pdms - structural design

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Structural DesignUser Guide


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Disclaimer

1.1 AVEVA does not warrant that the use of the AVEVA software will be uninterrupted, error-free or free from

viruses.

1.2 AVEVA shall not be liable for: loss of profits; loss of business; depletion of goodwill and/or similar losses; loss of

anticipated savings; loss of goods; loss of contract; loss of use; loss or corruption of data or information; any

special, indirect, consequential or pure economic loss, costs, damages, charges or expenses which may be

suffered by the user, including any loss suffered by the user resulting from the inaccuracy or invalidity of any data

created by the AVEVA software, irrespective of whether such losses are suffered directly or indirectly, or arise in

contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise.

1.3 AVEVA's total liability in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise, arising in connection with the

performance of the AVEVA software shall be limited to 100% of the licence fees paid in the year in which the user's

claim is brought.

1.4 Clauses 1.1 to 1.3 shall apply to the fullest extent permissible at law.

1.5 In the event of any conflict between the above clauses and the analogous clauses in the software licence under

which the AVEVA software was purchased, the clauses in the software licence shall take precedence.

Copyright

Copyright and all other intellectual property rights in this manual and the associated software, and every part of it

(including source code, object code, any data contained in it, the manual and any other documentation supplied

with it) belongs to, or is validly licensed by, AVEVA Solutions Limited or its subsidiaries.

All rights are reserved to AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries. The information contained in this document

is commercially sensitive, and shall not be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted without

the prior written permission of AVEVA Solutions Limited. Where such permission is granted, it expressly requires

that this copyright notice, and the above disclaimer, is prominently displayed at the beginning of every copy that is

made.

The manual and associated documentation may not be adapted, reproduced, or copied, in any material orelectronic form, without the prior written permission of AVEVA Solutions Limited. The user may not reverse

engineer, decompile, copy, or adapt the software. Neither the whole, nor part of the software described in this

publication may be incorporated into any third-party software, product, machine, or system without the prior written

permission of AVEVA Solutions Limited, save as permitted by law. Any such unauthorised action is strictly

prohibited, and may give rise to civil liabilities and criminal prosecution.

The AVEVA software described in this guide is to be installed and operated strictly in accordance with the terms

and conditions of the respective software licences, and in accordance with the relevant User Documentation.

Unauthorised or unlicensed use of the software is strictly prohibited.

Copyright 1974 to current year. AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. AVEVA shall

not be liable for any breach or infringement of a third party's intellectual property rights where such breach results

from a user's modification of the AVEVA software or associated documentation.

AVEVA Solutions Limited, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HB, United Kingdom

Trademark

AVEVA and Tribon are registered trademarks of AVEVA Solutions Limited or its subsidiaries. Unauthorised use of

the AVEVA or Tribon trademarks is strictly forbidden.

AVEVA product/software names are trademarks or registered trademarks of AVEVA Solutions Limited or its

subsidiaries, registered in the UK, Europe and other countries (worldwide).

The copyright, trademark rights, or other intellectual property rights in any other product or software, its name or

logo belongs to its respective owner.

AVEVA Solutions Limited


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Revision Sheet

Date Version Comments / Remarks

September 2011 12.1.1 Issued

January 2012 Copyright added to all pages.

Structural Design User Guide


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Contents Page

12 Series1


Copyright 1974 to current year.AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.All rights reserved.

Structural Design

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1

Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1

Guide Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1

Structural Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1Structure of PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:2

Structures Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

Structural Specific Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2

Straight Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3

Nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4

Simple Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1

Design-to-Catalogue Cross-Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1

Ini tial Set Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1

Set Default Storage Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1

Automatic Profile and Primary Node Allocations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2

Set the Default Specification for Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2

Create Sections Explicitly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:4

Curved Section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:6

View the Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:7

Define what is displayed in the View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:7

Create Sect ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9


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Create a Single Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9

The Required End Position - Method 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:11

The Required End Position - Method 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:12Create Section by the Multiple Attached Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:12

Modify a Section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:14

Split a Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:16

Splice a Beam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:16

Collect Elements into Temporary Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:16

Copy Parts of a Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17

Copy Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17

Copy Rotate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:18Mirror Copy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:20

Add Structural Stabil ity to a Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:20

Quick Way to Bui ld a Regular Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1

Enhance Basic Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1

Trim Connected Section Ends to Correct Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1

Add and Modi fy Simple Bracing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:3

Add Standard Bracing Configurat ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:8Represent Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:11

Compound Joint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:18

Tidy Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:18

Move Part of the Structure and Maintain Correct Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:19

To Spli t Structural Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:22

The Selection of Elements to Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:22

Connections at Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:26

To Split the Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:28

To Spl ice Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:28

Merge Structural Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:29

To Merge Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:29

To Fillet Structural Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30

To Fillet Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30

To Mitre Structural Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:33

To Mitre Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:33

To Mitre Sections or GENSECS with a Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:36

To Posit ion Elements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:37


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Explicitly (AT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:37

Relatively (BY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:39

Extend Through . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:40Extend By . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:42

Drag Explicitly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:43

Al ign Secondary Nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:44

Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:44

Axes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:44

Rotate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:46

Flip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:46

Connectivi ty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:47Dominant Versus Subordinate Joints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:49

Create Fitt ings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:50

Create Section Fitting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:53

Compound Fitting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:54

Sub-Compound Fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:54

Modify a Fitting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:55

Modify Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:57

Panels and Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1Start the Panels and Plates Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1

How Panels are Represented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1

Panel Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2

Set Default Storage Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:3

Create Simple Panels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:4

Modify a Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:7

The Loop Vertex Editor Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:7

Modify Panel Thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:11

Modify Panel Justification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:11

Connect Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:12

Edge To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:12

Edges To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:13

Drag Edge To. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:13

The Panel Connection Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:14

Disconnect Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:15

Measure Distances/Directions in the Design Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:15


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Split a Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:15

