for example, calculate the " Moment load " when " Auto " is selected for that field on the Beam Edit window.

Example: To " Beam design moment . . . % of maximum allowable moment " in Design Settings , you enter a percentage of ' 80 '. For a particular section of a particular steel grade used as the " Section size " for a particular beam, connection design uses the " Moment of inertia " reported in the local shape file , takes into consideration whether the ' Plastic ' or ' Elastic ' " Design method " is used, and calculates a maximum allowable moment of 1000 kip-in. It multiplies this calculated maximum by 80% and enters the resulting value of 800 kip-in to " Moment load " on the Beam Edit window for that beam.

Cross-sectional area: This applies to joist material only. This is the cross-sectional area (in the primary dimension " Units ") of the joist, not including the joist diagonals. For a typical joist, this will be the cross-sectional area of the top and bottom chords. The information entered here is not used by the SDS2 Detailing program.

k distance (detail) ( mm or inches ): The distance (in the primary dimension " Units ") from the outside face of the flange to the toe of the web fillet on an angle , channel , W tee , S tee , wide flange or S shape section.

k = k distance

SDS2 programs use this distance for clearance checks to ensure that materials fit together at the construction site. Members in any of the three solid forms and member details will show this distance.

The " k distance (detail) " is based on the maximum fillet radius as determined from a survey of mills. The default USA shape file (  /.../conf_mtrl/SDS2/dusa_mtrl ) lists only a few wide flange sections whose " k distance (detail) " and " k distance (design) " are different. It does not list any channel or angle sections whose design and detail k distance are different.

Example: Connection design uses the "k distance (detail) " that is set in the local shape file along with the " Maximum amount of allowable k infringement " that is entered in Connection Detailing and Fabricator Options to ensure that a connection to a beam web does not impinge too far on the fillet radius.

k distance (design) ( mm or inches ): Same as " k distance (detail) ," except that this distance is used in connection design . Angle sections do not have an entry field for " k distance (design) "

k = k distance

For design and verification purposes, it is the minimum fillet radius that is of interest, and therefore the " k distance (design) " may, for some sections, be smaller than the " k distance (detail) ."

Flange Bevel: The number of degrees that the flange slants on a channel , S shape , S tee , wide flange or W tee section. Channel, S shape and S tee shapes are given a " Flange Bevel " of ' 9.462 ' in the default USA shape file. Most wide flange and W tee sections have a " Flange Bevel " of ' 0 ' and therefore are not illustrated in the examples shown below.

b = flange bevel

Capacity: The nominal strength (Rn) of the clevis or turnbuckle . The value is expressed in kips. Connection design of rod bracing uses this " Capacity " for evaluating the load-carrying capacity of the clevis or turnbuckle. Rod bracing is designed when the user enters a round bar material as a vertical brace " Section size ."

Rod brace connection failure message: Clevis/turnbuckle/clevis pin size failure
Rod brace connection failure message: Suitable turnbuckle capacity not found
Rod brace connection failure message: Suitable clevis capacity not found

Size Not Available: or .

 C15x50
 C15x40
 C15x30
 C12x30
 C12x25
 C12x20.7
 
"   Show unavailable sizes " is checked. Consequently, those sizes in the local shape file that are marked " Size Not Available " are displayed along with those sizes that are available.

If this box is checked ( ), SDS2 programs recognize this section as not being available from suppliers. You can select section sizes that are not available only if " Show unavailable sizes " is checked on the selection dialog. In the above example of a selection dialog, " Show unavailable sizes " is checked. Also, if a user enters this section size manually, validation brings up a yes-no dialog with the warning, " The section size is not available from suppliers. Are you sure you want to use it? " You will have to press the " Yes " button if you want to use it. For an example, see " Section size " on the Beam Edit window.

If the box is not checked ( ), the section size will appear on the list that you can open with the "file cabinet" browse button ( ). Also, you can manually type in the section size without getting a warning.

