Fastrak Building Designer

Design of Westok Beams

Advisory Note for

Fastrak Building Designer
Design of Westok composite and
non-composite beams
Part 1: Fastrak to Cellbeam link

Version 2.0
September 2006
Prepared by Alan J Rathbone
Chief Engineer, CSC (UK) Ltd.

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1.

Design of Westok Beams

INTRODUCTION
Westok Ltd. (Westok) and CSC (UK) Ltd. (CSC), premier players in their respective
areas of operation within the steelwork construction industry, have joined forces to
make it even easier to design cellular beams with maximum efficiency.
Westok has invested considerable time, effort and resources into the development of
systems for achieving long-span solutions for composite and non-composite cellular
beams. For the designer, achievement of such innovation in a cost effective manner is
facilitated by the provision of comprehensive software.
Fastrak Building Designer has the facility to define and design straight Westok
beams. The design routines in Fastrak are efficient and safe, and have the benefit of
being fully integrated into the whole building design model. Software from Westok,
Cellbeam, has been developed by the Steel Construction Institute and is a standalone program available from Westok (see Section 6 for further information). This
software naturally encapsulates the most efficient design approaches possible based
on the latest research funded directly by Westok.
Westok recognised the benefits of integrating such standalone programs with
commercially available software that is in use by designers during their everyday
work. As the premier software solution provider for structural engineers, CSC (UK)
Ltd. was the obvious choice. Consequently, CSCs appropriate Fastrak products have
been modified to allow direct communication with the Cellbeam software.
For straight members, this approach provides the designer with choice a closely
integrated solution in Fastrak for a rapid solution to the design model or a very
efficient design solution for maximum cost effectiveness.1
The purpose of this document is to explain the operation of the links between Fastrak
and Cellbeam. It is assumed that the integrated design routines within Fastrak are
familiar and hence understood since they have been in place for some years.

Since Version 1.0 of this document was published, Fastrak Building Designer has
been enhanced to allow the definition (but not design) of curved members. These can
be curved on plan or in elevation and can be rolled sections plated sections or Westok
beams. Version 2.0 of this document includes the additional information you need to
define Westok curved members in Fastrak Building Designer and to export these
ready for design within the Westok software, Cellbeam. The final configuration can
be imported from Cellbeam back into Fastrak Building Designer.

The ultimate in design efficiency can be achieved by taking advantage of the free design service offered by
Westok see Section 6 for further details.

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2.

Design of Westok Beams

SCOPE
Westok beams can be defined in Fastrak Building Designer, Fastrak Composite Beam
and Fastrak Simple Beam. Having selected Westok as the type of beam you wish to
design, you then have to make the choice between the design being carried out by
Fastrak or by Westok. The former is the fully integrated design routines in Fastrak
(designated as Fastrak/Westok beams) and the latter is the link between Fastrak and
Cellbeam (designated as Westok/Westok beams) see Section 3 below to find out
how to make this choice. Whilst Cellbeam is capable of designing many more types
of beam, Fastrak currently limits the definition to straight roof and floor beams and
curved roof beams. The latter must be curved in elevation and in all cases the beam
must be uniform i.e. not tapered. Curved members can only be defined in Fastrak
Building Designer and can only be roof beams of the Westok/Westok type.
Whilst precast concrete (pc) slabs acting compositely with the steel beam are featured
in Fastrak Composite Beam and Fastrak Building Designer but are currently
unsupported by Cellbeam. However the full range of decking from all the UK
manufacturers is available in both programs. Multiple circular web openings (cells)
can be defined for both Fastrak/Westok and Westok/Westok beams. In addition
stiffening or infills can be provided as appropriate and for straight Westok/Westok
beams, web openings can be elongated (lozenge shaped).
For Westok/Westok beams the automation parameters for the new automate feature
in Cellbeam can be set within Fastrak. This is facilitated by providing ribbon cut as
an alternative to the standard cut.
Internal and edge conditions for composite beams are consistent between both Fastrak
and Cellbeam but cantilevers in Fastrak Simple beam cannot be exported.
Whilst simple and composite beams must be pin ended (in Fastrak Building
Designer must have Simple Connections at their ends), curved members can have
either simple or moment connections at their ends. This allows for simple modelling
of portal frames with curved rafters. The effects of the moment connections are added
into the Cellbeam export as an equivalent set of end forces and moments.
A detailed description of the interpretations made during the export process is given
in Section 4. Similarly, for the import process, see Section 5.
A typical application might be that for estimate design the building model is created
in Fastrak with you own estimates of the Westok beam sizes that are checked using
the integrated design routines in Fastrak i.e. using Fastrak/Westok beams. At the
detailed design stage these estimated sizes can be improved upon, cells can be
elongated for better accommodation of large service runs and some cells infilled
where incoming beams clash with them. This is facilitated by switching the
Fastrak/Westok beams to Westok/Westok beams. Either the automation parameters
can be set in Fastrak and then exported to Cellbeam or the export can be completed
first and the automation set within Cellbeam. Once the beam design is refined within
Cellbeam the essential information can be imported back into Fastrak so that your

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Design of Westok Beams

building model is up to date and consistent with the design results that you obtain
from Cellbeam.
Note that in Fastrak Building Designer, multiple beams can be selected for export and
for import. However, each beam for which you wish to refine the design must be
opened individually in Cellbeam.
For curved members, there is no specific allowance for P-Delta effects in Fastrak, in
the export process or in Cellbeam. For this and other general information on the
design of curved members you are advised to refer to the Steel Construction Institute
publication, P281, Design of Curved Steel.

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3.

Design of Westok Beams

HOW TO SPECIFY WESTOK BEAMS IN FASTRAK

The information given below assumes that you are familiar with the general workings
of the respective programs. In all cases, the appropriate Fastrak program will export
all relevant data to the .cbx file that can be read by Cellbeam. Restrictions and
interpretations made during this export process are covered in detail in Section 4.
It is assumed that the integrated design routines within Fastrak i.e. selection and
design of Fastrak/Westok beams is familiar and hence understood since this has been
in place for some years. The information below, therefore, concentrates on the
selection of Westok/Westok beams and the export/import process.

