Area Edge Properties#

../../_images/structural_area_edge.png Modify Area Edge Properties

Command

SOF_SE_AREAEDGE_M

Tooltip

Modifies properties of edges of structural areas.

Sidebar

Structural Elements

This can be used to control the thickness of the structural area and the connection between areas, e.g. when two adjacent areas require a hinge between them because there is no moment connection.

After starting the command, all edges of structural areas are marked with a small line parallel to the edge. This allows an edge to be assigned to a structural area when two structural areas are located next to each other.

To support a boundary, an additional structural line has to be created at that place.

Note

To avoid a chain of hinges between neighbored structural areas, the properties should only be defined on one side of the common edge.

The entry in field Thickness is used to define variable thicknesses of slabs. Each edge of the area may have a different thickness and the program would generate a haunched slab. This definition overwrites the thickness of the slab given with the structural area dialog.

To create a variable thickness along an axis, the name of the variable must be defined in the column Thickness From Axis Variable. All variables present in the drawing are displayed in the drop-down list. In order to calculate the thickness of the generated finite element, a perpendicular is drawn from the assigned main axis to the edge of the structural area. A set variable overwrites the value of the thickness given with the structural area dialog. If an undefined variable is set, the thickness of the slab is set to 0.

Along the chosen edge hinges and connecting springs can be created between two adjacent structural areas. When defining the direction of the hinges and springs, please note that this is the local direction of the boundary edge.

If only one (or more) spring value(s) are defined (and no hinges), the neighboring structural areas are only connected by the defined springs.

Note

Transversal spring elements are upgraded and imported as axial spring elements in local y and z direction.

Entering a value in the Parallel Nodes Offset field causes a node row to be created parallel to the edge with the specified distance during mesh generation. The program first creates the elements and nodes as usual. Then, a second node row is created at the specified distance. To ensure the connection of the new node row to the previously created geometry, additional constraints are created. These are located at the edges that border the just edited edge.

The following possibilities are available:

  • If a hinge is defined simultaneously and a Value other than 0 is specified under Parallel Nodes Offset, a gap with the width of Value is created. The two edges are connected via constraints with the corresponding constraint conditions.

  • If no springs or hinges are defined and only a Value other than 0 is specified under Parallel Nodes Offset, an additional node row is created within the structural area. This is especially useful for design checks at the support (design section - e.g., 0.5*h next to the support edge).

A description of the possibilities can be found in the chapter ‘SARB – Structural area boundaries and constraints’ of the manual SOFiMSHC.