Structural Design Using PDMS

Structural Design Using
VANTAGE PDMS
Version 11.6
pdms116/Structural Design Using PDMS

issue 240804
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Revision History
Date
Version
Notes
October 2003
11.5
Updated to incorporate the Design Explorer and the new view

manipulation facilities introduced at this version of PDMS.
August 2004
11.6
Updates to Design Explorer layout and Draw List.
Structural Design Using VANTAGE PDMS

Version 11.6
Revision History-i
Revision History
Revision History-ii

Version 11.6
Contents
1
Read This First

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
The scope of this guide ...................................................................................................1-1

1.1.1
Intended audience...........................................................................................1-1
1.1.2
Assumptions ...................................................................................................1-1
1.1.3
About the tutorial exercise..............................................................................1-1
1.1.4
Further reading ...............................................................................................1-2
Text conventions .............................................................................................................1-2
Terminology....................................................................................................................1-2
How the guide is organised .............................................................................................1-3
Further training in the use of PDMS ...............................................................................1-4
Introducing VANTAGE PDMS

2.1
2.2
2.3
1-1
2-1
Introducing the structure of PDMS .................................................................................2-1

The strengths of PDMS...................................................................................................2-1
PDMS structural design features.....................................................................................2-2
Getting Started
3-1
3.1
3.2
3.3
Logging in .......................................................................................................................3-1
Using the mouse..............................................................................................................3-2
Using forms.....................................................................................................................3-2
3.3.1
Using text boxes .............................................................................................3-3
3.3.2
Using drop-down lists ....................................................................................3-3
3.4 The PDMS startup display ..............................................................................................3-5
3.5 Using menus....................................................................................................................3-6
3.6 Using the tool bar............................................................................................................3-6
3.7 Using the Design Explorer ..............................................................................................3-7
3.8 Using the status bar .........................................................................................................3-9
3.9 More on using forms .......................................................................................................3-9
3.9.1
Using option buttons ......................................................................................3-9
3.9.2
Using check boxes........................................................................................3-10
3.9.3
Using scrollable lists.....................................................................................3-10
3.9.4
Using action buttons.....................................................................................3-10
3.10 Responding to alert forms .............................................................................................3-11
3.11 Using on-line Help ........................................................................................................3-11
Setting Up the PDMS Database Hierarchy

4.1
4.2
4.3
Starting the Structural Application..................................................................................4-1

How PDMS Stores Design Data .....................................................................................4-1
Creating Some Administrative Elements ........................................................................4-3
Creating a Simple Structure

5.1
5.2
5.3
4-1
5-1
Design-to-Catalogue Cross-Referencing ........................................................................5-1

How PDMS Represents Structural Members..................................................................5-1
5.2.1
Straight Sections.............................................................................................5-1
5.2.2
Nodes..............................................................................................................5-2
Some Initial Setting Up Operations ................................................................................5-2
5.3.1
Setting Default Storage Areas ........................................................................5-3
5.3.2
Automating Profile and Primary Node Allocations .......................................5-3

Version 11.6
Contents-i
Contents
5.3.3
Setting the Default Specification for Profiles.................................................5-3
5.4 Creating Sections Explicitly............................................................................................5-5
5.5 Viewing the Design.........................................................................................................5-8
5.5.1
Defining What Appears in the View ..............................................................5-8
5.5.2
Manipulating the Displayed View................................................................5-10
5.5.3
Navigating in the Database by Picking Elements Graphically.....................5-12
5.6 Event-Driven Graphics Mode .......................................................................................5-13
5.7 Creating Sections Using Graphical Picking ..................................................................5-13
5.8 Collecting Elements into Temporary Lists ...................................................................5-19
5.9 Copying Parts of the Design Model ..............................................................................5-20
5.10 Completing the Initial Design .......................................................................................5-22
5.11 Saving Your Changes and Leaving Your Design Session ...........................................5-23
A Quick Way to Build a Regular Structure
6-1
Enhancing the Basic Structure
7-1
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
Adding Panels and Plates

8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7
8.8
8.9
8-1
Starting the Panels & Plates Application ........................................................................8-1

How PDMS Represents Panels .......................................................................................8-2
Setting Default Storage Areas.........................................................................................8-3
Creating Simple Panels ...................................................................................................8-3
Measuring Distances/Directions in the Design Model...................................................8-5
Splitting a Panel ..............................................................................................................8-6
Tailoring Panel Edges by Editing Individual Vertices...................................................8-6
Moving Panel Edges to New Positions ...........................................................................8-9
Creating Negative Extrusions .......................................................................................8-11
Using Panel Fittings

9.1
9.2
10
Restoring a Previously Saved Setup ...............................................................................7-1

Trimming Connected Section Ends to Correct Geometry .............................................7-1
Adding and Modifying Simple Bracing ..........................................................................7-4
Adding Standard Bracing Configurations .......................................................................7-9
Representing Joints .......................................................................................................7-11
Dominant versus Subordinate Joints.............................................................................7-15
Moving Part of the Structure and Maintaining Correct Geometry...............................7-16
9-1
How Panel Fittings are Defined ......................................................................................9-1

Creating a Panel Fitting...................................................................................................9-1
Penetrating One Item With Another
10-1
10.1 How a penetration is defined.........................................................................................10-1

10.2 Creating a steelwork penetration...................................................................................10-2
11
Checking and Outputting Design Data
11-1
11.1 Checking for clashes .....................................................................................................11-1

11.1.1
Obstruction levels.........................................................................................11-1
11.1.2
Extent of clashing .........................................................................................11-2
11.1.3
The clash detection process ..........................................................................11-2
11.2 Generating a data output report.....................................................................................11-5
11.2.1
Generating a tabulated data report................................................................11-5
11.3 Querying mass properties..............................................................................................11-6
11.4 Plotting the design model..............................................................................................11-7
Contents-ii

Version 11.6
Contents
12
Adding Some Curved Steelwork
12-1
12.1 How PDMS represents curved sections ........................................................................12-1

12.2 Creating a semicircular platform...................................................................................12-1
12.3 Creating a runway beam with multiple curves..............................................................12-4
12.3.1
Defining a working grid ...............................................................................12-5
12.3.2
Creating a curved section .............................................................................12-6
12.3.3
Modifying a curved section ..........................................................................12-7
12.4 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................12-8
The Structural Design Database
A-1
Structural Catalogue Guide
B-1
B.1
B.2
B.3
B.4
B.5
B.6
B.7
B.8
Other Relevant Documentation

C.1
C.2
C.3
The Basic Features of the Catalogue.............................................................................. B-1

P-line Identification........................................................................................................ B-1
Some Standard Profiles .................................................................................................. B-3
Some Standard Joints ................................................................................................... B-13
B.4.1
Column Connections ................................................................................... B-13
B.4.2
Cleated Connections.................................................................................... B-13
B.4.3
End Preparations.......................................................................................... B-15
B.4.4
Baseplate Connections................................................................................. B-16
B.4.5
Double Notched End Plates......................................................................... B-17
B.4.6
Single Notched End Plates .......................................................................... B-17
Some Standard Fittings ................................................................................................ B-17
Stiffeners ...................................................................................................................... B-18
Fire Insulation .............................................................................................................. B-19
Lifting Lugs.................................................................................................................. B-20
C-1
PDMS introductory guides............................................................................................. C-1

PDMS reference manuals............................................................................................... C-2
General guides................................................................................................................ C-2
Sample Plots

Version 11.6
D-1
Contents-iii
Contents
Contents-iv

Version 11.6
Read This First
1.1
The scope of this guide

This guide introduces some of the facilities provided by VANTAGE PDMS for the
design and documentation of logically interconnected structures. It explains the main
concepts underlying PDMS and its supporting applications, and shows how you can
apply these to your own design projects.
The chapters of this guide take the form of a hands-on tutorial exercise combined
with frequent explanation of the underlying concepts. As you work progressively
through the exercise, you will gain practical experience of the ways in which you
can use PDMS while learning about the powerful facilities it provides.
1.1.1 Intended audience

This guide has been written for engineers familiar with structural design practices,
who may or may not have prior knowledge of computer-aided design systems.
1.1.2 Assumptions
For you to use this guide, the sample PDMS project, Project SAM, must be correctly
installed on your system, and you must have read/write access to the project
databases.
It is assumed that you know:
where to find PDMS on your computer system
you know how to use the Windows operating system installed at your site
Contact your systems administrator if you need help in either of these areas.
1.1.3 About the tutorial exercise

All the steps of the exercise are numbered sequentially throughout the guide. The
start and end of each part of the exercise is marked by lines across the page to
separate them from the general information sections, like this:

Version 11.6
1-1
Read This First
1.1.4 Further reading

You can find a list of relevant AVEVA documentation in the appendices of this
guide.
1.2
Text conventions
This guide uses the following text conventions:
Serif
Bold
for the majority of the text.

to highlight important information, and to introduce special
terminology.
Serif italic
to denote internal cross references and citations.
Sans-serif
to denote keys on your keyboard.
Sans-serif bold for menu names and options, and for the names of forms.
Typewriter for text within a form, including text that you enter
using the keyboard.
1.3
yourself
Terminology
You can switch rapidly between the different parts of the program, so that the
distinctions between them become almost imperceptible, but you need to recognise
what is happening when you select from the different functions available to you
from the various menus.
The following terms are used throughout this guide to describe what action to carry
out:
Enter
Type text into the specified dialogue box, then press the Enter (or
Return) key to confirm the entry.
1-2
Click
Place the mouse pointer over a specified point, then quickly press
and release the designated mouse button. If no button is specified,
use the left-hand mouse button.
Pick
Click on the required item to select it.
Drag
Place the mouse pointer over a specified point, then press and hold
down the required mouse button while moving the pointer to a
second specified point. Release the button over the second point.
Double-click
Place the mouse pointer over a specified point, then click the lefthand mouse button twice in quick succession.
Version 11.6
Read This First
1.4
How the guide is organised

This guide is divided into three parts, including some appendices, as follows:
Chapter 1
introduces this guide and summarises its scope.
Chapter 2
gives a general overview of the main design facilities provided

within the structural application.
Chapter 3
gives you a general guide to using the PDMS graphical user

interface, including an explanation of how to access detailed online help. A running example is used from this chapter on, to
illustrate essential concepts.
Chapter 4
explains how PDMS stores its design data and shows you how to
organise your data.
Chapter 5
guides you through the steps needed to create a simple structure

comprising only vertical columns and horizontal beams.
Chapter 6
demonstrates a useful facility which provides an alternative

method for creating a regularly configured structure rapidly.
Chapter 7
shows how to add diagonal bracing members, how to model joints

between connected members, and how to modify the design by
moving interconnected parts of the structure.
Chapter 8
shows how to clad the structure by adding panels and plates.
Chapter 9
introduces the concept of panel fittings.
Chapter 10
shows how to configure those locations where one item penetrates

another.
Chapter 11
shows how to check your design for clashes, and how to generate
reports and plots directly from the design data.
Chapter 12
explains how curved sections are represented and illustrates their

use.
Appendix A
summarises the database hierarchy which PDMS uses to store

your structural design data.
Appendix B
comprises a sample catalogue of structural steelwork sections.
Appendix C
identifies other sources of information which supplement, and

expand upon, the brief details given in this guide.
The guide concludes with an index, allowing you to refer back to any specific topics
about whose details you need to be reminded.
Version 11.6
1-3
Read This First
1.5
Further training in the use of PDMS

This guide teaches you to about the key features of using PDMS for structural
designs only.
If you wish to learn more about the wide-ranging facilities of PDMS, AVEVA
provides a wide range of training courses, covering all levels of expertise and all
design disciplines. For details of courses, and to arrange course attendance, contact
your nearest AVEVA support office (see the copyright page at the front of this guide
for our web address).
1-4

Version 11.6

This chapter provides:
2.1
an introduction to the structure of PDMS
the strengths of PDMS
structural design features.
Introducing the structure of PDMS

PDMS comprises the following functional parts:
modules
applications.
A module is a subdivision of PDMS that you use to carry out specific types of
operation. This guide covers the DESIGN module, which you use for creating the
3D design model
An application is supplementary program that has been tailored to provide easy
control of operations that are specific to a particular discipline. The applications you
will use for structural design work in this guide are:
Beams & Columns
Panels & Plates
You can switch quickly and easily between different parts of PDMS.
2.2
The strengths of PDMS

In PDMS, you have a powerful suite of facilities, for the design of Process Plant, the
emphasis being on maximising both design consistency and design productivity:
The design modelling functions incorporate a degree of apparent intelligence

that enables them to make sensible decisions about the consequential effects of
many of your design choices. This allows you to implement a sequence of
related decisions with a minimum of effort.
You can incorporate modifications into your design at any stage without fear of
invalidating any of your prior work, because data consistency-checking is an
integral part of the product. PDMS automatically manages drawing production,
material take-off reports, and so on, by reading all design data directly from a

