Adding a Catalog Beam Pattern

You can add a catalog beam pattern to span between two primary beams or grid segments.

See Also
Creating a Building Structural Grid
Creating a Reference Plane Grid
Editing Members and Footings
  1. Create a structural grid if the project does not already have one.

    Use a structural grid that you create in either Buildings and Civil Structures Design or Buildings Space Planning with either the Building Grid or Reference Plane Grid . The structural grid can have straight or curved grid segments. With curved grid segments, you can create curved beam patterns that follow the curved segments.

  2. From the Steel section of the action bar, click Catalog Beam Pattern .
  3. To create a beam pattern from one of the standard beam shape catalogs, perform the following steps:
    1. From the Catalog Beam Pattern dialog box, to select source, click Catalog .

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

    2. From Standard, select the desired catalog.
      For example, to use a beam shape from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), click AISC.
    3. From Shape, select a beam shape.

      Available selections depend on your Catalog selection.

      For example, if you are using AISC, a possible selection is W Shapes.
    4. From Size, select the beam size.

      Available selections depend on your Catalog and Type selections.

  4. To create a catalog beam using a cross section defined by an object type, perform the following steps:
    1. In the Catalog Beam Pattern dialog box, to select source, click Object Type .
    2. 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 .

    3. Click to display the graphic help of the object type.
    4. 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.

  5. To determine beam pattern location, from Create Mode, click one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Single

    		Inserts a beam pattern relative to only the selected segments.
    Along gridline

    		Inserts beam patterns relative to all similar segments along the gridline of the selected segments.
    All in the story

    		Inserts beam patterns relative to all segments in the same story as the selected segments.
    Above and below

    		Inserts beam patterns relative to all similar segments above and below the selected segments.
    All in the building

    		Inserts beam patterns relative to all similar segments in the structural grid.
  6. To create a catalog beam pattern in a new geometrical set, select the Create in a new geometrical set check box.
  7. From the structural grid, click two noncontiguous grid segments.
    The preview graphic reflects your selections from the Catalog Beam Pattern dialog box.
  8. To change the zero angle orientation for the beams by 90 degrees, in the Catalog Beam Pattern dialog box, click either:
    • Snap Rotation Counterclockwise
    • Snap Rotation Clockwise

    For a beam, the zero angle orientation is the base orientation to which the system applies the rotation. Use this option to reorient the beam. The beam reorients until it bisects the angle between grid segments, or is tangent or perpendicular to adjacent grid segments at the base of the beam.

  9. Align the beam patterns.
    1. To align the beams along the V axis, click one of the following:

      Option Description
      V plus

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

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

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

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

    2. To align the beam pattern long the U axis, click one of the following:

      Option Description
      U plus

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

      		Positions the beam pattern with the grid segment centered on the U axis of the beams.
      U minus

      		Positions the beam with the grid segment on the -U side of the beams.

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

  10. From Spacing, choose either:
    OptionDescription
    Count Sets the specific number of beams to place and has the system automatically determine the spacing.

    To complete the selection, enter in Count the number of equally spaced beams.

    • To add a member at one end, select the Add member at 1 end checkbox.
    • To add a member at another end, select the Add beam at end 2 check box.
    Spacing Sets the spacing between the beams and has the system determine the number of beams to place in the beam pattern.

    • In the 3D area, in the value box, enter the spacing.
    • To create a pattern with the end spacing less than half the entered spacing distance, select the Reduce spacing at end check box.
    • To add member at one end, select the Add member at 1 end checkbox.
    • To add a member at another end, select the Add beam at end 2 check box.
  11. To determine the orientation, click one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Perpendicular Places beams perpendicular to the first selected grid segment.
    Parallel to End 1 Places beams parallel to a line between the start of the first selected grid segment and the start of the second grid segment.
    Parallel to End 2 Places beams parallel to a line between the end of the first selected grid segment and the end of the second grid segment.
    End 1 & 2 Places beams by interpolation between the direction of the two ends.
    The system displays a preview of your selection.
  12. Expand Options and specify the corresponding values:
    1. In the End 1 trim box, specify the trim dimension of one end.
    2. In the End 2 trim box, specify the trim dimension of the other end.
    3. In the U Offset box, specify the beam pattern offset in the horizontal direction.
    4. In the V Offset box, specify the beam pattern offset in the vertical direction.
    5. In the Rotation box, specify the beam counterclockwise rotation around the beam length.

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

  13. 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:

    Check Box Action
    Show grid segments To display grid segments, select the check box.
    Show slabs To display slabs, select the check box. This option is only available with structural grids with a mass.
    Show curved grid segments Generates curved grid segments from curved grid lines.
    Show perimeter segments Displays grid segments and points on the perimeter of the structural grid.
    Show interior segments Displays grid segments and points in the interior of the structural grid.
    Note: To hide the specific element, clear the check box.

  14. Click .

The tree lists the sets of catalog beam patterns in Structures. If necessary, expand Structures and Catalog Members to show the listing. To highlight a set of beam patterns in the 3D area, click its node in the tree.

Note: To dissolve the catalog beam pattern into individual catalog beams, from the context toolbar click Dissolve Pattern Feature.