Creating custom cross-sections for structural models is an essential task for engineers and designers. Prokon’s General tab offers a module called Prokon Prosec that simplifies this process and enables users to generate custom profiles for both concrete and steel elements. In this blog post, we will explore the capabilities of Prosec and how it can be seamlessly integrated into Prokon’s Sections Database, making it a valuable tool for structural modeling.

Once launched you can changes the following settings:

• Title – User defined
• Rotation Angle – Created profile can be rotated without having to change any of the coordinate inputs
• Poisson’s Ratio – Range of 0.0 – 0.5
• Number of equations – Range of 200 – 30 000
• Units – Choose between mm, m, inches and feet

The above parameters can be changed at a later stage as well.

Three column inputs are used to generate the profile: Code, X/Radius and Y/Angle. In general you will make use of the + Code and plug in the relevant coordinates. An extract from Prosec’s help file explains all the available codes.

Staring off by entering the + Code in the first row, both the X/Radius and Y/Angle cells can be left blank, this indicates a 0;0 starting point. By leaving the Code cell in the next row blank, Prosec processes the proceeding inputs as relevant to the previous row. This continues until you define a new Code or leave a row blank before entering the next set of inputs.

You also have access to six (6) examples to start of with or you can make use of any profile found within the Sections Database. Once imported you can make changes as needed. This can greatly simplify creating profiles that would otherwise take longer to create.

Below is a simple example of how the inputs work. Rows one (1) – four (4) define the square. Note the blank first row, besides for the + code. Each proceeding row’s inputs are relevant to the previous row’s coordinates. Row one (1) follow row two (2), row three (3) follows row two (2), and so forth. A row is left blank after which a – code is used to denote a cutout. The coordinates are now not relevant to row four’s (4) but are relative to coordinate 0;0 (because of the blank row and new code). The proceeding row indicates that I want to cutout a circle with the radius in the X/Radius column.

Once satisfied you can view the Bending Properties and Shear & Torsion outputs as well as a summary of results contained within the Calcsheet. You can now click on File and Export to Section Database. You will be prompted to enter the Section Designation (same as the Title) and indicate whether it is a Steel or Concrete profile. The Section Database will launch. Ensure that you also save the Section Database. The profile can now be used in Frame and SUMO.

Prosec, the custom cross-section module within Prokon’s General tab, revolutionizes the creation and integration of custom profiles into structural models. Its intuitive interface, powerful analysis tools, and compatibility with Prokon’s Sections Database make it a valuable asset for structural engineers and designers. By leveraging Prosec’s capabilities, professionals can streamline their design process and deliver optimized and efficient structures.

Reach out to us at Micrographics if you need any assistance with creating custom profiles in Prosec and check out our YouTube channel where we regularly post content that we trust will assist with your understanding and use of your software packages.

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