Adding a Cast Beam Pattern

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

See Also
Creating a Building Structural Grid
  1. Create a building grid if the project does not already have one.

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

  2. From the Concrete section of the action bar, click Cast Beam Pattern .
  3. To create a cast beam pattern with a standard shape, perform the following steps:
    1. In the Cast Beam Pattern dialog box, from Shape, choose the beam pattern shape.

      Option Description


      		Round


      		Square


      		Rectangle

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

    2. Depending on the beam pattern shape, specify the beam dimensions.

      For beam shape: Click to set the desired dimension:
      Round Diameter
      Square Width
      Rectangle Width and Depth

  4. To create a cast beam using a cross section defined by an object type, perform the following steps:
    1. In the Cast 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 create a cast beam pattern in a new geometrical set, select the Create in a new geometrical set check box.
  6. To specify the 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 similar 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 segments in the structural grid.
  7. To change the zero angle orientation for the beam by 90 degrees, in the Cast 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.

  8. Align the beam patterns:
    1. To align 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 along the U axis, click one of the following:

      Option Description
      U plus

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

      		 Positions the beams 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.

  9. 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 desired 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.
  10. To determine the orientation, click one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Perpendicular For a perpendicular orientation to the first selected grid segment.
    Parallel to End 1 For a parallel orientation to the adjacent grid segment on one end of the first selected grid segment.
    Parallel to End 2 For a parallel orientation to the adjacent grid segment on the other side of the first selected grid segment.
    End 1 & 2 For the interpolation of the beam pattern orientation between the adjacent grid segments on both ends of the first selected segment.
    The system displays a preview of your selection.
  11. To specify additional options, expand Options and specify the values:
    1. From End 1 trim, enter or select the trim dimension of one end.
    2. From End 2 trim, enter or select the trim dimension of the other end.
    3. From U Offset, enter or select the beam pattern offset in the horizontal direction.
    4. From V Offset, enter or select the beam pattern offset in the vertical direction.
    5. From Rotation, enter or select the beam counterclockwise rotation around the beam length.

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

  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:

    Option Description
    Show grid segments Displays grid segments between grid points.
    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.

  13. Click .

The tree lists the cast beam patterns within the story where they are located.

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