Version 11.6
2-1
common set of databases, to prevent errors from being introduced by

transcribing information between different disciplines.
2.3
The applications let you check all aspects of your design as work progresses.
This includes on-line interdisciplinary clash detection, so the chances of errors
and inconsistencies reaching the final documented design are reduced to an
exceptionally low level.
The applications are controlled from a graphical user interface. This means that
all design, drawing and reporting operations are initiated by selecting choices
from menus, and by entering data into on-screen forms. For ease of use, many
common actions are also represented by pictorial icons.
On-screen help is available to assist you whenever you need help.
PDMS structural design features

The PDMS structural applications offer the following key benefits:
2-2
The applications are designed to use specification data when selecting structural
components from the Catalogue database, so that design consistency and
conformity to standards are ensured. It is important, therefore, that the structural
Catalogue databases are properly maintained.
You can name structural elements in accordance with a predefined set of rules,
so that their positions in the database hierarchy are always obvious without you
having to enter specific texts during the design process.
You can set up pointers to define the storage areas in which specific types of
design element are to be held in the database hierarchy. This, especially when
combined with the rule-based naming facility, minimises the amount of data
which you have to enter explicitly as you build up your design model.
You can set up temporary lists of elements, so that you can carry out a design
operation on all elements within the list simultaneously. This can avoid a great
deal of repetitive work when you carry out commonly-repeated design
modifications.
The applications incorporate a number of geometric design aids, such as 3D

positioning grids, to make it easy for you to position structural elements
accurately within the design model.
Where possible, the Design applications create and maintain connectivity of the
structural network automatically.
Non-standard structural components, such as complex panels and floor plates,

may be created by defining the required shape as a 2D profile and then
extruding this to the desired thickness.
Negative primitives and shapes may be used in the structural catalogue to define
complex joint geometry and end preparations for structural sections, so that
weld preparations and fitting allowances can be modelled easily.
Version 11.6
Templates may be used to define the basic structure of built-up girders and
similar components, so that the detailed design of such items becomes simply a
matter of entering the required dimensional and positional data.
Multiple copies of design components may be created simply by specifying the

number of copies required and their relative positions and orientations. For
example, a complete roof structure can be created by designing a single roof
truss and then, in one operation, making as many copies as are necessary to
support the length of the roof, with each truss displaced by a given distance
relative to the preceding one.
Much repetitive work can be avoided in symmetrical designs by making copies

of interconnected parts of the structure and reflecting them about specified axes,
so that the design pattern is repeated as required.
Joint positions may be finely adjusted to ensure accurate assembly, using any
standard datum line to define the precise alignment of a joint with its attached
sections.
Sections and panels (wall plates, floor plates, etc.) may be divided at
intersections, after the overall size and shape have been defined, without
affecting any of their logical interconnections. This enables you to design the
macrostructure (for example, complete areas to be covered) first and then to
subdivide this into a manageable microstructure for fabrication purposes at a
later stage (typically, to make the most efficient use of stock panel sizes). The
edges of panels may be notched to fit around section profiles, and the edges of
adjacent panels may be shaped such they interlock automatically.
Penetrations may be created as catalogue elements. Such a penetration, which

can incorporate appropriate sleeving, kick plates, etc., may be inserted into a
structural section or panel as a complete entity, with the dimensions and
position of the penetration derived automatically from the dimensions of the
pipe/duct/cable tray passing though it.
The applications make it easy for you to create panels and to connect them to
existing panels or sections via linear joints. This facility uses intelligent pointer
picking to enhance the interaction between the displayed graphics and the
design creation process. You can derive panel vertices simply by picking
appropriate datum lines on existing sections; connections between panels and
sections are then created automatically to give a fully connected structural
model. Such panels can be used either to represent floors/walls or to build up
complex plated connections.
You can carry out multi-disciplinary clash checks at any stage of the design,
thus avoiding spatial conflicts within the overall model which could be
expensive to rectify at the construction stage. This is particularly important
where different features of the design model are under the control of different
designers.
At any stage of your work, you can create reports listing specified data from the
current database. You can specify a standard report template, so you can derive
lists of commonly-required information very quickly, or you can design a report

Version 11.6
2-3
format to suit your own particular needs. The resultant output, which can
include data from any design discipline, sorted in any way you require, can be
either displayed on your screen or sent to a file (for storage and/or for printing).
2-4

Version 11.6
Getting Started
This chapter explains:
3.1
how to log in to PDMS
how to use the windows, menus and forms that comprise the PDMS graphical
user interface
on-line help.
Logging in
This is the first step of the tutorial exercise. If you do not know where the PDMS
program is stored on your system, you will have to contact your system
administrator at this point.
Exercise begins:
1.
Start PDMS by double-clicking on the PDMS icon.

The VANTAGE PDMS Login form that appears requires you to specify a
number of details at the outset of your session.
Ignore any entries currently shown in this form. The next section describes how
to complete the boxes, and the exercise continues afterwards.

Version 11.6
3-1
Getting Started
3.2
Using the mouse

You use the mouse to steer the graphics pointer around the screen and to select or
pick items by using the mouse buttons. The buttons perform different tasks
depending on the type of window, and the position within the window, where the
pointer is positioned. The appearance of the pointer changes according to the type of
display item that is underneath it.
The left-hand mouse button has three functions:
On a graphical view, clicking the left-hand button with the pointer over a design
element results in that element becoming the current element (that is, the design
item on which you want to carry out the next operation).
In a sequence of menus, dragging with the left-hand button activates the

command represented by the highlighted menu option when the button is
released.
On a form, the effect varies according to what you select.
The middle mouse button is used primarily to manipulate the graphical view
contents; the right-hand button is used to access the menu options specific to the
graphical view window.
Note:
3.3
the right-hand mouse button menu will henceforth be referred to as the

shortcut menu.
Using forms
Forms can include any of the following:
text boxes
drop-down lists
option buttons
check boxes
scrollable lists
action buttons.
Text boxes and drop-down lists are explained below; the remainder are explained
later in this chapter.
3-2

Version 11.6
Getting Started
3.3.1 Using text boxes

Text boxes are the areas where you type in alphanumeric data such as names or
dimensions. A text box will usually have a label to tell you what to enter.
When you first open a form which contains text boxes, the first text-box on the form
is current and a text editing pointer (a vertical bar) is displayed in the box. A textbox often contains a default entry (such as unset) when first displayed. Some text
boxes accept only text or only numeric data, and entries with the wrong type of data
are not accepted.
To enter data into a text box:
Click in the box to insert the text editing pointer.
Type in the required data, editing any existing entry as necessary. (You may
need to delete the existing entry first.)
When you have finished, confirm the entry by pressing the Enter (or Return)
key. Any text box with an unconfirmed setting is highlighted by a yellow
background.
3.3.2 Using drop-down lists

Drop-down lists let you choose one option from a multiple selection. The list will
usually have a label to tell you what you are setting and will show the current
selection.
They typically have the following appearance:
To change the setting, click on the down arrow or button face to reveal the full list of
available options, then pick the required option.
Exercise continues:
2.
Click on the VANTAGE PDMS Login form to make it active.
3.
Give the name of the Project in which you want to work: enter SAM.
4.
Give your allocated Username: enter STRUC.
5.
Give your allocated Password: enter STRUC.
6.
Give the part of the project Multiple Database (MDB) you want to work
in: enter STRUC.
7.
Give the name of the module you wish to use: select Design.
Make sure that you leave the Read Only box unchecked, so that you can
modify the database as you work.

Version 11.6
3-3
Getting Started
8.
You must specify which files to load at startup. You can choose either the
application default settings (Load from Macro Files) or a customised
setup saved during an earlier session (Load from Binary Files). Select
Macro Files.
When you have entered all the necessary details, the form looks like this:
Click on the
3-4
button.

Version 11.6
Getting Started
3.4
The PDMS startup display

When PDMS has loaded, your screen looks like this:
As labelled above, the display comprises the following:

Title Bar
This shows the current PDMS module, and its sub-application if applicable.
Main Menu Bar
This is the area you use to make menu selections.
Main Tool Bar
This has a number of icon buttons and drop-down lists that offer shortcuts
to a selection common PDMS operations and standard settings.
Design Explorer
This shows your current position in the PDMS database hierarchy. To
move to a different point in the database, you click on the appropriate item
in the list. Section 3.7 below explains more about how to use the Design
Explorer.
Note: for full details of the Design Explorer, see the PDMS Design
online help.
Version 11.6
3-5
Getting Started
3D View
This is the window in which you display the design model graphically as
you build it. A shortcut menu (which you access with the right-hand mouse
button) enables you to control how the model is represented. This window
also has its own tool bar.
Status Bar
This displays information about the current status of your operations.
You can reposition or minimise these windows at any time using standard window
management facilities.
3.5
Using menus
Menu options in pull-down or pop-up menus can be in any of three formats:
Standalone options initiate an action immediately.
Options followed by three dots display a form.
Options followed by a pointer, display a subsidiary menu that
offers a further range of options.
Throughout this guide, related selections from menus are denoted using the >
symbol as a separator. For example:
Select Position>Move>Distance means:
a)
Select Position from the bar men.
b) Select Move from the resulting pull-down menu

c)
3.6
Move the pointer to the right and select Distance from the submenu that
appears.
Using the tool bar

The tool bar is displayed immediately below the main menu bar in the application
window. It contains a number of icon buttons which let you carry out common tasks
without searching for the options in the menus.
The actions of the buttons are explained in the on-line help. If you pause the pointer
over a button, a tool-tip pop-up box will remind you of the function of the button. To
activate a button, you click on it.
Note:
3-6
The tool bar can be switched off, or displayed with larger icons. To do
so, select Settings>System from the main menu bar and then set the
required options on the resulting System Settings form.

Version 11.6
Getting Started
3.7
Using the Design Explorer

The Design Explorer presents a hierarchical view of the PDMS databases and
makes navigating around the Design Database quick and easy.
The figure below shows a typical example of the information the Design Explorer
displays:
To expand or collapse any branch of the tree, click on the
or
icon.
You can reduce the amount of information the tree displays by ticking the filter
checkbox and selecting one of the predefined core filters from the drop-down
combo-box list. If you want to narrow the view down even more, you can change the
settings in the Explorer Settings, which you can access by selecting
Settings>Explorer from the main menu.
If you place the mouse-pointer over an element, you will get a ToolTip that gives the
elements name, type, and description; clicking-the right mouse-button while the
cursor is over an element will bring up a context menu from which you can choose
to perform various actions. What actions are available depend on which DB and
module you are using.
You can drag-and-drop elements within the Design Explorer to copy them, or you
can drag-and-drop from the Explorer to add elements to the 3D view and My Data.
Version 11.6
3-7
Getting Started
The Current Element is highlighted in the tree view and the Current Element will
change to follow selections made elsewhere, even if the Explorer is not the active
window. If you set the Expand to CE check box in the Explorer Settings, the tree will
automatically expand to show the Current Element if it is not currently in view.
The Current Element is also the displayed in the History List, which you will find by
default on the main menu bar. However, you can undock the History List and have it
as a free-floating window. The figure below shows the History List as a free-floating
window.
You can make another element the Current Element using the History List by:
3-8
typing the elements name into the combo box;
selecting a previously typed in element from the combo-boxs pull-down list.

Note that if you dock the window vertically, it will not display the combobox;
navigating through the history one element at a time using the backwards and
forwards buttons;
selecting elements from anywhere in the History List using the drop down
lists on the backwards and forwards buttons.

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Getting Started
3.8
Using the status bar

The status bar displays messages telling you what actions the application is carrying
out. You should look at it frequently, especially if the system appears to be waiting
for you to do something, since it will always prompt you for any input or action
which is required to carry out the next step of your current activity.
If the prompt lets you repeat a task an unspecified number of times, such as picking
a selection of items using the pointer, you must press the Escape key when you
have finished to indicate that you are ready to move to the next operation.
3.9
More on using forms

Forms are used both to display information and to let you enter new data. Forms
typically comprise an arrangement of buttons of various types, text-boxes, and
scrollable lists. Input to a form is usually via a combination of mouse and keyboard.
While you have access to a form, you can change a setting, return to the initial
values, accept and act on the current data, or cancel the form without applying any
changes, according to the nature of the form.
You were introduced to text boxes and drop-down lists in Section 3.3; this section
describes the remaining boxes, buttons and lists:
option buttons
check boxes
scrollable lists
action buttons.
3.9.1 Using option buttons

Option buttons are used to select one, and only one, from a group of options. The
selection is mutually exclusive, so that selecting one option deselects others in that
group automatically.
Option selected
Option not selected
To change the selected option button in a group, click the required button.