3.1

Fastrak Simple Beam

General
When you start a new project or select New off the Beam menu, you are prompted for
the type of beam Simple or Cantilever. Currently, you must select Simple. The
definition of the beam data depends whether you are in Check Beam mode or Design
Beam mode (selectable off the Beam menu or from the toolbar).
Check Beam mode
When you click on the beam graphic or select Beam off the Beam menu, you are
presented with the Beam Properties dialogue. This dialogue contains a number of
options select Westok Beam from the Cellular Beams group, select whether the
particular beam is a Floor or Roof beam2 and select Westok from the Westok Method
group. Enter the span and check or uncheck the tick box for Fully Restrained as
appropriate.
Click on the tab of the Size page and using the Select button choose the size for the
Upper and Lower sections. You must also select a design grade of steel whilst
Cellbeam can accept different grades for the upper and lower sections, Fastrak is
limited to one grade for both sections.
If you have unchecked the Fully Restrained tick box, a Restraints page tab will
appear. This has the usual functionality and any changes to the effective lengths are
reflected in Cellbeam. Note that if in Fastrak you enter an effective length in metres
rather than an effective length factor then this is converted to an effective length
factor in Cellbeam.
There are two other tabs, Westok and Westok Openings. Go to the Westok page in
order to define the cell diameter, pitch etc. in the normal manner. Note that the infill
and stiffener grades are defaulted but not editable (greyed) since this is the case in
Cellbeam also and are fixed to assist with fabrication. You are also presented with the

The automate feature in Cellbeam works differently for floor and roof beams and for primary and secondary
beams since the optimisation approach is tuned to give optimum efficiency for these different cases of loading
and behaviour.

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Design of Westok Beams

choice of standard or ribbon cut. The latter gives you more flexibility in defining
the depth of the upper and lower tee sections. The final tick box is labelled Primary
checking or unchecking this tick box affects the automation parameters.3
On the Westok Openings page you will see a list of the current set of cells. Initially
these are all circular and to these you can add ring stiffeners or infills. For the latter,
you have the choice of full, half top, half bottom, half right and half left. Circular cells
can also be joined to form elongated openings. In this case you can then add
horizontal stiffeners as required. If you add infills or stiffeners then you are required
to define the thickness, width etc. as appropriate.
Design Beam mode
When you click on the beam graphic or select Beam off the Beam menu, you are
presented with the Beam Properties dialogue. This dialogue contains a number of
options select Westok Beam from the Cellular Beams group, select whether the
particular beam is a Floor or Roof beam.3 Only Westok/Westok beams can be
submitted for auto-design and hence Westok in the Westok Method group is selected
for you and is not editable (greyed). Enter the span and check or uncheck the tick box
for Fully Restrained as appropriate.
Click on the tab of the Size page and select a design grade of steel whilst Cellbeam
can accept different grades for the upper and lower sections, Fastrak is limited to one
grade for both sections. Since you are in Design Beam mode there is no facility to
select the size of the upper and lower sections.
If you have unchecked the Fully Restrained tick box, a Restraints page tab will
appear. This has the usual functionality and any changes to the effective lengths are
reflected in Cellbeam. Note that if in Fastrak you enter an effective length in metres
rather than an effective length factor then this is converted to an effective length
factor in Cellbeam.
There is one other tab, Westok. Go to this page in order to define the automation
parameters. These vary depending upon whether your have defined this beam as a
Roof or Floor beam and upon whether you checked or unchecked the tick box
labelled Primary. The permissible settings are given below,

The automate feature in Cellbeam works differently for floor and roof beams and for primary and secondary
beams since the optimisation approach is tuned to give optimum efficiency for these different cases of loading
and behaviour.

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Beam type

Beam Depth

Cell Diameter

Cell Pitch

Floor, primary

Automate
Maximum depth

Automate
Minimum diameter

Automate

Floor, secondary

Automate
Maximum depth
Fixed depth

Automate
Minimum diameter

Automate

Roof, primary

Automate
Maximum depth

Automate

Automate
Fixed pitch

Roof, secondary

Automate
Maximum depth

Automate

Automate

Other data
The remainder of the definition process is the same as for any other beam with one
exception. When you have defined your Design Combinations, you can select only
one ULS and its associated SLS combination to export. All loads are exported as
Additional Loads in Cellbeam and are of the type Dead, Superdead, Imposed
Wind (+) and Wind (-) (see Section 4 under the subsections dealing with Loading).
In Cellbeam all loads of each type are included in a given combination. So for
example, if you were allowed to export two combinations, one containing (dead1 +
live) and the second containing (dead2 + live) Cellbeam would combine (dead1 +
dead2 + live) in both combinations. Note that having two similar but different
gravity load combinations would be an unusual circumstance anyway. Similarly for
wind loads, there would be no distinction between combinations containing wind 0o
and wind 90o. This effectively limits Cellbeam to one ULS combination for either
gravity loads or wind loads. In any event if you define more than one ULS
combination the export will fail with an appropriate message.
Export/Import
When you are satisfied with all the data you have defined, select the Export to Westok
option off the Beam menu. This will create, in a directory of your choosing, a .cbx file
that can be read by Cellbeam. You can give this file a meaningful name, typically you
might choose the Beam Reference. If you subsequently make modifications to the
Fastrak file and re-export the Westok beam, any .cbx file of the same name is
overwritten although you are given the opportunity to continue with or to cancel this
action. Also you are recommended to save these files in a folder that is specific to the
current project so that any beam of the same name from a later project does not
overwrite the current one. If for any reason the export process fails e.g. you attempt to
export a Fastrak/Westok beam, then the program will not complete the export and you
will be given a message to say that the export has failed.
You can open the file in Cellbeam and improve the design in a number of ways,
obtain printed output for your final solution and import the essential details of the

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Design of Westok Beams

beam back into Fastrak. The import is achieved by selecting Import from Westok off
the Beam menu, navigating to the appropriate folder and selecting the correct beam
name.
Interpretations made during the export process and the essential data that are imported
to Fastrak are dealt with in Section 4 and 5 respectively.