Merge Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:15

To Mitre a Panel with a Section or GENSEC.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:17

Create Negative Extrusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:18

Posit ion Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:21

Panel Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:21

Level Vertices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:21

Orientation of Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:21

Trim Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:22

Panel Fittings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1

Single Panel Fitt ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1

Compound Fit tings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:4

To Create a Compound fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:4

To create a Sub-Compound Fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:5

Walls and Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:1

Walls and Floors Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:1

Wall and Floor Speci fication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:1

Straight Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:4Ring Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:6

User Defined Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:9

Create a Floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:9

Create a Screed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:10

Create Trace Boundary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:10

Split a Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:11

To Spl ice Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:13

To Merge Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:14

To Mitre Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:15

Modify Screed Slope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:16

Split a Floor/Screed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:18

Create Wall Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:19



Create Floor Fitt ings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:26


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5 Copyright 1974 to current year.AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.All rights reserved.



Modify a Straight Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:29Modify a Ring Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:31

Modify Wall Justi fication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:32

Modify Floor/Screed Defin it ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:32

The Loop Vertex Editor Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:32

Modify Floor/Screed Justif ication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:36

Modify a Wall Fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:37

Modify a Floor Fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:38

Posit ioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:39

Explicitly (AT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:39

Relatively (BY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:39

Extend Wall - Through . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:40

Extend Wall - By. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:40

Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:41

Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:41

Disconnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:41

Wall to Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:41

Wall Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:42

Check and Output Design Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1

Structural Catalogue Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

Basic Features of the Catalogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

P-line Identif ication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

Some Standard Profi les . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:3

Some Standard Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:12Column Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:13

Cleated Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:13

End Preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:14

Baseplate Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:16

Double Notched End Plates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:16

Single Notched End Plates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:17

Some Standard Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:17

Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:17

Fire Insulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:18


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Lifting Lugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:18

Sample Plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:1


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Introduction

12 Series1:1 Copyright 1974 to current year.AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.All rights reserved.

1 Introduction

The Structural Design User Guide introduces some of the facilities provided by the AVEVA

Plant Design Management System (PDMS) for the design and documentation of logically

interconnected structures. It explains the main concepts which underlie PDMS and the

applications that support it, and shows how to apply these to design projects.

1.1 Assumptions

The Structural Design User Guide has been written for engineers familiar with structural

design practices, who may or may not have prior knowledge of PDMS.

To use this manual, the sample PDMS project, Project SAM, must be correctly installed on

the system with read/write access to the project databases.

It is assumed that:

Users have a valid PDMS licence and the sample PDMS project, Project SAM, hasbeen correctly installed on the system with read/write access to the project databases.

Users know where to find PDMS on the computer system Users are familiar with the Windows operating system installed on the computer

Users are familiar with the basic Graphical User Interface (GUI) features, as describedin the AVEVA document Getting Started with Plant.

1.2 Guide Structure

The Structural Design User Guide is divided into these sections:

Introduction introduces this guide and summarises its scope.

Structural Designgives a general overview of the main design facilities providedwithin the structural application.

Structures

Applications

explains how PDMS stores its design data and describes the

organisation of user data. Also describes the procedure to log in

and how to create some administrative elements.

Simple Structure explains how to create a simple structure with only vertical columns

and horizontal beams.

Quick Way to Build a

Regular Structure

demonstrates a useful facility which provides an alternative method

for the creation of a regularly configured structure rapidly.
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Enhance Basic

Structure

shows how to add diagonal bracing members, how to model joints

between connected members, and how to modify the design by

moving interconnected parts of the structure.

Panels and Plates shows how to clad the structure by the addition of panels and

plates.

Panel Fittings introduces the concept of panel fittings.

Walls and Floors shows how to add walls and floors to an existing structure.

Check and Output

Design Datashows how to check designs for clashes, and how to generate

reports and plots directly from the design data.

Structural Catalogue

Guide

comprises a sample catalogue of structural steelwork sections.

Sample Plots shows some examples of typical plots of structural designs whichmay be created with PDMS.


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2 Structural Design

PDMS is a powerful suite of facilities, for the design of Process Plant, the emphasis is on

maximising both design consistency and design productivity:

The design modelling functions incorporate a degree of apparent intelligence thatenables them to make sensible decisions about the consequential effects of many of

the design choices. The user can implement a sequence of related decisions with aminimum of effort.

Modifications can be incorporated into a design at any stage without fear of invalidatingany prior work, because data consistency-checking is an integral part of the product.PDMS automatically manages drawing production, material take-off reports, and so on,by reading all design data directly from a common set of databases, to prevent theintroduction of errors when information is transcribed between different disciplines.

The applications allow all aspects of a design to be checked as work progresses.Included is on-line interdisciplinary clash detection, so the chances of errors andinconsistencies reaching the final documented design are reduced to an exceptionallylow level.

The applications are controlled from a graphical user interface. All design, drawing and

reporting operations are initiated by the selection of choices from menus, and byentering data into on-screen forms. For ease of use, many common actions are alsorepresented by pictorial icons.

The structural applications offer these key benefits:

The applications are designed to use specification data when structural componentsare selected from the Catalogue database, so that design consistency and conformityto standards are maintained. It is important, therefore, that the structural Cataloguedatabases are properly maintained.

Structural elements are named in accordance with a predefined set of rules, so thattheir positions in the database hierarchy are always obvious without the need to enterspecific texts during the design process.

Pointers can be set up to define the storage areas in which specific types of design

element are to be held in the database hierarchy. Combined with the rule-basednaming facility, this minimises the amount of data which has to be entered explicitlyduring the build up the design model.

Temporary lists of elements can be set up, so that a design operation can be carriedout on all elements within the list simultaneously. A great deal of repetitive work can beavoided when commonly-repeated design modifications are carried out.

The applications incorporate a number of geometric design aids, such as 3Dpositioning grids, to make it easy to position structural elements accurately within thedesign model.