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Getting Started
3.9.2 Using check boxes

Check boxes are used to switch an option between two states, typically set and
unset. Unlike option buttons, they do not interact, so that you can set any
combination of check boxes at the same time.
Set
Unset
3.9.3 Using scrollable lists

A scrollable list is displayed as a vertical list of options within the form, with
vertical and horizontal scroll bars along its sides. To select an option, click on the
line you want. The selected line is highlighted.
Some scrollable lists let you make only a single selection, so that selecting any
option deselects all others automatically. Other lists let you make multiple
selections, with all selected options highlighted simultaneously. You can deselect a
highlighted option in a multiple-choice list by clicking on it again (repeated clicks
toggle a selection).
3.9.4 Using action buttons

Most forms include one or more action buttons. You use these to tell PDMS what to
do with the details you have entered in the form.
The common action buttons are:
Tells PDMS to accept the current form settings, and closes the form.
Cancels any changes you have made to the form, and closes the form.
Tells PDMS to accept the current form settings, and leaves the form
displayed for further use.
Cancels any changes you have made to the form, and leaves the form
displayed for further use.
Closes the form, keeping the current settings.
Some forms contain more specific types of control button which carry out particular
command options. The action is indicated by the name of the button (such as Add or
Remove).
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Getting Started
3.10 Responding to alert forms

Alert forms are used to display information such as error messages, prompts and
requests for confirmation of changes. You should respond by carrying out the task
prompted for, or by clicking on the control buttons on the form (usually an OK or
Cancel button).
3.11 Using on-line Help

Most bar menus end with a Help option. Where available, on-line help gives detailed
instructions on how to use the forms and menus from which you control each
application.
Choosing one of the Help options will bring up the Help window. The picture below
shows a typical example of what you will see:
The pane on the right shows by default a clickable image of the main PDMS Design
window. If you click on an area of the image, the image will be replaced by text that
describes the part of the image you clicked on.
The left pane contains a set of tabs that allow you to use Help in different ways.
Choosing one of the options described below activates the relevant tab for you so it
is at the front when the Help window comes up.
The Help option gives you the following choices from its submenu:

Version 11.6
3-11
Getting Started
Help>Contents
This displays the Help window so that you can find the required topic from the
hierarchical contents list.
Help>Index
This displays the Help window with the Index tab selected, so that you can browse
for the topic you want to read about from the alphabetically-arranged list. You can
locate topics quickly by typing in the first few letters of their title.
Help>Search
This displays the Help window with the Search tab at the front so that you can find
all topics containing the keywords you specify.
Help>About
This displays information about the current operating system on your computer and
about the versions of PDMS and its applications to which you have access.
Pressing the F1 key at any time will display the help topic for the currently active
window.
Exercise continues:
9.
Experiment with each of the Help options until you understand the search and
navigation facilities for finding specific items of information. Use the Help>On
Context option to read the help texts for any forms which you can currently see
on your screen.
10.
When you are ready to continue, close any forms which you have been
experimenting with as follows:
If a form has a Dismiss button, click this button.
If a form has its own menu bar, select Control>Close from that menu.
Close any Help windows which are displayed by double-clicking in the

control box in the top left-hand corner of each window.
Do not close the Design Explorer or the 3D View windows, because you will use
these in the next parts of the exercise.
You are advised to make full use of the on-line help facilities whenever you want
clarification of any operations during the later steps of the exercise.
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Getting Started

Version 11.6
3-13

In this chapter, you will learn:
about the PDMS database hierarchy
how PDMS stores design data
In this chapter we will enter the structural steelwork design application and create
some administrative data elements which will enable us to organise our detailed
design in a logical way.
4.1
Starting the Structural Application
Exercise continues:
11.
The first structural application which we will use is that for designing
interconnected beams and columns. To access this application, select
Design>Structures>Beams & Columns from the main menu bar.
When loading is complete, the main menu bar and tool bar will show some extra
options, thus:
Before we start to create structural design data, it is important that you know how
such data is stored and accessed in the PDMS databases, so that you will understand
the terminology which you will encounter during the design process. This is
explained in the following section.
4.2
How PDMS Stores Design Data

All PDMS data is stored in a hierarchic or tree format (similar to the way in which
you use a hierarchy of directories and subdirectories to access your computer files).
In the case of a PDMS Design database, the topmost data level is called the World
(usually represented by the symbolic name /*), below which are the administrative
sublevels Site and Zone.

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4-1
The names used to identify database levels below Zone depend on the specific
engineering discipline for which the data is used. In the case of structural design
data, the lower administrative levels (and their PDMS abbreviations) are Structure
(STRU), Framework (FRMW) and (optionally) Subframework (SBFR).
The data which defines the physical design of the individual structural components
is held below Subframework level, giving the following overall format:
WORLD (/*)
S ITE
ZONE
S TRU CTURE (S TRU )
F RAMEWORK (FRMW)
S U B FRAMEWORK (S B F R)
(o p tio n a l)
D e s ign d ata d e fin in g in d iv id u al s tru c tu ral c o m p on e n ts w h ic h m ak e u p th e d e s ig n m od e l
All data is represented in the database thus:
Each identifiable item of data is known as a PDMS element.
Each element has a number of associated pieces of information which, together,

completely define its properties. These are known as its attributes.
Every element is identified within the database structure by an automatically
allocated reference number and, optionally, by a user-specified name.
Additional items of information about an element which could be stored as
attribute settings include:
Its type
Its physical dimensions and technical specifications
Its physical location and orientation in the design model
Its connectivity
Some attribute settings must be defined by you when you create a new element,
others will be defined automatically by PDMS.
The vertical link between two elements on adjacent levels of the database hierarchy
is defined as an owner-member relationship. The element on the upper level is the
owner of those elements directly linked below it. The lower level elements are
members of their owning element. Each element can have many members, but it
can have only one owner.
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Version 11.6
When you are modifying a database (for example, when you are creating new
elements or changing the settings of their attributes), you can consider yourself to be
positioned at a specific point within the hierarchy. The element at this location is
called the current element (often abbreviated to CE).
You can navigate from any element to any other, thereby changing the current
element, by following the owner-member links up and down the hierarchy.
In many cases, commands which you give for modifying the attributes of an element
will assume that the changes are to be applied to the current element unless you
specify otherwise, so you must understand this concept and always be aware of your
current position in the database hierarchy. The Design Explorer (see Section 3.7)
will always show you this information.
4.3
Creating Some Administrative Elements

We will now create some administrative elements at the top of the Design DB
hierarchy, as explained in the preceding section.
Exercise continues:
12.
Check that you are at World level (

icon) in the Design Explorer, then
select Create>Site. On the displayed Create Site form, enter the name
TESTSITE in the Name text box.
Press Return to confirm the name; note how the system adds a / prefix
automatically to conform to PDMS naming conventions. Click OK to create the
Site element. Notice that the new element appears in the Design Explorer as
the current element.
13.
Repeat this process, using the appropriate options from the Create menu, to
create a Zone named TESTZONE, a Structure TESTSTRU, a Framework
TESTFRMW and a Subframework (Sub-Frame) TESTSBFR, in that order.
Your Design Explorer should now look like this (only newly created elements
shown):

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4-3
14.
Click on the menu option Display>Draw List and you will see that the Structure
element has been automatically added to it. We cover the Draw List in more
detail later.
In the next chapter, you will start to build up a design model by creating some
structural members.
4-4

Version 11.6

In this chapter we will start to build up a structural design model by creating a
simple configuration of interconnected columns and beams. Before we do so,
however, it is important to understand how some of the items which make up the
design are represented and accessed in the PDMS databases, as explained in the
following sections.
5.1
Design-to-Catalogue Cross-Referencing
To ensure design consistency and conformity with company standards, the basic
definitions of all items which you may use in the structural design are held in a
Catalogue database. This holds definitions of all available profiles and materials for
structural columns/beams/bracing etc., all standard types of joint, all auxiliary
fittings, and so on. When you add an item to your design model, you store the
position, orientation etc. for the item in the Design database, but you specify the
physical properties of the item by setting up a cross-reference (called a
Specification Reference or SpecRef) which points to an appropriate entry in the
Catalogue database.
5.2
How PDMS Represents Structural Members
5.2.1 Straight Sections

Each individual straight structural member (column, beam, etc.) is represented in
PDMS by a Section (SCTN) element. The geometry of a Section is defined by two
types of attribute setting:
Its cross-section is defined by reference to a Catalogue Profile (SPRF) element

(I-beam, T-section, Channel, etc.).
All other aspects of its geometry are defined by setting specific design attributes
(in most cases these are set automatically by PDMS as you manipulate the
model graphically). Two of the most important attributes are the Start Position
(POSS) and the End Position (POSE), since the positions of these points
effectively determine the length and orientation of the item. We will look in
more detail at these and some other attributes of Sections later.
To provide a method for referring to individual edges and faces of a Section, each is
identified by a named line running along the length of the Section. These reference
lines (which are derived from the Sections Profile definition in the catalogue) are

Version 11.6
5-1
called P-lines. As an example, some of the most commonly used p-lines for an Ishaped Profile might be positioned and named as follows (see Appendix B for fuller
details of how this and other profiles are specified):
LTOS
RTOS
TOS
P -lin e (TOS )
S e c tio n
P ro file
LTBS
RTBS
NAR
NAL
En d P o s itio n (P OS E)
NA
LBTS
RBTS
P -lin e N a m in g Ke y :
S ta rt P os itio n (POSS)
NA = Neu t r a l Axis
TOS = Top of St eel
BOS = Bot t om of St eel
LBOS
BOS
RBOS
LTBS = Left Top Bot t om of St eel

a n d so on
5.2.2 Nodes
PDMS uses the concept of Nodes to represent basic analytical points within a
structure. Nodes have two main functions:
To identify the points at which logical connections are made between adjoining
Sections.
To define how applied stresses can affect individual points in the structure (for
passing design data to separate stress analysis programs).
Primary Nodes have their positions specified independently of other elements.

Secondary Nodes are positioned along an owning Section, at a specified distance
from the Sections Start Position. If you move a Section, its Secondary Nodes move
with it.
5.3
Some Initial Setting Up Operations

In the next part of the exercise we will set up some defaults to customise the
application to suit our planned method of working.
Exercise continues:
5-2

Version 11.6
5.3.1 Setting Default Storage Areas

15.
First, we will specify where the principal structural elements are to be stored in
the design database hierarchy. Select Settings>Storage Areas. The
displayed form lets you specify storage areas for Primary Nodes and Sections
independently. At this stage, both areas are shown as unset.
We shall store both types of element directly under the Sub-Frame which we
created in the last step. Check that the sub-frame /TESTSBFR is the current
element (click on it in the Design Explorer if it isnt), then click on each line in
the Storage Areas list in turn. The new storage area settings will be shown
as follows:
Close the form by clicking the button. Note how the current storage area
settings are shown below the main tool bar, like this:
Section storage area
Node storage area
5.3.2 Automating Profile and Primary Node Allocations

16.
By default, each time you create a new Section, it will automatically be

associated with a Profile from the Catalogue. Also by default, Primary Nodes
will not be created automatically at unconnected section ends. For our present
purposes, leave both of these default settings in force, as shown (and controlled)
by the following buttons below the main tool bar, thus:
5.3.3 Setting the Default Specification for Profiles

17.
The current default profile, justification line, member line and joint line (these
terms will be explained later) are shown below the main tool bar. If these have
not yet been set (which will be the case here), the data area will look like this:

Version 11.6
5-3
The first structural sections which we will create will be columns, so we will set
the default profile to something suitable.
Click on the
button. The resulting Section Specification (Default) form
lets you select any specification from the available catalogues. For the purpose
of this exercise, set the Specification to British Standard and set
the Generic Type to Universal Columns. From the displayed list of
profiles applicable to BS Universal Columns, select 203x203x46kg/m, thus:
Leave the Justification list (justification determines the Setting out

position of the Section, that is the axis about which the geometry is offset), the
Member line list (which determines how sections are shown in wireline
views and drawings), and the Joint Line list (which determines the
position of a joint relative to an attached section) all set to NA (Neutral Axis).
We will see the effects of these later.
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Version 11.6
Click Apply to use this setting as the new default, noting that the current
specification is now shown like this:
Dismiss the Section Specification (Default) form when you have finished
with it.
5.4
Creating Sections Explicitly

We will first create four vertical columns, to the following design, using explicit
positioning; that is, we will position the columns at given positions within the
coordinate system of the site rather than by positioning them relative to existing
structural sections (since we have not yet created any).
Co lu m n 2
Co lu m n 3
Co lu m n 4
Co lu m n 1
9000
9000
5000
4000
E
N
5000
5000
7000
Origin
Keep these column designations in mind; we shall refer to them throughout the
rest of the exercise.
18.
Select Create>Sections>Straight.
You will see both a Section form and a Positioning Control toolbar, which
together control how the start and end points of sections are specified. The
Positioning Control toolbar is not relevant for our current purposes (we will
see what it is used for later).
On the Section form, check that the String Method is set to Single
(which means that you will define independent start and end positions for each
section) and that the Secondary Nodes check box is selected.
Select the Confirm check box (so that you can check where each new
section will be positioned before it is added to the database).
The forms settings should now look like this:

