pdms structure design guide

Structural Design

User Guide

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First published September 2007

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Structural Design User Guide

Contents Page


Structural DesignRead This First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1Scope of this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1Intended Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1Assumptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1About the Tutorial Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1Further Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1

How the Guide is Organised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:2Further Training in the Use of PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:3

Introducing PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1Introduce the Structure of PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1Strengths of PDMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1PDMS Structural Design Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:2

Set Up the PDMS Database Hierarchy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1How PDMS Stores Design Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1PDMS Design Data Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2Logging In. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3PDMS Startup Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3Start the Structural Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4Create Some Administrative Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5

Create a Simple Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1

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Design-to-Catalogue Cross-Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1How PDMS Represents Structural Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1Straight Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1Nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2

Some Initial Set Up Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2Set Default Storage Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2Automatic Profile and Primary Node Allocations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3Set the Default Specification for Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3

Create Sections Explicitly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:5View the Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:8Define what Appears in the View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:8Manipulate the Displayed View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9Navigate in the Database by Picking Elements Graphically. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:11

Event-Driven Graphics Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:11Create Sections Using Graphical Picking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:12Collect Elements into Temporary Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17Copy Parts of the Design Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:18Complete the Initial Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:20

Quick Way to Build a Regular Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1

Enhance the Basic Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1Restore a Previously Saved Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1Trim Connected Section Ends to Correct Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1Add and Modify Simple Bracing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:3Add Standard Bracing Configurations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:7Represent Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:9Dominant Versus Subordinate Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:12Move Part of the Structure and Maintain Correct Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:13

Add Panels and Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1Start the Panels & Plates Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1How PDMS Represents Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1Set Default Storage Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2Create Simple Panels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:3Measure Distances/Directions in the Design Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:4

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Split a Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5Tailor Panel Edges by Editing Individual Vertices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5Move Panel Edges to New Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:7Create Negative Extrusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:9

Use Panel Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1How Panel Fittings are Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1Create a Panel Fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1

Penetrate One Item with Another. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:1

Check and Output Design Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Check for Clashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Obstruction Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Extent of Clashing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Clash Detection Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:2

Generate a Data Output Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:4Generate a Tabulated Data Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:4

Query Mass Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5Plot the Design Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:6

Add Some Curved Steelwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1How PDMS Represents Curved Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1Create a Semicircular Platform. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1Create a Runway Beam with Multiple Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:4Define a Working Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:5Create a Curved Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:5Modify a Curved Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:6

Production Features for Outfit Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:7Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:7

Structural Design Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A:1

Structural Catalogue Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B:1Basic Features of the Catalogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B:1P-line Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B:1Some Standard Profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B:3Some Standard Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:12

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Column Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:13Cleated Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:14End Preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:15Baseplate Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:16Double Notched End Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:17Single Notched End Plates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:17

Some Standard Fittings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B:17Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:18Fire Insulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:19Lifting Lugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:19

Other Relevant Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C:1PDMS Introductory Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C:1PDMS Reference Manuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C:1General Guides. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C:2

Sample Plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D:1

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Structural Design User GuideRead This First

1 Read This First

1.1 Scope of this GuideThis guide introduces some of the facilities provided by the AVEVA Plant DesignManagement System (PDMS) for the design and documentation of logically interconnectedstructures. It explains the main concepts underlying PDMS and its supporting applications,and shows how you can apply these to your own design projects.

The chapters of this guide take the form of a hands-on tutorial exercise combined withfrequent explanation of the underlying concepts. As you work progressively through theexercise, you will gain practical experience of the ways in which you can use PDMS whilelearning about the powerful facilities it provides.

1.1.1 Intended AudienceThis guide has been written for engineers familiar with structural design practices, who mayor may not have prior knowledge of PDMS.

1.1.2 AssumptionsFor you to use this guide, the sample PDMS project, Project SAM, must be correctlyinstalled on your system, and you must have read/write access to the project databases.

It is assumed that you know:• where to find PDMS on your computer system• you know how to use the Windows operating system installed at your site• you are familiar with the basic Graphical User Interface (GUI) features, as described in

the AVEVA document Getting Started with PDMS.

Contact your systems administrator if you need help in either of these areas.

1.1.3 About the Tutorial ExerciseAll the steps of the exercise are numbered sequentially throughout the guide.

1.1.4 Further ReadingYou can find a list of relevant AVEVA documentation in the appendices of this guide.

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1.2 How the Guide is OrganisedThis guide is divided into three parts, including some appendices, as follows:

The guide concludes with an index, allowing you to refer back to any specific topics aboutwhose details you need to be reminded.

Read This First introduces this guide and summarises its scope.

Introducing PDMS gives a general overview of the main design facilities providedwithin the structural application.

Set Up the PDMS Database Hierarchy

explains how PDMS stores its design data and shows you how toorganise your data. Also describes the logging in procedure andhow to create some administrative elements. A running tutorialexercise is used from this chapter on, to illustrate essentialconcepts.

Create a Simple Structure

guides you through the steps needed to create a simple structurecomprising only vertical columns and horizontal beams.

Quick Way to Build a Regular Structure

demonstrates a useful facility which provides an alternative methodfor creating a regularly configured structure rapidly.

Enhance the Basic Structure

shows how to add diagonal bracing members, how to model jointsbetween connected members, and how to modify the design bymoving interconnected parts of the structure.

Add Panels and Plates

shows how to clad the structure by adding panels and plates.

Use Panel Fittings introduces the concept of panel fittings.

Penetrate One Item with Another

shows how to configure those locations where one item penetratesanother.

Check and Output Design Data

shows how to check your design for clashes, and how to generatereports and plots directly from the design data.

Add Some Curved Steelwork

explains how curved sections are represented and illustrates theiruse.

Structural Design Database

summarises the database hierarchy which PDMS uses to storeyour structural design data.

Structural Catalogue Guide

comprises a sample catalogue of structural steelwork sections.

Other Relevant Documentation

identifies other sources of information which supplement, andexpand upon, the brief details given in this guide.

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

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1.3 Further Training in the Use of PDMSThis guide teaches you to about the key features of using PDMS for structural designs only.If you wish to learn more about the wide-ranging facilities of PDMS, AVEVA provides a widerange of training courses, covering all levels of expertise and all design disciplines. Fordetails of courses, and to arrange course attendance, contact your nearest AVEVA supportoffice.

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Structural Design User GuideIntroducing PDMS

2 Introducing PDMS

This chapter provides:• an introduction to the structure of PDMS• the strengths of PDMS• structural design features.

2.1 Introduce the Structure of PDMSPDMS comprises the following functional parts:

• modules

• applications.

A module is a subdivision of PDMS that you use to carry out specific types of operation.This guide covers the DESIGN module, which you use for creating the 3D design model

An application is supplementary program that has been tailored to provide easy control ofoperations that are specific to a particular discipline. The applications you will use forstructural design work in this guide are:

• Beams & Columns• Panels & Plates

You can switch quickly and easily between different parts of PDMS.

2.2 Strengths of PDMSIn PDMS, you have a powerful suite of facilities, for the design of Process Plant, theemphasis being 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 ofyour design choices. This allows you to implement a sequence of related decisions witha minimum of effort.

• You can incorporate modifications into your design at any stage without fear ofinvalidating any of your prior work, because data consistency-checking is an integralpart of the product. PDMS automatically manages drawing production, material take-offreports, and so on, by reading all design data directly from a common set of databases,to prevent errors from being introduced by transcribing information between differentdisciplines.

• The applications let you check all aspects of your design as work progresses. Thisincludes on-line interdisciplinary clash detection, so the chances of errors andinconsistencies reaching the final documented design are reduced to an exceptionallylow level.

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• The applications are controlled from a graphical user interface. This means that alldesign, drawing and reporting operations are initiated by selecting choices frommenus, and by entering data into on-screen forms. For ease of use, many commonactions are also represented by pictorial icons.

2.3 PDMS Structural Design FeaturesThe PDMS structural applications offer the following key benefits:

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

• You can name structural elements in accordance with a predefined set of rules, so thattheir positions in the database hierarchy are always obvious without you having toenter specific texts during the design process.

• You can set up pointers to define the storage areas in which specific types of designelement are to be held in the database hierarchy. This, especially when combined withthe rule-based naming facility, minimises the amount of data which you have to enterexplicitly as you build up your design model.

• You can set up temporary lists of elements, so that you can carry out a designoperation on all elements within the list simultaneously. This can avoid a great deal ofrepetitive work when you carry out commonly-repeated design modifications.

• The applications incorporate a number of geometric design aids, such as 3Dpositioning grids, to make it easy for you to position structural elements accuratelywithin the design model.

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

• 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 ofinterconnected 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 ensure accurate assembly, using any standarddatum line to define the precise alignment of a joint with its attached sections.

• Sections and panels (wall plates, floor plates, etc.) may be divided at intersections,after the overall size and shape have been defined, without affecting any of their logicalinterconnections. This enables you to design the ‘macrostructure’ (for example,complete areas to be covered) first and then to subdivide this into a manageable‘microstructure’ 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 around

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section 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, etc., may be inserted into a structuralsection 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 for you to create panels and to connect them to existingpanels or sections via linear joints. This facility uses intelligent pointer picking toenhance the interaction between the displayed graphics and the design creationprocess. You can derive panel vertices simply by picking appropriate datum lines onexisting sections; connections between panels and sections are then createdautomatically to give a fully connected structural model. Such panels can be usedeither to represent floors/walls or to build up complex plated connections.

• You can carry out multi-disciplinary clash checks at any stage of the design, thusavoiding spatial conflicts within the overall model which could be expensive to rectify atthe construction stage. This is particularly important where different features of thedesign model are under the control of different designers.

• At any stage of your work, you can create reports listing specified data from the currentdatabase. You can specify a standard report template, so you can derive lists ofcommonly-required information very quickly, or you can design a report format to suityour own particular needs. The resultant output, which can include data from anydesign discipline, sorted in any way you require, can be either displayed on yourscreen or sent to a file (for storage and/or for printing).

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Structural Design User GuideSet Up the PDMS Database Hierarchy

3 Set Up the PDMS Database Hierarchy

In this chapter, you will learn:• about the PDMS database hierarchy• how PDMS stores design data• how to log in to PDMS and begin the tutorial exercise• how to create some administrative elements

In this chapter you will enter the structural steelwork design application and create someadministrative data elements which will enable you to organise your detailed design in alogical way.

3.1 How PDMS Stores Design DataAll PDMS data is stored in the form of a hierarchy. In the case of a DESIGN database, thetopmost data level is called the World (usually represented by the symbolic name /*), belowwhich are the administrative sublevels Site and Zone.

The names used to identify database levels below Zone depend on the specific engineeringdiscipline for which the data is used. In the case of structural design data, the loweradministrative levels (and their PDMS abbreviations) are Structure (STRU), Framework(FRMW) and (optionally) Subframework (SBFR).

The data which defines the physical design of the individual structural components is heldbelow Subframework level, giving the following overall format:

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3.2 PDMS Design Data DefinitionsAll data is represented in the database as follows:

• Each identifiable item of data is known as a PDMS element.• Each element has a number of associated pieces of information which, together,

completely define its properties. These are known as its attributes.Every element is identified within the database structure by an automatically allocatedreference number and, optionally, by a user-specified name. Additional items ofinformation about an element which could be stored as attribute settings include:• element type• element physical dimensions and technical specifications• element physical location and orientation in the design model• element connectivity

Some attribute settings must be defined by you when you create a new element, otherswill be defined automatically by PDMS.

The vertical link between two elements on adjacent levels of the database hierarchy isdefined as an owner-member relationship. The element on the upper level is the owner ofthose elements directly linked below it. The lower level elements are members of theirowning element. Each element can have many members, but it can have only one owner.

When you are modifying a database (for example, when you are creating new elements orchanging the settings of their attributes), you can consider yourself to be positioned at aspecific point within the hierarchy. The element at this location is called the current element(often abbreviated to CE).

You can navigate from any element to any other, thereby changing the current element, byfollowing the owner-member links up and down the hierarchy.

In many cases, commands which you give for modifying the attributes of an element willassume that the changes are to be applied to the current element unless you specifyotherwise, so you must understand this concept and always be aware of your current

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position in the database hierarchy. The Design Explorer displays this informationcontinuously.

3.3 Logging InThis is the first step of the tutorial exercise

Exercise begins:

1. In the PDMS Login window give the name of the Project in which you want to work:enter SAM.

2. Give your allocated Username: enter STRUC.

3. Give your allocated Password: enter STRUC.

4. Give the part of the project Multiple Database (MDB) you want to work in: enterSTRUC.

5. Give the name of the Module you wish to use: select Design.Make sure that you leave the Read Only box unchecked, so that you can modify thedatabase as you work.When you have entered all the necessary details, the window looks as shown:

Click OK.

3.4 PDMS Startup DisplayWhen PDMS has loaded, your screen looks as shown:

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As labelled above, the display comprises the following:• Title Bar - shows the current PDMS module, and its sub-application if applicable.• Main Menu Bar - the area you use to make menu selections. • Main Tool Bar - has a number of icon buttons and drop-down lists that offer shortcuts

to a selection common PDMS operations and standard settings.• Design Explorer - shows your current position in the PDMS database hierarchy. To

move to a different point in the database, you click on the appropriate item in the list. • 3D Graphical View - the window in which you display the design model graphically as

you build it. A pop-up menu (which you access with the right-hand mouse button)enables you to control how the model is represented. This window also has its own toolbar.

• Status Bar - displays information about the current status of your operations.

You can reposition or minimise these windows at any time using standard windowmanagement facilities.

3.5 Start the Structural ApplicationExercise continues:

6. The first structural application which you will use is that for designing interconnectedbeams and columns. To access this application, select Design > Structures > Beams& Columns from the main menu bar.When loading is complete, the main menu bar and tool bar shows some extra options:

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3.6 Create Some Administrative ElementsYou will now create some administrative elements at the top of the DESIGN DB hierarchy,as previously explained.

Exercise continues:

7. Check that you are at World level ( icon) in the Design Explorer, then select Create> Site. On the displayed Create Site form, enter the name TESTSITE in the Name textbox.

Press the Enter key to confirm the name; note how the system adds a / prefixautomatically to conform to PDMS naming conventions.

8. Click OK to create the Site element. Your first new element appears in the DesignExplorer as the current element.

9. Repeat this process, using the appropriate options from the Create menu, to create aZone named TESTZONE, a Structure TESTSTRU, a Framework TESTFRMW and aSubframework (Sub-Frame) TESTSBFR, in that order.Your Design Explorer should now look like this (only newly created elements shown):

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Note: If you or other users have accessed this database before, the list may also containother elements.

10. To display the Drawlist, right-click on the Drawlist button and select Drawlist fromthe pop-up menu.

In the next chapter, you will start to build up a design model by creating some structuralmembers.

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Structural Design User GuideCreate a Simple Structure

4 Create a Simple Structure

In this chapter you will start to build up a structural design model by creating a simpleconfiguration of interconnected columns and beams. Before doing so, however, it isimportant to understand how some of the items which make up the design are representedand accessed in the PDMS databases, as explained in the following sections.

4.1 Design-to-Catalogue Cross-ReferenceTo make sure design consistency and conformity with company standards, the basicdefinitions of all items which you may use in the structural design are held in a Cataloguedatabase. This holds definitions of all available profiles and materials for structural columns/beams/bracing etc., all standard types of joint, all auxiliary fittings, and so on. When you addan item to your design model, you store the position, orientation etc. for the item in theDESIGN database, but you specify the physical properties of the item by setting up a cross-reference (called a Specification Reference or SpecRef) which points to an appropriateentry in the Catalogue database.

4.2 How PDMS Represents Structural Members

4.2.1 Straight SectionsEach individual straight structural member (column, beam, etc.) is represented in PDMS bya Section (SCTN) element. The geometry of a Section is defined by two types of attributesetting:

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

• All other aspects of its geometry are defined by setting specific design attributes (inmost cases these are set automatically by PDMS as you manipulate the modelgraphically). 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.

To provide a method for referring to individual edges and faces of a Section, each isidentified by a named line running along the length of the Section. These reference lines(which are derived from the Section’s 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:

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Note: For further details of how this and other profiles are specified see StructuralCatalogue Guide.

4.2.2 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 theSection’s Start Position. If you move a Section, its Secondary Nodes move with it.

4.3 Some Initial Set Up OperationsIn the next part of the exercise you will set up some defaults to customise the application tosuit your planned method of working.

Exercise continues:

4.3.1 Set Default Storage Areas

11. Firstly, specify where the principal structural elements are to be stored in the Designdatabase hierarchy. Select Settings > Storage Areas. The displayed Storage Areas form allows you tospecify storage areas for Primary Nodes and Sections independently. At this stage,both areas are shown as unset.

