{"id":33199,"date":"2026-04-27T12:43:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T12:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/technical-manuals\/settings-and-parameters\/assessment-settings\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T12:37:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T12:37:48","slug":"assessment-settings","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/assessment-settings\/","title":{"rendered":"Assessment Settings"},"content":{"rendered":"
Parameters used in assessment and retrofit of existing building can be access in single location through Building Setout > Settings Center > Assessment Settings<\/i><\/b>. <\/div>\n
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<\/p>\n
\"Info\"<\/div>\n
The parameters shown in settings dialog may change with the selected code.<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Override Plastic Hinge Limits<\/h1>\n
ProtaStructure will calculate the plastic hinge damage boundaries according to the selected seismic code requirements. And the limits usually differ for each individual element having different plasticity characteristic. <\/div>\n
However, you can override these damage boundaries for visualization purpose. To customize the boundaries:<\/div>\n
    \n
  1. Open Settings Center >Assessment Settings<\/i><\/b>. <\/li>\n
  2. Check the "Override Plastic Hinge Limits" option. <\/li>\n
  3. Enter the plastic rotation limits in radians for each performance level. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Default Estimated Reinforcements for the Entire Building 
    <\/h1>\n
    To activate the estimated reinforcement rebars, corresponding options must be checked for member types and follow by enter the estimated values. <\/div>\n
    <\/div>\n

    Estimated Reinforcements for Individual Members
    <\/h2>\n
    Other than define the estimated reinforcements for whole building, it is also allowed to assign estimated reinforcement values to individual members. <\/div>\n
      \n
    1. Select the member and right-click > <\/b>Assessment and Retrofitting <\/b><\/i>> select Nonlinear Analysis and Assessment Properties<\/b><\/i>. <\/li>\n
    2. Estimated Reinforcement, Corrosion Factor, Rebar Realization ratio and Moment Capacity Reduction Factor can be entered for selected member. <\/li>\n
    3. Option "Use Member Specific Settings For Assessment" and Estimated Reinforcement Option must be checked in order to activate it for selected member.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                  <\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n
      <\/p>\n
      \"Notes\"<\/div>\n
      A hierarchical approach is adopted in the building assessment process for the use of estimated reinforcement. <\/div>\n
      The estimated reinforcement assigned to individual members<\/u> have the priority in the assessment analysis. If no estimated reinforcement is assigned to individual members, then the globally defined value in the assessment settings for the entire building<\/u> will be used. If the global settings do not specify any estimated reinforcement, then the actual detailed reinforcements on the members defined via design menus<\/u> will be used. <\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n
      Priority:<\/u> <\/b>Member-specific estimated reinforcement values in the section "Nonlinear Analysis and Assessment Properties<\/i><\/b>" in the right-click menu. <\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n
      Second Priority:<\/u><\/b> Global Estimated Reinforcement Values in the "Settings Center > Assessment Settings<\/i><\/b>"<\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n
      Third Priority:<\/u><\/b> Actual detailed reinforcements defined through design menus directly on the member itself. <\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n
      If no actual reinforcement is defined<\/u> on the member itself, program will automatically use the default estimated reinforcement in the global settings even if estimated reinforcement usage is not requested.<\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n
      Members such as Retrofit Wall<\/b> and Column Jackett<\/b> will never use estimated reinforcement. Reinforcements on these members must always be entered through design menus.  <\/div>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n
      The following flowchart demonstrates how program will use Estimated<\/b> and Detailed Reinforcements<\/b> on the members.  <\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n

      Using Linear Model for Specific Members
      <\/h2>\n
      This option is introduced to consider any member as "Linear Elastic<\/b>" during assessment. This option is accessible through the right-click menu<\/b> > Assessment and Retrofitting<\/b> > Nonlinear Analysis and Assessment Properties<\/b> > check option "Use Linear Mode<\/b>l".<\/div>\n
       <\/div>\n
      There may be cases where you want to assume that a beam, column or wall member will behave linearly elastic during assessment or simply, you would like to ignore the material nonlinearity for that member. <\/div>\n
      Program will automatically assume following members as linear elastic during a nonlinear assessment:<\/div>\n
        \n
      1. Basement walls<\/li>\n
      2. Cantilever beams<\/li>\n
      3. Members with end releases (I or J ends, asymmetrically)<\/li>\n
      4. Secondary joists supported with beams at I or J ends<\/li>\n
      5. Members marked as Vertical-Only by the user<\/li>\n
      6. Short beams (Beam length smaller than two times he plastic hinge length)<\/li>\n
      7. Shallow beams (Beam height less than or equal to the adjacent slab thickness)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        Once the option "Use Linear Model<\/b>" is checked, it will force any member to behave linearly elastic during assessment. These members will be modelled with elastic beam-column elements in OpenSees integration.  <\/div>\n
        <\/div>\n
        \n

        \n

        <\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
        \n

        \n

        \n

        \n<\/p>\n

        \n
        \n
        <\/p>\n
        <\/p>\n
        \"Info\"<\/div>\n
        For the building assessment design guide, please refer to:<\/div>\n
        \n

        \n

        1. Assessment & Performance-Based Design to Eurocode 8 Part 3<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

        \n

        2. Assessment & PBD to ASCE\/SEI 41<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        <\/span><\/div>\n

        <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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