Version 11.6
5-5
button, which tells the system that you want to define a position
Click the
by entering explicit coordinates (this is the only practical option at this stage).
You will see a Define section start form. We want to position the start of the
first column at the site origin, so leave the East/North/Up coordinates at
the default position (E0, N0, U0), like this:
Note:
The default entry wrt World, meaning with respect to the World,
defines the coordinate system within which the position is specified.
Click OK. The Start position will be shown in the centre of the 3D View.
Rather than specifying all three coordinates for the Sections end position
explicitly, we will define its position relative to the Sections start.
Click the
button. You will now see a Define section end form in a
format which lets you enter the required data. We want to create a vertical
column 5000mm high, so enter the Direction as U and the Distance as
5000, thus:
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Version 11.6
Click OK, then click the Accept button on the Section form to confirm the
creation of the Section. Check the Design Explorer: the Section will appear as
SCTN 1. The Section will also be added to the Draw List, and will appear (as a
very small rectangle) in the centre of the 3D View.
19.
Using the same procedures, create the following three Sections:

Start Position E0 N7000 U0; Length 9000
(Dont forget to Accept each Section on the Section form after you have
defined it.)
When you have created all four columns, Dismiss the Section form.
Your Design Explorer should now show four Sections (SCTN 1-4), like this:

Version 11.6
5-7
Note that each newly created Section is placed before the current list position,
so that SCTN 1 in the list was the last Section created (corresponding to
Column 1 in the diagram).
5.5
Viewing the Design

In order to see what our design looks like as we build it up, and to enable us to
identify design items by simply pointing to them rather than by navigating to them
in the Design Explorer, we will now display our current design in a 3D View
window and learn how to manipulate this display.
5.5.1 Defining What Appears in the View
Exercise continues:
20.
The Draw List will contain the four Sections we have just created, as well as the
owning Structure element. Notice how there is a ticked box adjacent to each
element. We want to see all of our current design; to do this, simply click on the
(Walk to Draw List) button on the View Manipulation toolbar on the
left-hand side of the main Design window. All four Sections will appear within
the 3D View window in cross section, as we are looking down on them. Notice
how the view is automatically scaled so that all four Sections fit neatly within it.
21.
It is often useful to display coordinate Axes. To do this, click the

button on
the Main toolbar or select Query>Axes. You will see the Define Axes
form:
By default, the axes are positioned at the origin of the current element, but other
positioning options are available from the forms Select pull-down menu.
Ordinal (X,Y,Z) or cardinal (North, East, Up) directions can be specified, as can
the size of the axis arrow lines. See the online help for full details of the axes
facilities.
5-8

Version 11.6
Select the Cardinal Directions check box, change Size to 1000, then
select Close>Retain Axes from the forms pull-down menu.
22.
Other looking directions can be selected by positioning the mouse pointer

within the 3D View window and pressing the right-hand mouse button. Do this
and select Isometric>Iso 3 to set an isometric view direction.

Version 11.6
5-9
You should now see all four columns like this:
Notice that the status line shows the viewing direction. See section 5.5.2 for the
meaning of ROTATE on the status line.
Observe the effect of selecting different view directions (Look, Plan and
Isometric from the right-hand mouse button. Revert to Isometric>Iso 3 when
you have finished.
23.
5.5.2 Manipulating the Displayed View

You can manipulate the displayed model view in a number of ways. The three basic
operations which we will look at here are:
Rotate the view
Pan the view across the display area
Zoom in or out to magnify or reduce the view
The current manipulation mode is shown in the status line at the bottom of the 3D
View window (it is set to ROTATE in the preceding illustration).
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Version 11.6
To change the view manipulation mode, look at the Middle Button Drag options on
the 3D View shortcut menu. By pressing and holding down the middle mouse button
with the pointer within the 3D View, the view can manipulated in the selected way
simply by moving the mouse. The options of interest are Zoom Rectangle, Zoom
In/Out, Pan and Rotate.
Alternatively, you can change the manipulation mode by pressing one of the
function keys, or by using the View Manipulation tool bar buttons, thus:
F2 or
selects Zoom mode
F3 or
selects Pan mode
F5 or
selects Rotate mode
(Try these selection options and observe the effect on the Middle Button Drag
shortcut menu; a tick appears against the selected option.)
Exercise continues:
24.
Select
25.
Position the cursor in the view area and hold down the middle mouse button,
then move the mouse slowly from side to side while watching the effect on the
displayed model.
The initial direction of movement determines how the view appears to rotate;
starting with a left or right movement causes the observers eye-point to move
across the view.
26.
Now release the mouse button, hold it down again and move the mouse away
from you and towards you; this time the observers eye-point appears to rotate
up and down around the model.
27.
Repeat the rotation operations while holding down the Control key. Note that
the word Fast appears in the status line and that the rate of rotation is
increased.
28.
Repeat the rotation operations, but this time hold down the Shift key. Note that
the word Slow appears in the status line and that the rate of rotation is
decreased.
For an alternative way of rotating the model, try dragging the horizontal and
vertical sliders to new positions along the view borders. You can rotate the
model in this way at any time, regardless of the current manipulation mode.
29.
Select
30.
then move the mouse slowly in all directions.
Note that it is the observers eye-point which follows the mouse movement
(while the viewing direction remains unchanged), so that the displayed model

Version 11.6
5-11
appears to move in the opposite direction to the mouse; in effect, you move the
mouse towards that part of the view which you want to see.
31.
Repeat the pan operations while holding down first the Control key (to increase
the panning speed) and then the Shift key (to decrease the panning speed).
32.
Select
33.
then move the mouse slowly up and down.
Moving the mouse away from you (up) zooms in, effectively magnifying the
view; moving the mouse towards you (down) zooms out, effectively reducing
the view. Note that these operations work by changing the viewing angle (like
changing the focal length of a camera lens); they do not change the observers
eye-point or the view direction.
34.
Repeat the zoom operations while holding down first the Control key and then
the Shift key.
35.
Position the pointer near the centre of Column 1 and click (do not hold down)
the middle mouse button. Notice how the view changes so that the picked point
is now at the centre of the view. Whenever you click the middle button,
whatever the current manipulation mode, you reset the centre of interest. Switch
to Zoom mode (if not already selected), set the centre of interest to the top of
Column 2, then zoom in for a close-up view of the top of the column. You will
find this a very useful technique when making small adjustments to the design:
we shall use it later to see the effect of realigning sections where they are
connected at a joint.
36.
To restore the original view when you have finished, select
37.
Finally, observe the effect of clearing some of the ticked check boxes and
changing the colours and translucency of the elements using the controls in the
Draw List.
5.5.3 Navigating in the Database by Picking Elements Graphically

38.
5-12
Notice that the pick mode prompt at the top of the 3D View says Navigate :
(there is another mode, Modify : - see the online help for details of this Model
Editor mode. Position the pointer over each column in turn and click the lefthand mouse button. Notice how this navigates to the picked element, which is
highlighted in a different colour in the 3D View and becomes the current
element in the Design Explorer. Compare the identifier of each SCTN element
in the Design Explorer with its designation in the labelled view shown in Step
22; SCTN 1 should correspond to Column 1, and so on.

Version 11.6
5.6
Event-Driven Graphics Mode

Before we begin the next part of the exercise, it is necessary to understand a new
way of using the pointer to pick points in the graphical view. Whenever the
Positioning Control form (which you saw but did not use earlier) is displayed, the
graphical view is switched automatically into event-driven graphics mode (you may
have noticed that the pick mode prompt, immediately above the graphical view,
changed while you were defining positions in Steps 18 and 19). This means that
when you pick a point in the displayed graphics, your action is interpreted in
whatever way is appropriate to your current design operation (i.e. the current event)
rather than simply as a request to navigate to a new current element (as was the case
in Step 38). In our examples, picking in event-driven graphics mode will always be
used to specify a position.
The position derived from your pointer pick can be the exact point at which you
have placed the pointer or, more commonly, it can be a position which is related to
the picked point in a specified way. The main concept involved is that of the snap
function, which automatically chooses the nearest Start, End or (optionally)
Secondary Node position to the picked point, so that you do not need to be very
accurate when positioning the pointer.
The full range of options available for identifying positions is extensive. For
example, you can specify a position at:
a given offset from the nearest snap point;
the mid-point of a picked item;
the intersection of two picked items;
a given proportion along the length of a picked item.
We will use several of the available facilities in the rest of the exercise.
5.7
Creating Sections Using Graphical Picking

In the following part of the exercise, we will add horizontal beams to our four
columns. We will identify the start and end positions for these beams by using the
pointer and left-hand mouse button to pick the columns to which they are to be
connected. This has the advantage that you do not need to remember which section
is which in the Design Explorer; you work visually, as you would on a drawing
board.
The design which we will build is as follows (with column heights shown as a
reminder):

Version 11.6
5-13
Beam 1
Co lu m n 2
Co lu m n 3
(9000)
(9000)
Beam 2
Beam 4
Beam 3
Co lu m n 4
Co lu m n 1
(5000)
U
(4000)
E
N
Keep these beam designations in mind; we shall refer to them throughout the
rest of the exercise.
For demonstration purposes, we shall create a single beam in the position occupied
by Beams 3 and 4 and then split this into two separate beams, with automatic length
and connection adjustments, in a subsequent step.
Exercise continues:
39.
Click on the Profile Specification button

and set the default
profile specification to British Standard, Universal Beams,
305x165x40kg/m (as in Step 17). Leave the Justification, Member
Line and Joint Line set to NA for the purpose of this exercise (you will
see later that this would not be your normal choice of justification setting in
practice; we are using this setting for demonstration purposes only). Apply
and Dismiss the form.
40.
Select Create>Sections>Straight to redisplay the Section form, which you

used earlier, and the Positioning Control form, which this time you will use to
identify positions by picking them with the pointer in the graphical view.
Set the String Method to Single, since we will begin by specifying the
start and end points independently for each section. Select the Secondary
Nodes check box so that secondary nodes and joints will be created
automatically at all connections between sections. Select the Confirm check
box to begin with and clear it Off later when you feel it is no longer
necessary. Note that the Secondary Joint (SJOI) element forms the basis of the
analytical model
Rather than enter explicit coordinates, we will define the Start Position as a
point on one of our existing columns (namely the top of Column 3) which we
will pick using the pointer.
On the Positioning Control toolbar, set the Pick Type option (left-hand
drop-down list; see tool tip) to Element. This means that you are going to pick
5-14

Version 11.6
sections themselves, rather than individual plines, for identifying positions

within the design model.
The Pick Method setting (right-hand drop-down list) specifies how you
want your pointer picks to be interpreted as positions (remember, we are now
using event-driven graphics mode). Set this to Snap, meaning that you want to
snap to the position of the nearest Start or End of a picked section; this option
will remain in force until you change it.
The settings will look like this:
Notice that the pick mode prompt above the graphical view shows the current
event as Define section start (Snap). Pick a point anywhere in
the upper half of Column 3. Note that the word Start appears in the view to
mark the specified start point and that the snap action has placed this at the
upper end of the column.
41.
The pick mode prompt will have changed to Define section end
(Snap). Pick a point anywhere in the upper half of Column 2 to define the
End Position of the new beam. Note how the proposed route of the new beam is
shown in the 3D View. Click the Accept button on the Section form to
confirm the section creation. Beam 1 will be shown with its start connected to
the top of Column 3 and its end connected to the top of Column 2.
The length of the beam is calculated automatically, with allowances for the section
dimensions, but you will see that the beams position is too high. This is because the
justification datum is set to the Neutral Axis (NA), as shown by the
Profile Specification setting /BS-SPEC/305x165x40kg/m
(NA/NA/NA). We will now correct this by resetting the justification datum to the
Top of Steel (TOS) pline. The result will be as shown in the following diagram:
Node
NA of Beam
Node
TOS of Beam
Exercise continues:

