About Slot Reference

Slot Built-In Geometry

The slot built-in geometry is a specific feature computing a contour for an opening. It is defined by a curve produced by a set of parameters and faces extracted from the profile, with some conventions. This curve is also called as super curve. The faces extracted from profile are: MoldedFlange1, MoldedFlange2, WebInner+, WebInner-

One or several parameters define a straight line or a circle. Intersections of straight lines and circles are connected in a predefined sequence to generate a contour.

Slot Parameters

Parameters Defining a Straight Line or Distance

The name of straight linear parameters starts with letter D (distance). There are 12 parameters that define straight lines with respect to horizontal (H) or vertical (V) linear dimensions of an I-section for example.

• Five parameters are related to top flange (MoldedFlange2): DTT, DTR, DTBR, DTBL (symmetry of DTBR/V), DTL (symmetry of DTR/V).
• Five parameters are related to the linear dimensions of bottom flange (MoldedFlange1): DBTR (symmetry of DTBR/H), DBTL (symmetry of DTBL/H or symmetry DBTR/V), DBL (symmetry of DBR/V or symmetry DTL/H), DBB (symmetry of DTT/H), DBR (symmetry of DTR/H).
• Two parameters define lines on both sides of web (WebInner+ and WebInner-): DR, DL (symmetry of DR/V).

Notes:

• A negative value inverts the orientation of the distance.
• When using parameters, it is mandatory to use then in the correct order. For instance, DR, DTBR, DTR and DTT on top right of section is a correct order. It is not possible to use DR, DTR without using DTBR, this results in non intersection.

Parameters Defining a Circle

A radius parameter exists only with two additional parameters that define the center for the circle. Thus, a circle defining parameters exists in a group of three and constitutes a set of collaborative parameters. The name of radius parameters starts with letter R (radius). The parameters defining center coordinates start with H (if it defines horizontal coordinate) or with V (if it defines vertical coordinate) followed by the name of radius. There is one radius parameter corresponding to each corner. Twelve circles (hence arcs) can be defined using 36 parameters.

• At top flange:

  RTTR HRTTR VRTTR

  RTTL HRTTL VRTTL

  RTBL HRTBL VRTBL

  RTBLW HRTBLW VRTBLW

  RTBRW HRTBRW VRTBRW

  RTBR HRTBR VRTBR

• At Bottom flange:

  RBTLW HRBTLW VRBTLW

  RBTL HRBTL VRBTL

  RBBL HRBBL VRBBL

  RBBR HRBBR VRBBR

  RBTR HRBTR VRBTR

  RBTRW HRBTRW VRBTRW

Note: When using circle parameters, you need to know the face from which the horizontal and vertical coordinate are computed. For example, RTBR is located at right of face right, and below the top face. That means the coordinates are computed positively from these two references. To locate RTBR above the top face, use negative value for the vertical coordinates.

Straight Lines at an Angle to Section Linear Elements

An auxiliary angle parameter along with one of the parameters is used to create a slant line. The names of auxiliary angle parameters starts with A. There is a one-to-one correspondence between parameters of distance and these auxiliary parameters. Thus, there are twelve angle parameters corresponding to each linear parameters defined above.

• Angle parameters for top flange offset distance: ADTT ADTR ADTBR ADTBL ADTL.
• Angle parameters for bottom flange offset distance: ADBTR ADBTL ADBL ADBB ADBR.
• Angle parameters for both sides of web: ADR ADL.

Note: The angle is measured,

• Counterclockwise for all right vertical lines and all horizontal lines.
• Clockwise for all left vertical lines.

Computed Parameters

Using the following additional computed parameters you can avoid clash with the penetrated object (profile or plate). These computed parameters not only give the section's dimensions, but also give the projected section's dimensions.

• Parameters to define geometry of the section: Comp_BaseDBLSection, Comp_BaseDBRSection, Comp_BaseDTLSection, Comp_BaseDTRSection, Comp_BaseDBBSection, and Comp_BaseDTTSection.
• Parameters to define various bounding boxes of the intersection between the penetrating and the penetrated objects: Comp_BaseDBLSlot, Comp_BaseDBRSlot, Comp_BaseDTLSlot, Comp_BaseDTRSlot, Comp_BaseDBBSlot, and Comp_BaseDTTSlot.

  The intersections are done on both sides of the penetrated object and projected on one of them. See the image above.

• Parameters to define various bounding boxes of the intersection between the penetrating and the penetrated objects' faces on the throw/section orientation side: Comp_BaseDBLCollarNormal, Comp_BaseDBRCollarNormal, Comp_BaseDTLCollarNormal, Comp_BaseDTRCollarNormal, Comp_BaseDBBCollarNormal, and Comp_BaseDTTCollarNormal.
• Parameters to define various bounding boxes of the intersection between the penetrating and the penetrated objects' faces on the opposite side of the throw/section orientation side: Comp_BaseDBLCollarInvert, Comp_BaseDBRCollarInvert, Comp_BaseDTLCollarInvert, Comp_BaseDTRCollarInvert, Comp_BaseDBBCollarInvert, and Comp_BaseDTTCollarInvert.
• Parameters to define various bounding boxes of the intersection between the penetrating and the penetrated objects' surfaces at mid-thickness: Comp_BaseDBLCollarCentered, Comp_BaseDBRCollarCentered, Comp_BaseDTLCollarCentered, Comp_BaseDTRCollarCentered, Comp_BaseDBBCollarCentered, and Comp_BaseDTTCollarCentered.

Specification Parameters

The following specification parameters can be used to set specifications:

Curve

The curve is computed from the parameters, proceeding with an anti-clockwise direction. All the above parameters (also called private parameters) used to build the contour are created in a reference slot object.

You can maintain continuity and ensure symmetry by making the contour parametric. You can add new parameters to drive the others. This method requires formulas between the private parameters, and also add new parameters, named public parameters. Those formulas are added in the slot reference.