Source Reference: The source shape file that this material originated from. You can change this source (for this material only) by typing in a different source name.

shape file SDS2 location source reference  
default USA  /conf_mtrl/SDS2/usa_mtrl SDS2 Pre 7.0 USA
default Canadian  /conf_mtrl/SDS2/can_mtrl SDS2 Pre 7.0 Can 
default all /conf_mtrl/SDS2/all_mtr   SDS2 Pre 7.0 All

Example 1: You Copy a material from the default Canadian shape file to your local shape file . Later you start up Shapes Properties and look at that material. The " Source reference " for that particular material will read: SDS2 Pre 7.0 Can .

Example 2: A guy named Joe adds a new material to the USA shape file and enters ' Joe ' to the " Source reference " field for that material. Later, when you create a new Job, that same USA shape file is used as the local shape file for that Job. If you review that same material in that Job's local shape file , you will find that the " Source reference " reads Joe .

Seismic Access Hole: None or A or B or C or D or E or F or G or H or I or J or K or L or M . This applies to wide flange material only.

You don't have to manually fill these out yourself: The default USA and default all shape files are both filled out with the appropriate letter designation ( A or B or etc.) per Table 1-2 in the AISC Seismic Design Manual . As long as your local shape file is a copy of one of these shape files (because it was entered as the " Shape file source " when you started your current Job), your Job will be properly set up for the design of a welded moment " Seismic ... " connection.

How this information is used: The letters (' A ' ' B ' ' C ' etc.) that may be selected here are also referenced at Home > Project Settings > Job > Seismic Weld Access Holes . When you apply a welded moment " Seismic ... " connection on a beam with a wide flange " Section size " with a particular " Seismic Access Hole " designated in the local shape file, connection design looks at the Seismic Weld Access Holes setup window to determine the size and shape of that access hole. If ' None ' is selected here, then connection design does not reference the Seismic Weld Access Hole Configu rations setup window, but instead uses the setup values defined for moment connections in Weld Design Settings .

Structural Properties: For a C12x30 section in a usa_mtrl file, if you press the " Edit " button under the " Structural Properties " column, a window like that shown below will open. One example of a " Structural Property " is moment of inertia (ix) . Many " Structural Properties " are tabulated values which are stored in certain shape files. For shape files that do not have tabulated values stored in them, SDS2 programs use the calculated " Formula " values.

This example shows the " Structural Properties " for a C12x30 section. The values reported in the white column are editable. They are values tabulated from the AISC 14th Edition . The values reported in the " Formula " column are calculated values. Connection design prefers to use the tabulated values (if they exist). If tabulated values do not exist, connection design uses the calculated " Formula " values
Tabulated " Structural Properties " values can be found in the following shape files: usa_mtrl , can_mtrl , all_mtrl , AISC_14thEd_1stPrint , AISC_ASTM_A1085 , CISC_10thEd_4thPrint . The conf_mtrl/SDS2 folder archives versions of these files that were updated in your most recent installation of SDS2 programs.
If you change a shape file specification such as the " Depth " of a material, the " Formula " structural properties will be recalculated, but the tabulated values will stay the same, since they are tied to the " Section Size ."

Not available:

" Structural Properties " for an HSS 9.625 x 0.500 (an HSS round section):

HSS round sections such as the HSS 9.625 x 0.500 in the example above are found under the " Pipe " section in Shapes Properties . They can take steel grades that are specified on the Pipe Grades window.
The column " ASTM A501 " appears in the above example (taken from Shapes Properties ) because a " Production Standard " of that name was entered on the Pipe Grades window.
The " ASTM A1085 " and " ASTM A500 " columns in this example have tabulated values (book values), which are stored in Shapes Properties . The " ASTM A501 " column has " Formula " values, which are calculated, not stored

The " Wall thickness " for an HSS 9.625 x 0.500 is 0.5 inch. Since a " Production Standard " called ' ASTM A1085 ' was applied to a steel grade on the Pipe Grades window, the " Design Thickness " that will be applied when that steel grade is used for an HSS 9.625 x 0.500 section will be 0.5 inch. For an HSS 9.625 x 0.500 with a steel grade using the ASTM A500 or ASTM A501 standard shown in this example, the " Design Thickness " used would be 0.465 inch.


