To enable Multiframe to calculate deflections in structures, values for Young's Modulus and Shear Modulus need to be stored with sections in the Sections Library. Section Maker takes these values from the materials you choose for the various shapes, which make up a section. Section Maker allows you to use a number of different materials within the one section. Materials are stored in the Sections Library, standard steel and concrete data is included and you can add your own custom materials to the library.

If you do not assign a material to a shape, Section Maker will assume the shape is a hole and will deduct its properties from the overall properties of the section. Shapes, which are holes, will have negative properties displayed in the Data window.

When shapes you have drawn lie inside each other, you may find it difficult to see which is which, especially when the material patterns are displayed in the shapes. You can control the order in which the shapes are displayed by using the commands under the Arrange sub-menu under the Geometry menu.

To move the selected shapes to the front of all the others

§    Choose Move To Front from the Arrange menu

To send the select shapes behind all the others

§    Choose Move To Back from the Arrange menu

To move the selected shapes just in front of the ones currently in front of them

§    Choose Move Forwards from the Arrange menu

To move the selected shapes just behind the shapes behind it

§    Choose Move Backwards from the Arrange menu

Note that shapes can be contained inside other shape e.g. steel bar inside a concrete beam or a void inside a beam but shapes cannot overlap partially. See Overlapping Shapes in Chapter 4 for more information.

To set the material type of a shape

§    Select the shape

§    Choose Material from the Shape menu

§    Click on the name of the material you require

§    Click the OK button

See "Adding a Material" below for information on how to add materials to the library.