
What is a force envelope?
Can we use a force envelope for structural design of column?
Entry level Civil & structural engineers can use this forum space to discuss this topic. Many times, engineers are confused about the load combinations and how to interpret the results using force envelopes. Use this forum space to discuss every thing about loads,combinations and envelopes.
Please see the blog and video on this topic HERE
Envelope has nothing to do with staad or etabs. It is nothing but a super imposition of the force diagrams of each combination. So if you draw a BMD of a beam for 1.5(DL+LL) combination and then draw for each of the other combinations over that and produce 1 single diagram , that is a bending moment envelope. This simplifies your understanding of the maximum values. Basically you get the entire forces of each combinations in a single place.
Now the questions are
1) can we use an envelope created and then design columns
2) can we design beams having torsion using envelope.
If not why? :-) Any one can attempt to answer or see our upcoming blog.