3.2

Fastrak Composite Beam

General
When you start a new project or select New off the Beam menu, you are prompted for
the beam condition Internal or Edge. Select this as appropriate. The definition of the
beam data depends whether you are in Check Beam mode or Design Beam mode
(selectable off the Beam menu or from the toolbar).
Check Beam mode
When you click on the beam graphic or select Beam off the Beam menu, you are
presented with the Beam Properties dialogue. This dialogue contains a number of
options select Westok Beam from the Cellular Beams group and select Westok from
the Westok Method group. Enter the span.4
Click on the tab of the Size page and using the Select button choose the size for the
Upper and Lower sections. You must also select a design grade of steel whilst
Cellbeam can accept different grades for the upper and lower sections, Fastrak is
limited to one grade for both sections.
There are two other tabs, Westok and Westok Openings. Go to the Westok page in
order to define the cell diameter, pitch etc. in the normal manner. Note that the infill
and stiffener grades are defaulted but not editable (greyed) since this is the case in
Cellbeam also and are fixed to assist with fabrication. You are also presented with the
choice of standard or ribbon cut. The latter gives you more flexibility in defining
the depth of the upper and lower tee sections. The final tick box is labelled Primary
checking or unchecking this tick box affects the automation parameters.5
On the Westok Openings page you will see a list of the current set of cells. Initially
these are all circular and to these you can add ring stiffeners or infills. For the latter,
you have the choice of full, half top, half bottom, half right and half left. Circular cells
can also be joined to form elongated openings. In this case you can then add
horizontal stiffeners as required. If you add infills or stiffeners then you are required
to define the thickness, width etc. as appropriate.

By definition, composite beams must be floor beams and hence the Westok Type group is non-editable
(greyed) and is defaulted to Floor.
5
The automate feature in Cellbeam works differently for floor and roof beams and for primary and secondary
beams since the optimisation approach is tuned to give optimum efficiency for these different cases of loading
and behaviour.

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Design of Westok Beams

Design Beam mode

When you click on the beam graphic or select Beam off the Beam menu, you are
presented with the Beam Properties dialogue. This dialogue contains a number of
options select Westok Beam from the Cellular Beams group and select Westok for
the Westok Method group. Enter the span. Only Westok/Westok beams can be
submitted for auto-design and hence Westok in the Westok Method group is selected
for you and is not editable (greyed). Enter the span.
Click on the tab of the Size page and select a design grade of steel whilst Cellbeam
can accept different grades for the upper and lower sections, Fastrak is limited to one
grade for both sections. Since you are in Design Beam mode there is no facility to
select the size of the upper and lower sections.
There is one other tab, Westok. Go to this page in order to define the automation
parameters. These vary depending upon whether your have checked or unchecked the
tick box labelled Primary. The permissible settings are given below,
Beam type

Beam Depth

Cell Diameter

Cell Pitch

Floor, primary

Automate
Maximum depth

Automate
Minimum diameter

Automate

Floor, secondary

Automate
Maximum depth
Fixed depth

Automate
Minimum diameter

Automate

Other data
The Floor Construction of the composite beam is defined in the usual manner. Precast
concrete slabs are currently not supported by Cellbeam. If you specify a parallel deck
then a Restraints page will be made available. This has the usual functionality and any
changes to the effective lengths are reflected in Cellbeam. Note that if in Fastrak you
enter an effective length in metres rather than an effective length factor then this is
converted to an effective length factor in Cellbeam. For other restrictions and
interpretations applied to the Floor Construction data see Section 4.
The remainder of the definition process is the same as for any other beam with two
exceptions.
Firstly, the Construction Stage combination is always exported and hence the tick box
for the Construction Stage combination is already checked for you and cannot be
switched off. However, the self weight of the beam itself and the special loadcase in
Fastrak, Slab Wet are not exported. The reason for the former is that Cellbeam
intrinsically makes its own allowance for self-weight of the beam. The reason for the
latter is explained in Section 4. Cellbeam will use the special loadcase, Slab Dry
instead at the Construction Stage. The difference between the wet density and dry

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Design of Westok Beams

density of the concrete is usually only a few percent typically 2400 kg/m3 compared
with 2350 kg/m3 for normal weight concrete. Fastrak therefore exports this additional
percentage as a construction stage live load (given the type, CONST in Cellbeam) and
is adjusted to allow for the difference in the dead load factor of 1.4 and the live load
factor of 1.6. The adjustment is 2% and 5% for normal and lightweight concrete
respectively.
Secondly, when you have defined your Design Combinations, you can select only one
ULS and its associated SLS combination to export. All loads are exported as
Additional Loads in Cellbeam and are of the type Dead, Superdead, Imposed
Wind (+) and Wind (-) (see Section 4 under the subsections dealing with Loading).
In Cellbeam all loads of each type are included in a given combination. So for
example, if you were allowed to export two combinations, one containing (dead1 +
live) and the second containing (dead2 + live) Cellbeam would combine (dead1 +
dead2 + live) in both combinations. Note that having two similar but different
gravity load combinations would be an unusual circumstance anyway. Similarly for
wind loads, there would be no distinction between combinations containing wind 0o
and wind 90o. This effectively limits Cellbeam to one ULS combination for either
gravity loads or wind loads. In any event if you define more than one ULS
combination the export will fail with an appropriate message.
Export/Import
When you are satisfied with all the data you have defined, select the Export to Westok
option off the Beam menu. This will create, in a directory of your choosing, a .cbx file
that can be read by Cellbeam. You can give this file a meaningful name, typically you
might choose the Beam Reference. If you subsequently make modifications to the
Fastrak file and re-export the Westok beam, any .cbx file of the same name is
overwritten although you are given the opportunity to continue with or to cancel this
action. Also you are recommended to save these files in a folder that is specific to the
current project so that any beam of the same name from a later project does not
overwrite the current one. If for any reason the export process fails e.g. you attempt to
export a composite beam incorporating pc planks (currently not supported in
Cellbeam), then the program will not complete the export and you will be given a
message to say that the export has failed.
You can open the file in Cellbeam and improve the design in a number of ways,
obtain printed output for your final solution and import the essential details of the
beam back into Fastrak. The import is achieved by selecting Import from Westok off
the Beam menu, navigating to the appropriate folder and selecting the correct beam
name.
Interpretations made during the export process and the essential data that are imported
to Fastrak are dealt with in Section 4 and 5 respectively.