Version 11.6
5-15
42.
Switch temporarily from event-driven graphics mode to graphical navigation

mode by clicking the
button on the main tool bar (check the pick mode
prompt). Change the view direction to Look>East, move the centre of interest
to the approximate mid-point of Beam 1, and zoom in to see more clearly what
happens at the ends of the beam. Pick the new beam to ensure that it is the
current element and select Modify>Sections>Specification. On the Section
Specification form, set the Justification to TOS, thus.
Select the Use as default profile check box, so that the next beams
which you create will be aligned correctly without further adjustment. Apply
the change and the beam should move down to the correct position.
Notice that the default specification has changed, thus:
You could, alternatively, have realigned just the current beam by selecting the
Modify>Sections>Justification option, but this would not have let you reset
the default specification for subsequent beam creation.
43.
We will now create Beam 2, with its Start Position at the top of Column 4,
running horizontally to connect part-way up Column 3. Reset the view, if
necessary, to show all sections so far created. Return to event-driven graphics
mode by Dismissing the Section form and selecting
Create>Sections>Straight again, ready to position the start of the next
Section (check the pick mode prompt again). Position the Start for Beam 2 at
the top of Column 4.
To pick the End Position, we will use the snap facility with a specified offset
distance along the picked Section. From the Positioning Control toolbars
Pick Method list, select Distance and, in the adjacent Method Value
field, enter 5000 (i.e. the height of Column 4):
The pick mode prompt should now say Pick section end (Distance
[5000]). Pick anywhere in the lower half of Column 3. The End Position is
calculated by snapping to the bottom of the column and then moving up (i.e.,
towards the pointer) by 5000 mm. Accept the Section on the Section form.
44.
5-16
In the preceding step, we had to remember the height of Column 4 in order to

set the correct snap offset distance. We will now create a beam from the top of

Version 11.6
Column 1, running horizontally to Column 3 (equivalent to Beam 3 plus Beam

4 in our design sketch), without remembering any dimensions.
Position the Start of the new beam at the top of Column 1 as before (remember
to reset the pick option to Snap).
45.
We will now compare two alternative ways of achieving the required End
Position. Make sure that Verification: Confirm check box is selected
so that you can cancel the first method to try the second.
Method 1
Because the beam is to be horizontal, we can constrain its End Position to have
the same elevation as its Start Position. To do this, we will use the explicit
positioning form which we used earlier, but will enter the coordinates on the
form by graphical picking rather than by typing them in. This step will
demonstrate the ease with which you can mix the different ways of defining
positions (using the Section, Positioning Control and Define section end
forms) to suit the current circumstances.
Click the
button on the Section form to display the Define section end
form. The latter will initially show the coordinates of the last point picked,
namely the top of Column 1.
Select the Lock check next to the Up field, like this:
Lock On
Notice how the Up coordinate is greyed out to show that you cannot change it.
You can now pick any part of Column 3 to specify the beams End Position,
since the elevation of the snap point will be ignored in favour of the constraint
that the End Position must be at the same elevation as the Start Position; only
the East and North coordinates of the pick are used. OK the Define section
end form, then click Reject on the Section form to cancel the creation.
Method 2
The Start Position will still be shown at the top of Column 1.
and
buttons on the Section form both let you create a section
The
which is perpendicular to another section. We will constrain the new beams
End Direction to be perpendicular to Column 3.

Version 11.6
5-17
Click the Perpendicular to button

, then pick Column 3. The derived End
Position will be the same as for Method 1. This time Accept the section
creation.
46.
When you have created the three beams, dismiss the section creation forms.
(Note that clicking Dismiss on the Section form also removes the
Positioning Control toolbar and returns the pick mode prompt to Navigate.)
Zoom in close to the beam which you created last and notice how it passes
straight through Column 2. We will now split this beam into two separate
sections to form Beam 3 and Beam 4.
47.
Select Modify>Sections>Split. Set the controls on the Split Sections form

as follows:
noting that the lengths of Beams 3 and 4 are to be adjusted automatically where
they meet at Column 2 (Connections at split set to Trimmed).
Click Apply. When prompted to identify item to be split on
(see the status line) pick the element which corresponds to the split point, in this
case Column 2. Cancel the next prompt (since we are splitting the beam in one
place only) by pressing the Esc key. When prompted to identify
section to be split, pick any part of the beam which is to be split to
form Beams 3 and 4. Esc the next prompt (since we are splitting one section
only).
Notice how the proposed split point is identified in the graphical view. Confirm
the splitting and then dismiss the Split Sections form.
When using this facility, the items to be split on and the items to be split must
actually intersect at the required split points. Projected intersection points will not
work.
We have now completed the creation of the substructure illustrated at the start of this
part of the exercise, namely (looking East):
5-18

Version 11.6
Beam 1
Co lu m n 2
Co lu m n 3
Beam 2
Beam 4
Beam 3
Co lu m n 4
Co lu m n 1
U
E
N
If you look at the Design Explorer, you will see that each column (SCTN) element
now owns one or more Secondary Nodes (SNODs; marked in the above diagram)
at the locations of the ends of the beams. Each Secondary Node owns one or two
Secondary Joints (SJOIs) with connection references to the attached beams. This
provides the logical connectivity between the sections.
5.8
Collecting Elements into Temporary Lists

The next design operation will be to create multiple copies of the current
substructure, with a specified spacing distance between them.
In order to demonstrate another useful facility, we will put all members of the SubFrame (Sections, Secondary Nodes and Joints) into a List - a temporary collection of
elements which lets you carry out operations on the list as a whole. Each list
definition is valid only for the duration of the current PDMS session (although you
can save such definitions in a binary file for reloading into a future session).
Exercise continues:
48.
Select Utilities>Lists from the main menu or click the

button on the main
tool bar. You will see a Lists/Collections form for controlling the existence
and contents of all lists for the current session. If any lists existed, you would be
able to select the one which you wanted to modify from the list next to the
button. Since we have not yet used this facility, this will simply say No
List.
49.
From the Lists/Collections menu bar, select Add>List. In the

Description box on the Create List form, enter TESTLIST.
50.
Ensure that your current element is the Sub-Frame by clicking on it in the

Design Explorer and then, from the Lists/Collections menu bar, select
Add>CE Members. All elements owned by the Sub-Frame will now be shown
as items within TESTLIST, like this:

Version 11.6
5-19
Select Control>Close to dismiss the Lists/Collections form when you have

finished with it.
Notice that the new list automatically becomes the current list, thus:
5.9
Copying Parts of the Design Model

Rather than create many more columns and beams individually, we are now going to
copy the ones we have already created and reposition the copies thus:
Existing Subframe
U
Origin
N
E
6000
5-20
6000
6000

Version 11.6
As explained in the preceding part of this exercise, we shall copy the list containing
all members of the Sub-Frame rather than the Sub-Frame itself.
Exercise continues:
51.
Select Create>Copy>Offset. You will see a Copy with Offset form which
allows you to specify what you want to copy (Object), where the copies are to
be stored in the database hierarchy (to), how many copies you want, and how
each copy is to be positioned relative to its preceding neighbour (Offset).
52.
Set the Object to be copied to List; since only one list exists, its name
(TESTLIST) will be shown without further selection.
Set the to option to Rel. (Relative). This will create the new element copies
in the same part of the database hierarchy as the original elements; that is, as
members of the Sub-Frame.
53.
Set the Number of Copies to 3.
54.
Note that the Offset must be specified in terms of the local X,Y,Z coordinates
of the geometric primitives making up the structural items, rather than the
E,N,U coordinates used to position items within the overall design model. In
our case, by default, X=E, Y=N and Z=U. Note that the axes are shown
automatically in the displayed 3D View as a guide.
Set the X Offset to 6000, leaving Y and Z set to 0.
The form settings should now look like this:
55.
Click Apply to create the three offset copies and, when prompted, confirm
that you want to retain the copies (assuming that they look correct in the
graphical view). Dismiss the Copy with Offset form when you have finished.
56.
and select Isometric>Iso3 from the 3D View shortcut menu so that

Click
you can see the whole of the current design.

Version 11.6
5-21
57.
Study the Design Explorer to see what elements have now been created and
where they fit into the hierarchy. Note that the Sub-Frame now owns 32
Sections, comprising 16 columns and 16 beams, together with all of the
necessary Secondary Nodes and Joints needed to define their interconnections.
5.10 Completing the Initial Design

The final design model which we want to achieve in this part of the exercise has
beams running in an East-West direction to give the structure stability, as shown in
the following diagram:
U
N
Orig in
E
In creating these beams, we will include some variations of the ways so far used to
define the start and end positions of the beams.
Exercise continues:
58.
Start by creating the three most southerly beams (show in black on the
diagram). Do this by creating a single beam and then splitting it into three
lengths to fit between the columns (use the technique described at Step 47).
59.
Next, we will create the three beams directly to the north of those which you
have just created (shown cross-hatched on the diagram). We will do this in a
sequence of operations in which the start of each section (after the first) will be
situated automatically at the end of the preceding section.
Set the String Method to Continuous on the Section form to begin
creating a chained configuration of sections. By default, the start of the next
section is assumed to be at the end of the previous section (as shown in the 3D
View); click the Redefine Start button to override this.
5-22

Version 11.6
On the Positioning Control toolbar, set Pick Method to Intersect to

show that you will identify positions at the intersection points of pairs of
existing sections. To create the first beam, pick first Column 3 and then Beam 2
(whose intersection is at the Start Position of the first required beam, labelled A
in the diagram), then use the same method to pick the intersection which
identifies the end of this beam (B in the diagram). If Confirm is selected, click
Accept to create the beam (otherwise your next picks will simply redefine the
end of this section). It is important to stress the behaviour of not picking the
attached member first as the sequence of picking the intersections determines
the ownership of the SNOD/SJOI and therefore the connectivity model
The start of the next beam will be positioned automatically at B (as shown in
the 3D View). Use the same procedure to pick points C and D to create the next
two beams. Click the Redefine Start button on the Section form to
define a new start for another section or sequence of sections.
60.
Complete the design using a combination of the techniques which you have
learned, plus any other options that you want to experiment with (using the online help for guidance when required). Switch Confirm to Off to speed up the
process as you gain confidence. If you make a mistake in the middle of defining
a section, click Redefine Start to go back a stage.
Note:
you will probably need to use the Middle Button Drag view
manipulation options available from the 3D View shortcut menu in
order to be able to have a clear view of the correct Sections prior to
clicking on them.
Dismiss the Section form when you are satisfied with your results.
Note:
If you simply copy beams, either singly or as a composite list, the

copies will be positioned but will not be connected automatically.
5.11 Saving Your Changes and Leaving Your Design

Session
61.
To update the database so as to store the design model which you have created
so far, select Design>Save Work from the main menu bar or click the
button. (It is wise to use this function periodically as you build up a design, so
that you do not have to start from the beginning in the event of loss of work due
to an unforeseen interruption, such as a power failure.)
62.
To save your current screen layout and display settings, so that next time you
use the application you can rapidly restart from where you interrupted your
design session, select Display> Save>Forms & Display from the main menu
bar.
63.
To leave your current PDMS design session and return to the operating system,
select Design>Exit from the main menu bar. If you had made any changes
since your last Save Work operation, you would be asked if you wanted to save

Version 11.6
5-23
them; in the present situation, you will just be asked to confirm that you want to
leave PDMS.
5-24

Version 11.6

Version 11.6
5-25

If a significant part of the model that you want to design comprises a regular array of
beams and columns, a special facility is provided to speed up the creation of all the
necessary elements to define the fully connected structure. Even if your model is not
completely regular in layout, you might find it quicker to use this facility first and
then to modify the design as necessary, rather than build up the design section-bysection as we have done so far.
In this chapter we will build a new structure using this method, so that you can judge
whether or not it is relevant to your own types of design work.
Exercise continues:
64.
Restart PDMS and enter the Design module, loading the applications from
macro files, as explained in Step 8. Notice how the Project, Username and
MDB have been remembered from your last session, so that you do not need to
enter them again: you do, however, need to enter your Password for every
session. Enter the Beams & Columns application, as in Step 11. (We will see
later how to restore the screen layout which you saved earlier.)
65.
We will store our new model under a separate Structure element in the
hierarchy, so that it can easily be distinguished from the design model which we
created in the earlier parts of the exercise. Navigate to Zone level and below this
create a new Structure, Framework and Subframework, giving them different
names from those specified in Step 13 (for example, /REGSTRU, /REGFRMW
and /REGSBFR, respectively).
66.
Check that automatic Profile allocation is On and Primary Node

creation is Off, as in Step 15. (As you will see soon, storage areas and
specifications need not be set yet.)
67.
Select Create>Sections>Specials. The resulting Section Creation form

lists all available methods: the options available depend on how your system has
been set up, but they should include the following:

Version 11.6
6-1
68.
To initiate the use of any available method, you click on it in the list. In this
case, select Regular Structure, then Dismiss the form. You will see a
Regular Structure form which gives you complete control of the whole design
process. In the following steps, we will look at this form in three distinct parts.
69.
The areas labelled Column Data and Beam Data let you set the storage
areas, profile specifications and justification p-lines independently for the two
types of section. Set these as follows (replacing /REGSBFR by whatever name
you gave the Subframework in Step 65):
Note
70.
To enter each Storage area name, navigate to the Subframe

and type CE. The name of the current element will be entered
automatically.
To enter the Profile specifications, click the Profile button to

display the Section Specification form and pick the required
specification and pline settings.
The Grid Origin area lets you define how your structure is to be positioned
spatially. Enter the following settings:
The Datum setting defines the element whose reference axes will determine the
origin and orientation of the structure.
6-2