Where possible, the Design applications create and maintain connectivity of thestructural network automatically.


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Non-standard structural components, such as complex panels and floor plates, may becreated by defining the required shape as a 2D profile and then extruding this to thedesired thickness.

Negative primitives and shapes may be used in the structural catalogue to definecomplex joint geometry and end preparations for structural sections, so that weldpreparations and fitting allowances can be modelled easily.

Templates may be used to define the basic structure of built-up girders and similarcomponents, so that the detailed design of such items becomes simply a matter ofentering the required dimensional and positional data.

Multiple copies of design components may be created simply by specifying the numberof copies required and their relative positions and orientations. For example, acomplete roof structure can be created by designing a single roof truss and then, in oneoperation, making as many copies as are necessary to support the length of the roof,with each truss displaced by a given distance relative to the preceding one.

Much repetitive work can be avoided in symmetrical designs by making copies of

interconnected parts of the structure and reflecting them about specified axes, so thatthe design pattern is repeated as required.

Joint positions may be finely adjusted to make sure they are assembled accurately,using any standard datum line to define the precise alignment of a joint with its attachedsections.

Sections and panels (wall plates, floor plates and so on.) may be divided atintersections, after the overall size and shape have been defined, without affecting anyof their logical interconnections. The macrostructure (for example, complete areas tobe covered) can be designed first and then subdivided into a manageablemicrostructure for fabrication purposes at a later stage (typically, to make the mostefficient use of stock panel sizes). The edges of panels may be notched to fit aroundsection profiles, and the edges of adjacent panels may be shaped such they interlockautomatically.

Penetrations may be created as catalogue elements. Such a penetration, which canincorporate appropriate sleeving, kick plates, and so on, may be inserted into astructural section or panel as a complete entity, with the dimensions and position of thepenetration derived automatically from the dimensions of the pipe/duct/cable traypassing though it.

The applications make it easy to create panels and to connect them to existing panelsor sections via linear joints. The facility uses intelligent pointer picking to enhance theinteraction between the displayed graphics and the design creation process. Panelvertices can be derived simply by picking appropriate datum lines on existing sections;connections between panels and sections are then created automatically to give a fullyconnected structural model. Such panels can be used either to represent floors/walls orto build up complex plated connections.

Multi-disciplinary clash checks can be carried out at any stage of the design, thusavoiding spatial conflicts within the overall model which could be expensive to rectify atthe construction stage. These clash checks are particularly important where differentfeatures of the design model are under the control of different designers.

At any stage of the design, reports can be created listing specified data from the currentdatabase. A standard report template can be specified, so that lists of commonly-required information can be derived very quickly, or report format can be designed tosuit a particular need. The resultant output, which can include data from any designdiscipline, sorted as required, can be either displayed on the screen or sent to a file (forstorage and/or for printing).

2.1 Structure of PDMS

PDMS comprises these functional parts:


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modules

applications

A module is a subdivision of PDMS that is used to carry out specific types of operation. TheDESIGN module, which is used to create the 3D design model, is covered in this manual.

An application is a supplementary program that has been tailored to provide easy control ofoperations that are specific to a particular discipline. The applications used in this manual

for structural design work are:

Beams and Columns

Panels and Plates

Walls and Floors.


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Structural Design



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Structures Applications


3 Structures Applications

The structures application comprises four applications, which the user can use to design a

structure, these applications are:

Beams and Columns

Panels and Plates Walls and Floors

Access, Stairs and Ladders.

To enter a structures application, in this case to design interconnected beams and columns,

from the main menu bar, select Design > Structures > Beams and Columns. The Beamsand Columns toolbar is displayed:

3.1 Hierarchy

All database elements are owned by other elements, therefore elements must be created in

a strict order, see figure below.

The database elements that follow are common to all DESIGN disciplines:

World

Site

Zone.

For more information on the generic hierarchical structure and the PDMS design database,

refer to Getting Started with Plant.


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3.1.1 Structural Specif ic Hierarchy

Below the zone level in the Structural application, the structural specific elements are:

Struc

Framework

Subframework

SCTN.

The part of the DESIGN database hierarchy which holds structural elements is (elements in

italics, for example, RELEASE, are for analytical purposes only):


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3.1.2 St raight SectionsEach individual straight structural member (column, beam and so on) is represented in

PDMS by a Section (SCTN) element. The geometry of a Section is defined by two types ofattribute setting:

Its cross-section is defined by reference to a Catalogue Profile (SPRF) element(I-beam, T-section, Channel, and so on).

All other aspects of its geometry are defined by setting specific design attributes (inmost cases these are set automatically by PDMS as the model is manipulatedgraphically). Two of the most important attributes are the Start Position (POSS) andthe End Position (POSE), since the positions of these points effectively determine thelength and orientation of the item. These and some other attributes of Sections will belooked at in more detail later.


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To provide a method for referring to individual edges and faces of a Section, each is

identified by a named line which runs along the length of the Section. These reference lines

(which are derived from the Sections Profile definition in the catalogue) are called P-lines.

As an example, some of the most commonly used p-lines for an I -shaped Profile might bepositioned and named as follows:

Note: For more information on this and other profiles, refer to Structural Catalogue Guide.

3.1.3 Nodes

PDMS uses the concept of Nodes to represent basic analytical points within a structure.Nodes have two main functions:

To identify the points at which logical connections are made between adjoiningSections.

To define how applied stresses can affect individual points in the structure (for passingdesign data to separate stress analysis programs).

Primary Nodes have their positions specified independently of other elements.

Secondary Nodes are positioned along an owning Section, at a specified distance from the

Sections Start Position. If a Section is moved, its Secondary Nodes move with it.


