Multiframe allows shear area to be input and used in analysis.  Using shear area can be switched on or off on a member-by-member basis.

To use shear area in a Multiframe analysis, a member must have a section type that has the shear area fields defined. Asx and Asy are the two fields in the Sections Library group that define the shear area for the sections local x and y axes, where x is the major axis.  For all other sectional values, y is equivalent to local member axis y' and x is equivalent to local member axis z' in the negative direction.

The shear area values must be greater than zero, and the member must have the appropriate shear area flag set.

§    Choose Member Shear Area...  from the Frame menu

§    Select the local member axes for which shear area is to be used in analysis

Remember Asx corresponds to the z' axis and Asy to the y' axis.

The members that use shear area in analysis are indicated in the last column in the Member Properties table in the Data window.