Tekla Structures Modeling Manual Product version 10.0 December 2003 Copyright © 2003 Tekla Corporation "Copyright© 1992-2003 Tekla Corporation. All rights reserved. This Software Manual has been developed for use with the referenced Software. Use of the Software, and use of this Software Manual are governed by a License Agreement. Among other provisions, the License Agreement sets certain warranties for the Software and this Man- ual, disclaims other warranties, limits recoverable damages, defines permitted uses of the Soft- ware, and determines whether you are an authorized user of the Software. Please refer to the License Agreement for important obligations and applicable limitations and restrictions on your rights. In addition, this Software Manual is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. Unauthorized reproduction, display, modification, or distribution of this Manual, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the full extent permitted by law. Tekla, Tekla Structures, Xcity, Xengineer, Xpipe, Xpower, Xsteel, and Xstreet are either regis- tered trademarks or trademarks of Tekla Corporation in the European Union, the United States, and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned in this Manual are or may be trademarks of their respective owners. By referring to a third-party product or brand, Tekla does not intend to suggest an affiliation with or endorsement by such third party and dis- claims any such affiliation or endorsement, except where otherwise expressly stated. Elements of the software described in this Manual may be the subject of pending patent applica- tions in the European Union and/or other countries. TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL v Contents Contents Preface 1 1 Introduction 7 1.1 General information 7 1.2 Screen layout 12 1.3 Toolbars 15 1.4 Inputting information 20 1.5 Specifying points 25 1.6 Selecting model objects 28 1.7 Using commands 31 2 Getting Started 35 2.1 Basics 35 2.2 Grids 41 2.3 Views 43 2.4 Points 51 2.5 Construction lines and circles 53 vi TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Contents 3 Parts 55 3.1 Part properties 56 3.2 Cast units and assemblies 65 3.3 Numbering parts 66 3.4 Part location 69 3.5 Steel part commands 76 3.6 Concrete part commands 76 4 Detailing 79 4.1 Bolts 79 4.2 Welds 86 4.3 Fine-tuning part shape 93 4.4 Detailing commands 98 5 Settings and Tools 99 5.1 Examining the model 99 5.2 Querying objects 106 5.3 Copying and moving objects 109 5.4 Filter 112 5.5 Settings 116 5.6 Numbering 125 5.7 Tools 128 5.8 Settings and tools reference 139 Appendix A : Parametric Profiles 141 Glossary 149 Index 165 TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL 1 Preface Preface Introduction This is the Tekla Structures Modeling Manual, a comprehensive guide to Tekla Structures modeling, analysis, and design software. The following para- graphs explain how this guide is organized, suggest different paths for different types of user, describe the other guides provided in the package, and tell you how to report any problems you have with the software or guides. Audience This guide is aimed at structural engineers, detailers and designers who model, analyze, and design concrete and steel structures. We assume that you are familiar with the processes of structural engineering. How to use this guide If you are new to Tekla Structures, you should start with Chapter 1, Introduc- tion. If you are already familiar with Tekla Xsteel, you could start with Chapter 3, Parts, and read about materials other than steel. Additional help resources The following resources also provide information about Tekla Structures: Web site http://www.tekla.com 2 TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Preface Email Contact your local helpdesk via email: If you believe you have discovered a problem with this software, please report it to your Tekla Structures Reseller using the maintenance request form provided at Help > Tekla on the Web > Maintenance request . Please send any comments or suggestions about Tekla Structures documentation to BetC_Documentation@tekla.com. Conventions used in this guide Typefaces We use different typefaces for different items in this guide. In most cases the meaning is obvious from the context. If you are not sure what a certain typeface represents, you can check it here. • Any text that you see in the user interface appears in bold . Items such as window and dialog box titles, field and button names, combo box options, and list box items are displayed in this typeface. • New terms are in italic bold when they appear in the current context for the first time. • All the text you enter yourself appears in "quotation marks". • We use italics for emphasis. • Extracts of Tekla Structures’s program code, HTML, or other mate- rial that you would normally edit in a text editor, appears in mono- spaced Courier font. • Program names, such as functions, environment variables, and parameters, appear in Courier bold . Area office Email address China TeklaStructures.Support.CHI@Tekla.com Finland TeklaStructures.Support.FI@Tekla.com France TeklaStructures.Support.FR@Tekla.com Germany TeklaStructures.Support.GER@Tekla.com Japan TeklaStructures.Support.JPN@Tekla.com Malaysia TeklaStructures.Support.MY@Tekla.com Middle East TeklaStructures.Support.ME@Tekla.com Sweden TeklaStructures.Support.SWE@Tekla.com UK TeklaStructures.Support.UK@Tekla.com US TeklaStructures.Support.US@Tekla.com TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL 3 Preface • Filenames and folder paths appear in Arial. Noteboxes We use several types of noteboxes, marked by different icons. Their functions are shown below: A tip might introduce a shortcut, or suggest alternative ways of doing things. A tip never contains information that is absolutely necessary. A note draws attention to details that you might easily overlook. It can also point you to other information in this guide that you might find useful. You should always read very important notes and warnings, like this one. They will help you avoid making serious mistakes, or wasting your time. This symbol indicates advanced or highly technical informa- tion that is usually of interest only to advanced or technically- oriented readers. You are never required to understand this kind of information. 