Creating Grid-Driven Plates

You can add structural plates using your building grid or reference plane grid to control the position and orientation of the plates.

Before you begin: Create a building grid or a reference plane grid.
  1. From the Steel section of the action bar, click Grid-Driven Plate .
  2. From the 3D area, select grid segments.
    The system displays a preview of the plates on the selected grid segments.
  3. In the Grid-Driven Plate dialog box, from Type, select the type of plate.
    OptionDescription
    Plates

    		 Creates a general plate at the selected grid segment.
    Web

    		 Creates a web plate at the selected grid segment. Select web type plates to support flange plates and carry shear loads.
    Flange

    		 Creates a flange plate at the selected grid segment. Select flange type plates to resist bending movements.

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

    Notes:
    • When generating structural 2D views, general and web type plates do not generate any geometry. Flange type plates generate a single line representation. Multiple flange plates on a single grid segment generates only one single line representation.
    • When generating architectural 2D views, all plate types generate full geometry.

  4. Specify the values for Width and Depth of the plate.

    Alternatively, to change the dimensions of the plate, from the 3D area, drag the Width or Thickness handle.

  5. To position the grid-driven plate on a grid, click Position on Grid .
  6. To position the grid-driven plate on a wire, click Position on Wires , select one or more wires and then specify the direction of the plate.

    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.

  7. To set the plate location, from Create Mode, click one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Single Inserts plates only on the selected segments.
    Along gridline

    		 Inserts plates on all similar segments along the gridline of the selected segments.
    All in story Inserts plates on all similar segments in the story of the selected segments.
    Above and below

    		 Inserts plates on all similar segments above and below the selected segments.
    Diagrid Inserts plates in an ascending diagonal pattern from a pair of selected points.
    Plane to plane

    		 Inserts plates between selected planes. This option is only available for reference plane grids.
    All on side Inserts plates on the selected side of the building. This option is only available in the context of a building.
    All interior Insert plates on the interior of the grid.
    All in building Insert plates on all similar segments in the structural grid.
    With the pointer, hover over the structural grid to see a preview of your selection.
  8. To create a grid driven plate in a new geometrical set, select the Create in a new geometrical set check box.
  9. To change the zero angle orientation for the plate, in the Grid-Driven Plate dialog box, click either:
    • Snap Rotation Counterclockwise
    • Snap Rotation Clockwise
  10. Align the plate.
    1. To align the plate along the V axis, click one of the following:

      Option Description
      V plus

      		 Positions the plate with the grid segment on the +V side of the plate.
      V center

      		 Positions the plate with the grid segment centered on the V axis of the plate.
      V minus

      		 Positions the plate with the grid on the -V side of the plate.

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

    2. To align the plate along the U axis, click one of the following:

      Option Description
      U plus

      		 Positions the plate with the grid segment on +U side of the plate.
      U center

      		 Positions the plate on the U axis of the plate.
      U minus

      		 Positions the plate with the grid segment on the -U side of the plate.

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

  11. To set the trim, offset, and plate rotation, expand Options and specify the following values:
    1. In End 1 trim, enter or click to set the trim value.

      Note: A positive value shortens the plate; a negative value lengthens the plate.

      Ensure that your entry does not exceed the plate length.

    2. In End 2 trim, enter or click to set the trim value.

      Note: A positive value shortens the plate; a negative value lengthens the plate.

      Ensure that your entry does not exceed the plate length.

    3. To offset the plate horizontally, enter a value in U offset.
    4. To offset the plate vertically, enter a value in V offset.
    5. From Rotation, enter or select the angle in degrees to rotate the plate counterclockwise about its length.

      Valid range entries are from -360 to +360 degrees.

    6. To rotate the plate relative to the surface or input body instead of relative to horizontal, select the Rotate relative to surface check box.
    7. To create a second plate symmetrical to the first about the selected grid segment, select the Mirror across the grid segment check box.
  12. 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:
    OptionDescription
    Show grid points on slabs Displays grid points that lie on the slab surfaces. The system hides this option when there is no slabs in the model.
    Show grid points off slabs Displays grid points that lie off the slab surfaces. The system hides this option when there is no slabs in the model.
    Show grid segments Displays grid segments.
    Show curved grid segments Generates curved grid segments from curved grid lines.
    Show perimeter perimeter Displays grid perimeter.
    Show interior segments Displays grid interior.
    Show slabs Displays slabs.
  13. Click .

The system creates plates at the selected grid segments. In the tree, the system lists grid-driven plates under Structure.