" Structural Properties " for an HSS 8 x 6 x 1/2 (an HSS rectangular section):

HSS rectangular sections such as the HSS 8 x 6 x 1/2 in the example above are found under the " HSS/TS " section in Shapes Properties . They can take the steel grades specified on the HHS / TS Grades window.
The column " BOGUS 50 " appears in the above example (taken from Shapes Properties ) because a " Production Standard " of that name was entered on the HHS / TS Grades window.
The " ASTM A1085 " and " ASTM A500 " columns in this example have tabulated values (book values), which are stored in Shapes Properties . The " BOGUS 50 " column only has calculated " Formula " values, which are calculated, not stored.

The " Wall thickness " for an HSS 8 x 6 x 1/2 is ' 0.5 ' inch. Since a " Production Standard " called ' ASTM A1085 ' was applied to a steel grade on the HHS / TS Grades window, the " Design Thickness " that would be applied if that steel grade were used for an HSS 8 x 6 x 1/2 section would be 0.5 inch. As shown in the example above, an HSS 8 x 6 x 1/2 with a steel grade using the " ASTM A500 " production standard, the " Design Thickness " used would be 0.465 inch. For an HSS 8 x 6 x 1/2 with a steel grade using the " BOGUS 50 " production standard, the " Design Thickness " used would be 0.25 inch.

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Using Shapes Properties

   To find a material or specifications in Shapes Properties :

1 . Select the section that you want to perform the search in.

2 . In the space under " Find ," type in a string of characters that is associated with the material or material specification you want.

3 . Optionally check the box for " Match case " if you want the search to be case sensitive.

4 . Press the " Next Match " button.

5 . Shapes Properties finds the next occurrence of the characters entered to " Find " and highlights the cell in which the characters occur. Nothing happens if Shapes Properties does not find a match.

To add a material to the shape file :

found under each section

Warning: If you add material to the local shape file , all SDS2 programs ( Modeling , the Drawing Editor , etc.) must be restarted in order for you to be able to use the new material in your current Job.

Tip: Copy Shapes in SDS2 Utility Functions can be used to copy material from one shape file to another. It's usually easier and more accurate to Copy Shapes than it is to add it manually.

1 . Select the section for the material type you want to add. For example, select the " W Tee " section if you want to add WT material.

2 ( optional ): Select the " Section Size " of a material that is similar to the one you want to add.

3 . Press the " Add " button.

4 . If you did step 2, Shapes Properties adds a new material just like the material you selected in step 2. If you didn't do step 2, Shapes Properties adds a new material just like the first material that is listed.

5 . Change the material's " Section Size " and other specifications -- see edit material .

Note: When you press " OK " to close Shapes Properties , the material you just added is made a permanent part of the " Shape file " whose file path you entered to start up Shapes Properties .

To edit a specification of a material in Shapes Properties :

Warning: If you edit material in the local shape file that is already included in the model, you need to Process and Create Solids in order to redesign the affected members using the changed material specifications.

1 . Select the section for the material type you want to edit. For example, select the " Channel " section if you want to edit C or MC material.

2 . Scroll down to the section size you want to edit, or use Find . Point and click or use Tab or Shift + Tab or ↑ or ↓ keys (see text entry widgets ) to get to exact the cell you want to change. Then change the value in that cell.

Note 1: When you leave a cell after editing it, your entry is validated, and you may be prompted to enter something else.

Note 2: When you press " OK " to close Shapes Properties , the material you just edited is revised in the actual " Shape file " whose file path you entered to start up Shapes Properties .

To delete a material from the shape file :

found under each section

1 . Select the section for the material type you want to delete. For example, select the " HSS/TS " section if you want to delete tube or rectangular HSS material.

2 . Scroll down to the section size that you want to delete, then point and click in any cell that in the same row as that section size. You can also use Find , or use ↑ or ↓ keys to go where you want.

3 . Press the " Delete " button to remove the listing of the material.

Note: When you press " OK " to close Shapes Properties , the material is deleted from the actual " Shape file " whose file path you entered to start up Shapes Properties .

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   To close Shapes Properties :

"OK" closes Shapes Properties and saves any changes you made to the " Shape file " whose file path you entered to open this window. The next time you start up Shapes Properties , you will find that all materials are sorted per their specifications.

"Reset" brings back the material specifications that were loaded when you first opened this window. Shapes Properties remains open.

"Cancel" (or the Esc key) closes this window without saving any changes.

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