Version 11.6
The Underside of Base-Plate setting lets you set the lowest point of
your structure (underside of baseplate) relative to the datum axes. This lets you
define the elevations of the structural members relative to a plane which does
not correspond to the base of the overall structure. We have set this to 1000, so
that the bottoms of the columns will be truncated at an elevation of 1000 mm.
(We will see the effect of this when we view the completed model.)
71.
The East Spacings and North Spacings lists specify the relative
spacing between adjacent columns in the given directions. The Elevation list
specifies the absolute elevations of the beams representing the floor levels. Type
in the following values:
These settings will create 16 columns on a 4x4 rectangular grid, with a uniform
inter-column spacing of 3000 mm in the East direction and 5000 mm in the
North direction. The columns will be 4000 mm high, to accommodate two
floors at elevations of 3000 mm and 5000 mm relative to the datum plane, but
with the bottoms of the columns truncated so that they do not extend below the
1000 mm elevation specified by the baseplate setting.
72.
Select the Trim sections to Plines check box, so that the beams will
have their lengths calculated to fit between the columns to which they are
connected.
73.
With view limits set for zone and view direction set to Iso 3, click the
Preview button to display a stick representation of the specified structure. It
should have the following configuration:

Version 11.6
6-3
5000
3000 1000
5000
5000
3000
3000
5000
Z/U
3000
Shaded area is
datum plane
Y/N
X/E
Origin
Check and, if necessary, correct the settings, then click Apply to create the
structure. The sections will first have the specified profiles applied to give them
their 3D geometry, then they will be trimmed to length and connected. This
process involves a lot of calculation, and might therefore take a minute or two
to complete; progress will be shown in the status bar.
74.
We will now modify the structure by removing beams as follows:

*
*
*
*
*
*
To do so, select Delete>Identified and then pick the 14 beams which are to be
removed. Escape the prompt when you have finished picking and confirm the
deletion.
6-4

Version 11.6
75.
Finally, we will reduce the heights of the eight outermost columns (marked * in
the preceding diagram). Rather than modify each one separately, create a new
list (select Utilities>Lists, as in Steps 48 and 49) and use the Add>Identified
option on the Lists/Collections form to add the columns into the list by picking
them with the pointer. (If you make a mistake, click on the column again to
deselect it; press Esc when you have finished.)
76.
Select Position>Extend>By. When prompted to Identify Section,

pick any of the columns and then, on the resulting Extend Section - Explicit
form, select your new list as the item to be modified.
The Extend option list requires you to specify which end of the item is to be
moved. We need to adjust the upper end of each column, but is this its Start or
its End? To check this, make any one of the columns the current element and
select Settings> Graphics>Mark Section. The Start and End will be tagged in
the graphical view. Set the Extend button appropriately.
Select the Maintain Sections Node Positions check box so that
the positions of secondary nodes will not be affected by the length adjustments.
(This is only really relevant if you move the Start positions. We are leaving the
nodes in place here simply to demonstrate another facility in the next step.)
Set the Extension by to a Distance of -2000, since we want to reduce
the length of each item in the list by 2000 mm. Apply the settings, then
Dismiss the form. The result should be as follows:
77.
You will notice that the secondary nodes which were at the tops of the deleted
columns are still present, even though they no longer serve any useful purpose.
To delete these, navigate to the Sub-frame and select Delete>Tidy Nodes.
You will see a Tidy Nodes form telling you that 8 redundant nodes have been
identified. Select the Mark Nodes for Deletion check box to tag these
nodes in the graphical view, then click OK to delete them.

Version 11.6
6-5
6-6
78.
Now, for practice, extend the bottoms of all sixteen columns downwards by
1000 mm, so that they rest on the origin plane (shown shaded in the illustration
in Step 73).
79.
Update the Design database to save your work (by selecting Design>Save
Work).

Version 11.6

In this chapter, we will revert to our original structure and add some bracing
members. We will then select some joints from the catalogue. Finally, we will
modify the structure by moving part of it to a new position and then restoring the
correct geometry between its members semi-automatically.
7.1
Restoring a Previously Saved Setup

In order to continue developing the first structural model which we created, we will
reload the display setup which we saved earlier. If you intend to continue from
where you finish at the end of any PDMS design session, it is quicker to use the
Display>Save>... options to save your current settings to a file which you can
subsequently reload, rather than to reload the applications from their source macros
each time you use the Design module.
Exercise continues:
80.
If you are continuing straight on from the Regular Structure part of the
exercise, so that the Beams & Columns application is still loaded, select
Display>Restore>Forms & Display.
If you exited from PDMS after Step 79, restart PDMS and enter Design (as in
Step 8), but this time set the Load from option on the PDMS Login form to
Users Binary.
In either case, the result will be to load the display setup which you saved in
Step 61, so that your graphical view will show the structural model which you
created in the first part of the exercise (stored in TESTSTRU).
7.2
Trimming Connected Section Ends to Correct

Geometry
When you create a section connected to an existing section, the end points of the
new section are usually positioned automatically by reference to the currently
defined Pline Rule. If this rule has not been set up properly, the geometry at the
point of connection may be inappropriate. For example, in plan view, the connection
between a column and an incoming beam may look like this:

Version 11.6
7-1
or
rather than the intended configuration:
or
To correct this, you can trim the length of the incoming section to an explicitly
picked pline of the owning section. Before we develop our model further, we will
correct any errors of this type which might currently exist (otherwise we could have
problems connecting our bracing correctly).
Exercise continues:
81.
Zoom in to the graphical view and change the viewing direction so that you can
see the detailed geometry of each connection point in turn, looking for any
examples where an attached section has been trimmed to the wrong length. If
you find any, correct them as follows.
Select Connect>Trim to Pline>Pick (force). When prompted to Identify
section end to be trimmed, pick one of the ends which you want to
correct (as shown shaded in the preceding diagram). You will then be prompted
to Identify pline to be trimmed to; change the view if
necessary and pick the pline which corresponds to the required section end point
(typically NAR/NAL for a web connection or TOS/BOS for a flange
connection, as shown by the black dots in the preceding diagram, see also
Appendix B). Note how the pointer shape changes when it is positioned on a
pline and how the status bar helps you by identifying which pline is selected at
any given moment. Press Escape to action the change.
Hint:
you will need to make full use of the graphical manipulation facilities
detailed in section 5.5.2, in particular it is advisable to zoom in close to
the joint of interest. Also, it is advisable switch to wireline display
mode by selecting View>Settings>Shaded or by hitting F8 (this
toggles between wireline and shaded display modes).
Repeat this sequence, alternately picking section ends and plines, until all errors
have been corrected. Note that, if you are confident that you have made the
correct selections, you can pick any number of section/pline pairs before
pressing Esc.
82.
7-2
To check the current pline rule (if any), select Settings>Picking

Filters>Plines. You will see a Pline Filter form showing all currently
defined rules; this probably shows No Rule and Normal, with the former
Version 11.6
selected. The Normal rule will handle the connections that the rule being
created below is going to handle. We will set a rule to give appropriate results
for the rest of this exercise. To do so, click the Define Rule button to
display the Define Rules form. Enter the Name as Extremities (this will be
used to identify the rule in subsequent lists) and the Description as
Flange or web face for trimming at connection. Enter the
Rule thus (taking care to include the apostrophes and commas exactly as
shown:
PKEY inset (TOS,BOS,NAL,NAR,FOC,BOC,TOC)
Click the Include button to add the new rule into the list. The result is as
follows:
Click OK. Select the Extremities rule on the Pline Filters tab of the Snap
Settings form to make this the current rule. Click OK and close the Picking
Control form.

Version 11.6
7-3
Note:
7.3
A full explanation of the ways in which pline rules are set and applied
is beyond the scope of this introductory guide. Suffice it to say that the
rule we have set here may be interpreted as Select a pline which has
any of the PKEY settings specified in the list. (See Appendix C for
diagrams showing how these plines are positioned for typical
steelwork profiles.)
Adding and Modifying Simple Bracing

In the next part of the exercise, we will insert some simple diagonal bracing and then
use a short-cut facility to modify the spacing between the ends of the bracing
members and some reference plines.
We will create bracing members connected between columns, as shown by the thick
black sections in the following diagram:
(The letters and numbers identifying the columns and beams, respectively, in the
above diagram will be used for reference purposes in the steps which follow.)
The first bracing member will be connected to Columns A and B and its end
positions will be specified in terms of their spacing from Beams 1 and 2.
We will then use the Mirror Copying facility to create the other two bracing
members. This facility lets you create a copy of an existing element and to reposition
the copy automatically by reflecting it about an axis in a specified plane (so that the
original and copy elements are mirror images of one another).
Exercise continues:
83.
7-4
Click the Default Profile Specification button

and reset the
default specification to British Standard, Rect (Rectangular)
Version 11.6
Hollow Sections, 200.0x100.0x10.0 with Justification,

Member Line and Joint Line all set to NA. This will be the profile used
for the bracing members.
84.
Select Create>Sections>Straight. Using Pick Type: Element and Pick

Method: Intersect on the Positioning Control form, create a single
bracing member with its Start at the intersection of Column A and Beam 1 (A1
for short) and its End at B2.
IMPORTANT: When you pick the sections defining each intersection point,
your first pick defines the section to which the connection is made. In this case,
therefore, you must pick the column before the beam when defining each end,
otherwise the bracing gap trimming facility will not work correctly. Do not
worry if the vertical alignment of the bracing member ends looks wrong at this
stage; we will correct this in the next step.
Accept the beam, then Dismiss the Section form.
85.
Check that the bracing member is the current element and select
Modify>Bracing Gap. You will see a Brace Gaps form listing the different
ways of specifying the required gap. Ignore the Default Gap setting and
select Distance on picked Pline from a fixed point, noting
how the diagram on the form is updated to show the relevant dimensions and
picking sequence. Click Apply; you will see a Brace Gap(s) form. Select the
Confirm check box, but do not enter the Gap A data yet.
86.
You are now in event-driven graphics mode, ready to pick the plines from
which the bracing gap is to be calculated. We will first position the lower end of
the bracing member (currently at A1 in the preceding diagram). Using the
diagram on the Brace Gaps form as a guide, pick plines in the following order:
A pline on the lower face of the bracing member, such as BOS. Pick close to
the connection, so that the gap is calculated for the correct end.
A pline on Column A along which the gap is to be defined, such as NAL or

NAR.
A pline on the upper face of Beam 1, such as TOS.
Hint:
As previously mentioned, you might find it easier to pick the plines if

you switch the graphics to a wireline view. (Select
View>Settings>Shaded from the main menu bar, or just hit F8.)

Version 11.6
7-5
1. P line on lower
of br a cin g m em ber
Bracing Member
Column A
Gap (to be set to 150mm)
Beam 1
3. Pline on upper face

of r efer en ce m em ber
2. P line a lon g wh ich ga p is to be m ea su r ed
When you have picked the third pline, the calculated distance for the current
position will be shown in the graphical view and will also be inserted into the
Gap A text-box on the Brace Gap(s) form. The Accept/Reject buttons are
now active. Note that the displayed distance is measured downwards (because
of the way the plines currently intersect), whereas we want to move the bracing
section upwards. To achieve this, change the Gap A data to -150, check that
the new position shown in the graphical view is as required, then click Accept
to move the section end.
87.
Repeat the procedure to position the upper end of the bracing member with a
gap of 150mm measured down Column B from Beam 2. Dismiss the Brace
Gaps form.
88.
Before we create the next bracing members, try this facility for checking
whether or not the ends of a section are connected. With the bracing member as
your current element, select Utilities>Beams & Columns. From the menu bar
of the small form which results, pick Tag>All ends. The ends of the current
section should both be tagged as Connected. (We will see another way of
checking connectivity later.)
Rather than create and position the other two bracing members B4-C3 and C5-D6 by
repeating the preceding sequence of operations, we shall use a short-cut by copying
the existing A1-B2 section. We will reposition each copy by defining it as a mirror
image of its original reflected in an appropriate plane.
Exercise continues:
89.
7-6
Select Create>Copy>Mirror. You will see a Mirror form which allows you to
specify what you want to copy (Object), where the copies are to be stored in the
database hierarchy (to), and the plane in which the copy position is to reflected.
Version 11.6
90.
Assuming that you are still at the bracing member, set the Object to be copied
to CE and set the to option to Rel. Set the Type of mirror option to
Mirror Copy (since we want to create a new element rather than simply
reposition the original one).
91.
The plane in which we want to reflect the copied section is represented by the
shaded area in the following diagram:
Ex is tin g m e m be r
Co p ie d m e m be r
This plane is specified in terms of its direction (i.e. the direction of the normal
to the plane) and of the position of any point within it. The Mirror form
provides several methods of specifying these by picking items in the existing
model; we will use Column B to define the position and will enter the direction
explicitly.
Select Cursor>Element from the Mirror forms menu and, when prompted,
pick any part of Column B. The position identified will snap to the start or end
of this column (depending on where you picked) and its coordinates will be
entered into the East/North/Up text boxes automatically. You will see a
symbolic representation of the planes position and orientation in the graphical
view.
Note that the Plane Direction text box now shows the cutplane direction
of the columns start or end (namely Up or Down). Change this to East and
observe the reorientation of the symbolic plane in the graphical view.
Note:
If you want to enter the Plane Direction before you pick the
position, select the Lock check box to l to prevent its setting being
updated when you pick the position.
The form settings should now look like this (the Up coordinate will be 9000
rather than 0 if you picked near the top of Column B rather than near the
bottom):

