FAQ midas Civil ▶ Pre-Processing

How to import a section from an AutoCAD

*.dxf file?

For importing a section from an AutoCAD .dxf file, section property

calculator is used. Follow the instructions given below:

From Main Menu select Tools > Generator > Sectional Property Calculator

1. Keep the units same as AutoCAD .dxf file.

2. The tolerance is relevant to the units used, if
two nodes are spaced within the mentioned
tolerance then they will be merged and
considered as one node. 1

3. Angle step is used to create line divisions of a

curve, lesser the angle more will be the line
divisions for the same curve. 2
4. Click ‘OK’
5. Go to File > Import > AutoCAD .dxf > Browse
3
for the relevant .dxf file
6. Click OK > Click Yes
7. Go to Model > Section > Generate 4

Select the whole section

8. For generating Line type section (generally used for

generating built-up steel sections), width of the line
8
should be specified prior to step No. 7 from
‘Model > Curve > Change Width > Select the line for
width definition > Check the Width option & specify
width> Apply’ 9
For generating Plane type section (generally used for generat
ing Pre-stressed Concrete sections), defining line width is not
required. The section is considered by the area bounded by
the lines and will be meshed.
10 10
9. Name the Section 11
10. Check on ‘Calculate Properties Now’ 11
11. After clicking Apply, meshed section will be shown in the
model window
22 www.MidasUser.com
 midas Civil ▶ Pre-Processing

12. Go to Model > Section > Export

13. Click on ‘ MIDAS Section File’
14. Click and define the file path and section name in
the format *.sec as defined here as “Section1.sec”. 14
15. Click on the section and section turns red
16. Click Apply
17. From Main Menu select Properties > Section
Properties > Add
13
18. So the *.sec file can be imported as a general
section or a PSC-Value type section

16

15
Click on the section
and section turns red

18

18

23 www.MidasUser.com