Input of Lateral Support

Points of lateral support can be specified in Beam View or Column View for Beam and Column modes by entering a lateral support spacing, indicating that the member is supported continuously, or that it is supported only at points of bearing that are designated as being laterally supported. It is possible to specify whether interior supports are laterally supported, but the two end supports (even if cantilevered) must be supported to provide overall rotational restraint to the beam.

In Beam mode, lateral support is provided for both the top and bottom faces of the beam, and the program determines which to use by whether these faces are loaded in compression or tension. .

In Column mode the values entered in the L_b and L_d fields for the b and d load faces are assumed to be the lateral support spacing for the compression face of a laterally loaded column in the b and d directions.

Concept mode has a more limited set of selections:

• the tops and bottoms of beams and joists are either fully restrained or only restrained at all their supports
• the b and d faces of columns and walls are either fully restrained or only restrained at their supports