Adding a Cast Beam

To create a cast beam with a standard shape, perform the following steps:

In the Cast Beam dialog box, from Shape, choose one of the following:


Option	Description
	Round
	Square
	Rectangle

While editing multiple structure features, you can click for different shapes of different members.

To create a cast beam using a cross section defined by an object type, perform the following steps:

In the Cast Beam dialog box, to select source, click Object Type .
Click and select an object type from the list of imported object types.
Notes:
- Import an object type before creating the member. You can import an existing object type or create a new object type. For more information, see Building and Civil Assemblies User's Guide: Defining Object Type.
- To undefine the object type, you can click .
Click to display the graphic help of the object type.
In the Size list, select the required size for the beam.

The out of the box object types are found at Startup\Structure\ObjectTypes.

To install additional content, select Install Optional Content Now.

The SDD_DSA_Object_Type.3dxml file (for the DSA collection corresponding to the AISC standard) makes all the shapes available with a single import. The best practice is to import the 3dxml files with the option As Reference.

To position the cast beam on a grid, click Position on Grid

.

To position the cast beam on a wire, click Position on Wires

, select one or more wires and then specify the direction of the beam.

Notes:

You can click Reverse to reverse the direction of the grid-driven plate.
The direction specifies the orientation of the local V axis of the member. Thus you can control the base rotation of the member around its axis. This is useful when attempting to orient a number of members on wires in the same direction.

To create a cast beam in a new geometrical set, select the Create in a new geometrical set check box.

To set the beam location, from Create Mode, click one of the following:

Option	Description
Single	Inserts beams only on the selected segments.
Along gridline	Inserts beams on all similar segments along the gridline of the selected segments.
All in the story	Inserts beams on all similar segments in the story of the selected segments.
Above and below	Inserts beams on all similar segments above and below the selected segments.
Diagrid	Inserts beams in an ascending diagonal pattern from a pair of selected points.
Plane to plane	Inserts beams between selected planes. You can include points between the selected planes.
All on side	Inserts beams on the selected side of the building.
All interior	Insert beams on the interior of the building.
All in the building	Insert beams on all vertical segments in the structural grid.

With the pointer, hover over the structural grid to see a preview of your selection.

Tip: To place multiple cast beams on a single grid segment, Ctrl + select the grid segment.

To change the zero angle orientation for the beam, in the Cast Beam dialog box, click either:

Snap Rotation Counterclockwise
Snap Rotation Clockwise

Align the beam along the U axis and the V axis.

To set additional options, expand Options and specify the corresponding values:

From End 1 trim, enter or select the trim dimension of end 1.
From End 2 trim, enter or select the trim dimension of end 2.
A negative value lengthens the beam.

Check the preview in the 3D area to see the end numbers as well as the effect of your entry.
From Vertical offset, enter the beam offset in the vertical direction.
From Horizontal offset, enter the beam offset in the horizontal direction.
The system displays in the 3D area the U, V, and W axes.
From Rotation, enter or select the angle in degrees for the beam counterclockwise rotation about its length.

Expand Grid Segment Display and in the Grids to Display box, select the grids to display, and then select the checkboxes according to the requirement:

Click

.