12. Both types of element will be stored directly under the Sub-Frame which you createdpreviously. Check that the sub-frame /TESTSBFR is the current element in the DesignExplorer, then click on each line in the Storage Areas list in turn. The new storagearea settings are as shown:

Profile

LTOS TOS RTOS

NAL NARNA

LBOS BOS RBOS

LTBS RTBS

LBTS RBTS P-line Naming Key:NA = Neutral AxisTOS = Top of SteelBOS = Bottom of SteelLTBS = Left Top Bottom of Steeland so on

Start Position (POSS)End Position (POSE)

SectionP-line (TOS)

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Close the form by clicking the button. Note how the current storage area settingsare shown below the main tool bar, like this:

Section storage area Node storage area

4.3.2 Automatic Profile and Primary Node Allocations

13. By default, each time you create a new Section, it will automatically be associated witha Profile from the Catalogue. Also by default, Primary Nodes will not be createdautomatically at unconnected section ends. For your present purposes, leave both ofthese default settings in force, as shown (and controlled) by the following buttons belowthe main tool bar:

4.3.3 Set the Default Specification for Profiles

The current default profile, justification line, member line and joint line (these terms will beexplained later) are shown below the main tool bar. If these have not yet been set (which isthe case here), the data area looks like this:

The first structural sections which you create are columns, so the default profile is set tosomething suitable.

Exercise continues:

14. Click on the Default Profile Specification button . The resulting SectionSpecification (Default) form allows you to select any specification from the availablecatalogues. For the purpose of this exercise:

• Set the Specification to British Standard • Set the Generic Type to Universal Columns. • From the displayed list of profiles applicable to BS Universal Columns, select

203x203x46kg/m:

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15. Leave the Justification list (justification determines the ‘Setting out’ position of theSection, that is the axis about which the geometry is offset), the Member line list(which determines how sections are shown in wireline views and drawings), and theJoint Line list (which determines the position of a joint relative to an attached section)all set to NA (Neutral Axis). You will see the effects of these later.

16. Click Apply to use this setting as the new default, noting that the current specificationis now shown as:

Dismiss the Section Specification (Default) form when you have finished with it.

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4.4 Create Sections ExplicitlyThe user will first create four vertical columns, to the following design, using explicitpositioning; that is, you will position the columns at given positions within the coordinatesystem of the site rather than by positioning them relative to existing structural sections(since you have not yet created any).

Note: Keep these column designations in mind; as they will be referred to throughout therest of the exercise.

Exercise continues:

17. Select Create > Sections > Straight.You will see both a Section form and a Positioning Control toolbar, which togethercontrol how the start and end points of sections are specified. The PositioningControl toolbar is not relevant for your current purposes (you will see what it is used forlater).

18. On the Section form, check that the String Method is set to Single (which means thatyou will define independent start and end positions for each section) and that theSecondary Nodes check box is selected.Select the Confirm check box (so that you can check where each new section will bepositioned before it is added to the database).The form’s settings should now look as shown:

4000

9000 9000

5000

N

UE

700050005000

Column 2 Column 3

Column 4Column 1

Origin

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19. Click the button, which tells the system that you want to define a position byentering explicit coordinates (this is the only practical option at this stage). You will seea Define section start form. You want to position the start of the first column at the siteorigin, so leave the East/North/Up coordinates at the default position (E0, N0, U0), asshown:

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

20. Click OK. The Start position will be shown in the centre of the 3D View.Rather than specifying all three coordinates for the Section’s end position explicitly, itsposition will be defined relative to the Section’s start.

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21. Click the button. You will now see a Define section end form in a format whichlets you enter the required data. You want to create a vertical column 5000mm high, soenter the Direction as U and the Distance as 5000, as shown:

22. Click OK, then click the Accept button on the Section form to confirm the creation ofthe Section. Check the Design Explorer: the Section will appear as SCTN 1. TheSection will also be added to the Drawlist, and will appear (as a very small rectangle)in the centre of the 3D View.

23. Using the same procedures, create the following three Sections:• Define section start Position E0 N7000 U0;

Define section end U, Distance 9000• Define section start Position E0 N12000 U0;

Define section end U, Distance 9000• Define section start Position E0 N17000 U0;

Define section end U, Distance 4000(Do not forget to Accept each Section on the Section form after you have defined it.)When you have created all four columns, Dismiss the Section form.Your Design Explorer should now show four Sections (SCTN 1-4), like this:

Note: Each newly created Section is placed before the current list position, so that SCTN 1in the list was the last Section created (corresponding to Column 1 in the diagram).

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4.5 View the DesignIn order to see what your design looks like as you build it up, and to enable you to identifydesign items by simply pointing to them rather than by navigating to them in the DesignExplorer, you will now display your current design in a 3D View window and learn how tomanipulate this display.

4.5.1 Define what Appears in the View

Exercise continues:

24. The Drawlist will contain the four Sections you have just created, as well as the owningStructure element. To display the Drawlist, right-click on the Drawlist button andselect Drawlist from the pop-up menu.

25. To see all of your current design, click on the button on the View Manipulationtoolbar on the left-hand side of the main Design window. All four Sections will appearwithin the 3D View window in cross section, as if you are looking down on them. Noticehow the view is automatically scaled so that all four Sections fit neatly within it.

26. It is often useful to display coordinate Axes. To do this, click the button on theMain toolbar or select Query > Axes. The Define Axes form is displayed:

By default, the axes are positioned at the origin of the current element, but otherpositioning options are available from the form’s Select pull-down menu. Ordinal(X,Y,Z) or cardinal (North, East, Up) directions can be specified, as can the size of theaxis arrow lines.

27. Select the Cardinal Directions check box, change Size to 1000, then select Close >Retain Axes from the form’s pull-down menu.

28. Other looking directions can be selected by positioning the mouse pointer within the 3DView window and pressing the right-hand mouse button. Do this and select Isometric> Iso 3 to set an isometric view direction. You should now see all four columns asshown:

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Note: The status line shows the viewing direction. See Manipulate the Displayed View forthe meaning of ROTATE on the status line.

29. Observe the effect of selecting different view directions (Look, Plan and Isometricfrom the right-hand mouse button. Revert to Isometric > Iso 3 when you have finished.

4.5.2 Manipulate the Displayed ViewYou can manipulate the displayed model view in a number of ways. The three basicmanipulation modes are:

• Rotate the view

• Pan the view across the display area

• Zoom in or out to magnify or reduce the view

The current manipulation mode is shown in the status line at the bottom of the 3D Viewwindow (it is set to ROTATE in the preceding illustration).

To change the view manipulation mode, look at the Middle Button Drag options on the 3DView shortcut menu. By pressing and holding down the middle mouse button with thepointer within the 3D View, the view can manipulated in the selected way simply by movingthe mouse. The options of interest are Zoom Rectangle, Zoom In/Out, Pan and Rotate.

Alternatively, you can change the manipulation mode by pressing one of the function keys,or by using the View Manipulation tool bar buttons, thus:

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(Try these selection options and observe the effect on the Middle Button Drag shortcutmenu; a tick appears against the selected option.)

Exercise continues:

30. Select .

31. Position the cursor in the view area and hold down the middle mouse button, thenmove the mouse slowly from side to side while watching the effect on the displayedmodel. The initial direction of movement determines how the view appears to rotate; startingwith a left or right movement causes the observer’s eye-point to move across the view.

32. Now release the mouse button, hold it down again and move the mouse away from youand towards you; this time the observer’s eye-point appears to rotate up and downaround the model.

33. Repeat the rotation operations while holding down the Control key. Note that the wordFast appears in the status line and that the rate of rotation is increased.

34. Repeat the rotation operations, but this time hold down the Shift key. Note that theword Slow appears in the status line and that the rate of rotation is decreased.For an alternative way of rotating the model, first press the F9 Function key to displayhorizontal and vertical sliders, and then try dragging the sliders to new positions alongthe view borders. You can rotate the model in this way at any time, regardless of thecurrent manipulation mode.

35. Select .

36. Position the cursor in the view area and hold down the middle mouse button, thenmove the mouse slowly in all directions. Note that it is the observer’s eye-point which follows the mouse movement (while theviewing direction remains unchanged), so that the displayed model appears to move inthe opposite direction to the mouse; in effect, you move the mouse towards that part ofthe view which you want to see.

37. Repeat the pan operations while holding down first the Control key (to increase thepanning speed) and then the Shift key (to decrease the panning speed).

38. Select .

39. Position the cursor in the view area and hold down the middle mouse button, thenmove the mouse slowly up and down. Moving the mouse away from you (up) zooms in, effectively magnifying the view;moving the mouse towards you (down) zooms out, effectively reducing the view. Notethat these operations work by changing the viewing angle (like changing the focallength of a camera lens); they do not change the observer’s eye-point or the viewdirection.

F2 or selects Zoom mode

F3 or selects Pan mode

F5 or selects Rotate mode

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40. Repeat the zoom operations while holding down first the Control key and then the Shiftkey.

41. Position the pointer near the centre of Column 1 and click (do not hold down) themiddle mouse button. Notice how the view changes so that the picked point is now atthe centre of the view. Whenever you click the middle button, whatever the currentmanipulation mode, you reset the centre of interest. Switch to Zoom mode (if notalready selected), set the centre of interest to the top of Column 2, then zoom in for aclose-up view of the top of the column. You will find this a very useful technique whenmaking small adjustments to the design: it will be used later to see the effect ofrealigning sections where they are connected at a joint.

42. To restore the original view when you have finished, select .

43. Finally, observe the effect of changing the colours and translucency of the elementsusing the controls in the Drawlist.

4.5.3 Navigate in the Database by Picking Elements Graphically44. Notice that the pick mode prompt at the top of the 3D View says Navigate. Position the

pointer over each column in turn and click the left-hand mouse button. Notice how thisnavigates to the picked element, which is highlighted in a different colour in the 3DView and becomes the current element in the Design Explorer. Compare the identifierof each SCTN element in the Design Explorer with its designation in the labelled viewshown in Define what Appears in the View; SCTN 1 should correspond to Column 1,and so on.

4.6 Event-Driven Graphics ModeBefore beginning the next part of the exercise, it is necessary to understand a new way ofusing the pointer to pick points in the graphical view. Whenever the Positioning Controlform (which you saw but did not use earlier) is displayed, the graphical view is switchedautomatically into event-driven graphics mode (you may have noticed that the pick modeprompt, immediately above the graphical view, changed while you were defining positions inCreate Sections Explicitly). This means that when you pick a point in the displayed graphics,your action is interpreted in whatever way is appropriate to your current design operation(i.e. the current event) rather than simply as a request to navigate to a new current element.In the examples, picking in event-driven graphics mode will always be used to specify aposition.

The position derived from your pointer pick can be the exact point at which you have placedthe pointer or, more commonly, it can be a position which is related to the picked point in aspecified way. The main concept involved is that of the snap function, which automaticallychooses the nearest Start, End or (optionally) Secondary Node position to the picked point,so that you do not need to be very accurate when positioning the pointer.

The full range of options available for identifying positions is extensive. For example, youcan specify a position at:

• a given offset from the nearest snap point;• the mid-point of a picked item;• the intersection of two picked items;• a given proportion along the length of a picked item.

You will use several of the available facilities in the rest of the exercise.

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4.7 Create Sections Using Graphical PickingIn the following part of the exercise, you will add horizontal beams to your four columns. Youwill identify the start and end positions for these beams by using the pointer and left-handmouse button to pick the columns to which they are to be connected. This has theadvantage that you do not need to remember which section is which in the DesignExplorer; you work visually, as you would on a drawing board.

The design to be built is as follows (with column heights shown as a reminder):

Note: Keep these beam designations in mind; as they will be referred to throughout the restof the exercise.

For demonstration purposes, you will create a single beam in the position occupied byBeams 3 and 4 and then split this into two separate beams, with automatic length andconnection adjustments, in a subsequent step.

Exercise continues:

45. Click on the Profile Specification button and set the default profile specificationto British Standard, Universal Beams, 305x165x40kg/m. Leave the Justification,Member Line and Joint Line set to NA for the purpose of this exercise (you will seelater that this would not be your normal choice of justification setting in practice; thissetting is used for demonstration purposes only). Apply and Dismiss the form.

46. Select Create > Sections > Straight to redisplay the Section form, which you usedearlier, and the Positioning Control form, which this time you will use to identifypositions by picking them with the pointer in the graphical view.

47. Set the String Method to Single, since you will begin by specifying the start and endpoints independently for each section. Select the Secondary Nodes check box so thatsecondary nodes and joints will be created automatically at all connections betweensections. Select the Confirm check box to begin with and clear it Off later when youfeel it is no longer necessary. Note that the Secondary Joint (SJOI) element forms thebasis of the analytical model.Rather than enter explicit coordinates, you will define the Start Position as a point onone of the existing columns (namely the top of Column 3) which is picked using thepointer.

48. On the Positioning Control toolbar, set the Pick Type option (left-hand drop-down list;see tool tip) to Element. This means that you are going to pick sections themselves,rather than individual plines, for identifying positions within the design model.

N

UE

Column 2 Column 3

Column 4Column 1

Beam 1

Beam 2Beam 4 Beam 3

(4000)

(9000) (9000)

(5000)

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49. The Pick Method setting (right-hand drop-down list) specifies how you want yourpointer picks to be interpreted as positions (remember, you are now using the event-driven graphics mode). Set this to Snap, meaning that you want to snap to the positionof the nearest Start or End of a picked section; this option will remain in force until youchange it. The settings will look as shown:

Notice that the pick mode prompt above the graphical view shows the current event as‘Define section start (Snap)’. Pick a point anywhere in the upper half of Column 3. Notethat the word Start appears in the view to mark the specified start point and that thesnap action has placed this at the upper end of the column.

50. The pick mode prompt will have changed to ‘Define section end (Snap)’. Pick a pointanywhere in the upper half of Column 2 to define the End Position of the new beam.Note how the proposed route of the new beam is shown in the 3D View. Click theAccept button on the Section form to confirm the section creation. Beam 1 will beshown with its start connected to the top of Column 3 and its end connected to the topof Column 2.

51. The length of the beam is calculated automatically, with allowances for the sectiondimensions, but you will see that the beam’s position is too high. This is because thejustification datum is set to the Neutral Axis (NA), as shown by the ProfileSpecification setting /BS-SPEC/305x165x40kg/m (NA/NA/NA). This will now becorrected by resetting the justification datum to the Top of Steel (TOS) pline. The resultis as shown in the diagram:

Exercise continues

52. Switch temporarily from event-driven graphics mode to graphical navigation mode by

clicking the Navigate to Element button on the main tool bar (check the pickmode prompt). Change the view direction to View > Look > East, move the centre ofinterest to the approximate mid-point of Beam 1, and zoom in to see more clearly whathappens at the ends of the beam. Pick the new beam to ensure that it is the currentelement and select Modify > Sections > Specification. On the Section Specificationform, set the Justification to TOS, as shown:

53. Click Use as default profile check box, so that the next beams which you create willbe aligned correctly without further adjustment. Apply the change and the beamshould move down to the correct position.

NA of Beam TOS of BeamNodeNode

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Notice that the default specification has changed:

You could, alternatively, have realigned just the current beam by selecting the Modify >Sections > Justification option, but this would not have let you reset the defaultspecification for subsequent beam creation.

54. You will now create Beam 2, with its Start Position at the top of Column 4, runninghorizontally to connect part-way up Column 3. Reset the view, if necessary, to show allsections so far created. Return to event-driven graphics mode by Dismissing theSection form and selecting Create > Sections > Straight… again, ready to positionthe start of the next Section (check the pick mode prompt again). Position the Start forBeam 2 at the top of Column 4.

55. To pick the End Position, you will use the snap facility with a specified offset distancealong the picked Section. From the Positioning Control toolbar’s Pick Method list,select Distance and, in the adjacent Method Value field, enter 5000 (i.e. the height ofColumn 4) and press the Enter key.

The pick mode prompt should now say ’Pick section end (Distance [5000])’. Pickanywhere in the lower half of Column 3. The End Position is calculated by snapping tothe bottom of the column and then moving up (i.e., towards the pointer) by 5000mm.Accept the Section on the Section form.

56. In the preceding step, you had to remember the height of Column 4 in order to set thecorrect snap offset distance. You will now create a beam from the top of Column 1,running horizontally to Column 3 (equivalent to Beam 3 plus Beam 4 in your designsketch), without remembering any dimensions.Reset the pick option to Snap and position the Start of the new beam at the top ofColumn 1.

57. Two alternative ways of achieving the required End Position will now be compared.Make sure that Verification: Confirm check box is selected so that you can cancel thefirst method to try the second.

58. Method 1Because 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 form is used, butnow the coordinates are entered on the form by graphical picking rather than by typingthem in. This step demonstrates the ease with which you can mix the different ways ofdefining positions (using the Section, Positioning Control and Define section endforms) to suit the current circumstances.

Click the button on the Section form to display the Define section end form. Thelatter will initially show the coordinates of the last point picked, namely the top ofColumn 1.Select the Lock check box next to the Up field, as shown:

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Note: The Up coordinate is greyed out to show that you cannot change it.