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Simple Structure


4 Simple Structure

To start to build up a structural design model the user must create a simple configuration of

interconnected columns and beams. Before this is done, however, it is important to

understand how some of the items which make up the design are represented and

accessed in the PDMS databases.

4.1 Design-to-Catalogue Cross-Reference

To make sure design consistency and conformity with company standards, the basic

definitions of all items which can be used in the structural design are held in a Cataloguedatabase. The database holds definitions of all available profiles and materials for structural

columns/beams/bracing and so on, all standard types of joint, all auxiliary fittings, and so on.

When an item is added to a design model, the position, orientation and so on, for the item

are stored in the DESIGN database, but the physical properties of the item are specified by

the setting up of a cross-reference (called a Specification Reference orSpecRef) whichpoints to an appropriate entry in the Catalogue database.

4.2 Initial Set Up

Before a structure can be designed the definition of the default specification for profiles has

to be selected and storage areas have to be defined.

4.2.1 Set Default Storage Areas

The user must specify where the principal structural elements are to be stored in the Design

database hierarchy.

From the main menu bar select Settings > Storage Areas,the Storage Areas window isdisplayed:

The Storage Areas window, enables the user to select storage areas for Primary Nodesand Sections. Both types of element are stored directly under the current element in the

Design Explorer, by default, both storage areas displayed are set as unset.


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Simple Structure


From the Storage Areas pane of the Storage Areas window, select each elementdisplayed, the new storage area settings under the CE are displayed in the Storage Areaswindow and in the main menu toolbar.

To close the Storage Areas window, click Close.

4.2.2 Automatic Profile and Primary Node Allocations

By default, each time a new Section is created, it is automatically associated with a Profile

from the Catalogue. Also by default, Primary Nodes are not created automatically at

unconnected section ends if the Primary Node creation is not enabled. For the present,

leave both of these default settings in force, as shown:

To create Primary Node at the end of a section that already exists select Create > PNode atSCTNEnd from the main menu toolbar. The prompt Identify end of section primary nodeis to be created at is displayed. Click the section ends as required and click Esc to createthe Primary Node.

4.2.3 Set the Default Specification for Profiles

The current default profile, justification line, member line and joint line are displayed in the

main menu tool bar, by default the default specification is set as Unset.

The first structural sections created are columns, so a suitable default profile must be set.

From the main menu bar, select Set Default Profile Specification, the SectionSpecification (Default) window is displayed.


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Simple Structure


All of the tasks that a user would carry out that are associated with the selection of the

default specification are initiated from the Section Specification (Default) window.

Specification Data

Use the Specification Data part of the Section Specification (Default) window to selectany of the specifications from the catalogue.

Click Specification to identify the current specification as the section specification (default).

From the Generic Type drop-down list, select a standard from the list of availablestandards, once the selection has been carried out the Generic Type part of the window isautomatically populated the generic types from the catalogue.

Pline Settings

Use the Pline Settings part of the Section Specification (Default) window to modify thePline Settings, by default the settings are set as NA (neutral axis) (normal choice of

justification setting in practice is NA). For more information on Pline Settings, refer to

Straight Sections.

From the Justification drop-down list, select the justification from the available list,(justification determines the Setting out position of the Section, that is the axis about which

the geometry is offset).


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From the Member line drop-down list, select the member line from the available list(determines how sections are shown in wireline views and drawings).

From the Joint Line drop-down list, select the Joint Line from the available list (determinesthe position of a joint relative to an attached section).

Options

Use the checkboxes in the Options part of the Section Specification (Default) window tore-trim all attached sections or use as the default profile.

Click Properties to display the properties of the profile.

Click Plotfile to display a graphical representation of the profile.

ClickApply to use these settings as the new default, the current specification is updated.

Click Dismiss to discard any information and close the Section Specification (Default)window.

4.3 Create Sect ions Expl ic it ly

To create vertical columns, use explicit positioning; that is, the columns are positioned at

given positions within the coordinate system of the site rather than by positioning them

relative to structural sections that already exist.

From the main menu bar, select Create > Sections > Straight, a Section window and aPositioning Control toolbar are displayed. Together they control how the start and endpoints of sections are specified. The Positioning Control toolbar is not relevant at themoment (its use is described later).

In the Section window, check that the String Method is set to Single (which means thatindependent start and end positions for each section are to be defined) and that the

Secondary Nodes checkbox is selected.

Select the Confirm checkbox (so that the position of each new section can be checkedbefore it is added to the database). The Section window is now populated as shown below.


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Simple Structure


In the Section window, select Define Start/End Explicit ly, which means the user enters theexact coordinates for the start of the section or picks a point in the 3D graphical view. ADefine section start window is displayed and the user is prompted to Define section start

(Snap) Snap:

To position the start of the first column at the site origin, leave the East/North/Up coordinates

at the default position (E0, N0, U0), as shown:

Note: The default entry wrt World, which means with respect to the World, defines thecoordinate system within which the position is specified.

Click OK, the Start position is shown in the centre of the 3D Graphical View.

Rather than specifying all three coordinates for the Sections end position explicitly, its

position is defined relative to the Sections start.


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Simple Structure


In the Section window, select Define End a Given Distance and Direction from Start. ADefine section end window is displayed, enter the required data.

Click OK, then Accept in the Section window to confirm the creation of the Section. TheSection is displayed as SCTN 1 in the Design Explorerand as a very small rectangle in the

centre of the graphical display.

Or click Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Define section end window.

When all the required columns have been created, click Dismiss to discard any informationand close the Section window.

The Design Explorer displays the Sections (in this case, four, SCTN 1-4), is displayedbelow:

Note: Each newly created Section is placed before the current list position, so that SCTN 1in the list was the last Section created. From the main tool bar, the user can click Edit> Undo to clear the SCTN creation if required.

4.3.1 Curved Section

When the user creates a GENSEC element (Create Methods pane), the user has theoption to connect the ends of the new GENSEC if a suitable start or end point is selected.