4 TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Preface Related guides Tekla Structures includes a comprehensive help system in a series of online books. You will also receive a printed installation guide with your setup CD. • Modeling Manual How to create a physical model. • Analysis Manual How to create loads and run structural analysis. • Detailing Manual How to create reinforcement, connections, and details. • Drawing Manual How to create and edit drawings. • System Manual Covers advanced features and how to maintain the Tekla Structures environ- ment. • TplEd User’s Guide How to create and edit report and drawing templates. • SymEd User’s Guide How to use the SymEd graphical interface to manipulate symbols. • Installation Guide Printed booklet explaining how to install Tekla Structures. Organization This guide is divided into the following chapters and appendices: Chapter 1: Introduction Introduces you to Tekla Structures and its user interface. This is the best chapter to start with to gain a basic understanding of Tekla Structures. Chapter 2: Getting Started Explains the basic skills you need to create a new model, grids, views, and points in Tekla Structures. If you are new to Tekla Structures, you should read Chapter 1 before this chapter. Chapter 3: Parts Explains how to create and modify parts using different materials and profiles. You should read Chapters 1 and 2, and have already created grids and views to use this chapter. TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL 5 Preface Chapter 4: Detailing Explains how to create bolts, welds, chamfers, cuts, and fittings. Chapter 5: Settings and Tools Explains how to manipulate a model and change program settings. It also describes how to use many of the tools in Tekla Structures. Appendix A: Parametric Profiles Describes the parametric profiles available in Tekla Structures. Glossary Provides concise definitions of the central terms and concepts we use in these guides. 6 TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Preface [...]... 128) TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Introduction 27 Snap settings The list box on the Snap settings toolbar defines the depth of each position you pick The following options are available: • 3D Tekla Structures picks positions in 3D space • View plane Tekla Structures projects picked positions onto the view plane • Auto In perspective views, this option works like the 3D option In non-perspective views,... select several objects, Tekla Structures takes the properties at random from one of the selected objects Creates a new object using the properties in the dialog box Toggles all the modify filter checkboxes in the dialog box on and off See also Modify filter checkboxes (p 24) TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Introduction 23 Save, Load, Save as, Help Many Tekla Structures dialog boxes have the Save, Load,... translate Move and rotate Move and mirror TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Introduction View The View toolbar contains commands for creating views and setting the work area and work plane The following commands can be initiated from the View toolbar: • • • • • • • • • • • Create a new basic view Create a view with three points Create a view with two point Open the list of named views Pick work area Fit... choose to run Tekla Structures in multiuser mode We recommend that you only run Tekla Structures in multiuser mode if the users will make use of the additional features of multiuser mode To run Tekla Structures in multiuser mode, one machine in the network has to be set up as a server running the Tekla Structures server program For more information, see Multiuser mode in the online help Tekla Structures. .. navigation Tekla Structures also supports undo and redo, so you can test solutions, and revert to the original, if needed Global but localized Tekla Structures is used worldwide It is available in a wide range of languages, and adapted to local requirements Languages and environments When you install Tekla Structures, you can choose the language(s) and the environment(s) you want to use Language Tekla. .. between Tekla Structures and other software, such as AutoCAD, STAAD, and MicroStation TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Introduction • • Easy to use Drawing wizards to create several drawings with one click Data output for CNC machines If you need assistance when working with Tekla Structures, use the F1 key to quickly access the context-sensitive online help The online help is a comprehensive source... Environment The environment means region-specific settings and information It defines which profiles, material names, default values, connections, wizards, environment variables, reports, and templates you use TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Introduction 9 The environments available in Tekla Structures 10.0 are: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Australasia Brazil China Europe France Germany India Japan... components parametric and have them adapt to changes in the model To open the Custom Component Editor, select a component and click Detailing > Edit custom component TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Introduction 11 1.2 Screen layout When you start Tekla Structures, a new window appears on the screen The following illustration identifies the various areas of the Tekla Structures Model Editor window:... and redraws the contents of all windows Close all Closes all the windows on the screen You cannot use the Cascade window, Tile horizontally, and Tile vertically commands for windows that you can move outside the Tekla Structures window For more information on moving part and component basic views and zoom windows across the entire Windows desktop, see the environment variables XS_MDIVIEWPARENT, XS_MDIZOOMPARENT,... XS_MDIZOOMPARENT, and XS_MDIBASICVIEWPARENT in the online help You can control the representation of a model in the windows using the commands on the View menu See Representation (p 45) and Views (p 43) 14 TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Introduction 1.3 Toolbars The toolbars contain icons which give easy access to some of the most frequently-used commands Using icons Most of the Tekla Structures icons work . TeklaStructures.Support.FR @Tekla. com Germany TeklaStructures.Support.GER @Tekla. com Japan TeklaStructures.Support.JPN @Tekla. com Malaysia TeklaStructures.Support.MY @Tekla. com Middle East TeklaStructures.Support.ME @Tekla. com Sweden. TeklaStructures.Support.ME @Tekla. com Sweden TeklaStructures.Support.SWE @Tekla. com UK TeklaStructures.Support.UK @Tekla. com US TeklaStructures.Support.US @Tekla. com TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL 3 Preface • Filenames. guides. 6 TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL Preface TEKLA STRUCTURES - MODELING MANUAL 7 Introduction 1 Introduction In this chapter This chapter provides an overview of the Tekla Structures