You can now pick any part of Column 3 to specify the beam’s End Position, since theelevation of the snap point will be ignored in favour of the constraint that the EndPosition must be at the same elevation as the Start Position; only the East and Northcoordinates of the pick are used. OK the Define section end form, then click Rejecton the Section form to cancel the creation.

59. Method 2The Start Position will still be shown at the top of Column 1.

The and buttons on the Section form both let you create a section which isperpendicular to another section. You will constrain the new beam’s End Direction to beperpendicular to Column 3.

Click the Perpendicular to button , then pick Column 3. The derived End Positionwill be the same as for Method 1. This time Accept the section creation.

60. When you have created the three beams, dismiss the section creation form. (Note thatclicking Dismiss on the Section form also removes the Positioning Control toolbarand returns the pick mode prompt to Navigate.)Zoom in close to the beam which you created last and notice how it passes straightthrough Column 2. You will now split this beam into two separate sections to formBeam 3 and Beam 4.

61. Select Modify > Sections > Split. Set the controls on the Split Steel form as shown:

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Note: The lengths of Beams 3 and 4 are to be adjusted automatically where they meet atColumn 2 (Connections at split set to Trimmed).

62. Select the beam and make it the CE. The Element to split list will populate with the CE.From the Define split-on drop-down select Pick Section(s) to split on.

Note: If the Pick Section(s) to split on is displayed you must still re-select it.

Select the Trimmed radio button. When prompted to ‘Pick a section to split on’ (see the status line), pick the elementwhich corresponds to the split point, in this case Column 2. Cancel the next prompt(since you are splitting the beam in one place only) by pressing the Esc key.Notice how the proposed split point is identified in the graphical view. Confirm thesplitting by clicking split and then dismiss the Split Steel form.There are two methods for splitting sections:

Modify > Sections > Split, as indicated above.

Modify > Sections > Splice.

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The Splice method allows sections to be connected End to End. To do this the PrimaryNode toggle setting on the main toolbar must be switched Off. If switched On, PrimaryNodes are created instead.

You have now completed the creation of the substructure illustrated at the start of this part ofthe exercise, namely:

If you look at the Design Explorer, you will see that each column (SCTN) element nowowns one or more Secondary Nodes (SNODs; marked in the above diagram) at thelocations of the ends of the beams. Each Secondary Node owns one or two SecondaryJoints (SJOIs) with connection references to the attached beams. This provides the logicalconnectivity between the sections.

4.8 Collect Elements into Temporary ListsThe next design operation will be to create multiple copies of the current substructure, with aspecified spacing distance between them.

In order to demonstrate another useful facility, you will put all members of the Sub-Frame(Sections, Secondary Nodes and Joints) into a List - a temporary collection of elementswhich lets you carry out operations on the list as a whole. Each list definition is valid only forthe duration of the current PDMS session (although you can save such definitions in abinary file for reloading into a future session).

Exercise continues:

63. Select Utilities > Lists from the main menu or click the button on the main toolbar. You will see a Lists/Collections form for controlling the existence and contents ofall lists for the current session. If any lists existed, you would be able to select the onewhich you wanted to modify from the list available from the option button. Since youhave not yet used this facility, this will simply say ‘No List’.

64. From the Lists/Collections menu bar, select Add > List. In the Description box onthe Create List form, enter TESTLIST.

65. Ensure that your current element is the Sub-Frame (TESTSBFR) by clicking on it in theDesign Explorer and then, from the Lists/Collections menu bar, select Add > CEMembers. All elements owned by the Sub-Frame will now be shown as items withinTESTLIST, like this:

N

UE

Colum n 2 Column 3

Colum n 4Colum n 1

Beam 1

Beam 2Beam 4 Beam 3

12.0 4:17


Select Control > Close to dismiss the Lists/Collections form when you have finishedwith it.

Note: The new list automatically becomes the current list:

4.9 Copy Parts of the Design ModelRather than create many more columns and beams individually, you are now going to copythe ones you have already created and reposition the copies:

As explained in the preceding part of this exercise, the list containing all members of theSub-Frame will be copied rather than the Sub-Frame itself.

Existing Subframe

NU

E6000

Origin

6000 6000

12.0 4:18


Exercise continues:

66. Select Create > Copy > Offset. A Copy with Offset form displays which allows you tospecify what you want to copy (Object), where the copies are to be stored in thedatabase hierarchy (to), how many copies you want, and how each copy is to bepositioned relative to its preceding neighbour (Offset).

67. Set the Object to be copied to List; since only one list exists, its name (TESTLIST) isshown without further selection.Set the to option to Rel. (Relative). This creates the new element copies in the samepart of the database hierarchy as the original elements; that is, as members of the Sub-Frame.

68. Set the Number of Copies to 3.

69. Note that the Offset must be specified in terms of the local X,Y,Z coordinates of thegeometric primitives making up the structural items, rather than the E,N,U coordinatesused to position items within the overall design model. In our case, by default, X=E,Y=N and Z=U.

Note: The axes are shown automatically in the displayed 3D View as a guide.

Set the X Offset to 6000, leaving Y and Z set to 0.The form settings should now look as shown:

70. Click Apply to create the three offset copies and, when prompted, confirm that youwant to retain the copies (assuming that they look correct in the graphical view).Dismiss the Copy with Offset form when you have finished.

71. Click and select Isometric > Iso3 from the 3D View shortcut menu so that youcan see the whole of the current design.

72. Study the Design Explorer to see what elements have now been created and wherethey fit into the hierarchy. Note that the Sub-Frame now owns 32 Sections, comprising16 columns and 16 beams, together with all of the necessary Secondary Nodes andJoints needed to define their interconnections.

12.0 4:19


4.10 Complete the Initial DesignThe final design model which you want to achieve in this part of the exercise has beamsrunning in an East-West direction to give the structure stability, as shown in the followingdiagram:

In creating these beams, you will include some variations of the ways so far used to definethe start and end positions of the beams.

Exercise continues:

73. Start by creating the three most southerly beams (show in black on the diagram). Dothis by creating a single beam and then splitting it into three lengths to fit between thecolumns (use the technique described previously featuring the Split Steel form).

74. Next, you will create the three beams directly to the north of those which you have justcreated (shown cross-hatched on the diagram). This will be done in a sequence ofoperations in which the start of each section (after the first) will be situatedautomatically at the end of the preceding section.On the Section form set the String Method to Continuous to begin creating a chainedconfiguration of sections. By default, the start of the next section is assumed to be atthe end of the previous section (as shown in the 3D View); click the Redefine Startbutton to override this.

75. On the Positioning Control toolbar, set Pick Method to Intersect to show that you willidentify positions at the intersection points of pairs of existing sections. To create thefirst beam, pick first Column 3 and then Beam 2 (whose intersection is at the StartPosition 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).If Confirm is selected, click Accept to create the beam (otherwise your next picks willsimply redefine the end of this section). It is important to stress the behaviour of notpicking the attached member first as the sequence of picking the intersectionsdetermines the ownership of the SNOD/SJOI and therefore the connectivity model.

76. The start of the next beam will be positioned automatically at B (as shown in the 3DView). Use the same procedure to pick points C and D to create the next two beams.Click the Redefine Start button on the Section form to define a new start for anothersection or sequence of sections.

77. Complete the design using a combination of the techniques which you have learned,plus any other options that you want to experiment with. Switch Confirm to Off tospeed up the process as you gain confidence. If you make a mistake in the middle ofdefining a section, click Redefine Start to go back a stage.

NU

EOrigin

A B C D

12.0 4:20


Note: you will probably need to use the Middle Button Drag view manipulation optionsavailable from the 3D View shortcut menu in order to be able to have a clear view ofthe correct Sections prior to clicking on them.

Dismiss the Section form when you are satisfied with your results.

Note: If you simply copy beams, either singly or as a composite list, the copies will bepositioned but will not be connected automatically.

78. To update the database so as to store the most recent changes to the design modelwhich you have created, select Design Save Work from the main menu bar or click the

button.

12.0 4:21


12.0 4:22

Structural Design User GuideQuick Way to Build a Regular Structure

5 Quick Way to Build a Regular Structure

If a significant part of the model that you want to design comprises a regular array of beamsand columns, a special facility is provided to speed up the creation of all the necessaryelements to define the fully connected structure. Even if your model is not completelyregular in layout, you might find it quicker to use this facility first and then to modify thedesign as necessary, rather than build up the design section-by-section as you have doneso far.

In this chapter you will build a new structure using this method, so that you can judgewhether or not it is relevant to your own types of design work.

Exercise continues:

79. You will store your new model under a separate Structure element in the hierarchy, sothat it can easily be distinguished from the design model which was created in theearlier parts of the exercise. Navigate to Zone level and below this create a newStructure, Framework and Subframework, giving them different names from thosespecified in the previous design model (for example, /REGSTRU, /REGFRMW and /REGSBFR, respectively).

80. Check that automatic Profile allocation is On and Primary Node creation is Off, as inAutomatic Profile and Primary Node Allocations. (As you will see soon, storage areasand specifications need not be set yet.)

81. Select Create > Sections > Specials. The resulting Section Creation form lists allavailable methods: the options available depend on how your system has been set up,but they should include the following:

82. To initiate the use of any available method, you click on it in the list. In this case, selectRegular Structure, then Dismiss the Section Creation form. You will see a RegularStructure form which gives you complete control of the whole design process. In thefollowing steps, this form is looked at in three distinct parts.

83. The areas labelled Column Data and Beam Data allows you to set the storage areas,profile specifications and justification p-lines independently for the two types of section.Set these as follows (replacing /REGSBFR by whatever name you gave theSubframework).

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• To enter each Storage area name, navigate to the Subframe and type CE. Thename of the current element will be entered automatically.

• To enter the Profile specifications, click the Profile button to display the SectionSpecification form and pick the required specification and pline settings.

84. The Grid Origin area allows you to define how your structure is to be positionedspatially. Enter the following settings:

The Datum setting defines the element whose reference axes will determine the originand orientation of the structure.The Underside of Base-Plate setting allows you to set the lowest point of yourstructure (underside of baseplate) relative to the datum axes. This lets you define theelevations of the structural members relative to a plane which does not correspond tothe base of the overall structure. This has been set to 1000, so that the bottoms of thecolumns will be truncated at an elevation of 1000mm. (The effect of this will be seenwhen the completed model is viewed.)

85. The East Spacings and North Spacings lists specify the relative spacing betweenadjacent columns in the given directions. The Elevation list specifies the absoluteelevations of the beams representing the floor levels. Type in the following values:

12.0 5:2


These settings will create 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 columns will be 4000mm high, to accommodate two floors at elevations of3000mm and 5000mm relative to the datum plane, but with the bottoms of the columnstruncated so that they do not extend below the 1000mm elevation specified by thebaseplate setting.

86. Select the Trim sections to Plines check box, so that the beams will have theirlengths calculated to fit between the columns to which they are connected.

87. With view limits set for zone and view direction set to Iso 3, click the Preview button todisplay a ‘stick’ representation of the specified structure. It should have the followingconfiguration:

Check and, if necessary, correct the settings, then click Apply to create the structure.The sections will first have the specified profiles applied to give them their 3Dgeometry, then they will be trimmed to length and connected. This process involves alot of calculation, and might therefore take a minute or two to complete; progress will beshown in the status bar.

88. The structure is now modified by removing beams as follows:Select Delete > Identified and then pick the 14 beams which are to be removed. PressEsc when you have finished picking and confirm the deletion, when prompted.

Y/NZ/U

X/EOrigin

Shaded area isdatum plane

50003000

3000

5000

100030005000

3000

5000

12.0 5:3


89. Finally, you will reduce the heights of the eight outermost columns (marked * in thepreceding diagram). Rather than modify each one separately, select Utilities > Lists. Ifa list already exists select Remove > All before using the Add > Identified option onthe Lists/Collections form then add the columns into the list by picking them with thepointer. If you make a mistake, click on the column again to deselect it. Press Escwhen you have finished selecting.

90. Select Position > Extend > By. When prompted to ‘Identify Section’, pick any of thecolumns and then, on the resulting Extend Section - Explicit form, select your new listas the item to be modified.

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

91. The Extend option list requires you to specify which end of the item is to be moved.You need to adjust the upper end of each column, but is this its Start or its End? Tocheck this, make any one of the columns the current element and select Settings >Mark Section. The Start and End will be tagged in the graphical view. Set the Extendbutton appropriately.

92. Select the Maintain Section’s Node Positions check box so that the positions ofsecondary nodes will not be affected by the length adjustments. (This is only reallyrelevant if you move the Start positions. You are leaving the nodes in place here simplyto demonstrate another facility in the next step.)Set the Extension by to a Distance of -2000, since you want to reduce the length ofeach item in the list by 2000mm. Apply the settings, then Dismiss the form. The resultshould be as shown:

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

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93. You will notice that the secondary nodes which were at the tops of the deleted columnsare still present, even though they no longer serve any useful purpose. To delete these,navigate to the Subframe and select Delete > Tidy Nodes. A Tidy Nodes form isdisplayed telling you that 8 redundant nodes have been identified. Select the MarkNodes for Deletion check box to tag these nodes in the graphical view, then click OKto delete them.

94. Now, for practice, extend the bottoms of all sixteen columns downwards by 1000mm,so that they rest on the origin plane (shown shaded in the first illustration of thischapter).

95. Update the DESIGN database to save your work (by selecting Design > Save Work).

12.0 5:5


12.0 5:6

Structural Design User GuideEnhance the Basic Structure

6 Enhance the Basic Structure

In this chapter, you will revert to your original structure and add some bracing members. Youwill then select some joints from the catalogue. Finally, you will modify the structure bymoving part of it to a new position and then restoring the correct geometry between itsmembers semi-automatically.

6.1 Restore a Previously Saved SetupExercise continues:

96. In order to continue developing the first structural model which you created, navigate toTESTSTRU in the Design Explorer and select it as the current element to restore thegraphical view.

6.2 Trim Connected Section Ends to Correct GeometryWhen you create a section connected to an existing section, the end points of the newsection 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 beinappropriate. For example, in plan view, the connection between a column and an incomingbeam may look like this:

rather than the intended configuration:

To correct this, you can trim the length of the incoming section to an explicitly picked pline ofthe owning section. Before you develop your model further, you will correct any errors of thistype which might currently exist (otherwise you could have problems connecting yourbracing correctly).

or

or

12.0 6:1


Exercise continues:

97. Zoom in to the graphical view and change the viewing direction so that you can see thedetailed geometry of each connection point in turn, looking for any examples where anattached section has been trimmed to the wrong length. If you find any, correct them asfollows.Select Connect > Trim to Pline > Pick (force). When prompted to ‘Identify sectionend to be trimmed’, pick one of the ends which you want to correct (as shown shadedin the preceding diagram). You will then be prompted to ‘Identify pline to be trimmed to’;change the view if necessary and pick the pline which corresponds to the requiredsection end point (typically NAR/NAL for a web connection or TOS/BOS for a flangeconnection, as shown by the black dots in the preceding diagram, see also StructuralCatalogue Guide). Note how the pointer shape changes when it is positioned on a plineand how the status bar helps you by identifying which pline is selected at any givenmoment. Press Escape to action the change.

Note: You will need to make full use of the graphical manipulation facilities detailed inManipulate the Displayed View, in particular it is advisable to zoom in close to thejoint of interest. Also, it is advisable switch to wireline display mode by pressing F8(this toggles between wireline and shaded display modes).

98. Repeat this sequence, alternately picking section ends and plines, until all errors havebeen corrected. Note that, if you are confident that you have made the correctselections, you can pick any number of section/pline pairs before pressing Esc.

99. To check the current pline rule (if any), select Settings > Pick Filters > Plines. You willsee a Pline Filter form showing all currently defined rules; this probably shows NoRule and Normal, with the former selected. The Normal rule will handle the connectionsthat the rule being created below is going to handle. You will set a rule to giveappropriate results for the rest of this exercise. To do so, click the Define Rule button todisplay the Define Rules form. Enter the Name as Extremities (this will be used toidentify the rule in subsequent lists) and the Description as Flange or web face fortrimming at connection. Enter the Rule as follows (taking care to include theapostrophes and commas exactly as shown:

PKEY inset (’TOS’,’BOS’,’NAL’,’NAR’,’FOC’,’BOC’,’TOC’)

Click the Include button to add the new rule into the list. The result is as follows:

12.0 6:2


100. Click OK. Select the Extremities rule on the Pline Filters tab of the Snap Settingsform to make this the current rule. Click OK and close the Picking Control form.

Note: A full explanation of the ways in which pline rules are set and applied is beyond thescope of this introductory guide. Suffice it to say that the rule you have set here maybe interpreted as ‘Select a pline which has any of the PKEY settings specified in thelist’. (See Structural Catalogue Guide for diagrams showing how these plines arepositioned for typical steelwork profiles.)