From the main tool bar click Create > Sections > Curved.


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Select Connect Ends check box to create a connection between the elements picked forthe start and end positions of the new GENSEC element.

4.4 View the Design

Inorder to see a design as it is built up it can be displayed in a 3D View window. In the 3DView window the user can simply point to design items to identify them so that they do nothave to navigate to them in the Design Explorer.

4.4.1 Define what is displayed in the View

From the main menu toolbar, select Display > Drawlist, the Drawlist - 3D View window isdisplayed.


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The Drawlist contains the Sections just created, as well as the owning Structure element.

To see all of the current design, select Zoom to Selection on theView Manipulation toolbaron the left-hand side of the main Design window. All the Sections are displayed within the

3D View window in cross section, as if viewed from above. The view is automatically scaled

so that all the Sections fit neatly within it.

It is often useful to display coordinate Axes. To do this, click Display Axes on CE on theMain toolbar or select Query > Axes from the main menu bar. The Define Axes window is

displayed:


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By default, the axes are positioned at the origin of the current element, but other positioning

options are available from the windows Select drop-down menu. Ordinal (X,Y,Z) or cardinal(North, East, Up) directions can be specified, as can the size of the axis arrow lines.

Select the tag type and required size, then select Close > Retain Axes from the windowsdrop-down menu.

Position the mouse pointer within the 3D View window and right click to select other viewdirections. Do this and select Isometric > Iso 3 from the drop-down menus to set anisometric view direction. An example of an isometric view direction of columns is displayed.

Note: The status line shows the direction of view.

Different view directions can be selected (Look, Plan and Isometric).

4.5 Create SectionsThe next section of the user guide describes how to add horizontal beams to columns. The

pointer is used to identify the start and end positions for these beams and left click to pick

the columns to which they are to be connected. The advantage is that there is no

requirement to remember which section is which in the Design Explorer; the work is donevisually, as when a drawing board is used.

4.5.1 Create a Single Beam

If required, modify the Profile Specification or retain the default specification, for more

information refer to Set the Default Specification for Profiles.


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From the main menu bar select Create > Sections > Straight to redisplay the Sectionwindow and the Positioning Control toolbar, which are used to identify positions by pickingthem with the pointer in the 3D graphical view.

Set the String Method to Single to specify the start and end points independently for eachsection.

Select the Secondary Nodes checkbox so that secondary nodes and joints are createdautomatically at all connections between sections.

Select the Confirm checkbox. When it is no longer required, click to clear the Confirmcheckbox.

Note: The Secondary Joint (SJOI) element forms the basis of the analytical model.

Instead of the use of enter explicit coordinates, the Start Position is defined as a point on

one of the columns that already exists which is picked with the pointer.

On the Positioning Control toolbar, set the Pick Type option (right-hand drop-down list) toElement. From here the user has to pick sections themselves, rather than individual plines,to identify positions within the design model.

The Pick Method setting (right-hand drop-down list) specifies how the pointer picks thepositions. Set to Snap, this means the user wishes to snap to the position of the nearestStart or End of a picked section. The option remains in force until the user changes it.

The user is prompted to Define section start (Snap), pick a point anywhere in the upperhalf of the column. The word Start is displayed in the view to mark the specified start pointand the snap action has placed this at the upper end of the column.

The user is then prompted to Define section end (Snap), pick a point anywhere in theupper half of the next column to define the End Position of the new beam.

Note: The proposed route of the new beam is shown in the 3D View.

ClickAccept in the Section window to confirm the section creation. Beam 1 is shown withits start connected to the top of one column and its end connected to the top of the next

column.

The length of the beam is calculated automatically, with allowances for the section

dimensions, but the beams position is too high. The beams position is too high because the

just if ication datum is set to the Neutral Axis (NA), as shown by the Profile Specificationsetting /BS-SPEC/305x165x40kg/m (NA/NA/NA). The position must now be corrected by

resetting the justification datum to the Top of Steel (TOS) pline. The result is as shown in the

diagram:

Switch temporarily from event-driven graphics mode to graphical navigation mode, select

Navigate to Element from the main menu toolbar (check the pick mode prompt). Changethe view direction to View >Look > East in the main menu bar, move the centre of interestto the approximate mid-point of the first beam and zoom in to see more clearly what


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happens at the ends of the beam. Pick the new beam to make sure that it is the current

element and select Modify > Sections > Specification in the main menu bar. In theSection Specification window, set the Justification to TOS, as shown:

Select the Use as default profile checkbox, so that when the beams are created they areall aligned correctly without further adjustment. Apply the change and the beam movesdown to the correct position.

Note: The default specification has changed:

Alternatively, select the Modify > Sections > Justification option in the main menu bar torealign just the current beam.

The user must now create another beam, with its start position at the top of a column, which

runs horizontally to connect part-way up the next column. Reset the view, if necessary, to

show all sections so far created. Click Dismiss to discard any information and close theSection window to return to event-driven graphics mode. Select Create > Sections >Straight from the main menu bar to position the start of the next Section (check the pickmode prompt again). Position the Start for the beam at the top of the column.

To pick the end position, use the snap facility with a specified offset distance along thepicked Section. From the Positioning Control toolbars Pick Method list, select Distanceand, in the adjacent Method Value field, enter the height of the end position column (forexample, 5000) and click Enter.

The user is prompted to Pick section end (Distance [5000]), Pick anywhere in the lowerhalf of end position column. To calculate the End Position snap to the bottom of the column

and then move up (that is towards the pointer) by 5000mm. To accept the section, click

Accept in the Section window.

4.5.2 The Required End Posit ion - Method 1

Because the beam is to be horizontal, its End Position can be constrained to have thesame elevation as its Start Position. To do this, the Explicit Positioning window (refer toTo Position Elements) is used, but now the coordinates are entered in the window by

graphical picking rather than by typing them in.

