Introduction > Scope of the program

The program is applicable only to RC sections for which can be considered valid the hypothesis of conservation of plane sections and the perfect bond of the reinforcement to the concrete. The sections to be calculated must be compact (as generally appear to be the majority of the RC sections) in such a way that the shear center can be regarded virtually coincident with the geometric centroid (shear does not generate torsion); in particular, are not considered thin-walled open sections.
The individual combinations of assigned internal forces are meant applied to the section in a single phase load (and not in stages such as in the calculation of prestressed sections).
For the same section can be done at the same time both the capacity checks (SLU) and the serviceability checks (SLS for normal stresses and crack opening).
The calculation methods and the code references used in the preparation of the program are described in detail in another section of the manual (Theoretical background).
The RC sections taken into account by the program are divided into the following four groups described in the remainder paragraphs:

- Predefined sections
- General sections
- Rectangular sections of columns
- Rectangular sections of walls
- Polygonal sections subject to torsion

At the start of each calculation in addition to the choice of one of the above five section types must be defined (in the General Data tab ) a set of parameters and options including the choice between seismic (DCM, DCH ductility class) and non-seismic (DCL ductility class) calculation and the position of the section in the structural member (in reference to the distance with the ends of the member). This allows to control of different prescriptions on the minimum and maximum quantities of longitudinal and transverse reinforcement provided by the code rules. It is important to remark that for the first two types of sections the user must declare the kind of member (beam or column) in which that section is included.