Advance Design America (VisualDesign)

TUTORIAL 5













Advanced
Modeling
Tower legs

















May 2008

CivilDesign Inc 1995-2008
A D V A N C E D M O D E L I N G
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3D tower legs are going to be modeled, using the Rotate and Copy/Paste
functions.
Modeling a tower is like any other modeling, except that there are some
particularities that we are going to explain in this example. One leg is modeled
using the Building Generator and the Rotate function and then, the leg is
copied/pasted in rotation to complete the final model.
Dimensions are as follows (members are subdivided in equal segments):

Modeling
Generate a cube with the Building Generator (Structure/Generator /
Building).
Modify units to mm. (Click the x, y or z field, right click to open the
context menu and select Units / mm.
Modeling of 3D Tower Legs
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Insert the following coordinates: (-4055.5, 0, -4055.5) to position the
centre of the tower at (0,0,0). Disable the generation of surfaces. Base
supports are pinned.

Select the X Axis tab and enter 8111.00 mm as the x coordinate.
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Select the Y Axis tab and enter 10500 mm as the y coordinate.

Select the Z Axis tab and enter 8111 mm as the z coordinate.

Select the Mat/Sec tab. Specify a "Steel" type of project and select shapes
and materials.

Click OK.
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Use the Global Zoom to view the whole cube. Select an isometric view (45
deg.) with the Camera function or press the [Pg Up] key on the numerical
keyboard).
This is the cube you are going to see on the screen:

View Options
Display node numbers through the Elements tab of View Options.
Display the shape outlines and end conditions through the Attributes tab
of View Options. If the outline is too small or too big, modify the
amplification factor on the Colors tab.

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Splitting and Adding Members
Select the horizontal member located between node aB1 and Bb1. Split this
member in two with the Multiple Split function on the Split toolbar.
Keep nodes 9, bB1 and bB0. Delete other nodes and supports.

Activate the Node element and double-click the node bBO to open the
Node Characteristics dialog box. Enter the following coordinates: (5126,
-3000, 5126).
Add a member between nodes bB0 and 9 and insert the following
information in the Member Characteristics dialog box:
Shape: L89X89X7.9
Material: G40.21M-350W
End conditions: Pinned-Pinned
Disable the Add mode.
Note: Members must be defined (end conditions, shapes, materials, etc.) before
splitting or using the Copy/Paste function, because they keep the properties of
original member.
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Double-click the horizontal member and select "Fixed-Pinned" end
conditions. (Make sure that the pinned end is located at the right, at the
junction of vertical member.)
Adjusting the Beta Angle
Before splitting members, it is recommended to adjust the member beta angle
(orientation of members in space). Single steel angles are oriented as follows:
Create a node #OP at (0,0,0).

Display the member numbers.

Orient the strong axis of member #10 towards node bB1 using the Rotate
function.
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Orient the member #bBO-Y strong axis at 45 degrees relative to node
#OP, using the Rotate function.

Members are correctly oriented. Single steel angles can be oriented according
to an orthogonal axis system or major/minor axis system. The latter must be
selected on the Member tab before launching a design.

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Splitting Members
Split the member #9 in two.
Split the member 10 and member bBOY in four equal segments.
The following structure is obtained:

Numbering Elements
The numbering of new elements (nodes, members, floors, etc.) is automatic.
However, you can renumber them as you like. Delete node OP and follow this
procedure:
Open the Nodes spreadsheet and click the Number column header. Right
click and select the Auto numbering function in the context menu. Enter
a prefix, a starting number and increment.
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Click OK.
Do the same for members, using the prefix "m".

Adding Bracings
Add one member and specify the shape, material and end conditions. Advance
Design America remembers data and puts the same data to other added
members.
Select the Add mode and add a bracing between node n05 and n08.
Insert information in the dialog box:
Shape: L51X51X4.8
Material: G40.21M-350W
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End Conditions: Pinned-Pinned
Add other bracings. Advance Design America initializes the same shape,
material and end conditions.

Using the "Copy/Paste" Function
The Copy/Paste function is used to create other tower legs, as follows:
Activate the "Extended Window" selection mode and select the whole leg
while pressing down the [Shift] key. This key allows selecting all types of
elements.
Use the shortcut keys [Ctrl] + C to copy this selection. The Copy/Paste
dialog will open on screen.
Do a mirror copy relative to plane XY, as shown below.
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Click OK.
Use the shortcut keys [Ctrl] + V to paste this selection.

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Select both legs while pressing down the [Shift] key.
Copy the selection ([Ctrl] + C).
Select the "Rotation" configuration in the Copy/Paste dialog box. Select
the y axis as the rotation axis and specify a 90 degrees rotation.
Use the shortcut keys [Ctrl] + V three times.
Disable node numbers, end conditions and shape outlines in the View
Options dialog box.

Adding Horizontal Bracings
Select a XY view using the Camera function.
Activate the Restricted Window selection mode and select the top
members only.
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Mask the rest of the structure with the Mask function.
Select a 45 degrees view.
Select the Add mode and the Member icon. Add members as indicated in
the figure below and define properties in the Member Characteristics
dialog box:

Disable the Add mode by activating the Restricted or Extended Window
selection mode.
Unmask the rest of the structure.
Re-number nodes and members as explained before.
Activate the 3D display option for members.
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