Membrane stresses are in general compared to the adjusted allowable stress, SE. For reinforced members, the software compares the membrane stress to the lower of the plate allowable stress or beam allowable stress. Also, when there are holes in the side, the joint efficiency may be set to 1.0 in favor of a membrane efficiency which is factored into the actual stress calculation as necessary.
Bending stresses and total stresses are in general compared to 1.5 times the adjusted allowable stress, SE. For reinforced members the program compares the actual stress to the lower of the plate allowable stress or beam allowable stress, and also to the lower of 2/3 times the plate yield stress or beam yield stress. It chooses the lowest of these four combinations as the allowable for reinforced cases. Note also that when there are holes in the side, the joint efficiency at the mid-side may be set to 1.0 in favor of a membrane efficiency which is factored into the actual stress calculations as necessary.