Settings

Settings#

The BeamSettings class is used to define and manage configuration options for structural sections such as beams. It holds default values for various parameters and allows users to modify these settings to suit specific design needs. Each Section can have its own unique settings, either using the default settings or customized values provided by the user.

Overview#

When designing concrete elements, certain design parameters (e.g., maximum clear spacing) are commonly required. The BeamSettings class provides a structured way to define these parameters, ensuring consistency across sections while allowing flexibility for customization.

Key Features:

  • Default settings: Pre-defined values for typical design cases.

  • Customization: Users can override default settings with specific values for individual Sections.

  • Integration with section classes: Each structural Section object has its own instance of BeamSettings, allowing for unique configurations per Section.

Usage Scenarios#

  1. Using Default Settings:

    If no custom settings are provided, a section will use default settings. These settings are suitable for common design cases and ensure design calculations can proceed without requiring additional input from the user. All these settings are used when designing the reinforcement of beams.

    Default settings change based on the metric system selected.

    Default settings for metric system include:

    • Clear spacing: 25 mm

    • Stirrup diameter: 8 mm

    • Minimum longitudinal bar diameter: 8 mm

    • Maximum longitudinal bar diameter: 32 mm

    • Vibrator size: 30 mm

    • Layers spacing: 25 mm

    • Maximum diameter difference: 5 mm

    • Maximum bars per layer: 12

    Default settings for imperial system include:

    • Clear spacing: 1 inch

    • Stirrup diameter: 3/8 inch

    • Minimum longitudinal bar diameter: 3/8 inch

    • Maximum longitudinal bar diameter: 1.693 inch

    • Vibrator size: 1.25 inch

    • Layers spacing: 1 inch

    • Maximum diameter difference: 1/4 inch

    • Maximum bars per layer: 12

Note

The default values are used to calculate effective heights when designing a concrete section, before knowing which diameters bars will be final. Also for designing user-tailored rebar layouts in beams. The metric or imperial initial settings are selected based on the unit of the concrete resistance f_c provided when defining the concrete material.

  1. Customizing Settings:

    Users can provide custom settings when initializing a section or later by updating specific values. For example, if the vibrator size differs from the defaults, these can be adjusted accordingly.

Example 1: Default Settings#

In this example, we create a section using the default settings:

from mento import Concrete_ACI_318_19, SteelBar, RectangularBeam
from mento import psi, inch, ksi, mm

# Define concrete and steel materials
concrete = Concrete_ACI_318_19(name="C4", f_c=4000 * psi)
steel = SteelBar(name="ADN 420", f_y=60 * ksi)

# Initialize section using default settings
section = RectangularBeam(
    label="101",
    concrete=concrete,
    steel_bar=steel,
    width=10 * inch,
    height=16 * inch,
    c_c = 25 * mm
)

# Check default settings
print(section.settings)

This section will automatically use the default settings for spacing, stirrup diameters, etc. for the corresponding unit system depending on the unit of the concrete resistance. If f_c is indicated in psi or ksi, the default unit system will be imperial and if it is indicated in Pa or MPa, it will be metric.

Example 2: Custom Settings#

You can customize specific settings by defining specific attributes during BeamSettings class initialization. In this example, we increase the clear spacing and modify the minimum longitudinal bar diameter.

from mento import BeamSettings
settings = BeamSettings(clear_spacing= 40 * mm, minimum_longitudinal_diameter = 12 * mm)

# Create section with custom settings
section = RectangularBeam(
    label="101",
    concrete=concrete,
    steel_bar=steel,
    width = 20 * cm,
    height = 60 * cm,
    c_c = 25 * mm,
    settings=settings
)

# Print the updated settings
print(section.settings)

Attributes#

The attributes of the settings class are as follows:

  • clear_spacing

  • stirrup_diameter_ini

  • vibrator_size

  • layers_spacing

  • max_diameter_diff

  • minimum_longitudinal_diameter

  • max_longitudinal_diameter

  • max_bars_per_layer