Panel zones are assigned to joints to model the flexibility of beam-column connections. Panel zones may be linear or nonlinear, and may affect the following performance measures:
- Structural drift
- Structural period
- Moment distribution
Panel-zone results are available through Display > Show Tables > Analysis Results > Element Output > Panel Zone Output
When designing ductile steel-frame systems, continuity-plate requirements are calculated as part of the code-based design check. For this part of the design check, it is not required that panel zones be defined. Additional information may be found in the design-code documentation available under Help > Documentation > Design > Steel Frame Design.