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3.3

Design of Westok Beams

Fastrak Building Designer

As with all beam types, you must create a set (or sets) of attributes appropriate for the
Westok beams you wish to define. These attributes can then be assigned to the
relevant beams as you define them.
In defining the data within the attributes pages, you should follow the advice given in
Sections 3.1 and 0 for Simple and Composite beams. For curved members there are
some additional considerations.
Curved members are selected from the range of Construction Types given on the
Design page of the Attributes Set. If you select the beam to be a Westok beam then
only Westok/Westok Roof beams are relevant and so these are already selected and
greyed. The radius of curvature is also required on this page and is measured to the
centre line of the beam. For consistency, on the Alignment page, the Line Alignment
is set to Centre for Vertical and is greyed. On this same page, the Rotation is also
greyed and set to 0o. This is because curved members can only be defined in true
elevation i.e. with the web in the Global Z plane. Unlike Simple and Composite
beams which by definition have pin ends, curved members can be made Simple
Connections, Moment Connections or Fully Fixed at one or both ends. This allows for
simple modelling of portal frames with curved rafters. The effects of the end fixity are
added into the Cellbeam export as an equivalent set of end forces and moments.
With regard to loading within the building model there are two items of note.
Firstly for composite beams, the Construction Stage combination is always exported.
However, the self weight of the beam itself and the special loadcase in Fastrak, Slab
Wet are not exported. The reason for the former is that Cellbeam intrinsically makes
its own allowance for self-weight of the beam. The reason for the latter is explained in
Section 4. Cellbeam will use the special loadcase, Slab Dry instead at the
Construction Stage. The difference between the wet density and dry density of the
concrete is usually only a few percent typically 2400 kg/m3 compared with
2350 kg/m3 for normal weight concrete. Fastrak therefore exports this additional
percentage as a construction stage live load (given the type, CONST in Cellbeam) and
is adjusted to allow for the difference in the dead load factor of 1.4 and the live load
factor of 1.6. The adjustment is 2% and 5% for normal and lightweight concrete
respectively.
When you have defined your Design Combinations, you can select only one ULS and
its associated SLS combination to export. All loads are exported as Additional
Loads in Cellbeam and are of the type Dead, Superdead, Imposed Wind (+) and
Wind (-) (see Section 4 under the subsections dealing with Loading). In Cellbeam
all loads of each type are included in a given combination. So for example, if you
were allowed to export two combinations, one containing (dead1 + live) and the
second containing (dead2 + live) Cellbeam would combine (dead1 + dead2 + live) in
both combinations. Note that having two similar but different gravity load
combinations would be an unusual circumstance anyway. Similarly for wind loads,
there would be no distinction between combinations containing wind 0o and wind

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90o. This effectively limits Cellbeam to one ULS combination for either gravity
loads or wind loads. In any event if you define more than one ULS combination the
export will fail with an appropriate message. 6
When you are satisfied with the building model you have defined, select the beams
that you wish to export either individually or by using the Set Selection option off the
Select menu. Using the latter you can select all the Westok Simple Beams or all the
Westok Composite Beams per floor or for the entire structure. Now select Export
Beams to Westok from the Export option off the File menu. This will create, in a
folder of your choosing, a series of .cbx files that can be read by Cellbeam. Fastrak
automatically names these files with the Beam Reference e.g. CB 2/C/2-2/C/3 (note
that the forward slash, / is replaced by an underscore, _). If you subsequently make
modifications to the Fastrak building model and re-export the Westok beam, the
original .cbx files are overwritten (without warning). Also you are recommended to
save these files in a folder that is specific to the current project so that any beam of
the same name from a later project does not overwrite the current one. The export
may take a few seconds to complete.
If for any reason the export process fails e.g. you attempt to export a composite beam
incorporating pc planks (currently not supported in Cellbeam), then the program will
not complete the export for that beam and you will be given a message in the Output
window to say that the export has failed along with a short explanation of the reason.
A successful export message will also be written to the Output window. In this way
you can clearly see which beams have been exported both successfully and
unsuccessfully.
You can open these files in Cellbeam and improve the design in a number of ways,
obtain printed output for your final solutions and import the essential details of the
beams back into Fastrak. The import is achieved by selecting Import Beams from
Westok from the Import option off the File menu, navigating to the appropriate folder
and selecting the correct beam names. You can use the Shift and Control (Ctrl) keys
to make multiple contiguous selections or multiple individual selections respectively.
Any beam that fails to import will be given a message in the Output window. The
reasons for failure are covered in Section 5.
Interpretations made during the export process and the essential data that are imported
into Fastrak are dealt with in Section 4 and 5 respectively.
Note that Westok/Westok beams are available in the Floor Vibration Wizard.
Although the design of these beams is carried out in Cellbeam, Fastrak has sufficient
data associated with these to determine the section properties for use in the floor
vibration analysis. This type of beam should be used with care in these calculations
since the properties used in Cellbeam design may not be the same as those calculated
by Fastrak and items such as elongated openings are not taken into account in Fastrak.
6

It is worth noting that where you need to export more than one combination, this can be achieved by exporting
the same beam(s) a number of times but with different file names. For example, to export a dead and imposed
load combination and a dead plus imposed plus wind load combination you can export the beam(s) twice. In the
first case adjusting the file name to, ?????_D+I and in the second case to, ????_D+I+W, for example.