6.3 Add and Modify Simple BracingIn the next part of the exercise, you will insert some simple diagonal bracing and then use ashort-cut facility to modify the spacing between the ends of the bracing members and somereference plines.

You will create bracing members connected between columns, as shown by the thick blacksections in the following diagram:

12.0 6:3


(The letters and numbers identifying the columns and beams, respectively, in the abovediagram will be used for reference purposes in the steps which follow.)

The first bracing member will be connected to Columns A and B and its end positions will bespecified in terms of their spacing from Beams 1 and 2.

You will then use the Mirror Copying facility to create the other two bracing members. Thisfacility lets you create a copy of an existing element and to reposition the copy automaticallyby reflecting it about an axis in a specified plane (so that the original and copy elements aremirror images of one another).

Exercise continues:

101. Click the Default Profile Specification button and reset the default specificationto British Standard, Rect (Rectangular) Hollow Sections, 200.0x100.0x10.0 withJustification, Member Line and Joint Line all set to NA. This will be the profile usedfor the bracing members.

102. Select Create > Sections > Straight. Using Pick Type: Element and Pick Method:Intersect on the Positioning Control form, create a single bracing member with itsStart at the intersection of Column A and Beam 1 (A1 for short) and its End at B2.

Important: When you pick the sections defining each intersection point, your first pickdefines the section to which the connection is made. In this case, therefore, youmust pick the column before the beam when defining each end, otherwise thebracing gap trimming facility will not work correctly. Do not worry if the verticalalignment of the bracing member ends looks wrong at this stage; you willcorrect this in the next step.

Accept the beam, then Dismiss the Section form.

103. Check that the bracing member is the current element and select Modify > BracingGap. The Brace Gaps form displays listing the different ways of specifying the requiredgap. Ignore the Default Gap setting and select Distance on picked Pline from a fixedpoint, noting how the diagram on the form is updated to show the relevant dimensionsand picking sequence.

104. Click Apply. In the displayed Brace Gap(s) form, select the Confirm check box, but donot enter the Gap A data yet.

105. You are now in event-driven graphics mode, ready to pick the plines from which thebracing gap is to be calculated. You first position the lower end of the bracing member

NU

E

A B C D

2 4

1 3 5

6

12.0 6:4


(currently at A1 in the preceding diagram). Using the diagram on the Brace Gaps formas a guide, pick plines in the following order:• A pline on the lower face of the bracing member, such as BOS. Pick close to the

connection, so that the gap is calculated for the correct end.• A pline on Column A along which the gap is to be defined, such as NAL or NAR.• A pline on the upper face of Beam 1, such as TOS.

Note: As previously mentioned, you might find it easier to pick the plines if you switch thegraphics to a wireline view. (Press F8).

106. When you have picked the third pline, the calculated distance for the current position isshown in the graphical view and is also inserted into the Gap A text-box on the BraceGap(s) form. The Accept/Reject buttons are now active. Note that the displayeddistance is measured downwards (because of the way the plines currently intersect),whereas you want to move the bracing section upwards. To achieve this, change theGap A data to -150, check that the new position shown in the graphical view is asrequired, then click Accept to move the section end.

107. Repeat the procedure to position the upper end of the bracing member with a gap of150mm measured down Column B from Beam 2. Dismiss the Brace Gaps form.

108. Before you create the next bracing members, try this facility for checking whether or notthe ends of a section are connected. With the bracing member as your current element,select Utilities > Beams & Columns. From the menu bar of the small form whichresults, pick Tag > All ends. The ends of the current section should both be tagged asConnected. (You will see another way of checking connectivity later.)

Rather than create and position the other two bracing members B4-C3 and C5-D6 byrepeating the preceding sequence of operations, a short-cut is used by copying the existingA1-B2 section. Each copy is repositioned by defining it as a mirror image of its originalreflected in an appropriate plane.

Exercise continues:

109. Select Create > Copy > Mirror. The Mirror form displays which allows you to specifywhat you want to copy (Object), where the copies are to be stored in the databasehierarchy, and the plane in which the copy position is to reflected.

110. Assuming that you are still at the bracing member, set the Object to be copied to CEand set the to option to Rel. Set the Type of mirror option to Mirror Copy (since youwant to create a new element rather than simply reposition the original one).

Column A

Beam 13. Pline on upper face

of reference member

1. Pline on lowerof bracing member

Gap (to be set to 150mm)

2. Pline along which gap is to be measured

Bracing Member

12.0 6:5


111. The plane in which you want to reflect the copied section is represented by the shadedarea in the following diagram:

This plane is specified in terms of its direction (i.e. the direction of the normal to theplane) and of the position of any point within it. The Mirror form provides severalmethods of specifying these by picking items in the existing model; Column B is used todefine the position and the direction entered explicitly.

112. Select Cursor > Element from the Mirror form’s menu and, when prompted, pick anypart of Column B. The position identified snaps to the start or end of this column(depending on where you picked) and its coordinates are entered into the East/North/Up text boxes automatically. A symbolic representation of the plane’s position andorientation is shown in the graphical view.Note that the Plane Direction text box now shows the cutplane direction of thecolumn’s start or end (namely Up or Down). Change this to East and observe thereorientation of the symbolic plane in the graphical view.

Note: If you want to enter the Plane Direction before you pick the position, select the Lockcheck box to prevent its setting being updated when you pick the position.

The form settings should now look as shown (the Up coordinate will be 9000 ratherthan 0 if you picked near the top of Column B rather than near the bottom):

NU

EB

Existing member Copied member

12.0 6:6


113. Click Apply to create the mirrored copy and, when prompted, confirm that you want toretain the copy.

114. Using the same procedure, create the third bracing member (C5-D6) by copying andreflecting the second member (B4-C3).

115. The two copies which you have just created should be positioned correctly, but will notyet be connected. To check this, instead of using the Tag utility for each new bracingmember, select Query > End Connections. The resulting Highlight Connectionsform lets you see the connectivity status of all relevant members of the current element.

116. Navigate to the SubFrame TESTSBFR and click the CE button on the HighlightConnections form to update the displayed data. The numbers on the coloured buttonsshow the number of sections in each category: they should show 40 sections with bothends connected and 16 sections with neither end connected. Select the correspondingHighlight check boxes to colour the sections in the 3D View; click on a coloured buttonif you would prefer a different highlight colour.

Note: You might think that the upper ends of the columns should be shown as connected.However, the beams at those points are connected (via Secondary Joints) toSecondary Nodes positioned along the columns, rather than to Primary Nodes at thecolumn extremities. Therefore, even though the Secondary Nodes in this casehappen to be coincident with the tops of the columns, the diagnoses are correct.

117. To connect the ends of the two bracing sections to the appropriate columns, selectConnect > Connect and follow the status bar prompts carefully. (Escape terminateseach stage of the process in the usual way.) Use the Highlight Connections formagain to confirm the results.

6.4 Add Standard Bracing ConfigurationsTo avoid the need for creating individual bracing sections as you have just done, theapplication provides a quick way of adding some predefined bracing configurations.

To demonstrate this facility, you will first add a cross bracing configuration (using anglesections) in the vertical plane and then a diamond bracing configuration (using universalbeam sections) in the horizontal plane, in the locations shown by the thick black lines in thefollowing diagram:

NU

E

12.0 6:7


Exercise continues:

118. Select Create > Sections > Bracing configurations. The Bracing form displays.This form does not use the default settings for section data, so first set the following:• Storage area to the Subframe /TESTSBFR;• Profile to British Standard, Equal Angle, 70x70x6.0;• Justification to NAL (Neutral Axis Left: this will align the angle sections back-to-

back; see diagram in Sample Plots);• Member Line and Joint Line to NA.• Bracing Plane : leave the option set to Derived by Section so that the bracing

members will lie in the same plane as the sections to which they will be attached.

119. In the Available Bracing Configurations list, select Cross Bracing. Notice how theparameterised diagram shows the details of the selected configuration. The diagramshows the dimensions which must be specified (A, B) and the order in which existingsections must be picked (1, 2, ...) so as to position and connect the bracing memberscorrectly. For the cross bracing configuration it looks as shown:

120. Click Apply. The Cross Bracing form displays. Set Gap A to 150 and Gap B to 300.Select Confirm.You are now in event-driven graphics mode. Using the diagram on the Bracing form asa guide, pick the two columns between which the bracing members are to beconnected. To achieve the required configuration, make sure that your first pick is nearthe bottom of the first column and that your second pick is just below the cross beamon the second column; that is, pick reasonably close to the required connection pointsfor the bracing members.When you are satisfied with the configuration shown in the graphical view, accept thecreation of the sections forming the bracing members and then Dismiss the Bracingform.

121. Repeat the procedure used in the previous steps to create the diamond bracing at thetop of the structure. Set the Profile to British Standard, Universal Beams, 203x133x25,and the Justification, Member Line and Joint Line all to NA.In the Available Bracing Configurations list, select Diamond Bracing. Theparameterised diagram shows that you need to specify the separations between thebracing members for each pair of opposing sections.

122. Click Apply to display the Diamond Bracing form on which the data can be entered.Set both Gap A and Gap B to 500, leave confirm selected, and pick the four beams (inthe correct sequence, as shown in the diagram) to complete the operation. Dismissthe Bracing form when you have finished.

Note: You must dismiss the Diamond Bracing form, thereby leaving event-driven graphicsmode, in order to change the bracing configuration. If you want to add more sectionsusing the current bracing configuration, however, you can simply continue pickingconnection points in the graphical view.

Gap A

Pick 1

Gap B

Pick 2Note: In our design thisdatum is the lower end ofthe column, since, thereis no cross beam at thisposition.

12.0 6:8


6.5 Represent JointsAlthough each connection has created a corresponding Secondary Joint element in theDESIGN database (shown in the Design Explorer as SJOIs, owned by SNODs), these donot yet have any geometry associated with them and are not therefore shown in thegraphical view. In order to represent them properly, a catalogue specification must beassociated with each joint (in the same way that each section profile is defined by anassociated catalogue specification).

Joints have a number of attributes whose settings allow you to position and orientate themand to modify the ends of sections connected to them. The most important of theseattributes are looked at here, so that you can represent some simple joints in your designmodel. The key to success lies in the optimum design of the joint as defined in thecatalogue, which is a specialised field beyond the scope of this user guide.

The following topics illustrate the main features (do not try to remember them all now; referback here when necessary):

A Shelf Angle Joint as defined in the Catalogue:

(only the Neutral Axis pline is shown for clarity)

Position and Orientation of a Secondary Joint Relative to a Secondary Node:

Z

X

Y

NA Origin

Origin plane is X,Y plane throughorigin.Origin plane direction is Z.Plines extrude in Y direction.Pline direction is Z direction

Note: Origin plane is shown by heavylines in the following diagrams.

SNode

Origin Plane Direction (OPDI) defines orientationabout X,Y axes

Beta Angle (BANG) defines orientation about Z axis

ZDIST defines position of SNode relative to POSS of Section

Z

X

Y

TOSNA

Position Line (POSL) (here set toTOS) defines position

BOS

Owning Section(2D view only)

12.0 6:9


Connecting a Joint to the Start of an Attached Section:

Note how the origin plane of the Joint is set with reference to the Owning Section (via thePOSL attribute), while its position within the constraints of that plane is set with reference tothe Attached Section (by aligning the plines defined by the JLINs of both Joint and Section).That is, with reference to the orientation of the diagram, the Joint is moved horizontally bychanging its POSL and vertically by changing its JLIN. Both the Section and the Joint can berotated independently by changing their BANGs (the Section rotates about its NA, the Jointabout its OPDI).

How the Section end configuration depends on the Joint to which it is attached:

(using a wedge-shaped Joint to demonstrate the principles)

OwningSection

AttachedSection

JOIS of Attached Section points to JointCREF of Joint points to Attached Section

Logical Connectivity:

SNode

POSL of Joint set to TOS of Owning Section

TOS

NA

BOS

TOSNABOS

JLIN of Joint set to BOS of Attached SectionJLIN of Attached Section set to NA of Joint

OPDI of Joint

POSS

CTYA of Joint must match CTYS of Attached Section (for connection compatibility)

BANG of Section

BANG of Joint

OwningSection

AttachedSection

SNode POSS

DRNS of Attached Sectiondetermined by CUTP of Joint

POSS offset along NA by Cutback (CUTB) of Joint

NA

NA

Joint's Cutting Plane

12.0 6:10


Exercise continues:

For the purpose of this exercise, you will add some simple bolted flanges where the beamsare attached to the columns. Remember that the joint elements (SJOIs in the DesignExplorer) already exist as a result of connecting the sections together; you need only set apointer to the joint specification in the catalogue to define each joint’s geometry.

123. Select Modify > Joints > Specification. When prompted to ‘Identify end of sectionjoint is connected to’, pick the end of any N-S beam (that is, any beam which abuts acolumn flange rather than a web) where you want to insert a bolted joint. A JointSpecification form is displayed for the joint to which your picked section end isattached.

124. The method for selecting from the available joint specifications is the same as thatwhich you used to select section profiles. Select Column Connections, ColumnFlange, 6M24_flange, leaving all other form settings at their defaults.

125. Click the Properties button. A subsidiary Modify Properties form displays which letsyou specify some local dimensional data for the selected type of joint. Set Thicknessof Plt to 10, Dist from TOS to 0, and Dist from BOS to 30. OK the Modify Propertiesform and Apply the Joint Specification form to complete the setting of the jointspecification. (The geometry of most types of joint can be modified via appropriateentries on a form such as this, depending on how the catalogue has been set up.)

126. To see a correct representation of the joint, you must set up the graphical view so that itdisplays holes (negative volumes) as well as solid items (positive volumes). To do so,select Settings > Graphics from the main menu bar and, on the Representation tab,select the Holes Drawn check box. OK the settings. Zoom in close to the beam end tosee what the joint looks like. Notice how the height and width of the endplate have beenset automatically from the dimensions of the beam and column, respectively, withadjustments to suit the values entered on the Define Properties form. This is possiblebecause the joint dimensions in the catalogue are specified as design parameterswhose values are derived from the attached and owning sections.The joint should look something like this:

Notice how the attached beam has been shortened to accommodate the thickness ofthe plate and how the bolt holes in the plate have generated corresponding holes inthe column flanges.

127. The position of the joint relative to the profile of the column (i.e. its owning section) isdetermined by the joint’s position line. To see the effect of changing this, select Modify> Joints > Position Line. The displayed Position Line form shows the current setting

Section endused toidentify joint

Dist from BOS = 30

Thickness of Plt = 10

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as either BOS or TOS (depending at which end of the beam the joint is situated).Change this to the opposite setting (i.e. TOS or BOS), select the Re-trim attachedsection check box, and click Apply. The joint and its attached section end will movethus:

128. Reposition the joint correctly, then Dismiss the Position Line and Joint Specificationforms.

129. Rather than set each joint specification explicitly, you can apply the specification forone joint to other joints. This facility is used to specify the joint at the other end of thebeam which you have just been looking at. To do so, select Modify > Joints > JointLike > Maintain Pline. When prompted to ‘Identify end of section to be copied like’,pick the same section end as picked previously. When prompted to ‘Identify sectionend to be modified’, pick the other end of the same beam. Press Escape for both of thenext prompts (you are only modifying one joint in this step). Zoom in close to thesecond joint and notice how its geometry matches that of the first joint. The position linesettings for the two joints are, however, set automatically to opposite flanges of thecolumn (TOS for one, BOS for the other), to give the correct alignment.

Note: If the joints were ‘handed’, such as a shelf angle, you would also see that the secondjoint has been rotated automatically about its vertical axis to match the start/enddirections of the section. This is not apparent for the endplate, but if you selectQuery > Attributes you will be able to see which attributes differ between the twojoints.

130. Using the same method as in the previous step, set the specifications for some of theother column flange joints.

6.6 Dominant Versus Subordinate JointsWhen you reposition a joint which has one or more attached sections, the effect on thosesections depends upon whether or not the joint has been defined as dominant orsubordinate, as defined by the setting of the joint’s Joint Freedom (JFRE) attribute.

If JFRE is set to False (the default for a new joint), the joint is said to be subordinate (alsodescribed by saying that the section is dominant). If JFRE is set to True, the joint is said tobe dominant.

Consider the following effects, where the joint’s owning section is moved thus:

(view rotated)

Section endused toidentify joint

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You will use this feature in the next part of the exercise.

6.7 Move Part of the Structure and Maintain Correct GeometryIn the next part of the exercise, you will move the columns and beams at the eastern end ofour structure to increase the overall length of the design model. This will require thehorizontal beams and the bracing member connected to the moved columns to be extendedand, in the case of the bracing member, realigned to maintain the correct configuration.

