General > Concrete

Overview of Functions

Creates General member with the properties of concrete.

General member is a function used for modeling atypical shapes, and it is different from the modeling method of basic members (EX.Concrete Beam), which is to be explained below.

  • General member
    After creating a General member Section (= Cross Section), create a shape by extruding (Extrude) the section or by connecting the sections (Loft).g

  • Basic member
    With the properties (type, dimensions, etc.) of the basic member section set in the property window in advance, create the shape by drawing the center line directly.

Details of Functions

Create Tab > 1st sub tab

Check on/off option

When the option is Checked on, the Start / End section creates another cross section member.

User section list

A list of available User Sections is displayed.

Select the name of the section you want and a preview of that section appears.

Assign section

This is used to set the plan where the User Section will be placed.

Set the plan by a three-point input method in the following order: Origin Point> X-Axis> Y-Axis.

Select the Assign button and it will appear on the screen.

Origin point

The coordinates of the origin set by the Assign Section Function are displayed.

You can modify the coordinates by inputting directly or clicking on a mouse.

Local axis

The direction vector of the Local axis set by the Assign Section Function is displayed.

You can modify the coordinates by inputting directly or clicking on a mouse.

Generate member

Set the Section’s direction of extraction and input its distance of extraction.

  • Direction : You can change the direction of extraction.

  • Length : Determines the distance of extraction.

Create Tab > 2nd sub tab

Define path

Define the Section’s path of extraction.

Displayed when Tapered member check is OFF

  • Normal of section: Extracts in the normal direction of the Section Plane.

  • Direction vector : Extracts in the direction of the vector placed.

  • Direct draw : Draw the path of extraction directly.

Displayed when Tapered member is checked ON

  • Straight: Connects the Start and End profiles with a straight line.

  • Direct draw : Draw the connection path directly.

Cardinal point

Sets the center-line position of the member.

  • Cardinal point : Sets the centerline position based on the Bounding box of the profile.

  • Offset-y : Enter the additional distance from the recently set, present Cardinal point to the direction of the Local-y axis of the profile.

  • Offset-z : Enter the additional distance from the recently set, present Cardinal point to the direction of the Local-z axis of the profile.

  • Define from view : When clicking on the button, you can set the Cardinal point by clicking anywhere on the profile plan.

Create Tab > 3rd sub tab

Auto matching rule

Set the Automatic Vertex Matching Method between the Start and End profiles.

  • Quadrant connection : After matching the reference, vertices of each quadrant, vertices are sequentially matched according to the Loop Sequence of the profile in the direction of 'up → down' and 'left → right'.

  • Quadrant half area : After matching the reference vertices of each quadrant, vertices are sequentially matched within each quadrant, according to the Loop Sequence of the profile.

  • Loop sequence : After matching the reference vertices of the first quadrant , match the vertices sequentially according to the Loop Sequence of the profile. However, if the number of vertices in the start and end profiles does not match, the Quadrant Half Area Method will automatically be applied.

Since the three methods mentioned above are automatic matching methods based on program rules, the desired vertex matching results that the user might have pursued is not guaranteed.

Therefore, if it is possible to match the number of vertices in the Start profile and End profile through CAD work, then the Loop Sequence Method is recommendable.

Rotate quadrant of end section

Displayed when Tapered member is checked ON

Displayed when the Auto Matching Rule is a Quadrant connection, or a Quadrant half area

Rotates the End profile of the Quadrant order.

  • Clockwise : Rotates the Quadrant order of the End profile clockwise.

  • Counterclockwise : Rotates the Quadrant order of the end profile counterclockwise.

The orders concerned with the Quadrants of the Start and End profiles may turn out different from what the user has expected due to a program’s internal rules or layout behaviors of General Sections.

The Rotate quadrant of end section allows you to adjust the order of the quadrants, should situation like these occur.

Create Tab > 4th sub tab

Shape variation

Displayed when Tapered member is checked ON

Defines the connection geometry between matched Vertices.

  • Variation origin : Sets the reference point on the profile to determine whether the curve can be connected.

Vertex Sets that have the same distance from the Variation origin are always connected in a straight line regardless of the settings of the Shape variation.

For example, the figure below shows a part created by setting Variation origin differently and Curve order to '2 (Parabolic)' for the same profile.

Looking at the connection shape of the top vertex of the start / end profile, the left member has a different distance from the center-center, so the curve connection is applied and the right member has the same distance from the center-top (0) than the curve order setting. You can see that a straight line connection is applied regardless.

(Polynomial)

  • Curve order-y : Sets the order of the curve with respect to the local y-axis direction.

  • Curve order-z : Sets the order of the curve with respect to the local z axis direction.


(Arc)

  • Radius-y : Local Enter radius of curve for y-axis direction.

  • Radius-z : Enter the radius of the curve for the local z-axis direction.


  • Convexity-y : Check if applying curve that changes convexly about Local y-axis direction.

  • Convexity-z : Check if applying curve that changes convexly about Local z-axis direction.

The rules for applying concave or convex curved shapes are shown below.

- Concave: Tangential curve shape is applied at the location of the vertex close to the origin of the variation.
- Convex: Tangential curve shape is applied at the position of Vertex which is far from Variation origin.

Option

Sets the options where the section changes according to the path.

  • Keep section orientation : When checked, the existing section orientation is maintained regardless of the path being bent relative to the progress direction.

  • Keep section bulge factor : When checked on, it maintains section extrusion rate according to object's length change.

Property Tab > 1st sub tab

Classification

It is the function to set the properties of General Member.

  • Object type : Indicates the type of object.

  • Member type : You can select the type of member.

  • Work type : You can select the type of work.

  • Material : You can choose the material.

Group

Select a structural group.

Property Tab > 2nd sub tab

Element type

This is the function to set the 1D element type.

Four types are available.

Beam / Truss / Tension only / Compression only

Boundary condition

This is the function to set the boundary condition at the beginning and end of the geometry.