2.14.

10 Design Parameters Page 1 of 4

2.4.2.6 Design Parameters

Design per LRFD specifications is requested by using the CODE parameter. Other
applicable parameters are summarized in Table 2­4. These parameters communicate
design decisions from the engineer to the program and thus allow the engineer to control
the design process to suit an application's specific needs.
The default parameter values have been selected such that they are frequently used
numbers for conventional design. Depending on the particular design requirements,
some or all of these parameter values may be changed to exactly model the physical
structure.
The parameters DMAX and DMIN are applicable for member selection only.
Table 2­3: AISC LRFD (2nd and 3rd Ed.) Design Parameters
Parameter
Default Value Description
Name
AXIS 1 1 = Design single angles for bending
about their principle axis.
2 = Design single angles for bending
about their geometric axis.
BEAM 1.0 0.0 = design at ends and those
locations specified by the SECTION
command.
1.0 = design at ends and at every
1/12th point along member length.
CAN 0 0 = deflection check based on the
principle that maximum deflection
occurs within the span between DJ1
and DJ2.
1 = deflection check based on the
principle that maximum deflection is
of the cantilever type (see note 2 of
Table 2.1)
CB** 1.0 Coefficient Cb per Chapter F of
AISC LRFD. If Cb is set to 0.0, it will
be calculated by the program. Any of
value will be used directly in design.
DFF None "Deflection Length" / Maximum
(Mandatory for allowable local deflection
deflection
check)

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DJ1 Start Joint of Joint No. denoting starting point for

Member calculation of "Deflection
Length" (see note 1 of Table 2.1)
DJ2 End Joint of Joint No. denoting end point for
Member calculation of "Deflection
Length" (see note 1 of Table 2.1)
DMAX 45.0 in. Maximum allowable section depth.
DMIN 0.0 in. Minimum allowable section depth
FLX 1 1 = Single angle member is not fully
braced against lateral torsional
buckling.
2 = Single angle member is fully
braced against lateral torsional
buckling.
3 = Single angle member is braced
against lateral torsional buckling at
the point of maximum moment.
FYLD 36.0 ksi Yield strength of steel.
FU 60.0 ksi Ultimate tensile strength of steel.
KX 1.0 K value for flexural­torsional
buckling.
KY 1.0 K value in the local y­axis. Usually
this is the minor axis.
KZ 1.0 K value in the local z­axis. Usually
this is the major axis.
LX Member Length Length used for flexural­torsional
buckling.
LY Member Length Length to calculate the slenderness
ratio for buckling about the local y­
axis.
LZ Member Length Length to calculate the slenderness
ratio for buckling about the local z­
axis.
MAIN 0.0 0.0 = check for slenderness
1.0 = suppress slenderness check
Any value greater than 1 = Allowable
KL/r in compression.

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NSF 1.0 Net section factor for tension

members.
PROFILE Used in member selection. Refer to
Section 5.48.1 for details.
RATIO 1.0 Permissible ratio of actual load effect
to design strength.
STIFF Member Length Spacing of stiffeners for beams for
or depth, shear design.
whichever is
greater
STP 1 Section type to determine Fr
(compressive residual stress in
flange) per 3rd Ed. LRFD spec., p
16.1­97.

1 = Rolled section (Fr = 10

ksi)
2 = Welded section (Fr =
16.5 ksi)
TMAIN 300 Any value greater than 1 = Allowable
KL/r in tension.
TRACK 0.0 Specified the level of detail included
in the output.

0.0 = Suppress all design

strengths
1.0 = Print all design
strengths
2.0 = Print expanded
design output
UNB Member Length Unsupported length (Lh) of the
bottom* flange for calculating
flexural strength. Will be used only if
flexural compression is on the
bottom flange.
UNT Member Length Unsupported length (Lh) of the top*
flange for calculating flexural
strength. Will be used only if flexural

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compression is on the top flange.

*Top and Bottom represent the positive and negative side of the local Y axis (local Z axis if
SET Z UP is used).

For a description of the deflection check parameters DFF, DJ1, DJ2, and CAN, see
the Notes section of Table 2.1 of this manual.

The STIFF parameter represents the term “a” as defined in Section F2, page 6­113 of the
LRFD 2nd edition manual.
** Non­default values of CB must be re­entered before every subsequent CHECK CODE or
SELECT command.

Reference Materials
2.4 Design Parameters
2.6 Member Selection
5.48.1 Parameter Specifications

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