The objective is to demonstrate the dominant joint concept (as described in DominantVersus Subordinate Joints) and to show how you can easily restore geometry betweensections which has been disrupted by moving parts of a structure independently.

The result which you want to achieve is as follows, where the thick black sections will bemoved explicitly and the broken lines indicate the new final configuration:

NU

E

Noterealignment ofbracingmember

The joints marked* mustbe dominant

*

*

*

*

***

*

12.0 6:13


Exercise continues:

131. In order to make the bracing member realign itself to maintain the specified bracinggap, the joint to which it is connected must be dominant. To ensure this, you will makethe joints dominant at both ends of all bracing sections (as would be normal practice).For the purposes of this exercise, you will also make dominant the joints at both ends ofeach of the four N-S beams between the columns to be moved (i.e. the beams shownshaded in the preceding diagram).Select Connect > Joint Dominant. Each joint is identified by picking the section end towhich it is connected. When prompted, pick both ends of each bracing member createdin Add and Modify Simple Bracing (six picks) and the ends of all relevant beams (eightpicks). Press Escape when you have finished.

Note: This part of the exercise has been designed to illustrate, among other features, theconcept of joint dominance. In normal practice, only the joints at the ends of thebracing members would be made dominant.

132. Use the Utilities > Lists facility to create a new list and use the Add > Identifiedoption to add into it the four columns to be moved (shown black in the precedingdiagram).

133. Select Position > Relatively (BY). The Position By form displays which allows youmove an item by a given distance in a given direction. Use the option button near thetop-left of the form to set the item to be moved to the list containing the columns(Current List). Enter the required movement in the By text boxes; in this case specifya move by 2000mm in the East direction.When you Apply the settings, the columns should move as shown:

At first sight, this appears to be a rather disastrous result. However, as long as youhave set all of the connectivity rules correctly, particularly the joint dominance settings,you can easily rectify the problem by reconnecting all of the sections which should beconnected to the columns.

134. Select Connect > Trim to Section > all attached. When prompted, pick each of thefour columns in turn, then press Escape and watch the results in the graphical view asthe correct geometry is restored.

Note: The Trim to Section differs from the Trim to Pline option, which was used before, inthat Trim to Section maintains the existing pline connectivity, thereby retaining any

NU

E

12.0 6:14


previously defined trimming, whereas Trim to Pline resets the connectivity to anexplicit or rule-defined pline.)

135. Save your design changes.

That concludes the introduction to the basic operations involved in the design of a simplestructural framework. In the next part of the guide you look at how to add some sheetcladding (floor plates and/or wall panels) to your structure.

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12.0 6:16

Structural Design User GuideAdd Panels and Plates

7 Add Panels and Plates

In this chapter, you will change to another of the structural design applications, namely thePanels & Plates application, and add a floor plate to your existing structure. You will thenmodify this in various ways to demonstrate some of the facilities provided for detailingpanels.

Note: The facilities which are looked at next allow you to add planar material to the designmodel in any orientation. Throughout this text, the term panel is used for such itemsin all descriptions, regardless of whether the element represents a horizontal floorplate, a vertical wall panel, a sloping roof panel, or any similar planar item.

7.1 Start the Panels & Plates ApplicationIn order to access the panel design facilities, you must leave the Beams & Columnsapplication and load the complementary Panels & Plates application. Many of the optionsavailable in the latter application are very similar to those which you have already learned touse from the preceding chapters of this guide, so only the differences will be dealt with inany detail.

Exercise continues:

136. Select Design > Structures > Panels & Plates from the main menu bar, or click the

button.The main menu bar and tool bar will change, although the differences may not beobvious at a first glance. They now look as shown:

Look at each pull-down menu in turn; you will see that the options in the upper parts ofthe menus are common to the equivalent Beams & Columns menus, whereas many ofthe options in the lower parts of the menus are specific to the Panels & Platesapplication.

7.2 How PDMS Represents PanelsA Panel (PANE) element can be used to represent any sheet material used to clad astructural model. Using a similar principle to that for representing a Section (which is an

12.0 7:1


extruded 2D catalogue Profile), a Panel is represented by extruding a user-defined 2Dshape. Its geometry is defined by two types of data:

• The panel’s planar area is defined by a Panel Loop (PLOO) element, which is itselfdefined by linking together a set of Panel Vertex (PAVE) elements, each of which has aspecific position in the panel’s 2D coordinate system. Each panel Edge is defined by aline joining adjacent vertices.

• The panel thickness is defined by setting the Height (HEIG) attribute of the Panel Loop.This represents the distance through which the 2D Panel Loop is extruded to form the3D panel.

Note: The resulting justification of a panel may be dependent upon the clockwise/anticlockwise direction of creation for the panel.

Each Panel Vertex can have an optional Fillet Radius setting which represents a circular arcwhich curves towards (positive radius) or away from (negative radius) the vertex position, asshown:

The default radius of zero denotes a point.

7.3 Set Default Storage AreasIn the next part of the exercise you will set up some defaults to customise the application tosuit our planned method of working, just as you did for the Beams & Columns application.You will specify where the principal panel design elements are to be stored in the DESIGNdatabase hierarchy.

= Panel Loop (PLOO)

= Panel Vertex (PAVE)

Panel (PANE)

Panel thickness =HEIG of PLOO

PAVE with +ve radius PAVE with -ve radius

12.0 7:2


Exercise continues:

137. Rather than using the Settings > Storage Areas option, a short-cut method is used toset default storage areas for Panels and Panel Linear Joints (which will be looked atlater). Both types of element will be stored under the same SubFrame which you havebeen using for your basic framework design.

Navigate to TESTSBFR and then click the (Panels) and (Panel Linear Joints)buttons in turn. These automatically set the storage areas to the current element.The current storage area settings are shown as:

7.4 Create Simple PanelsYou will first create a panel which defines the overall area of a large floor plate and thendivide this up into more manageable sizes such as might be specified for fabricationpurposes. These panels represent the schematic areas only; you will defer detailedtrimming of the edges to fit around structural sections etc. until a little later.

Exercise continues:

138. Select Create > Panel. The Create Panel form displays which provides, among itsother settings, various ways of specifying the positions of vertices.

139. The optional names for panels are not entered in this exercise. Set the Justification toBottom (this allows you to position the bottom face of the panels on the top of theirsupporting sections) and set the Thickness to 30.

140. Leave the Representation set to Predefined: Default for now. These settings (Levelsand Obstruction) affect the way items are shown in 3D views and how they are dealtwith when checking for clashes between design items; the defaults should be adequatefor your current purposes.

141. You will define the positions of four vertices, V1-V4, which define the overall area of thefloor plate shown shaded in the following diagram (all bracing members omitted forclarity):

(The broken lines A-A and B-B show where you will later split the panel into three.)

NU

E

V1 V2

V3V4

A

B

B

A

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The Create Methods buttons give you several ways to define each vertex. Themethods used are:

In the next steps, these options are used to illustrate the principles.

142. Click the button. The Positioning Control form indicates that you are now inevent-driven graphics mode, ready to pick the position of the first vertex. Set Pick Typeto Element and set Pick Method to Intersect. Now pick the column and either of thebeams whose intersection coincides with V1 in the preceding diagram. The text belowthe icon buttons on the Create Panel form will change from ‘No vertices currentlydefined’ to ‘1 Vertices defined (no Panel created)’.

Note: The first vertex defined for a new panel becomes the panel’s origin (as displayed) bydefault. You can change this later if required.

143. Repeat this point-picking procedure to define V2 and V3, in that order. As soon as youhave defined three vertices, the plane of the new panel is shown in the graphical view(as a triangle) and a PANEL element added into the Design Explorer.

144. As a demonstration, V4 is positioned relative to V3. Click the button. The Definevertex form displays on which you can specify the required offset. Set the Direction toWest and the Distance to 20000. Click Apply to create the vertex. The text below theicon buttons on the Create Panel form now says ‘4 Vertices defined (Panel created)’.

145. Leave the Display modification form check box clear (you would select this only ifyou wanted to modify the panel vertices immediately). Click OK to complete the panelcreation operation. Note that the Design Explorer now includes one PANEL, onePLOOP and four PAVERT elements (as defined in How PDMS Represents Panels).

7.5 Measure Distances/Directions in the Design ModelWhen you completed the Define Vertex form in the previous step, you had to enter therequired distance between V3 and V4; that is, the overall length of the structure in the East-West direction. The figure which you entered (20000) was derived from knowledge of theoriginal design data. Instead of calculating this, you could have measured it by means of auseful utility, as follows:

Exercise continues:

146. Either select Query > Measure Distance or click the button. The Measure formand the Positioning Control form are displayed, which together allow you to measurethe distance between any two points or lines in the design model. On the PositioningControl form, set Pick Type to Element and Pick Method to Snap, then pick near thetops or bottoms (but not one of each) of the columns through the V4 and V3 positions.

Note: Zoom in if necessary and pick carefully at the ends connected to bracing sections toavoid snapping to the secondary nodes rather than the column extremities.

allows you pick a point graphically using any of the standard pointerpicking options

allows you specify a distance and direction relative to the precedingvertex

12.0 7:4


The Information area on the Measure form shows the direct distance between theNeutral Axes of the sections, the XYZ components of that distance, and the direction ofthe second point relative to the first. The distance is also shown in the graphical view.

147. Experiment with some other graphical picking options to measure a few other distancesand directions, including some in skewed directions, then dismiss the Measure form.

7.6 Split a PanelYou will now split the new panel along the axes of the intermediate beams which support it(shown by the broken lines A-A and B-B in the previous diagram), thus forming threesmaller panels.

148. Ensure that the panel is the current element (shown as PANEL 1 in the DesignExplorer) and select Modify > Split Panel. When prompted to ‘Pick ... to be split on’,pick either of the beams aligned along A-A in the diagram. (You might need to changethe view direction so that the beam you want to pick is not obscured by the panel;alternatively, you can pick either of the other beams which are aligned parallel to A-A inthe required plane.) The panel will be split along the picked line to form two separatepanels, each with its own panel loop and set of four vertices.

149. Note that your current element is still PANEL 1, which is the smaller of the two panels.Navigate to the larger panel, PANEL 2, and split this along B-B to give a total of threepanels.

Note: You can only split a panel along the axis of an existing element. To introduce a splitline anywhere else, simply create a section where you want the split to occur, splitthe panel, then delete the section.

7.7 Tailor Panel Edges by Editing Individual VerticesThe edges of the panels which you have created run from vertex to vertex along thecentrelines of the beam flanges on which they rest. While this may be an adequaterepresentation for an overall design layout, you will usually need to detail the edges moreaccurately for fabrication purposes. To do so, you can add, delete or reposition individualvertices which define the shape of the panel loop. To introduce this concept, you will addintermediate vertices between existing panel corners so that the edges fit round thecolumns which intersect them. You will also set a radius for some of the vertices to giverounded corners.

Note: When you split your original panel into three, new vertices were createdautomatically, so the vertex numbers for the current panels do not correspond tothose of the original panel. As you insert new vertices, the numbering will change toaccommodate them, so care is needed to check that you are at the correct vertex foreach panel editing operation.

Exercise continues:

150. Navigate to the westernmost panel (i.e. that between V1-A-A-V4 in the previousdiagram) and select Modify > Extrusion/Panel. The Loop Vertex Editor formdisplays which allows you to modify the shape of the current panel by manipulatingindividual vertices, edges between vertices, groups of vertices, etc. Whatever methodsyou use for picking new positions, all vertices are constrained to remain in the plane ofthe panel loop (i.e., the underside of the panel) throughout these operations.

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151. Check that the options Settings > Confirm and Settings > Confirm on delete fromthis form’s menu bar are both selected.The active controls on the form, and their titles, change to suit the currentcircumstances as you use the form. As displayed now, you will notice that many of thebuttons (especially those relating to Group and Line operations) are greyed out.The upper part of the form shows that the current focus is on Vertex 1, while the lowerpart shows the coordinates and fillet radius of this vertex, as shown:

The geometry of the current panel in Plan view (not to scale) is as follows:

You will insert four new vertices between V4 and V1, as shown in the inset view, so thatthis panel edge fits round the column (note that V4 comes before V1 when defining thisedge, since vertex numbering is clockwise as viewed in the diagram).

152. .Each new vertex is added to the sequence immediately after the current vertex, so firstnavigate to V4 in either of the following ways:

• Click the select vertex/edge button on the Loop Vertex Editor form and pickthe p-point at V4. Note that, because this position is within the column, you mightfind it easier to switch to wireline mode to see it.

• Use the up/down arrow buttons next to the displayed vertex number to stepthrough the vertex list sequentially. Notice how the current vertex and the edgedirection to the next vertex are shown in the 3D View as you do this.If you know the number of the vertex you want, you can type it directly in the Vertexnumber field. Do not forget, though, that the numbering may change as you edit thelist; it is usually safer to pick a vertex graphically.

153. Click the Create points button in the Mode Selection area of the Loop VertexEditor form. Set the Positioning Control to Element Snap and position the vertex atthe end of the beam which joins the column from the direction of V4 (i.e. at point V5 on

V1 V4

X

YNew verticesto be inserted

Originat V1

PA N E

L

V5

V6V7

V8

V4V1

V2 V3

12.0 7:6


the diagram). A ‘New vertex’ tag is added to the graphical view so that you can checkthe proposed position; if it is correct, click the Create button at the bottom of the LoopVertex Editor form to confirm the creation.Notice that the new vertex is now the current vertex (labelled <5>), ready for the nextone to be added after it.

154. Position the next vertex, V6, at the intersection of the corner of the column with thepanel. To do so, click the button again, set the Positioning Control to Pline Snap,and pick the column pline which passes through the required point (RBOS or LBOS;see diagram in Straight Sections). If you cannot pick the pline you want, selectSettings > Pick Filters > Plines from the main menu bar and reset the current filteringrule to No Rule (it is probably still set to Extremities). Do not forget to click Create whenyou have positioned the vertex.

155. Create V7 and V8 by using similar methods to those in the previous steps.Rotate the graphical model as necessary and check that the panel now incorporates acut-out which fits round the column, as shown in the preceding diagram. At present thepanel edges are abutted against the column flanges. Next a small clearance gap isintroduced by moving the relevant vertices using the explicit editing facilities.

156. To change from ‘create mode’ to ‘modify mode’, click the button and pick V5. Notehow its current settings are copied into the Vertex area at the bottom of the form (X, Yand Radius text-boxes). To introduce a 10mm clearance, change the setting in the Xbox by adding 10 (the axes, shown at the panel’s origin, are useful here for checkingdirections in the panel’s coordinate system). Click the Modify button to confirm the newsetting.

157. Repeat the procedure from the previous step, adding or subtracting as necessary, tomove V6, V7 and V8 to give a 10mm clearance all round, noting that V6 and V7 mustbe moved in both the X and Y directions.

158. Pick V6 and change the Radius setting from the default of zero to 15mm. Update theV6 data to the new setting, then repeat the process for V7.The final result is as shown:

(Set the view to Look > Down and zoom in to see this in detail. You might find it easierto see the detail if you switch to wireline mode.)

7.8 Move Panel Edges to New PositionsSo far, you have aligned the panel edges along the centrelines of the beam flanges onwhich they are supported. You will now move the panel edges linking V4-V5 and V8-V1 tothe outer edges of the beams. The new position is specified by aligning the edge with theappropriate pline of the beam on which it rests (shown as LTOS in the diagram):

V5

V6V7

V8

PANEL

12.0 7:7


Exercise continues:

159. Still using the Loop Vertex Editor form, click the select edge to modify button inthe Mode Selection area and then pick a point on the panel near the edge between V4and V5.Notice how the upper part of the form now shows the current focus as Edge 4, while thelower part shows the coordinates of the Start of the edge (i.e. V4) and the length of theedge, thus:

Notice also that the controls in the Line area are now active (they were previouslygreyed out). These are examples of how the form changes to suit currentcircumstances.

160. By default, the next modification would be applied only to the Start position of the edge;as shown by the Start option, and the fact that START is tagged in uppercase letters inthe 3D View (at the V4 end of the beam). You want to move the whole edge (that is,you want to move V4 and V5 simultaneously), so change the option to Aligned, thus:

Set the Positioning Control to Pline Snap, pick the LTOS pline on the top outer edgeof the beam and then click the Modify button to move the panel edge to this position.

161. Select Settings > Tag edges from the Loop Vertex Editor menu. Repeat the methodof the previous steps to move Edge 8 (V8-V1) to the outer edge of its supporting beam.

162. Use the same process to move the non-abutting edges of all three panels to the outeredges of their supporting beams (but do not modify any more edges to fit roundcolumns yet; other ways of doing this will be looked at later).