Version 11.6
7-7
92.
Click Apply to create the mirrored copy and, when prompted, confirm that you
want to retain the copy.
93.
Using the same procedure, create the third bracing member (C5-D6) by copying
and reflecting the second member (B4-C3).
94.
The two copies which you have just created should be positioned correctly, but
will not yet be connected. To check this, instead of using the Tag utility for
each new bracing member as in Step 88, select Query>End Connections. The
resulting Highlight Connections form lets you see the connectivity status of all
relevant members of the current element. Navigate to the SubFrame
TESTSBFR and click the CE button on the Highlight Connections form to
update the displayed data. The numbers on the coloured buttons show the
number of sections in each category: they should show 40 sections with both
ends connected and 16 sections with neither end connected. Select the
corresponding Highlight check boxes to colour the sections in the 3D View;
click on a coloured button if you would prefer a different highlight colour.
Note:
95.
7-8
You might think that the upper ends of the columns should be shown
as connected. However, the beams at those points are connected (via
Secondary Joints) to Secondary Nodes positioned along the columns,
rather than to Primary Nodes at the column extremities. Therefore,
even though the Secondary Nodes in this case happen to be coincident
with the tops of the columns, the diagnoses are correct.
To connect the ends of the two bracing sections to the appropriate columns,
select Connect>Connect and follow the status bar prompts carefully.
(Escape terminates each stage of the process in the usual way.) Use the
Highlight Connections form again to confirm the results.

Version 11.6
7.4
Adding Standard Bracing Configurations

To avoid the need for creating individual bracing sections as we have just done, the
application provides a quick way of adding some predefined bracing configurations.
To demonstrate this facility, we will first add a cross bracing configuration (using
angle sections) in the vertical plane and then a diamond bracing configuration (using
universal beam sections) in the horizontal plane, in the locations shown by the thick
black lines in the following diagram:
U
N
E
Exercise continues:
96.
Select Create>Sections>Bracing configurations. You will see a Bracing

form.
This form does not use the default settings for section data, so first set the
following:
Hint: Use the same methods for entering this data as in Step 69.
Storage area to the Subframe /TESTSBFR;
Profile to British Standard, Equal Angle, 70x70x6.0;
Justification to NAL (Neutral Axis Left: this will align the angle sections
back-to-back; see diagram in Appendix D);
Member Line and Joint Line to NA.
Leave the Bracing Plane option set to Derived by Section so that
the bracing members will lie in the same plane as the sections to which they will
be attached.
97.
In the Available Bracing Configurations list, select Cross

Bracing. Notice how the parameterised diagram shows the details of the
selected configuration. The diagram shows the dimensions which must be
specified (A, B) and the order in which existing sections must be picked (1, 2,

Version 11.6
7-9
...) so as to position and connect the bracing members correctly. For the cross
bracing configuration it looks like this:
Gap B
Pick 2
Pick 1
Note: In our design this

datum is the lower end of
the column, since, there
is no cross beam at this
position.
Gap A
Click Apply; you will see a Cross Bracing form. Set Gap A to 150 and Gap
B to 300. Select Confirm.
You are now in event-driven graphics mode. Using the diagram on the Bracing
form as a guide, pick the two columns between which the bracing members are
to be connected. To achieve the required configuration, make sure that your first
pick is near the bottom of the first column and that your second pick is just
below the cross beam on the second column; that is, pick reasonably close to the
required connection points for the bracing members.
When you are satisfied with the configuration shown in the graphical view,
accept the creation of the sections forming the bracing members and then
dismiss the Bracing form.
98.
Repeat the procedure used in Steps 96 and 97 to create the diamond bracing at
the top of the structure. Set the Profile to British Standard,
Universal Beams, 203x133x25, and the Justification, Member
Line and Joint Line all to NA.
In the Available Bracing Configurations list, select Diamond
Bracing. The parameterised diagram will show that you need to specify the
separations between the bracing members for each pair of opposing sections.
Click Apply to display the Diamond Bracing form on which to enter this data.
Set both Gap A and Gap B to 500, leave confirm selected, and pick the
four beams (in the correct sequence, as shown in the diagram) to complete the
operation. Dismiss the Bracing form when you have finished.
Note:
7-10
You must dismiss the Diamond Bracing form, thereby leaving eventdriven graphics mode, in order to change the bracing configuration (as
you did between Steps 97 and 98). If you want to add more sections
using the current bracing configuration, however, you can simply
continue picking connection points in the graphical view.

Version 11.6
7.5
Representing Joints
Although each connection has created a corresponding Secondary Joint element in
the Design database (shown in the Design Explorer as SJOIs, owned by SNODs),
these do not yet have any geometry associated with them and are not therefore
shown in the graphical view. In order to represent them properly, we must associate
a catalogue specification with each joint (in the same way that each section profile is
defined by an associated catalogue specification).
Joints have a number of attributes whose settings allow you to position and orientate
them and to modify the ends of sections connected to them. We will look at the most
important of these attributes here, so that we can represent some simple joints in our
design model. The key to success lies in the optimum design of the joint as defined
in the catalogue, which is a specialised field beyond the scope of this user guide.
The following topics illustrate the main features (do not try to remember them all
now; refer back here when necessary):
A Shelf Angle Joint as defined in the Catalogue:
(only the Neutral Axis pline is shown for clarity)
Z
Y
X
Origin plane is X,Y plane through

origin.
Origin plane direction is Z.
Plines extrude in Y direction.
Pline direction is Z direction
Note: Origin plane is shown by heavy
lines in the following diagrams.
NA
Origin
Position and orientation of a Secondary Joint relative to a Secondary Node:

Beta Angle (BANG) defines orientation about Z axis
Origin Plane Direction (OPDI) defines orientation
about X,Y axes
Z
Y
Position Line (POSL) (here set to
TOS) defines position
TOS
Owning Section
(2D view only)
NA
SNode
BOS
ZDIST defines position of SNode relative to POSS of Section

Version 11.6
7-11
Connecting a Joint to the Start of an Attached Section:

Owning
Section
BOS
NA
TOS
TOS
SNode
BANG of Section
POSS
NA
Attached
Section
BANG of Joint
BOS
OPDI of Joint
JLIN of Joint set to BOS of Attached Section
JLIN of Attached Section set to NA of Joint
POSL of Joint set to TOS of Owning Section
Logical Connectivity:
JOIS of Attached Section points to Joint
CREF of Joint points to Attached Section
CTYA of Joint must match CTYS of Attached Section (for connection compatibility)
Note how the origin plane of the Joint is set with reference to the Owning Section
(via the POSL attribute), while its position within the constraints of that plane is set
with reference to the Attached Section (by aligning the plines defined by the JLINs
of both Joint and Section). That is, with reference to the orientation of the diagram,
the Joint is moved horizontally by changing its POSL and vertically by changing its
JLIN. Both the Section and the Joint can be rotated independently by changing their
BANGs (the Section rotates about its NA, the Joint about its OPDI).
How the Section end configuration depends on the Joint to which it is
attached:
(using a wedge-shaped Joint to demonstrate the principles)
Owning
Section
NA
POSS offset along NA by Cutback (CUTB) of Joint
SNode
POSS
DRNS of Attached Section
determined by CUTP of Joint
NA
Attached
Section
Joint's Cutting Plane
7-12

Version 11.6
Exercise continues:
For the purpose of this exercise, we will add some simple bolted flanges where the
beams are attached to the columns. Remember that the joint elements (SJOIs in the
Design Explorer) already exist as a result of connecting the sections together; we
need only set a pointer to the joint specification in the catalogue to define each
joints geometry.
99.
Select Modify>Joints>Specification. When prompted to Identify end

of section joint is connected to, pick the end of any N-S beam
(that is, any beam which abuts a column flange rather than a web) where you
want to insert a bolted joint. You will see a Joint Specification form for the
joint to which your picked section end is attached.
100.
The method for selecting from the available joint specifications is the same as
that which you used to select section profiles. Select Column Connections,
Column Flange, 6M24_flange, leaving all other form settings at their
defaults.
101.
Click the Properties... button. You will see a subsidiary Modify

Properties form which lets you specify some local dimensional data for the
selected type of joint. Set Thickness of Plt to 10, Dist from TOS to
0, and Dist from BOS to 30 (we will see what these do in a moment). OK
the Modify Properties form and Apply the Joint Specification form to
complete the setting of the joint specification. (The geometry of most types of
joint can be modified via appropriate entries on a form such as this, depending
on how the catalogue has been set up.)
102.
To see a correct representation of the joint, we must set up the graphical view so
that it displays holes (negative volumes) as well as solid items (positive
volumes). To do so, select Settings> Graphics from the main menu bar and,
on the Representation tab, select the Holes Drawn check box. OK the
settings. Zoom in close to the beam end to see what the joint looks like. Notice
how the height and width of the endplate have been set automatically from the
dimensions of the beam and column, respectively, with adjustments to suit the
values entered on the Define Properties form. This is possible because the joint
dimensions in the catalogue are specified as design parameters whose values are
derived from the attached and owning sections.
The joint should look something like this:

Version 11.6
7-13
Section end
used to
identify joint
Dist from BOS = 30

Thickness of Plt = 10
Notice how the attached beam has been shortened to accommodate the
thickness of the plate and how the bolt holes in the plate have generated
corresponding holes in the column flanges.
103.
The position of the joint relative to the profile of the column (i.e. its owning
section) is determined by the joints position line. To see the effect of changing
this, select Modify>Joints>Position Line. The Position Line form will show
the current setting as either BOS or TOS (depending at which end of the beam
the joint is situated). Change this to the opposite setting (i.e. TOS or BOS),
select the Re-trim attached section check box, and click Apply. The
joint and its attached section end will move thus:
Section end
used to
identify joint
(view rotated)
7-14
104.
Reposition the joint correctly, then Dismiss the Position Line and Joint
Specification forms.
105.
Rather than set each joint specification explicitly, we can apply the specification
for one joint to other joints. We will use this facility to specify the joint at the
other end of the beam which we have just been looking at. To do so, select
Modify>Joints>Joint Like>Maintain Pline. When prompted to Identify
end of section to be copied like, pick the same section end as
in Step 99 (i.e. the end shown in the preceding diagram). When prompted to
Identify section end to be modified, pick the other end of the
same beam. Press Escape for both of the next prompts (we are only modifying
Version 11.6
one joint in this step). Zoom in close to the second joint and notice how its
geometry matches that of the first joint. The position line settings for the two
joints are, however, set automatically to opposite flanges of the column (TOS
for one, BOS for the other), to give the correct alignment.
Note:
106.
7.6
If the joints were handed, such as a shelf angle, you would also see
that the second joint has been rotated automatically about its vertical
axis to match the start/end directions of the section. This is not
apparent for the endplate, but if you select Query>Attributes you will
be able to see which attributes differ between the two joints.
Using the same method as in Step 105, set the specifications for some of the
other column flange joints.
Dominant versus Subordinate Joints

When you reposition a joint which has one or more attached sections, the effect on
those sections depends upon whether or not the joint has been defined as dominant
or subordinate, as defined by the setting of the joints Joint Freedom (JFRE)
attribute.
If JFRE is set to False (the default for a new joint), the joint is said to be subordinate
(also described by saying that the section is dominant). If JFRE is set to True, the
joint is said to be dominant.
Consider the following effects, where the joints owning section is moved thus:

Version 11.6
7-15
We will use this feature in the next part of the exercise.
7.7
Moving Part of the Structure and Maintaining

Correct Geometry
In the next part of the exercise, we shall move the columns and beams at the eastern
end of our structure to increase the overall length of the design model. This will
require the horizontal beams and the bracing member connected to the moved
columns to be extended and, in the case of the bracing member, realigned to
maintain the correct configuration.
The objective is to demonstrate the dominant joint concept (as described in Section
7.6) and to show how you can easily restore geometry between sections which has
been disrupted by moving parts of a structure independently.
The result which we want to achieve is as follows, where the thick black sections
will be moved explicitly and the broken lines indicate the new final configuration:
7-16