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In any event Westok beams with ribbon cut cannot be used in the floor vibration
analysis i.e. they will not appear in the list of beams that can be selected for inclusion.

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4.

Design of Westok Beams

USING FASTRAK EXPORTED DATA IN CELLBEAM

The main menu of Cellbeam includes a number of options. The main points of note
and issues associated with each of these arising out of the export process are given
below under the heading of each menu option.
You are strongly advised to enter each of these menu options7, confirm or adjust
the data and re-save (Accept) the dialogue. For the Beam Details dialogue you
may find that this is essential for correct operation of the Cellbeam program.
Project Details (Job)
None.
Plan Details (Plan)
In the dialogue associated with this menu option, Cellbeam requires the distance to
the adjacent beams on one or both sides for edge or internal conditions respectively.
For a number of reasons it is not viable for Fastrak to export this data. For example,
no such data exists in Fastrak Composite Beam it knows the effective width of the
concrete flange but does not know whether this has been limited by the proximity of
an adjacent beam. For composite beams, the effective width is written as the distance
to the adjacent beams on each side for an internal condition and on Side 2 for an edge
condition. This ensures that the calculated effective width in Cellbeam is the same as
that in Fastrak. For simple beams and curved members, Fastrak writes these as an
internal condition with an arbitrary distance set to 1.0 m.
As well as their use in Cellbeam to determine the effective width, these distances are
also normally used to calculate the tributary loads on the beam under consideration.
However, this is not necessary when designing a beam exported from Fastrak since all
of the loading on the slab (e.g. self-weight and imposed floor loads) is entered into
Cellbeam as Additional Loads see the sub-section on loading below.
Cellbeam allows transverse beams to be included when the slab spans parallel to the
beam but not when the slab is perpendicular. For this reason, any beams that are
transverse to a composite beam in Fastrak when the slab is perpendicular cannot be
exported. This might mean that beams that are physically present in the Fastrak
building model will not be highlighted in Cellbeam as clashing with cell positions.
You should make note of these and add appropriate infills in Cellbeam and import
these into Fastrak or add them directly into Fastrak. Similarly for simple beams that
are fully restrained, there may be incoming beams physically present in the Fastrak
building model. These are not exported and so you should make note of these and add
appropriate infills in Cellbeam and import these into Fastrak or add them directly into
Fastrak. For curved members, any transverse beam that is present in Fastrak will not
be exported and the direction of the deck will be set to perpendicular in Cellbeam. If

The title of each sub-section below reflects the name of the option off the Edit menu and the name on the
toolbar button (in brackets) respectively.

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transverse beams were to be exported they would likely clash with cells and hence
require infills. However, it is assumed that curved roof beams support purlins that will
be seated on the top flange and hence cannot clash with cells. If this is not the case
then you should make note of the position of the beams and add appropriate infills in
Cellbeam and import these into Fastrak or add them directly into Fastrak.8
In Fastrak, the decking can be Perpendicular, Parallel or Angled. The last case is not
handled by Cellbeam and so any deck with an angle 85o is set to be perpendicular.
On the other hand, any deck angled at < 85o is set to be parallel this has several
effects,

Cellbeam will base the stud capacity on the parallel condition and the
dimension to the nearer side of the deck, dimension e, will be ignored
see Clause 5.4.7.3 of BS 5950: Part 3: Section 3.1. This will usually be
unconservative.
for the parallel condition, Cellbeam will always assume that the deck does
not contribute to longitudinal shear resistance irrespective of whether for
an angled condition you have defined the decking as Effectively Attached
in Fastrak.
for decking angled at 45o, Fastrak takes the area of transverse and other
reinforcement as contributing to longitudinal shear. This area is written to
the Cellbeam file. Thus, despite Cellbeam taking the deck as parallel
when < 85o the area of reinforcement is set as if it were perpendicular.
The area of reinforcement can be adjusted in the dialogue associated with
the Concrete Slab menu option.

Simple and composite beams in both Fastrak and Cellbeam are consistently viewed
left to right e.g. if there is an incoming beam at 2 m from the left hand end of a 9 m
beam this will be at the same relative position in both programs. However, because an
edge in Cellbeam is always shown in the plan graphic as Side 1 the floor layout may
appear back to front. This has no effect on the resulting design.
Curved members can have an offset i.e. one end of the beam is supported at a higher
or lower position than the other. In Cellbeam the right hand end is always assumed to
be the higher end. In Fastrak curved members can be either way around you must
take care, therefore, to always define curved members from the lower end to the
higher end. If you inadvertently define an offset the wrong way round, the export
will fail.
For curved members in both Fastrak and Cellbeam, the span is the horizontal
distance between supporting columns or beams. The radius in Fastrak is the centre
line radius whereas that in Cellbeam is the radius to the outside flange of the beam
and so is dependent upon the section depth. The export process makes this
conversion. In Cellbeam the rise and length are derived from other data. The

Note that in Fastrak curved members are aligned on their centre line and hence in the graphic of the 3D
structure purlins will appear as if they do clash with cells. This is a consequence of a centre line rather than a
physical model.