V5

V6V7

V8 V4V1

TOS

LTOS

Move edgeMove edgeRTOS

PANEL

12.0 7:8


7.9 Create Negative ExtrusionsIn exactly the same way that you position Panel Vertex elements to define the shape of a 2DPanel Loop and then extrude this by the required thickness to create a 3D Panel, asillustrated in How PDMS Represents Panels, so you can also position Vertex (VERT)elements to form a 2D Loop (LOOP) and then extrude this to create a 3D NegativeExtrusion (NXTR). The difference is that, as its name implies, the negative extrusionrepresents a negative volume, that is, a hole. (You have already encountered negativevolumes used in the catalogue definition of a bolted flange, where they were used to removethe end of the section to accommodate the joint and to represent bolt holes through both thejoint and the flange of its owning column).

A negative extrusion is owned by the panel through which the hole is required. Whencreated, its justification is set automatically to be the same as that of its owning panel,although you can move it later if necessary.

You will use this facility to create a hole through the floor plate where one of the columnspasses through it. The negative extrusion will have the same shape as that created by theinterposed vertices (V5-V8) in the preceding diagram, namely:

Note: Vertices V1-V4 in this diagram define the negative extrusion; their numbering isindependent of the panel vertices. (Negative extrusion vertices are shown in italic todistinguish them from panel vertices.)

Notice how the outer edge of the negative extrusion (V1-V2) extends beyond the outer edgeof the panel to ensure that the hole always penetrates through the panel edge. Similarly, thethickness of the negative extrusion should exceed the thickness of the panel to ensure thatthe hole always penetrates completely through the panel.

Exercise continues:

163. You will create the negative extrusion where a column passes through the midpoint ofthe easternmost edge of the largest panel (that is, at the opposite end of the structurefrom the vertices added in Tailor Panel Edges by Editing Individual Vertices). Navigateto that panel (which should be PANEL 3 in the Design Explorer) and select Create >Negative Extrusion. The Create Negative Extrusion form (similar to the CreatePanel form which you used earlier) is displayed.

164. To see the negative extrusion volume in the graphical view when you create it, selectSettings > Graphics > Representation and clear the Holes Drawn check box. Selectthe Update all Graphics check box and OK the change.

V4

V1V2

V3

PANEL

NEGATIVEEXTRUSIONPanel V3 Panel V2

12.0 7:9


165. To achieve the correct justification and orientation for the negative extrusion relative toits owning panel, click the Surface button in the Settings area of the form, then pickthe upper face of the panel.

Note: To get a better view, zoom in close to the panel and the column of interest and lookalong (and slightly above) the panel.

The hole will penetrate into (or, in your case, through) the panel thickness from thissurface.

166. Set Hole Depth (equivalent to the thickness of the negative extrusion) to 250. Thislarge depth will make it easy to see the volume of the negative extrusion once you havecreated it: a depth slightly greater than the panel thickness would normally suffice,since the application automatically adds 1mm to ensure that the hole always cutsthrough the referenced panel surface.The settings should now be as shown:

167. Using any combination of the methods which you used to create and modify panelvertices (see Create Simple Panels and Tailor Panel Edges by Editing IndividualVertices), create the four vertices needed to define the required hole round the column,as shown in the preceding diagram. For ease of positioning, align V1 and V2 with theouter face of the column (although any position beyond the panel edge would besatisfactory). Introduce a clearance of 10mm round the column and set the radii of thetwo vertices within the panel area to 15mm.Note that the origin plane of the negative extrusion is its bottom face, as shown by thepositions of the graphical aids when you are creating and modifying its vertices.

168. When created, the negative extrusion will appear as an outline volume superimposedon the design in the graphical view. If you have positioned it correctly, its upper face willjust protrude from the top face of the panel, as shown:

(If not, use the Position > Relatively (BY) menu option to move the negative extrusionvertically to a position where it cuts both faces of the panel.)

169. To see the result of applying the negative volume represented by the negativeextrusion to the positive volume of the panel, revert to Holes Drawn Onrepresentation. Notice how the negative extrusion creates a hole only through itsowning panel; it does not affect the column.

Note: The effects of the Holes Drawn setting on the Representation form:

• When Holes Drawn is Off, negative volumes are shown as outline shapes in thegraphical view and can be picked using the pointer (you must pick a visible edge, notan invisible surface). Their effect of removing material from positive (solid) items in the

Panel

Negativeextrusion

Negativeextrusion

Look>West: Look>North:

V1V2 V2V3

12.0 7:10


design is not shown. Use this mode when explicitly creating or modifying a negativeitem.

• When Holes Drawn is On, negative volumes are not shown explicitly in the graphicalview and cannot be picked using the pointer (although you can still navigate to themusing the Design Explorer as normal). Only their effect on positive volumes throughwhich they pass is visible. Use this mode for normal design work to view a realistic 3Drepresentation of the design model.

That concludes the addition of simple panels to the structural framework, including twomethods for representing holes in the panels where they fit round structural members. In thenext part of the guide, you will look at ways of adding predefined catalogue fittings to panels.

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12.0 7:12

Structural Design User GuideUse Panel Fittings

8 Use Panel Fittings

In this chapter the concept of Panel Fittings is introduced and then such a fitting isincorporated into the design to represent a manhole giving access through a floor plate.

8.1 How Panel Fittings are DefinedA Single Panel Fitting (PFIT) is a catalogue item which can be used to represent any type ofgeometric entity which is to be owned by, and positioned relative to, a panel. Typically, thecatalogue might include panel fittings representing doors, windows, access manholes, liftinglugs, and so on.

As with the bolted joint which you used earlier, panel fittings can incorporate (or consistentirely of) negative volumes which represent holes in their owning panels.

A panel fitting is positioned relative to its owning panel’s origin by setting its Position (POSI)attribute and is orientated about an axis perpendicular to the panel by setting its Beta Angle(BANG) attribute. It can be justified to align its origin plane with the top face, centre plane, orbottom face of the panel by setting its Justification (SJUS) attribute. As an example, astylised manhole might be defined like this:

When you create a new panel fitting, it is positioned automatically at the origin of its owningpanel. You can then move it to the required position in any of the standard ways.

8.2 Create a Panel FittingExercise continues:

170. Navigate to the panel in which you want to insert the manhole and select Create >Fittings > Single. The Create Panel Fitting form displays giving access to allavailable panel fitting specifications in the current catalogue. Because you are creatinga new panel fitting, rather than modifying the specification of an existing one, the formis set to show New Panel Fitting as the current element.

Z

X

Positive volumerepresenting lid

Negative volumerepresenting holethrough panel Origin

Beta Angle definesorientation about Z axis

Origin Planedetermines justificationrelative to panel

12.0 8:1

Structural Design User GuideUse Panel Fittings

Select the Specification for Standard Access, Access Cover, Standard ManholeAccess, ACCESS_COVER (probably the only item in the list).Set the Justification to Top outwards. These options let you specify the panel plane(top, centre or bottom) to be used as the alignment datum and the orientation of thefitting relative to this plane, as shown:

171. By default, the fitting will be positioned at the origin of its owning panel (as shown bythe Position field). We will position it by eye, using the pointer. Click the ‘PickPosition’ button , set the Positioning Control to either Graphics Snap or GraphicsCursor, and pick a point somewhere near the centre of the panel area. OK the PickFitting Position form to transfer the coordinates of the picked position to the CreatePanel Fitting form, then Apply the latter to create the fitting. The new panel fitting isshown in the Design Explorer as a PFITTING owned by the PANEL.

172. With the PFIT as your current element, select Orientate > ß Angle > 90 Degrees torotate the fitting within the plane of the panel. (The default orientation has the BetaAngle set to zero.)

173. To see the effects of changing the justification, select Modify > Fitting and, on theresulting Modify Panel Fitting form, try each of the Justification options in turn. Zoomin and look at both faces of the panel to see how the negative part of the fitting createsthe necessary access hole. Reset whichever justification you think is most appropriatebefore dismissing the form.

Note: Sections can also own Fittings (FITTs rather than PFITs in this case) which can servea similarly wide range of purposes. You will not look explicitly at these in the exercise,but similar principles apply to their creation and manipulation. You may want toexperiment with these yourself by switching to the Beams & Columns application:see Some Standard Fittings for some examples. Note that such a fitting is positionedalong its owning section by setting its distance from the section’s start (theZdistance).

More complex fittings may be represented by Compound Fittings, each of which canown a set of Subfittings. You will see an example of how these may be used when youlook at Penetrations in the next chapter.

Topoutwards

Topinwards

Centreoutwards

Centreinwards

Bottominwards

Bottomoutwards

12.0 8:2

Structural Design User GuidePenetrate One Item with Another

9 Penetrate One Item with Another

Several of the design applications include the concept of a Penetration to allow one ormore items to pass through another such that there is a logical link between the penetratingand penetrated items (in contrast to, say, a negative extrusion which can be positioned anddimensioned independently of any item which passes through it or through which it passes).

For information on Penetration and Hole Management refer to Design CommonFunctionality User Guide.

12.0 9:1

Structural Design User GuidePenetrate One Item with Another

12.0 9:2

Structural Design User GuideCheck and Output Design Data

10 Check and Output Design Data

To ensure maximum design integrity, the structural applications allow you to check the datain several ways so that any potential mistakes are drawn to your attention. In this chapteryou will look at one of these checking facilities, namely the method of checking for clashes(spatial interferences) between design elements.

Finally, you will look at three ways of outputting design data derived from the structuralmodel: the generation of a tabulated report showing the material required to build the design(categorised by section profile); the analysis of some mass properties of the steelworkmembers (centre of gravity, surface area and weight calculations); and the creation of a plotshowing the structural layout.

Note: The facilities which you will be using here are available from both the Beams &Columns and the Panels & Plates applications (from all design applications, in fact),so it does not matter which application you are currently using.

10.1 Check for ClashesThe types of clash identified depend on two factors:

• The obstruction levels of the clashing elements• The current touch and clearance tolerances

10.1.1 Obstruction LevelsAll design primitives and all catalogue primitives have an obstruction attribute (OBST) whichdefines the physical type of obstruction which the primitive represents:

• A hard obstruction (OBST=2) represents a rigid and impenetrable object, such as asteel beam or a Plant vessel.

• A soft obstruction (OBST=1) represents a volume which is not solid but which needsto be kept clear for access.

• Any primitive with OBST=0 represents a freely accessible volume and is ignored forclash checking purposes.

10.1.2 Extent of ClashingAs well as distinguishing between hard and soft clashing items, the checking utilityrecognises three categories of clash between them, depending on how far the two primitivesintrude on each other’s allocated space. These categories are:

• A physical clash: the primitive volumes overlap by more than a specified amount. Thisusually means that a definite interference exists.

12.0 10:1


• A touch: the primitives either overlap by less than the amount needed to cause a clashor are separated at their closest point by less than a specified distance. This maysimply mean that one item is resting upon another as intended, or it may indicate aproblem.

• A clearance: the primitives are separated at their closest point by more than theamount necessary to constitute a touch but less than a specified clearance distance.This represents a near miss, which you may want to investigate.

These three classes are illustrated below for the clash specifications:

so that the following criteria apply:• If the items overlap by more than 5mm, a clash is reported• If the items overlap by less than 5mm, a touch is reported• If the items do not overlap but are separated by less than 2mm, a touch is reported• If the items are separated by more than 2mm but less than 8mm, a clearance is

reported• If the items are separated by more than 8mm, no interference is found

10.1.3 Clash Detection ProcessEach element which is to be checked for clashes has its own geometry checked against thatof all other elements which are specified by a current obstruction list. Items which are notin the obstruction list are ignored during the clash checking operations. By default, theobstruction list includes all elements in the database, so that each element to be clashchecked is tested against every other element. To control the amount of checking carriedout in a large database, you can restrict the obstruction list to a few specific elements and/oryou can specify a 3D volume (the clash limits) within which the clash checking is to beconfined.

To highlight the locations where clashes are found, the clashing and obstruction items areshown in contrasting colours in the graphical view (two shades of red, by default).

Exercise continues:

174. You will start by using the defaults for all clash checking settings. To see what theseare, select Settings > Clasher > Defaults to display the Clash Defaults form. Thinkabout the meaning of each setting shown (refer to the preceding introduction; ignorethe reference to ‘Branch’, which relates to piping designs only); then Cancel the form.

Touch limits: 5mm overlap to 2mm gap

Clearance limit: 8mm

overlap > 5mm overlap < 5mm 2mm < gap < 8mm

a physical clash touches a clearance

gap < 2mm

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175. You will check the westernmost panel (PANEL 1) for clashes against all other elementsin the test framework. The default obstruction list (all elements in the current designdatabase) will include the regular structure created in Quick Way to Build a RegularStructure, so you must edit the list to remove this. To do so, select Settings > Clasher> Obstruction > List. The Add/Remove Obstruction Items form is displayed.Remove All current entries and then Add the framework /TESTFRMW.

176. Navigate to the panel which you want to check (by clicking on it in the display, or in theDesign Explorer, or in the Add/Remove Obstruction Items form) and select Utilities> Clashes. This displays the Clash Display form. The left-hand side of this formcontrols the clash checking process; the right-hand side consists of a 3D view in whichyou can look in detail at any clashes diagnosed.

177. Select Control > Check CE from the form’s menu bar to run the clash checkingprocess and, when completed, study the Clash List which shows all clashes found.You will see a hard-hard (HH) clash at both points where the panel has a columnpassing through it, and a hard-hard touch where the panel rests on each of its sevensupporting beams and where it abuts the adjacent panel. To see a summary of allclashes found, select Query > Clash > Summary… from the form’s menu. Theresulting Summary form shows the total number of clashes in each category:

Note: In particular, that there are no clashes where the panel has been modified to fit roundthe columns.

178. To study any clash in detail, select the corresponding line in the Clash List and thenselect Query > Clash > Detail. The resulting Clash Detail form shows the extent of theclash, the identities of both the clashing and obstruction items, and the calculatedposition at which the clash was diagnosed.Notice how the clashing items are highlighted in different colours in the graphical view.To change these colours, display the Clash Defaults form again and choose thecolours you want to use.

179. Experiment with some of the other options on the Clash Display menus and then closethe form.

Note: If the Auto Clash button is selected: , each new element that you create ischecked immediately for clashes as the design is built up. This can slow downprogress when you are adding many new elements, but is very useful when you wantto add a few new items to an existing design which has already been checked forclashes.

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10.2 Generate a Data Output ReportThis section describes two ways of outputting design data derived from the structural model.

• generating a tabulated report showing the material required to build the design• creating an plot showing the layout and associated manufacturing data.

10.2.1 Generate a Tabulated Data ReportThe reporting utility lets you read selected types of information from the DESIGN databaseand present the output in a convenient tabulated format. Each report can be customised byspecifying some or all of the following:

• Where the output is to appear (on the screen or in a file ready for printing).• Any introductory header which is to appear at the beginning of the report.• The page length (if the report is to be paginated).• The page layout, including number and positions of columns, column headings, etc.• Any headers and footers which are to appear at the top and bottom of each page.• The selection criteria which define which data settings are to be included in the report.

Once such a report has been designed, its specification can be saved for future use in theform of a report template file. The ways in which you define how a given report is to begenerated and presented are beyond the scope of this exercise, but you will look at theresults of the process by using a pre-prepared template which outputs a material take-off listfor each type of steel profile used in your design. (You will probably use your company’sstandard templates for most reports anyway, in which case this is the method you wouldnormally use in practice.)

Exercise continues:

180. Select Utilities > Reports > Run… to initiate the reporting process. This displays theFile Browser listing all files in the current reporting directory (specified by your SystemAdministrator as part of the project setting-up procedure).

181. Select the \REPORTS\TEMPLATES directory by clicking on it in the Sub-directorieswindow. All files with a .tmp suffix are report templates.

182. Select steel_mto.tmp, which has been designed to produce a material take-off reportfor steelwork sections.

183. Click OK on the File Browser.The Report Details form that displays requires you to specify:• where the report is to appear• what part of the database hierarchy is to be read when extracting the required types

of data.

184. Complete the Report Details form as follows:• Leave the Filename text box empty (this sends the report automatically to the

screen)• In the Hierarchy text box, enter /TESTFRMW (this lists the material take-off for the

whole of the design model). • Click OK to run the report.

The tabulated report output will be displayed in a Command Output window which isopened automatically.

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This report shows the total cut length for each of the steel profiles used in the designand the number of lengths into which each profile is divided. (Do not worry if part of theheading seems inappropriate for your project; this wording is written into the templatesimply as an example of the type of heading which you might want to use.)

10.3 Query Mass PropertiesYou can calculate the surface area, volume, mass and the position of the centre of gravity(CofG) of a structural item from a knowledge of its geometry and the properties of thematerial from which it is made. The calculation can be set to derive either a gross or a netresult; for example:

• Gross weight is the weight of material needed before any negative geometry (such asend preparations) is applied. This data is appropriate for material cost estimating etc.