The user may if required, mix the different ways to define positions (use the Section,Positioning Control and Define section end windows) to suit the current circumstances.

From the Section window, click Define End a Given Distance and Direction from Start into display the Define section end window. The latter initially shows the coordinates of the

last point picked, namely the top of the first column.


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Select the Lock checkbox next to the Up field, as shown:

Note: The Up coordinate is greyed out to show that it cannot be changed.

The user can now pick any part of the end column to specify the beams End Position, since

the elevation of the snap point is ignored in favour of the constraint that the End Position

must be at the same elevation as the Start Position; only the East and North coordinates of

the pick are used. OK the Define section end window, then click Reject in the Sectionwindow to cancel the creation.

4.5.3 The Required End Posit ion - Method 2

The Start Position is still shown at the top of the first column.

Use Perpendicular From and Perpendicular To in the Section widow to create a sectionwhich is perpendicular to another section. Constrain the new beams End Direction to be

perpendicular to the second column.

Click PerpendicularTo then pick the second column. The derived End Position is the sameas for Method 1. Now the user mustAccept the section creation.

When the beams have been created click Dismiss to discard any information and close theSection window.

Note: Click Dismiss in the Section window to also remove the Positioning Controltoolbar and return the pick mode prompt to Navigate.

4.5.4 Create Section by the Multiple Attached MethodThere are often times when a multiple copy of a section needs to be made at regular

centres, for example stringers in a deck or floor panel. To achieve this use a multiple Copy

Offset. However, each end would need to be connected after it is copied. PDMS provides a

utility that copies a selected member and produces multiple copies with connection details

the same as the original.

From the main menu, select Create >Sections > Multiple Attached the user is prompted toselect the section to be copied if a SCTN element is not already the CE (the Section Copywindow is displayed when an appropriate selection is made).


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To change the section to be copied identify another section as the CE and click CE in theSection Copy window.

The Number of copies textbox shows the maximum amount of members that can be fitted

to the shortest owning section at the current spacing, as shown in the Spacing textbox.

By default the spacing of the columns is 1000, if required the user can change the distance.

Enter the distance in the Spacing field and click Max, the maximum number of copies thatcan be fitted is recalculated.

A graphical aid shows the direction for+ve orve spacing with aid lines which represent thepositions of the new sections to help visualise the results.

When the arrangement shown is correct, clickApply to copy the sections and connect themto the owning member(s). Any end preparations are also applied.

However, if a value greater than the maximum is specified in the Number of copies textboxsuch that the copied elements goes beyond the length of the shortest owning section, the

copies are made but the free ends are not connected or end preparations applied.


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4.6 Modify a Section

As a design progresses it may be necessary to modify a sections parameters.

From the 3D graphical view, select the section to be modified as the CE. From the main

menu toolbar select Modify > Section > Specification to open the Section Specificationwindow to change the specifications of the section.

ClickApply to accept the changes or click Dismiss to discard any information and close the

Section Specification window.The user must now select the section whose definition is to be changed as the CE.

From the main menu toolbar select Modify > Section > Definition to open the ModifySTCN window and the Positioning Control toolbar.

By default the Start position of the current element displays and shows East, North and Up

co-ordinated with respect to the world.


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The Start position is indicated in the 3D graphical view.

The Position options allows the user to specify the point on the element to which theposition co-ordinates apply. The user can specify Start, End orCentre.

Dependant on the option specified the application of modified co-ordinates has this effect on

the element:

Start - Relocates the start position of the element to the specified co-ordinates, but itsend position remains unchanged.

End - Relocates the end position of the element to the specified co-ordinates, but itsstart position remains unchanged.

Centre - Relocates the entire element, its centre is located at the specifiedco-ordinates and the start and end positions are modified.

To define a position by reference to design items that already exist, use the Positioning

Control toolbar and the cursor to identify the required position by picking it in the graphicalview.

The Settings option allows the user to change the length and direction of the section.

The End Direction option allows the user to change the end direction to Perpendicularormaintain the original direction.

Click OK to modify the section.

Select Modify > Section > Justification from the main menu toolbar to display the SectionJustification window. The Section Justification window will be displayed in an inactive statebefore the section pick is completed.


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To change the justification select the required Pline justification from the drop-down menu.

To select the justification manually from the 3D graphical display click Justification and theprompt Identify Pline to justify to. appears. Select the pline with the cursor.

To maintain attachment to associated sections select the Re-trim attached sectioncheckbox.

Click Apply to make the changes or click Dismiss to discard any inputs and close theSection Justification window.

The modification of the wall Member L ine,Joint Line and Joint Position Lineis the same.The Modify Section Justification and Member Line can be used to modify the attributes of a

GENSEC. The Modify Joint Position and Joint Line can be used to modify the attributes of a

FIXING element, owned by a GENSEC.

4.7 Split a Beam

A beam may be created between two columns which causes the beam to pass through a

third beam. For the information on how to split a beam refer to To Split Structural Elements.

4.8 Splice a Beam

The Splice method allows sections to be divided into smaller lengths and, optionally,connected End to End. For the information on how to splice a beam refer to To SpliceSections.

4.9 Collect Elements into Temporary Lists

In order to demonstrate another useful facility, all members of the Sub-Frame (Sections,Secondary Nodes and Joints) is put into a List - a temporary collection of elements whichlets the user carry out operations on the list as a whole. Each list definition is valid only for

the duration of the current PDMS session (although the user can save such definitions in a

binary file for reloading into a future session).

Select Utilities > Lists from the main menu bar or click Create/Modify Lists on the maintool bar. A Lists/Collections window that controls the existence and contents of all lists forthe current session is displayed. From any of the lists, the user is able to select the one to

modify.