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former is measured to the outside flange from the line joining the tips of the flange.
The latter is the centre line arc length.
Concrete Slab (Slab)
You will note that the decking for a composite beam is set to Non-standard this is
a convenience to avoid exact mapping from Fastrak to Cellbeam when the data is held
slightly differently in each program. The decks are not in reality non-standard but are
all of the various types available from the manufacturers in the UK.
You will also note that the density of the wet and dry concrete is set to zero. This is
necessary when designing a beam exported from Fastrak since all of the self weight
loading of the slab is entered into Cellbeam as Additional Loads see the subsection on loading below.
In Fastrak you can specify a concrete strength from 20 to 55 N/mm2 whereas in
Cellbeam the range is 30 to 50 and 25 to 40 N/mm2 for normal weight and lightweight
concrete respectively. Thus, you may find that Cellbeam will not allow you to save
(Accept) the information on this dialogue. Similarly, Fastrak allows a modular ratio
from just above zero up to 100 whereas in Cellbeam the value must lie between 5 and
20 for short term and between 10 and 40 for long term.
Reinforcement to resist longitudinal shear can be specified in Fastrak as Transverse or
Other, can be either bars or mesh and can have different yield strengths. All
reinforcement that is transverse to the beam is summed and normalised that is
where the yield strengths differ an equivalent area is calculated using a single value of
yield strength. It is this value of area and the normalised value of yield strength that
is exported to Cellbeam.
You may note that this option is available for simple beams with the setting, No slab
but is greyed out for curved members.
Loading (Load), Distributed tab
All load values on this page are set to zero (including the construction stage imposed
load). The loads from Fastrak are exported as Additional Loading.
The proportion of imposed load considered as permanent can be varied for each
individual load in Fastrak. However, only one value can be accepted by Cellbeam.
Consequently, these values are not exported and the default value of 0.33 in Cellbeam
is retained.
Loading (Load), Additional tab
Fastrak has a full range of load types including full udl, part udl, vdl, trapezoidal load,
point load and point couple. Curved members in Cellbeam can only accept full udls,
part udls and point loads. For straight members all load types except point couples
can be used in Fastrak. However, Cellbeam does not currently have the facility to
accept the trapezoidal load type. Fastrak, therefore, writes a set of three equivalent

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loads two vdls and one udl. The maximum number of point loads and udls that can
be entered into this dialogue is 500 in both cases. In the unlikely event that more than
this number of loads is generated by Fastrak then the export to Cellbeam will fail.
Load types in Fastrak map to those in Cellbeam as follows,

Self weight of beam itself, not exported since calculated by Cellbeam,

Self weight of incoming beams, DEAD,
Slab wet not exported,
Slab dry DEAD,
Dead SUPERDEAD,
Imposed LIVE when part of a Fastrak final/composite stage design
combination,
Imposed CONST when part of the Fastrak construction stage
combination,
Wind WIND (+) or WIND (-) applicable to curved members only.

Any DEAD loads in Cellbeam are applied at both the composite stage and the
construction stage. This means that the Slab dry loads are applied at the construction
stage and is the reason that the Slab wet loads are not exported otherwise the slab
self weight would be accounted for twice. The difference between the wet density and
dry density of the concrete is usually only a few percent typically 2400 kg/m3
compared with 2350 kg/m3 for normal weight concrete. Fastrak therefore exports this
additional percentage as a construction stage live load (given the type, CONST in
Cellbeam) and is adjusted to allow for the difference in the dead load factor of 1.4 and
the live load factor of 1.6. The additional CONST load is 2% and 5% of the Slab dry
loads for normal and lightweight concrete respectively.
Dead loads and imposed loads applied directly to curved members in Fastrak can only
be applied in the Global Z (vertical) direction (see Important Note below) with their
position and, for udls, their distribution measured on the plan dimension. For
imposed loads in Fastrak and LIVE loads in Cellbeam there is an exact equivalency.
The distribution of udls in Fastrak that map to DEAD and SUPERDEAD loads in
Cellbeam are converted from the plan dimension (Fastrak) to the arc length
(Cellbeam). For full length udls and symmetrical part length udls this will be exact.
However, for asymmetric part length udls there will be no loss of load but there may
be a slight change in the distribution of the forces generated.
Wind loads applied directly to curved members in Fastrak can only be applied in the
local z (normal) direction (see Important Note below) with their position and, for
udls, their distribution measured on the arc dimension. WIND (+) and WIND (-)
loads in Cellbeam are distributed along the arc length but their position is transposed
to the projected length. In Fastrak wind loads can be pressure or suction and both
may exist in the same loadcase. In Cellbeam WIND (+) loads are given a positive sign
and applied in the downwards normal direction whereas WIND (-) loads are given a
positive sign and applied in the upwards normal direction. Hence, positive wind loads
in Fastrak (pressure) are exported as WIND (+) loads in Cellbeam and negative wind
loads in Fastrak (suction) are exported as WIND (-) loads in Cellbeam but with a

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positive sign. Since both pressure and suction can exist in the same loadcase it is not
feasible to export more than one combination containing wind loads.
Where, for example, there are roof bracing systems or continuous purlins, there may
be loads applied to the curved member in Fastrak that cannot currently be handled by
Cellbeam. These include,

uplift (negative) loads due to essentially gravity load types that can only
be applied with a positive sense in Cellbeam,
out of plane forces and moments,
in plane (axial) loads that occur within the beam length.

It is recommended that you study the analysis results in the main graphic of Fastrak
Building Designer to establish whether the forces induced by such loading can be
safely ignored.
Important Note: Area loads are not restricted by Fastrak to the acceptable
directions e.g. you are able to apply an imposed area load that is normal to the
roof. However, if you do so, during the export process Fastrak will ignore any
horizontal component (in the case of loads that are restricted to the Global Z
direction) or any tangential component (in the case of loads that are restricted to
the local z direction). It is your responsibility to ensure that any such ignored
loads are sufficiently small to be of no significance.
Loading (Load), End Forces and Moments tab
For simple and composite beams, these are not relevant and are not exported.
For curved members, Cellbeam assumes a simple model of a pinned support at one
end and a roller at the other. In Fastrak it is likely that the beam will be supported off
columns or beams and hence there will be interaction between the curved member
and the rest of the structure. This can be equilibrated in Cellbeam by applying the
forces in the supporting structure as reactions in Cellbeam. These reactions are
exported and appear on the End Forces and Moments page of the Loading Details
dialogue in Cellbeam. A separate end moment can be applied at each end of the
member whereas only one value of horizontal reaction is needed this is the left hand
reaction.
It is worth noting that sloping beams such as rafters will attract axial forces and, as
stated above, these axial forces are not exported for simple beams. It is possible to
model such sloping beams by defining a curved member with a very large radius.
Loading (Load), Load Combinations tab
Only one final/composite stage design combination can be exported to Cellbeam
that which you ticked in the Combination dialogue in Fastrak. One design
combination must be selected for the export process to be successful. You will note
that the Construction Stage design combination in Fastrak is ticked and cannot be
unticked. Although you can adjust the load factors for the Construction Stage design

