Frquently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below you will see a list of the most frequently asked questions.
How to get started with PolyBeam?
To get started with PolyBeam you need to follow the three-step process below:
- Download the newest version of PolyBeam and run the .exe file
- Sign up with your name and email
When you have completed these steps you are ready to use PolyBeam.
How to change cross section?
There is two different ways to change cross section in PolyBeam. You can either enter the name of you desired cross section or you can click the button under beam properties to choose from a section catalog. See an example of both methods in the video below.
How to modify lateral torsional buckling parameters?
The lateral torsional buckling parameters can be modified in the design page – click the details button located underneath the ULS, SLS overview. Next click the tab buckling. Here you can change the attack height of the load and define whether the section is restrained against lateral torsional buckling. See an example of this in the video below.
Is it possible to make cantilevered beams?
Yes, PolyBeam creates the beam based on the outermost occurrence this can either be supports or loads. In order to create a cantilevered beam, you therefore just need to apply a load outside of the supports. See an example of this in the video below.
A plastic hinge has formed?
The note “A plastic hinge has formed” occurs when the applied load creates a bending moment which is larger than the moment capacity of the beam and the beam is statically indeterminate. The plastic hinge is shown graphically on the beam as a black dot. The plastic hinge redistributes the loads whereby the capacity of the beam is increased. For custom sections it is possible to use either Linear Elastic or Elastic Perfectly Plastic materials. For Linear Elastic materials plastic hinges does not occur.
I cannot open an old saved file – What to do?
If you have any saved PolyBeam calculations from an old version of the program you might experience trouble with opening your saved files with a newer version. If you experience this problem then please let us know and if you send us your saved file here we will try to solve the problem.
How to change SLS requirements?
To change SLS requirements click the design tab and then you can change the SLS requirements in the sidebar. The default values are L/400 and 8Hz, which is the most commonly used requirements. See an example of this in the video below.
Can I get the value of sectional forces at a specific location?
You can get the value of sectional forces or deflection at a specific location, when you export the beam calculation to a PDF. Click File – Export PDF in Export Settings you can choose all the x-values in Data Points for which you want to know the sectional forces. These values will then be added to a table for each load combination in the PDF.