From the Lists/Collections menu bar, select Add > List . In the Description box in theCreate List window, enter TESTLIST.


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Make sure that the current element is the Sub-Frame (/testsubfrm), then from the Lists/Collections menu bar, selectAdd > CE Members . All elements owned by the Sub-Frameare displayed as items within TESTLIST.

Select Control > Close to dismiss the Lists/Collections window.

Note: The new list automatically becomes the current list:

4.10 Copy Parts of a Structure

Rather than create many more columns and beams individually, it is easier to copy the ones

already created and reposition the copies. As previously mentioned in this section, the lists

that contain all members of the Sub-Frame are copied rather than the Sub-Frame itself.

4.10.1 Copy OffsetFrom the main menu bar select Create > Copy > Offset. A Copy with Offset window isdisplayed which allows the user to specify what to copy (Object), where the copies are to bestored in the database hierarchy (to ), how many copies are required, and how each copy isto be positioned relative to neighbour that precedes it (Offset).

Set the Object to be copied to List; since only one list exists, its name (TESTLIST) is shownwithout further selection.

Set the to option to Rel. (Relative). The new element copies are now created in the samepart of the database hierarchy as the original elements; that is, as members of the Sub-

Frame.

Input the Number of Copies in the Number of Copies field.


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Note: The Offset must be specified in terms of the local X,Y,Z coordinates of the geometricprimitives that make up the structural items, rather than the E,N,U coordinates used

to position items within the overall design model. In this case, by default, X=E, Y=N

and Z=U. The axes are shown automatically in the graphical view as a guide.

Click Apply to create the three offset copies, the user is prompted to confirm if the userwants to retain the copies (if that they look correct in the graphical view).

Click Dismiss to discard any information and close the Copy with Offset window.

Click Zoom to Selection in the 3D view toolbar and select Isometric > Iso3 from the 3DView shortcut menu so that the whole of the current design can be seen.

The Design Explorernow shows which elements have now been created and where theyfit into the hierarchy.

Note: The Sub-Frame now owns multiple Sections, which comprise the associatedcolumns and beams, together with all of the necessary Secondary Nodes and Joints

needed to define their interconnections.

4.10.2 Copy Rotate

To copy parts of a structure, from the main menu toolbar select Create > Copy > Rotate to

display the Copy and Rotate window which allows the user to specify what to copy(Object), where the copies are to be stored in the database hierarchy (to ), how manycopies are required, and how each copy is to be positioned relative to its neighbour that

precedes it (Offset).


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The Rotation Axis is displayed in the 3D graphical viewas a guide.


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TheAngle setting is determined relative to the Rotation Axis.

The Direction gives the axis in which the object rotates. The distance the rotated object isfrom the centre of the axis is determined by the figure in the East/North/Up text boxes.

The Offset, Cursorand Intersection drop-down menu selections determine how the copyappears in relation to the original.

4.10.3 Mirror Copy

For more information on Mirror Copy, refer toAdd and Modify Simple Bracing.

4.11 Add Structural Stability to a Structure

To add structural stability to a structure requires the insertion of beams to give structural

stability. The creation of these beams includes some variations of the ways so far used to

define the start and end positions of the beams.

The diagram below gives an example of a structure that requires the addition of beams to

give it structural stability.


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As a start point, create the three most southerly beams. To do this create a single beam and

then split it into three lengths to fit between the columns, refer to Split a Beam.

Next, create the three beams directly to the north of those which have just been created

(shown cross-hatched on the diagram). The beams are created in a sequence of operations

in which the start of each section (after the first) is situated automatically at the end of the

section that precedes it.

In the Section window set the String Method to Continuous to create a chainedconfiguration of sections. By default, the start of the next section is assumed to be at the

end of the previous section (as shown in the 3D View); click Redefine Start to override this.

On the Positioning Control toolbar, set the pick method to Intersect to show that positionsare to be identified at the intersection points of pairs of sections that already exist.

To create the first beam, pick first Column 3 and then Beam 2 (whose intersection is at the

Start Position of the first required beam, labelled A in the diagram), then use the samemethod to pick the intersection which identifies the end of this beam (B in the diagram). IfConfirm is selected, clickAccept to create the beam.

It is important to stress the behaviour of not picking the attached member first as the

sequence of picking the intersections determines the ownership of the SNOD/SJOI and

therefore the connectivity model.

The start of the next beam is positioned automatically at B (as shown in the figure). Use thesame procedure to pick points C and D to create the next two beams. Click Redefine Start

in the Section window to define a new start for another section or sequence of sections.Add sufficient beams to stabilise the structure with a combination of the techniques

described previously. Switch Confirm to Off to speed up the process. To correct a mistakein the middle of defining a section, click Redefine Start to go back a stage.

Note: The user can use the Middle Button Drag view manipulation options available fromthe 3D View shortcut menu to give a clear view of the correct sections.

Click Dismiss to discard any information and close the Section window when the resultsare satisfactory.

Note: If the beams are simply copied, either singly or as a composite list, the copies arepositioned but are not connected automatically.


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To update the database so as to store the most recent changes to the structure which has

been created, select Design Save Work from the main menu bar or click Save work.


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Quick Way to Build a Regular Structure


5 Quick Way to Build a Regular Structure

If a significant part of the model to be designed comprises a regular array of beams and

columns, a special facility is provided to speed up the creation of all the necessary elements

to define the fully connected structure. Even if the model is not completely regular in layout,

it can be quicker to use this facility first and then to modify the design as necessary, rather

than build up the design section-by-section.

The new model is stored in the hierarchy as described in Hierarchy.

From the main menu bar, check that automatic Profile allocation is On and Primary Node

creation is Off, as in Automatic Profile and Primary Node Allocations (Storage areas and

specifications need not be set yet.)