• Net weight is the weight of material after any negative geometry is applied. This data isappropriate for determining as-built weights for loading calculations, transport planningetc.

(The detailed way in which positive and negative geometry is used in calculations isdetermined by the Representation Level settings. These are beyond the scope of thisintroduction and you will use the default levels throughout this exercise.)

In the same way that the geometry of a section profile, joint, fitting etc. is specified by settingthe design element’s SpecRef attribute to refer to an entry in a Catalogue database (asexplained in Design-to-Catalogue Cross-Reference), so its material properties are specifiedby setting its Material Reference (MatRef) attribute to refer to an appropriate entry in aProperties database. It is the material density which is the significant property used in themass calculations.

In the next steps of the exercise, you will first specify the material for each structural elementin your design model and then use this data to derive some mass-related details.

Exercise continues:

185. You will specify the same material for all structural items (sections, joints, fittings,panels etc.). Navigate to the subframework TESTSBFR and then select Modify >Material… from the main menu. The Set Material form displays listing all availablematerial specifications in the Properties database.

186. Leave the option set to CE and select the Cascade Material to all offspring checkbox. (The latter will set the MatRef for all elements below the current subframework tothe selected material automatically.)

187. From the Materials list, select GR275 (density 7850.00 Kg/M3) and click Apply. Thewhole framework will be highlighted in the graphical view to show that all designelements have been selected for modification to the selected material. Confirm thechange.

188. Select Query > Mass Properties…. The Mass Properties form displays which allowsyou to make all necessary calculations based on the current material density. • Set the upper option to CE (still at subframework level), • Set the Results option to Gross, • Click Apply.The calculated gross surface area, volume and mass for the whole subframework is beshown in the Mass Properties list, together with the position of the centre of gravity.The centre of gravity will also be tagged in the graphical view.

12.0 10:5


189. Change the Results option to Net, select the Append to list check box (so that youcan compare the next result with the existing one in the list), and click Apply again.Note the difference between the calculated net and gross weights; this small differenceis due to the material removed for joint allowances, panel cut-outs, etc.

190. Set the upper option to Pick, click Apply, and perform similar calculations for individualitems or groups of items which you pick using the pointer. (Use Esc to terminate eachpicking sequence in the usual way.)

10.4 Plot the Design ModelPDMS’s drawing module provides very powerful facilities for generating annotated anddimensioned plots of all or part of the design model. You will use just a small part of thispower to produce an isometric plot of your structural layout using default settings only.

Exercise continues:

In order for the drawing facilities to apply the correct rules for representing structural items,you must set a design attribute which will tell the drawing module how to interpret the designdata. The attribute used for this purpose is the Function attribute of the parent Zone.

191. Navigate to the Zone which you created as /TESTZONE and select Modify >Attributes…. The Modify Attributes form displays listing the current settings for theZone. The Function attribute will probably say unset; it is this setting which you needto change.Select the Function line in the list. A small Function form displays showing the currentsetting. Edit the text to replace unset by Steelwork. OK/Apply the changes.You must now switch from the DESIGN module, which you have been using to createthe design model, to the DRAFT drawing module.

192. Select Design > Modules > Draft > Macro Files.The DRAFT applications loads and the screen changes to show the DRAFT Generalmenu bar and tool bar, and an empty 2D view window, the Main Display, (analogous tothe 3D View which you have been using in DESIGN):

12.0 10:6


You must next set up an administrative hierarchy to define how plots are to be stored(in a real project this would probably have been done for you already). The parts of thehierarchy with which you are concerned here are as follows:

DEPARTMENT

REGISTRY(REGI)

(DEPT)

DRAWING(DRWG)

SHEET(SHEE)

LIBRARY(LIBY)

Standard symbols, annotations etc.

VIEW

Design database elements to be drawn

LIBRARY(LIBY)

12.0 10:7


193. Create a Department element:• Select Create > Department• Give the Department the name STRUCDEPT. • Click OK. • This displays the Department Information form. Attributes set at Department level

are cascaded down to all lower levels.

194. Click the Attributes button on the Department Information form.

195. On the Department Attributes form:• Select the A4 drawing sheet size (this sets the Width and Height automatically).• Leave all pen definitions, hatch patterns and terminators at their default settings.• From the Ruleset Reference options, select /DRA/PRJ/REPR/GEN/STRU.• Set Backing Sheet to Reference • Select /DRA/MAS/BACKS/MET/A4_Land from the adjacent drop-down list. This

applies standard borders and data areas to all drawings created in this Department.The settings now look as shown:

196. Click Apply on the Department Attributes form, then Dismiss.

12.0 10:8


197. Check that the Create Registry check box on the Department Information form isselected and OK this form. The Create REGI form displays.

198. Name the Registry STRUCREGI and click OK. This displays the Registry Informationform.

199. Click Attributes to see a Registry Attributes form. Note that all attribute settings forthe Registry have been copied from its owning Department (any individual attributecascaded in this way can be overwritten at a lower level if required). Dismiss theRegistry Attributes form.

200. In the Registry Information form:• Select the Create Drawing check box • Select Explicitly. • Click OK.

201. In the Create DRWG form now displayed, name the Drawing STRUCDRWG and clickOK. In the displayed Drawing Definition form, enter the Title as Structural View. Notethat the Date and Drawn By entries are derived automatically from your system log-indata.

202. Click Apply, then Dismiss.

That completes the setting up of the drawing administration hierarchy; you are now in aposition to define the content of a drawing sheet ready for viewing and plotting.

203. Select Create > Sheet > Explicitly and OK the Create SHEET form. The MainDisplay view shows the backing sheet specified earlier.

204. In the Sheet Definition form now displayed all settings have been cascaded downfrom Department level. Click Apply, then Dismiss.

The detailed design data, extracted directly from the Design database, is applied to thesheet in the form of individually defined Views.

205. Select Create > View > User-defined and OK the resulting form. A User-definedView form is displayed, and a default rectangle is added to the Main Display to showwhere the design data for this view will be plotted.

206. You will plot a single view on the sheet, so you will first resize the default view area tofill the available space. Select Frame > Size > Cursor from the User-Defined Viewmenu and, when prompted, pick points just inside the top-left and bottom-right cornersof the drawing area within the backing sheet layout.

207. On the User-defined View form: • Enter the Title as ISO3 View; • Set the View Type to Global Hidden Line; • Set the Direction to ISO3 (select this using the middle Direction options list).

208. The part(s) of the design model which are to be plotted are specified by means of adrawlist. Select Graphics > Drawlist from the User-Defined View menu to displaythe Drawlist Management form. In the Reference List Members list, navigate to thesubframework holding the design model (/TESTSBFR) and click the Add button to addit to the drawlist. Dismiss the Drawlist Management form.

209. You must now set the drawing scale so that the plotted model representation fitssensibly into the area available on the sheet. Click the Auto Scale button on the User-Defined View form. The precisely calculated scale is displayed in the adjacent text-box.

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210. To modify this to the nearest smaller standard scale, click the Nearest button. Thechosen standard scale will now be displayed (e.g. 1/200). Click Apply to implement thenew scale calculation.

211. The final settings in the User-defined View form should look similar to that shown:

212. Select the Update Design button and click Apply to plot the drawlist element(s) in theMain Display at the chosen scale:

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This is as far as you go with DRAFT in this exercise. The full range of 2D drafting facilitiesavailable is extensive, allowing you to add dimensioning and labelling data derived directlyfrom the design model, and to add any other specific 2D annotation which you require.

In the next, and final, chapter, you will look at some of the facilities available for creating andmodifying some nonlinear structural design elements.

12.0 10:11


12.0 10:12

Structural Design User GuideAdd Some Curved Steelwork

11 Add Some Curved Steelwork

So far you have built your design model entirely from straight steelwork sections. In this finalchapter you will add some nonlinear sections.

In order to provide some reference points for use when routing a curved section, you willconstruct a temporary working grid.

11.1 How PDMS Represents Curved SectionsCurved structural items are represented by Generic Section (GENSEC) elements, thegeometry of which is defined by sweeping a 2D catalogue profile along a path. This path isrepresented by a Spine element, owned by the GENSEC, whose route is specified in termsof a sequence of member Spine Points (POINSP) and Curves. For example:

The Beams & Columns application menu provides options for creating two versions of theGENSEC:

A ring section, restricted to an arc of a circle (up to a full circle), comprising two SpinePoints separated by a single Curve.

A more general curved section, comprising any number of Spine Points and Curves.

11.2 Create a Semicircular PlatformIn order to demonstrate the principles, you will create a semicircular ring section whichprojects out from your existing structure. The ends of the ring section will be positioned nearthe ends of the topmost beam at the western end of the structure, and it will be supportedfrom below by two straight sections, like this (only sections shown, not panels):

= SPINE

= POINSPStart POINSP

End POINSP

PROFILE

CURVE

CURVE

12.0 11:1


Exercise continues:

213. In the Beams & Columns application, set the default profile specification to BritishStandard, Equal Angle, 120x120x10.0, with Justification, Member Line and JointLine all set to NA.

214. Navigate to the Subframe element (TESTSBFR). From the main menu bar, selectCreate > Sections > Ring. The Ring Section form displays, the buttons on whichprovide many different ways of specifying the section’s geometry.You do not want to create a full circle, so click Circle Definition: Arc.

215. You will define the path of the section (the GENSEC’s Spine) by picking the twopositions at its ends plus a third point which specifies how the arc is directed (that is,whether it curves towards the East or the West). The diameter of the circle will bederived automatically from the distance between the first two positions. To do this, click

the ‘Derived diameter’ button (fourth button, second row).

216. To define the start of the ring section (prompt says ‘Define ... first point’), set thePositioning Control to Pline, Distance 100 and pick near the southern end of the NApline of the beam (see figure at start of this section. You will probably need to unset the

180ºRingSection

Existingdiamondbracing

N

E

Start

End

Support

Support

Looking Down:

U

N

Existingcrossbracing

Looking East:

Inset 100

Start

End EndInset 100

12.0 11:2


pline picking rules (Settings > Pick Filters > Plines) and zoom in very close todistinguish between the plines.

217. To define the end (prompt says ‘Define ... second point’), use the same procedure atthe northern end of the same pline. The third prompt says ‘Define ... control point’. Thepoint you pick will determine the plane in which the ring section lies (the plane throughall three points) and the direction in which the section curves (depends on the positionof the third point relative to the line joining the first two points; or create an additionalpline rule for ‘NA’ only). You want the ring section to lie in a horizontal plane and tocurve towards the west, so pick any point on the NAR pline of the beam. (This has thesame elevation as the NA pline and lies to its west.)

218. You will now create two straight sections which run from the mid-point of the beambelow the ring section, and which support the ring section at points equispaced alongits length (as shown in the preceding diagram).Select Create > Sections > Straight. Both sections have the same start point, so onthe Section form • Set String Method to Radial. • Set the Positioning Control to Pline, Mid-Point • Pick the BOS pline of the beam.

219. To position the upper ends of the two supports, set the Positioning Control toElement, Fraction 3 and pick the ring section twice, about one third of its length fromeach end (not forgetting to Accept each support), then Esc.You may, if you wish, modify the angle sections to give more realistic geometry at theirends, although the current configuration is adequate for your present purpose.

220. The semicircular platform is completed by positioning a floor plate inside the supportingangle section.Change to the Panels & Plates application. Select Create > Panel.On the displayed Create Panel form, • Set Thickness to 20 • Justification to Centre.

The panel boundary is now defined by picking points around the ring section(GENSEC) whose shape it is to follow.

221. Click the Derived arc passing through three points button .

Pick the three points defining the panel boundary as follows:• First point: snap to one end of GENSEC.• Second point: snap to mid-point of GENSEC.• Third point: snap to other end of GENSEC.

Escape the next prompt. The 3D View shows a circle, half of which follows the ringsection, as a construction aid. Notice that, although you have only picked threepoints, the message ‘4 vertices defined’ is shown. These vertices are positionedthus:

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Click OK to complete the panel creation.

11.3 Create a Runway Beam with Multiple CurvesTo demonstrate how you can create and modify a section which follows a multiply-curvedpath, you will position an overhead runway beam along the southern end of the structure:

The upper face of the runway beam will, for convenience, be positioned against the lowerfaces of the beams from which it is suspended. In practice, you would probably want tointerpose hangers or bolted flanges to support the runway beam.

To make it easier to position the points and curves defining the GENSEC’s spine, you willfirst create a horizontal working grid as a working aid (as shown in the diagram).

First pick

Second pick

Third pickV1 V4

V2 V3

fillet radius fillet radius

= existing structure= working grid (1000mm spacing)= runway beam (curved section)

N

E

Gridorigin

Y

X 6 12 20

7

Start

End

12.0 11:4


11.3.1 Define a Working Grid

Exercise continues:

222. Switch back to the Beams & Columns application. Select Utilities > Working Plane.The resulting Working Plane form allows you to define a plane onto which all graphicalpicks will be projected, with an optional grid superimposed on the plane to help youposition graphical picks without needing to refer to existing parts of the design model.

223. From the Working Plane form’s menu, select Define > Linear Grid. The resultingWorking Plane - Linear Grid form allows you to define the number and spacing of thegrid lines, and the position and orientation of the grid’s plane. Set both the X and YSpacing to 1000 and enter the Number of visible lines as 40. (The grid behaves asthough it is of infinite size; this setting controls only the size of the grid shown in the 3DView.)

224. The default position of the plane’s centre and its orientation are shown by the greendotted-line square in the 3D View. Leave the Orientation as it is (Y is N, Z is U, X is E).You want the elevation of the plane to be at the lower faces of the beams, so set thePositioning Control to Pline, Intersect and pick the BOS plines for the two beamswhich meet at the required origin (see preceding diagram). The Position should be East0, North 0, Up 4696.6 (the latter is the height of the column less the depth of the beam).

225. Click the Preview button to see the grid in the 3D View. Select the Detail check boxand click Preview again to number the grid lines. OK the Working Plane - Linear Gridform.

226. On the Working Plane form, select the Active and Visible check boxes (so that thegrid will be both effective and visible in the graphical view).

227. Select Working Grid Snap, which means that when you later pick positions on thegrid, the picked point will always snap to the grid intersection nearest to the pointerposition.

228. Select Control > Close from the Working Plane form’s menu to complete theoperation.

11.3.2 Create a Curved SectionNote: In the following steps, you will identify positions along the path of the spine by their

(X,Y) coordinates on the working grid; for example, (X 20, Y0) is the position of thesouth-eastern corner of the overall structure.

229. Set the default profile specification to British Standard, Joists, 203x152x52kg/m. Setthe Justification to TOS, so that the upper face of the runway beam will coincide withthe working plane and, therefore, with the undersides of the supporting beams. (Seegeneric type DINI in Some Standard Profiles for a diagram of a similar profile.)

230. Select Create > Sections > Curved. The Curved Section form displays, the buttonson which provide various ways of specifying the path of the section’s spine. Becauseyour section follows a complex path which does not conform to the simplified standardgeometry provided by most of the buttons, you will use a free-form definition which willlet you build up any sequence of spine points and curves.

231. Click the Free definition button .

Notice that the Working Plane toggle at the left-hand side of the Positioning Controlform is now selected. This provides a way of switching the working plane on or offwithout having to display the Working Plane form each time. The red highlight on thetoggle button is intended as a reminder when the working plane is active, since you canget unexpected results if you forget it is on when you make graphical picks.

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232. You are now in event-driven graphics mode, ready to pick the sequence of positionswhich will define the spine. Set the Positioning Control to Screen, Snap. Any pointerpick you make will be projected onto the working plane and will then snap to thenearest grid intersection point (remember that you set Working Grid Snap to On whenyou defined the grid previously). If you make a mistake at any stage, the Undo buttonon the Curved Section form lets you delete one or more points in reverse order.

233. With reference to the grid coordinates, pick position (X0, Y2) to define the start (origin)of the GENSEC.Set the Radius to 2000 and pick (X4, Y2) to define the position of the first curve.With Radius still set to 2000, pick the following positions, in this order: (X4, Y6), (X8,Y6), (X8, Y2), (X18, Y2), (X18, Y6), (X20, Y6). When you pick the last position, you willbe warned that it is not possible to fit in a curve with 2000 radius so close to thepreceding position and will be asked if this represents the end point: click Yes tocomplete the operation. Close the Curved Section form.

11.3.3 Modify a Curved SectionTo demonstrate how easily you can modify a curved section, you will reroute part of therunway beam as follows:

234. Check that the new GENSEC is the current element and select Modify > Sections >Definition. The Modify Section (Curved) form displays which allows you to edit theposition and/or radius for each individual point/curve in the spine.

235. Set the first Spine Point option to Start and pick the new start position at (X0, Y1). Clickthe Modify button to implement the move.

236. Change the first Spine Point option to Curve and set the second Spine Point option(up/down arrows) to 1. Move Curve 1 to (X4, Y1), leaving its Radius set to 2000.