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combination, any change from the standard 1.4 and 1.6 (for dead and imposed loads
respectively) are not exported to Cellbeam. This is because there is no means within
Cellbeam to adjust these load factors to any value other than the standard ones given
above.
In the Load Combinations page in Cellbeam you will see the load factors from the
Fastrak design combination that you selected. The ones for Ultimate Limit State are
those that you entered in Fastrak whilst those for the Serviceability Limit State are
defaulted to 1.0.
Beam Restraints (Restraints)
Simple and composite beams in Fastrak can be continuously restrained, entirely
unrestrained or have intermediate lateral restraint against lateral torsional buckling.
These settings are reflected in Cellbeam on the Restraints dialogue with respect to the
Top Flange. The bottom flange is always assumed to be unrestrained in Fastrak and
hence this is the setting that is exported. Restraints for Axial are not relevant and are
greyed in Cellbeam for floor beams. In Fastrak a beam can have intermediate
restraints with one or more lengths between those restraints continuously restrained.
Such a setting is not available in Cellbeam and hence the smallest effective length
factor for each appropriate length is exported i.e. 0.5L. In this way it is likely that the
relevant segment of the beam will achieve its full moment capacity in the same way
as it would when continuously restrained.
Curved members in Fastrak have four restraint settings,

lateral torsional buckling (LTB) for top flange,

LTB for bottom flange
in-plane strut,
out-of-plane strut.

For LTB top and bottom flange the appropriate restraint and associated effective
length are exported to Cellbeam. Note that the default in Fastrak for incoming beams
is that they provide LTB restraint to both the top and bottom flange. This infers that
the purlins restrain the top flange and that at each position there is a fly brace to
restrain the bottom flange (see also the same sub-heading in Section 5). Continuous
restraint between intermediate LTB restraints is treated in the same manner as
described in the previous paragraph.
In-plane strut restraints and their associated effective lengths are exported to
Cellbeam in which they are termed Axial Major Axis. Out of plane strut restraints
are not exported since there are no equivalent data in Cellbeam. Hence, any settings
that you make for out-of-plane strut restraints are effectively ignored. Instead, within
Cellbeam the assumption is that where both top and bottom flange restraints are
present and coincident, this will provide out-of-plane strut restraint. Note that if only
top flange restraints are present and the bottom flange is unrestrained, Cellbeam
assumes that the whole length of the member is unrestrained for out-of-plane strut
buckling.

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Note that if in Fastrak you enter an effective length in metres rather than an effective
length factor then this is converted to an effective length factor in Cellbeam.
Similarly, an effective length factor in Fastrak of the form 1.0L+D is converted to a
straightforward effective length factor in Cellbeam.
Shear Connectors (Connectors)
Irrespective of the number of studs included in a Group in Fastrak, the maximum that
will be written to the Cellbeam file is four. More than this number of studs per group
is rare and generally inadvisable. Hence, it is thought not to be restrictive. Similarly,
the minimum number of studs in Cellbeam for perpendicular decks, is one in alternate
troughs. If in Fastrak you specify a spacing and group size that will provide a lesser
number than this then one stud in alternate troughs will nevertheless be exported to
Cellbeam. This is unconservative but placing studs at wider than alternate troughs in
perpendicular decks is generally inadvisable.
In defining the layout of the studs in Fastrak, full dimensional checks will have been
carried out. These checks are not repeated by Cellbeam. Also, due to slight
differences in the way that the number of studs in any one length is calculated from
the group spacing, there could be a slight discrepancy in the total number of studs
between Cellbeam and Fastrak.
For perpendicular decks, Fastrak allows the studs to be at closer spacing than the
trough centres. This allows, for example, for the use of two studs in one trough and
one stud in the adjacent trough i.e. an average of 1.5 studs per trough. In Cellbeam the
studs must be at the fixed trough centres. In the example the exact number of studs
(1.5) is not acceptable in Cellbeam. The export, therefore, rounds this number down.
For the example this means that one stud per tough will be exported.
For perpendicular decks, Fastrak takes account of the contribution of the deck in
determining the resistance to longitudinal shear. In order to replicate this in Cellbeam
you must check the tick box on the Shear Connectors dialogue. Only the BS 5950:
Part 3: Secion3.1: 1990 type studs can be exported from Fastrak.
Beam Details (Beam)
The automate parameters for simple and composite beams, and for curved members
can be set in Fastrak and are passed through to this dialogue. You may change them if
necessary before using the Start button.
Special Details (Specials)
In Fastrak, for circular cells, you can define a different thickness for each cell infill
and different thickness and width for each ring stiffener. Cellbeam has only one value
for thickness and, in the case of ring stiffeners, width also. Fastrak will export the first
value that you have defined. It is not conducive to efficient fabrication to have
multiple thickness/width for such elements. The thickness of infill relative to the
minimum thickness of the web of the upper and lower sections as recommended by
Westok is given in the table.

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Note that elongated openings are not allowed in curved members both in Fastrak and
Cellbeam.

Web thickness
(mm)

Infill thickness
(mm)

< 5.5

5.6 10.5

10.6 14.0

12

14.1 17.5

15

17.6 22.5

20

22.6 27.5

25

27.6 32.5

30

32.6 37.5

35

37.6 42.5

40

42.6 47.5

45

47.6 52.5

50

Finally, you are reminded that whether you accept the data as is or modify it, the
validity of such data is entirely your responsibility.