From the main menu bar select Create > Sections > Specials. The Section Creationwindow is displayed which lists all available methods:

To initiate the use of any available method select it from the Available Creat ions pane ofthe Section Creation window. For example, select Regular Structure, then click Dismiss.A Regular Structure window is displayed which gives the user complete control of thewhole design process. For the purposes of this user guide, this window is looked at in three

distinct parts.

The areas labelled Column Data and Beam Data are used to set the storage areas, profilespecifications and justification p-lines independently for the two types of section.


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To enter each Storage area name, navigate to the Subframe and type CE. The nameof the current element is automatically populated.

To enter the Profile specifications, click Profile to display the Section Specificationwindow and pick the required specification and pline settings. Click Dismiss to discardany information and close the Section Specification window when the settings arecomplete.

The Grid Origin area defines how the structure is to be positioned spatially.

The Datum setting defines the element, the reference axes determines the origin andorientation of the structure.

The Underside of Base-Plate sets the lowest point of the structure (underside ofbaseplate) relative to the datum axes. From this the user can define the elevations of the

structural members relative to a plane which does not correspond to the base of the overall

structure. In this case this is set to 1000, so that the bottoms of the columns are truncated at

an elevation of 1000mm. (The effect of this is seen when the completed model is viewed.)

The East Spacings and North Spacings lists specify the relative spacing between adjacentcolumns in the given directions. The Elevation list specifies the absolute elevations of thebeams which represent the floor levels.


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These settings creates 16 columns on a 4x4 rectangular grid, with a uniform inter-column

spacing of 3000mm in the East direction and 5000mm in the North direction. The columnsare 4000mm high, to accommodate two floors at elevations of 3000mm and 5000mm

relative to the datum plane, but with the bottoms of the columns truncated so that they do

not extend below the 1000mm elevation specified by the baseplate setting.

Select Trim sections to Plines, so that the beams have their lengths calculated to fit

between the columns to which they are connected.


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With view limits set for zone and view direction set to Iso 3, click Preview to display a stickrepresentation of the specified structure.

Check and, if necessary, correct the settings, then click Apply to create the structure. Thesections first have the specified profiles applied to give them their 3D geometry, then they

are trimmed to length and connected. The process involves a lot of calculation, and might

therefore take a minute or two to complete; progress is shown in the status bar.

Click Dismiss to discard any information and close the Regular Structure window.

The structure can now modified by the removal of beams. From the main menu select

Delete > Identified and then pick the beams which are to be removed. Press Esc andconfirm the deletion, when prompted.

The user is left with some columns that do not have any beams connected to their upper

ends. The height of these columns has to be reduced. Rather than modify each one

separately, select Utilities > Lists from the main menu.

If a list already exists select Remove > All to remove the list and select Remove > Lis t toremove the list name.

Select Add > List to name the list, then use the Add > Identi fied option in the Lists/Collections window.

Add the columns into the list by picking them in the 3D graphical view. If a mistake is made,

click the column again to deselect it, to exit, press Esc .

From the main menu bar select Position > Extend > By.


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The user is prompted to Identify Section, pick any of the columns and then, when theExtend Section - Explicit window appears, select the new list as the item to be modified.

Note: If a column is already selected the user is not prompted to Identify Section.

The Extend option list requires the user to specify which end of the item is to be moved. Theuser needs to adjust the upper end of each column, but is this its Start or its End? To check

this, make any one of the columns the current element and select (from the main menu)

Settings > Mark Section. The Start and End is tagged in the graphical view.


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From the Extend drop-down list, select the point to extend from.

Select Maintain Sections Node Positions checkbox so that the positions of secondarynodes are not affected by the length adjustments (only really relevant if the user moves the

Start positions).

Set the Extension by to a Distance to reduce the length of each item in the list.

Click Apply then click Dismiss to discard any information and close the Extend Section -Explicit window.

That the secondary nodes which were at the tops of the deleted columns are still present,

even though they no longer serve any useful purpose. To delete these, navigate to the

Subframe and select Delete > Tidy Nodes from the main menu, which includes GENSECelement, JLDATU and FIXING elements (which are marked with aid graphics). A TidyNodes window is displayed populated with the redundant nodes that have been identified.


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Select Mark Nodes for Deletion checkbox to tag these nodes in the 3D graphical view,then click OK to delete them.


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Enhance Basic Structure


6 Enhance Basic Structure

Enhance basic structure refers to the addition of bracing members to a structure, the

selection of joints from the catalogue and the modification of a structure. In this modification

part of the structure is moved to a new position and the correct geometry between its

members is restored semi-automatically.

6.1 Trim Connected Section Ends to Correct Geometry

When a section is connected to a section that already exists, the end points of the new

section are usually positioned automatically by reference to the currently defined Pline Rule.

If this rule has not been set up properly, the geometry at the point of connection may be

inappropriate. For example, in plan view, the connection between a column and a beam a

pictoral representation of:

rather than the intended configuration:

To correct this, the length of the beam section is trimmed to an explicitly picked pline of the

owning section. These errors must be corrected before the model is developed further

otherwise problems may arise when bracing is connected.

Zoom in to the graphical view and change the direction of view to show the detailedgeometry of each connection point in turn. Look for any examples where an attached

section has been trimmed to the wrong length.

The user can pick the end of a GENSEC to be trimmed, the appropriate end of the GENSEC

will be marked and automatically trimmed to the:

Appropriate PLine or the user can force the PLine

Picked Section

From the main tool bar the user can click Edit > Undo if required.

If any are found correct them, from the main menu bar select Connect > Trim to Pline >Pick (force). The user is prompted to Identify section end to be trimmed, in the 3D view,pick one of the ends to be corrected (as shown shaded in the diagram). The user is

prompted to Identify pline to be trimmed to. Change the view if necessary and pick the


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Enhance Basic Structure

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pdms - structural design

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