Note: The graphical aids show the position and radius of the current and adjacent curvesas you modify the spine shape. The X and Y Attributes on the Modify Section(Curved) form show the coordinates relative to the GENSEC’s origin (start), not interms of the working grid positions.

= modified path

Y

X 6 12 20

7

0

= original path

Start

End

1

1 = curve number (at new fillet position)

4 5

12.0 11:6


237. Move Curve 4 to (X8, Y1) and change its Radius to 3000.

238. Select Curve 5 and change the third Spine Point option from Fillet to Centre:

Notice how the graphical aid now shows the radius centre at (X16, Y4) instead of theradius fillet at (X18, Y2). Move the centre to (X15, Y4), press Modify, then change theRadius to 3000.The latter operation illustrates the two ways of specifying a curve’s position:

239. Repeat the clash checks which you carried out on the earlier version of the designmodel in Check for Clashes. Think about the reasons for the extra clashes which arediagnosed for the current design.

240. Save your design changes and exit from PDMS.

11.4 Production Features for Outfit SteelTo take advantage of the production features for Outfit Steel, a Production PreparationModel (PPM) needs to be created. The PPM is created using the PPM addin.

The PPM is a special kind of Hull Panel.

Once the PPM is created, it can use the production features of Hull production system. Forfull details and description, see Marine Documentation, Hull Detailed Design, ProductionFeatures of PDMS Steel.

11.5 ConclusionThis concludes both the tutorial exercise and this introduction to some of the ways in whichPDMS and AVEVA applications can help you in your structural design work. You should nowhave an insight into the potential power of PDMS and sufficient confidence to explore someof the more advanced options on your own.

For further technical details, refer to the sources of information listed in the last appendix.

If you have not already done so, you are strongly advised to attend one or more of thespecialised PDMS training courses, which will show you how to get the maximum benefitsfrom the product in your own working environment (see Further Training in the Use ofPDMS).

Centre position

Fillet position

Radius

12.0 11:7


12.0 11:8

Structural Design User GuideStructural Design Database

A Structural Design Database

The part of the DESIGN database hierarchy which holds structural elements is as follows(elements in italics, e.g. RELEASE, are for analytical purposes only):

STRUCTURE(STRU)

FRAMEWORK

SECTION PRIMARY NODE

SECONDARY NODE

PRIMARY JOINT

SECONDARY JOINT

PANEL

ROUTING PLANE GROUP

LOAD CASE DESCRIPTOR

FITTINGSECTION POINT LOAD

SECTION DISTRIBUTED LOAD

RELEASE NODAL LOAD

NODAL DISPLACEMENT

RELEASE NODAL LOAD

NODAL DISPLACEMENT

ROUTING PLANESUBFRAMEWORK

PRIMARY COMPOUND JOINT

SECONDARY COMPOUND JOINT

PANEL FITTINGPANEL LOOP

PANEL LINEAR JOINT

PANEL VERTEX

PANEL LINEAR JOINT

PANEL VERTEXCOFITTING

NEGATIVE EXTRUSION

LOOP

VERTEX

(FRMW)

(LCDE)

(RPLG)

(RPLA)(SBFR)

(SCTN) (PNOD)(PANE) (PALJ)

(PFIT)

(PLOO)

(PAVE)

(PALJ)

(PAVE)(COFI)

(NXTR)

(LOOP)

(VERT)

(PCOJ)(PJOI)(RELE)

(NODI)

(NOLO)

(SCOJ)

(NOLO)

(NODI)

(RELE)

(SJOI)

(FITT)

(SDLO)

(SPLO)

(SNOD)

SUBJOINT(SUBJ)

SUBJOINT(SUBJ)

optional

negativeprimitives

SECTION LINEAR JOINT

SECTION VERTEX

(SELJ)

(SEVE)

GENERIC SECTION(GENSEC)

SPIN(SPINE)

SPINE POINT(POINSP)

CURVE(CURVE)

JOINT LINE DATUM(JLDATUM)

POSITION LINE DATUM(PLDATUM)

FIXING(FIXI)

12.0 A:1

Structural Design User GuideStructural Design Database

12.0 A:2

Structural Design User GuideStructural Catalogue Guide

B Structural Catalogue Guide

This appendix gives a much-simplified introduction to the way the structural catalogue isused in creating the design model and lists the principal features of some standardcatalogue components to which you may want to refer when creating your design model.(For full details of the way in which the catalogue is built up and used, see the Catalogueand Specifications Reference Manual.)

B.1 Basic Features of the CatalogueAll profiles, joints, fittings etc. used in the design are selected from the Catalogue databaseby setting the Specification Reference for the corresponding design element so that it pointsto the required catalogue entry.

Each catalogue item is defined in terms of two subsidiary sets of data:

• A Geometry Set, which defines the overall physical shape of the item in terms of a setof 2D and/or 3D basic shapes (known as primitives). A sectional profile is made up of2D primitives only (which are extruded to form a 3D section in the design model); ajoint or a fitting is made up of 3D primitives which define its complete volume. Ageometry set can include negative 3D primitives to represent holes.

• Point Set, which defines a number of reference points and directions superimposed onthe geometric shape so that individual parts of that shape can be identified andmanipulated. These reference points can include p-points, which represent a 1D pointposition and a direction, and p-lines (or plines), which represent a 2D line and adirection.

A range of catalogue components with similar overall geometry will all reference the samegeometry set and point set, so that the amount of data needed to represent all possibleitems is kept to a minimum. The dimensions of the items are not fixed in the catalogue butare expressed in terms of design parameters. Values are allocated to these parameteriseddimensions when the item is used in a specific part of the design model: they may either beset explicitly or derived from associated dimensions of other design components to whichthe item is to be connected.

B.2 P-line IdentificationEach p-line is identified by a two, three or four letter code (known as its PKEY) whichidentifies its relative position in the 2D profile (remember that each p-line is extruded in thedesign model to represent a line running along the length of a section). The most commonly

12.0 B:1


referenced PKEYs use the following naming conventions (each profile uses only a subset ofthese):

BBH Bottom bolt hole

BBHL Bottom bolt hole, left

BBHR Bottom bolt hole, right

BLW Bottom left of web

BLWT Bottom left web top

BOC Bottom of channel

BOS Bottom of steel

BRW Bottom right of web

BRWT Bottom right web, top

FOC Face of channel

HBA Hole, bottom of angle

HOA Hole, outside of angle

IOC Inside of channel

LBOA Left bottom of angle

LBOC Left bottom of channel

LBOS Left bottom of steel

LBTS Left bottom top of steel

LTBA Left top bottom of angle

LTBS Left top bottom of steel

LTOC Left top of channel

LTOS Left top of steel

LTTA Left top of angle

NA Neutral axis

NAB Neutral axis bottom

NAL Neutral axis left

NALO Neutral axis left outside

NAR Neutral axis right

NARO Neutral axis right outside

NAT Neutral angle top

RBOA Right bottom of angle

12.0 B:2


B.3 Some Standard ProfilesThe following pages illustrate the principal catalogue profiles, showing the p-lines andparameterised dimensions associated with each.

RBOC Right bottom of channel

RBOS Right bottom of steel

RBTS Right bottom top of steel

ROA Right of angle

ROC Right outside of channel

RTBS Right top bottom of steel

RTOC Right top of channel

RTOS Right top of steel

TBH Top bolt hole

TBHL Top bolt hole, left

TBHR Top bolt hole, right

TLW Top left of web

TLWB Top left web, bottom

TOAX Top of angle, X orientation

TOAY Top of angle, Y orientation

TOC Top of channel

TRWB Top right web, bottom

TOS Top of steel

TRW Top right of web

12.0 B:3


Generic Type: BOX

12.0 B:4


Generic Type: ANG

12.0 B:5


Generic Type: TUBE

12.0 B:6


Generic Type: BEAM

12.0 B:7


12.0 B:8


12.0 B:9


12.0 B:10


12.0 B:11


B.4 Some Standard JointsThe following diagrams illustrate the principal types of joint in the catalogue, showing theparameterised dimensions (as described on the corresponding forms) which must bespecified when each joint is connected to a section in the design.

12.0 B:12


B.4.1 Column Connections

Column Flange:

a

b

c

Dist from TOS = aDist from BOS = bThk of Plt = c

Column Web:

a

b

c

Dist from TOS = aDist from BOS = bThk of Plt = c

d

d

Notch Depth = d

12.0 B:13


B.4.2 Cleated Connections

Bolted Web:4M20_bolted_web_cleats

a Length of cleats = a

Cutback Bolted Web:

a Length of cleats = a

Welded Seat:

a

Extension Width of Bottom Angle = a

12.0 B:14


B.4.3 End Preparations

Single Clearance:

a

Radius of Rathole = a

Double Clearance:

Flush_p_cutback:

a

Radius of Rathole = a

12.0 B:15


B.4.4 Baseplate Connections

Flush_p_cutback_with_snipe:

a

Radius of Rathole

30mm_thick_attached_baseplate:

Dia of Bolt = aa

30mm_thick_user_defined_baseplate:

Depth of Plt = aWidth of Plt = bBolt wrt Depth = cBolt wrt Width = dDia of Bolt = e

e

c

c

a

d d

b

12.0 B:16


B.4.5 Double Notched End Plates

B.4.6 Single Notched End Plates

B.5 Some Standard FittingsThe following diagrams illustrate some typical fittings from the catalogue, showing theparameterised dimensions (as described on the corresponding forms) which must bespecified when each fitting is added to the design.

Dble Notch End Plate:4M6_10mm_thk_plt

Sgle Notch End Plate:

a

b 1st Row = a2nd Row = b3rd Row = 0(in this example)

12.0 B:17


B.5.1 Stiffeners

Single Full Depth:10mm_flange_stiffener

Double Full Depth:8mm_double_stiffener

Single Partial Depth:8mm_single_stiffener

a

b

short length = along length = b

12.0 B:18


B.5.2 Fire Insulation

B.5.3 Lifting Lugs

Parallel Flange Beam:

a

c

b

e

g

f

d

Top Flange Top Thickness = aTop Flange Width =bTop Flange Bottom Thickness = cWeb Thickness = dBottom flange Top Thickness = eBottom flange Width = fBottom Flange Bottom Thickness = gPosition Line NAZdistance (measured from POSS ofsection) determines start of insulation

General Lifting Lug (GEN-

a

d

e

b

c

Height of Pad Eye = aWidth of Pad Eye = bVertical Distance = cShape Radius = dHole Radius = ePad Eye Thickness = f(not shown)

Lifting Lug, Bolted:

12.0 B:19


12.0 B:20

Structural Design User GuideOther Relevant Documentation

C Other Relevant Documentation

This guide serves purely as an introduction to those parts of PDMS most relevant tostructural design. Therefore, it describes only the main concepts needed to get you started.

Documents that can provide you with further information are listed below.

C.1 PDMS Introductory GuidesThere is a set of introductory guides like this one, that introduce a subset of principal PDMSfacilities to new users. The set of guides is as follows:

Accommodation User Guide

HVAC Design User Guide

Pipework Design User Guide

Pipework Support Design User Guide

Introduction to Common Functionality

Introduction to Templates

Drawing Production User Guide

Introduces the range of facilities available in the DRAFT module.

Reporting

Introduces the database reporting utility available from within most PDMSapplications, including the use of expressions to select relevant data.

Graphical Model Manipulation Guide

Introduces the DESIGN Model Editor, which enables you to position and orientateselected Plant Items using the mouse pointer.

C.2 PDMS Reference ManualsThe full PDMS documentation set includes a number of reference manuals which givedetailed explanations of all the technical concepts involved. These manuals also describethe underlying command syntax which can be used to control PDMS directly (should youwish to bypass the forms and menus interface).

Reference manuals particularly relevant to structural design work include:

DESIGN Reference Manual

Covers concepts and commands for all design disciplines.

12.0 C:1

Structural Design User GuideOther Relevant Documentation

ISODRAFT Reference Manual

Explains how to create customised piping isometric plots.

DRAFT Reference Manual

Explains the PDMS 2D drafting facilities.

Catalogue and Specifications Reference Manual

Explains how to set up a PDMS Catalogue and create tabulated specifications.

C.3 General GuidesThe following guides are intended for use only by experienced PDMS users who want towrite their own applications:

Software Customisation Guide

Explains how to write your own application macros using PML (AVEVA’sProgrammable Macro Language) and how to design your own forms and menusinterface.

Software Customisation Reference Manual

Supplements the Customisation Guide. Includes a list of PML 2 Objects, Membersand Methods. For Forms and Menus objects, the command syntax relating to theobjects is included.

12.0 C:2

Structural Design User GuideSample Plots

D Sample Plots

This appendix comprises some examples of typical (though relatively simple) plots showingthe sorts of structural designs which may be created using PDMS with the AVEVA structuralapplications.

12.0 D:1


12.0 D:2


12.0 D:3


12.0 D:4


AApplication

Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1

BBracing

creating individual members . . . . . . . 6:3creating standard configurations . . . 6:7modifying bracing gaps . . . . . . . . . . 6:4

CCatalogue database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1Centre of gravity calculations . . . . . . . . 10:5Clash

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Clash checking

checking process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:2clash limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:2extent of clash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1obstruction levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1obstruction list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:2principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1

Clash limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:2Clashing extent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Clearance

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:2Collection See List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17Copying

mirror option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:5offset option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:18

Curvedefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

Curved sectioncreating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:5definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1modifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:6

DDatabase hierarchy

Draft data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:7Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5Design Explorer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4Design parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1Display

restoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1Distance

measuring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:4DRAFT applications

loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:6Draft database hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . 10:7DRAFT module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:6Drag

panel edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:7Drawing sheet, Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:9

EEdge

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2dragging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:7picking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6

End positiondefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1identifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:4

Event-driven graphics mode . . . . . . . . 4:11

FFillet radius

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:7

Forms and displayrestoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1

Function attributesetting for Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:6

GGeneric Section (GENSEC)

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1GENSEC

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1Geometry set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1Graphical view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4Gross weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5

HHard obstruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Holes

negative extrusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:9penetrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:1

IIsometric view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:8

JJoint

beta angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:9connection references . . . . . . . . . . 6:10

12.0Index page 1


cutback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:10cutting plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:10dominant/subordinate . . . . . . . . . . . 6:12joint freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:12origin plane direction . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:9position and orientation . . . . 6:10, 6:11position line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:9, 6:11secondary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17selecting from catalogue . . . . . . . . 6:11specifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:9, 6:11

Joint linedefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:4

Justificationdefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:4specifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:13

LLinear grid

defining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:5List

adding members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17creating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17

Logging in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3Loop (LOOP)

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:9

MMass calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5Mass properties

querying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5Material reference (MatRef) . . . . . . . . . 10:5Measuring facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:4Member line

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:4Menu bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4Module

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1

NNegative extrusion (NXTR)

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:9Negative volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:9Net weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5Node

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2deleting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:5primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2secondary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2, 4:17

OObstruction levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Obstruction list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:2

PPanel (PANE)

creating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:3definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1

Panel edgedefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2dragging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:7picking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6

Panel fillet radiusdefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:7

Panel fitting (PFIT)beta angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1justification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1

Panel loop (PLOO)definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2

Panel origindefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:4

Panel thicknessdefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2

Panel vertex (PAVE)definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2modifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5picking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6

Panel vertex creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:4Panning view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1Penetration

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:1Physical clash

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Pick mode prompt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:11PKEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1Pline

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4:1, B:1identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1

Pline rulefunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:2

Plotting facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:6Point set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1P-point

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1Primary node

automatic creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3

12.0Index page 2


Primitives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1Profile (PROF)

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1specifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3

Properties database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5

RRegular structure

creating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1Reports

templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:4Representation

setting graphical view . . . . . . . . . . . 6:11Representation level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5Ring section

creating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:2definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

Rotating view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9

SSave work facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:21Saving design changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:21Secondary joint (SJOI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17Secondary node (SNOD) . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17Section

extending/shortening . . . . . . . . 5:4, 6:1Section (SCTN)

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1Sheet, Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:9Snap function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:11Soft obstruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1Specification reference (SpecRef) . . . . . B:1

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1specifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3

Spinedefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

Spine Point (POINSP)definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

Split facilitypanels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:15

Start positiondefinition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1identifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:4

Startup display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3Status bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4Storage area

specifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2, 7:3Surface area calculations . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5

TTidy nodes facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:5Title bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4Tool bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4Touch

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:2Trimming sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1

VVertex (VERT)

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:9Vertex creation (panels) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:4View

3D/graphical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4, 4:8centre of interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:11direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:8panning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9representation setting . . . . . . . . . . 6:11rotating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9zooming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9

Volume calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5

WWeight calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5Working grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:5Working plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:5

ZZooming view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9

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