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5.

Design of Westok Beams

IMPORTING DATA FROM CELLBEAM INTO FASTRAK

The main menu of Cellbeam includes a number of options. The main points of note
and issues associated with each of these arising out of the import process are given
below under the heading of each menu option.
Essentially there are three outcomes of the import process,

the import is successful and the appropriate data that you changed in
Cellbeam is updated in Fastrak
the import is successful but certain changed data cannot be imported into
Fastrak and so is ignored. An example would be the slab thickness. If a
thicker/thinner slab is required you should change this in Fastrak. The
import cannot change the individual beam since the slab thickness affects
other beams on the same floor that may or may not be Westok beams. The
import does not error since you may have been trying some what ifs or
there may be a local thickening of the slab in that area which you have not
modeled in Fastrak.
the import fails. Some changes to the data cannot be imported or
tolerated. An example would be changing a composite beam to a noncomposite beam.

Project Details (Job)

Ignored.
Plan Details (Plan)
The following changes will result in the import failing,

Floor to a Roof beam when the original source beam in Fastrak is a

composite beam,
for a Roof beam changing the Beam Geometry from Prismatic or Curved
to any other type,
increasing or decreasing the span,
for curved members, including an offset or modifying the exported
value.

With the exception of the radius for curved members, any changes to the other data in
this dialogue are ignored and the import will be successful.
Since the radius in Cellbeam is measured to the outside flange of the curved member
and is kept constant, any change to the overall depth of the section will affect the
centre line radius. Hence, on import Fastrak will detect that the centre line radius has
changed but to ensure integrity of the model within Fastrak the radius cannot be
adjusted. Providing that the change in the radius is relatively small then Fastrak will
allow the import of the remaining data but will not adjust the radius that it currently

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holds in the model. Otherwise the import will fail with an appropriate message. A
relatively small change in the radius is considered to be 500 mm.
Concrete Slab (Slab)
With two exceptions, any details that you change in this dialogue will be ignored and
the import will be successful. This includes any slab openings you may enter in
Cellbeam.
First, if you remove the slab (set to No Slab) and the import is to a composite beam
the import will fail. Similarly, if you add a slab (set to Steel Deck or Solid Slab) and
the import is to a simple beam then the import will fail. Note that a change from a
steel deck to a solid slab will be ignored and the import will be successful.
Second, for reinforcement, the single value of area of reinforcement at the design
strength in Cellbeam is transformed into an appropriate bar size and centres for the
Transverse reinforcement in Fastrak. This transformation takes account of the bars in
the appropriate direction from the Other reinforcement in Fastrak.
Loading (Load),
Any details that you change in this dialogue will be ignored and the import will be
successful.
Beam Restraints (Restraints)
Any details that you change in this dialogue will be ignored and the import will be
successful.
For curved roof members it is particularly important that you ensure consistency
between the restraints in Cellbeam and those in Fastrak. For example the design in
Cellbeam may assume that the bottom flange is restrained by fly braces at three
positions along the member. You should ensure that in Fastrak these (or more)
positions are equally restrained.
Shear Connectors (Connectors)
Any changes to the data in this dialogue will be reflected back into Fastrak.
However, due to mismatches in the way the data is stored in both programs, the
following points should be noted,

a Hilti stud of sizes designation X-HVB 50 can be selected in Cellbeam.

This size does not exist in the Fastrak database and so is mapped to the
HVB 80 (note the slightly different designation),
a wide range of stud height and diameter can be selected in Cellbeam.
Only 19, 22 and 25 diameter studs can be imported and these are limited
to 95/100 and 120/125 height.
the number of studs in a group can vary in Cellbeam whereas in Fastrak
there can only be one group size. In addition there is no concept of Zones

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in Fastrak. This means that the stud layout in Cellbeam cannot be used
directly in Fastrak. For example consider a Cellbeam case with three
zones, two suds per group in the outside zones and one stud in the group
for the middle zone. The import process sums the number of studs at their
appropriate spacing in each zone. The total number of studs is entered into
Fastrak which adopts two studs for all groups and provides these at an
appropriate spacing to give the total. Due to rounding errors in spacing
etc. the total may vary by one group.
Beam Details (Beam)
Any changes to the data in this dialogue will be reflected back into Fastrak except the
settings for Unpropped/Propped for beam and deck. Fastrak assumes unpropped
construction and so these settings are ignored. However, you can use them in
Cellbeam to study their effect on the overall beam design.
Special Details (Specials)
Any changes to the data in this dialogue will be reflected back into Fastrak except
when tee stiffeners are defined this results in the import failing.

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Design of Westok Beams

6.

FURTHER INFORMATION AND ENQUIRIES

6.1

Westok Ltd.
Westok Ltd. should be contacted at the address given below,

for further information on the use of Westok cellular beams

for a free copy of the Cellbeam software
for design assistance and budget pricing for specific projects from Westok
Advisory Engineers.

Westok Ltd.
Horbury Junction Industrial Estate
Horbury Junction
WAKEFIELD WF4 5ER
Tel.
+44 (0)1924 264121
Fax.
+44 (0)1924 280030
E-mail
info@westok.co.uk
Web
www.westok.co.uk

6.2

CSC (UK) Ltd.

For further information regarding this Advisory Note or for telephone support on the
use of Fastrak Building Designer, Fastrak Simple Beam and Fastrak Composite
Beam, please contact the CSC Support Department at the address shown below
between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday. For Sales enquiries,
please contact the Sales Office at the same address or your local Sales Engineer.
CSC (UK) Ltd.
Yeadon House
New Street
Pudsey
LEEDS LS28 8AQ
Tel.
+44 (0)113 239 3000
Fax.
+44 (0)113 255 3917 (Support)
+44 (0)113 236 0546 (Sales)
sales@cscworld.com
E-mail
support@cscworld.com
Web
www.cscworld.com

END OF DOCUMENT

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