Version 11.6
The joints marked

* must
be dominant
*
*
* *
Note
realignment of
bracing
member
*
*
*
U
N
E
Exercise continues:
107.
In order to make the bracing member realign itself to maintain the specified
bracing gap, the joint to which it is connected must be dominant. To ensure this,
we will make the joints dominant at both ends of all bracing sections (as would
be normal practice).
For the purposes of this exercise, we will also make dominant the joints at both
ends of each of the four N-S beams between the columns to be moved (i.e. the
beams shown shaded in the preceding diagram).
Select Connect>Joint Dominant. Each joint is identified by picking the section
end to which it is connected. When prompted, pick both ends of each bracing
member created in Section 7.3 (six picks) and the ends of all relevant beams
(eight picks). Press Escape when you have finished.
Note:
This part of the exercise has been designed to illustrate, among other
features, the concept of joint dominance. In normal practice, only the
joints at the ends of the bracing members would be made dominant.
108.
Use the Utilities>Lists facility to create a new list and use the
Add>Identified option to add into it the four columns to be moved (shown
black in the preceding diagram).
109.
Select Position>Relatively (BY). You will see a Position By form which lets
you move an item by a given distance in a given direction. Use the option
button near the top-left of the form to set the item to be moved to the list
containing the columns (Current List). Enter the required movement in the
By text boxes; in this case specify a move by 2000 mm in the East direction.
When you Apply the settings, the columns should move as follows:

Version 11.6
7-17
U
N
E
At first sight, this appears to be a rather disastrous result. However, as long as

we have set all of the connectivity rules correctly, particularly the joint
dominance settings, we can easily rectify the problem by reconnecting all of the
sections which should be connected to the columns.
110.
Select Connect>Trim to Section>all attached. When prompted, pick each of

the four columns in turn, then press Escape and watch the results in the
graphical view as the correct geometry is restored.
(Note that Trim to Section differs from the Trim to Pline option, which we
used before, in that Trim to Section maintains the existing pline connectivity,
thereby retaining any previously defined trimming, whereas Trim to Pline
resets the connectivity to an explicit or rule-defined pline.)
111.
Save your design changes.

That concludes the introduction to the basic operations involved in the design of a
simple structural framework. In the next part of the guide we shall see how to add
some sheet cladding (floor plates and/or wall panels) to our structure.
7-18

Version 11.6

In this chapter, we will change to another of the structural design applications,
namely the Panels & Plates application, and add a floor plate to our existing
structure. We will then modify this in various ways to demonstrate some of the
facilities provided for detailing panels.
Note:
8.1
The facilities which we will look at next let you add planar material to the
design model in any orientation. Throughout this text, the term panel will
be used for such items in all descriptions, regardless of whether the element
represents a horizontal floor plate, a vertical wall panel, a sloping roof
panel, or any similar planar item.
Starting the Panels & Plates Application

In order to access the panel design facilities, we must leave the Beams & Columns
application and load the complementary Panels & Plates application. Many of the
options available in the latter application are very similar to those which you have
already learned to use from the preceding chapters of this guide, so only the
differences will be dealt with in any detail.
Exercise continues:
112.
Select Design>Structures>Panels & Plates from the main menu bar

(available from within all design applications, not just the current Beams &
Columns application), or click the
button.
The main menu bar and tool bar will change, although the differences may not
be obvious at a first glance. They will now look like this:
Look at each pull-down menu in turn; you will see that the options in the upper
parts of the menus are common to the equivalent Beams & Columns menus,
whereas many of the options in the lower parts of the menus are specific to the
Panels & Plates application.

Version 11.6
8-1
8.2
How PDMS Represents Panels

A Panel (PANE) element can be used to represent any sheet material used to clad a
structural model. Using a similar principle to that for representing a Section (which
is an extruded 2D catalogue Profile), a Panel is represented by extruding a userdefined 2D shape. Its geometry is defined by two types of data:
The panels planar area is defined by a Panel Loop (PLOO) element, which is
itself defined by linking together a set of Panel Vertex (PAVE) elements, each
of which has a specific position in the panels 2D coordinate system. Each panel
Edge is defined by a line joining adjacent vertices.
The panel thickness is defined by setting the Height (HEIG) attribute of the
Panel Loop. This represents the distance through which the 2D Panel Loop is
extruded to form the 3D panel.
Panel (PANE)
Panel thickness =
HEIG of PLOO
= Panel Loop (PLOO)

= Panel Vertex (PAVE)
Note that the resulting justification of a panel may be dependent upon the
clockwise/anticlockwise direction of creation for the panel.
Each Panel Vertex can have an optional Fillet Radius setting which represents a
circular arc which curves towards (positive radius) or away from (negative radius)
the vertex position, thus:
PAVE with +ve radius
PAVE with -ve radius
The default radius of zero denotes a point.
8-2

Version 11.6
8.3
Setting Default Storage Areas

In the next part of the exercise we will set up some defaults to customise the
application to suit our planned method of working, just as we did for the Beams &
Columns application. We will specify where the principal panel design elements are
to be stored in the design database hierarchy.
Exercise continues:
113.
Rather than using the Settings>Storage Areas option, as in Step 15, we will
use a short-cut method to set default storage areas for Panels and Panel Linear
Joints (which we will look at later). We shall store both types of element under
the same SubFrame which we have been using for our basic framework design.
Navigate to TESTSBFR and then click the (Panels) and (Panel Linear
Joints) buttons in turn. These automatically set the storage areas to the current
element.
The current storage area settings are shown like this:
8.4
Creating Simple Panels

We will first create a panel which defines the overall area of a large floor plate and
will then divide this up into more manageable sizes such as might be specified for
fabrication purposes. These panels will represent the schematic areas only; we will
defer detailed trimming of the edges to fit around structural sections etc. until a little
later.
Exercise continues:
114.
Select Create>Panel. You will see a Create Panel form which provides,
among its other settings, various ways of specifying the positions of vertices.
We will not enter the optional names for panels in this exercise. Set the
Justification to Bottom (this will let us position the bottom face of our
panels on the top of their supporting sections) and set the Thickness to 30.
Leave the Representation set to Predefined: Default for now.
These settings (Levels and Obstruction) affect the way items are shown
in 3D views and how they are dealt with when checking for clashes between
design items; the defaults should be adequate for our current purposes.

Version 11.6
8-3
We will define the positions of four vertices, V1-V4, which define the overall
area of the floor plate shown shaded in the following diagram (all bracing
members omitted for clarity):
V1
V4
V2
V3
U
N
E
(The broken lines A-A and B-B show where we will later split the panel into
three.)
The Create Methods buttons give you several ways to define each vertex.
The methods we will use are:
lets you pick a point graphically using any of the standard pointer
picking options
lets you specify a distance and direction relative to the preceding
vertex
(See the online help for a description of all the icons.)
In the next steps, we will use these options to illustrate the principles.
115.
Click the
button. The Positioning Control form will show that you are
now in event-driven graphics mode, ready to pick the position of the first
vertex. Set Pick Type to Element and set Pick Method to
Intersect. Now pick the column and either of the beams whose intersection
coincides with V1 in the preceding diagram. The text below the icon buttons on
the Create Panel form will change from No vertices currently
defined to 1 Vertices defined (no Panel created).
Note:
116.
8-4
The first vertex defined for a new panel becomes the panels origin (as
displayed) by default. You can change this later if required.
Repeat this point-picking procedure to define V2 and V3, in that order. As soon
as you have defined three vertices, the plane of the new panel will be shown in
the graphical view (as a triangle) and a PANEL element will be added into the
Design Explorer.

Version 11.6
117.
As a demonstration, we will position V4 relative to V3. Click the

button.
You will see a Define vertex form on which you can specify the required
offset. Set the Direction to West and the Distance to 20000. Click
Apply to create the vertex. The text below the icon buttons on the Create
Panel form will now say 4 Vertices defined ( Panel created).
118.
Leave the Display modification form check box clear (you would
select this only if you wanted to modify the panel vertices immediately). Click
OK to complete the panel creation operation. Note that the Design Explorer
now includes one PANEL, one PLOOP and four PAVERT elements (as defined
in Section 8.2).
8.5
Measuring Distances/Directions in the Design

Model
When we completed the Define Vertex form in Step 118, we had to enter the
required distance between V3 and V4; that is, the overall length of the structure in
the East-West direction. The figure which we entered (20000) was derived from
knowledge of the original design data. Instead of calculating this, we could have
measured it by means of a useful utility, as follows:
Exercise continues:
119.
Either select Query>Measure Distance or click the button. You will see a
Measure form and a Positioning Control form which together let you measure
the distance between any two points or lines in the design model. On the
Positioning Control form, set Pick Type to Element and Pick Method
to Snap, then pick near the tops or bottoms (but not one of each) of the
columns through the V4 and V3 positions.
Hint:
Zoom in if necessary and pick carefully at the ends connected to

bracing sections to avoid snapping to the secondary nodes rather than
the column extremities.
The Information area on the Measure form will show the direct distance
between the Neutral Axes of the sections, the XYZ components of that distance,
and the direction of the second point relative to the first. The distance will also
be shown in the graphical view.
120.
Experiment with some other graphical picking options to measure a few other
distances and directions, including some in skewed directions, then dismiss the
Measure form.

Version 11.6
8-5
8.6
Splitting a Panel
We will now split our new panel along the axes of the intermediate beams which
support it (shown by the broken lines A-A and B-B in the diagram at Step 115), thus
forming three smaller panels.
121.
Ensure that the panel is the current element (shown as PANEL 1 in the Design
Explorer) and select Modify>Split Panel. When prompted to Pick ... to
be split on, pick either of the beams aligned along A-A in the diagram.
(You might need to change the view direction so that the beam you want to pick
is not obscured by the panel; alternatively, you can pick either of the other
beams which are aligned parallel to A-A in the required plane.) The panel will
be split along the picked line to form two separate panels, each with its own
panel loop and set of four vertices.
122.
Note that your current element is still PANEL 1, which is the smaller of the two
panels. Navigate to the larger panel, PANEL 2, and split this along B-B to give
a total of three panels.
(Note that you can only split a panel along the axis of an existing element. To
introduce a split line anywhere else, simply create a section where you want the split
to occur, split the panel, then delete the section.)
8.7
Tailoring Panel Edges by Editing Individual

Vertices
The edges of the panels which we have created run from vertex to vertex along the
centrelines of the beam flanges on which they rest. While this may be an adequate
representation for an overall design layout, you will usually need to detail the edges
more accurately for fabrication purposes. To do so, you can add, delete or reposition
individual vertices which define the shape of the panel loop. To introduce this
concept, we will add intermediate vertices between existing panel corners so that the
edges fit round the columns which intersect them. We will also set a radius for some
of the vertices to give rounded corners.
Note:
When we split our original panel into three, new vertices were created
automatically, so the vertex numbers for the current panels do not
correspond to those of the original panel. As you insert new vertices, the
numbering will change to accommodate them, so care is needed to check
that you are at the correct vertex for each panel editing operation.
Exercise continues:
123.
8-6
Navigate to the westernmost panel (i.e. that between V1-A-A-V4 in the diagram
for Step 115) and select Modify>Extrusion/Panel. You will see a Loop
Version 11.6
Vertex Editor form which lets you modify the shape of the current panel by
manipulating individual vertices, edges between vertices, groups of vertices,
etc. Whatever methods you use for picking new positions, all vertices are
constrained to remain in the plane of the panel loop (i.e., the underside of the
panel) throughout these operations.
Check that the options Settings>Confirm and Settings>Confirm on delete

from this forms menu bar are both selected.
The active controls on the form, and their titles, change to suit the current
circumstances as you use the form. As displayed now, you will notice that many
of the buttons (especially those relating to Group and Line operations) are
greyed out.
The upper part of the form shows that the current focus is on Vertex 1, while the
lower part shows the coordinates and fillet radius of this vertex, thus:
Navigate to vertex
by picking
Step through
vertices
The geometry of the current panel in Plan view (not to scale) is as follows:
V2
V3
E
L
V7
V6
V1
V4
V8
V5
Y
V1
Origin
at V1
V4
New vertices
to be inserted
We will insert four new vertices between V4 and V1, as shown in the inset
view, so that this panel edge fits round the column (note that V4 comes before
V1 when defining this edge, since vertex numbering is clockwise as viewed in
the diagram).
124.
Each new vertex is added to the sequence immediately after the current vertex,
so first navigate to V4 in either of the following ways:

Version 11.6
8-7
Click the select vertex/edge button

on the Loop Vertex
Editor form and pick the p-point at V4. Note that, because this position is
within the column, you might find it easier to switch to wireline mode to see
it.
Use the up/down arrow buttons next to the displayed vertex number to
step through the vertex list sequentially. Notice how the current vertex and
the edge direction to the next vertex are shown in the 3D View as you do
this.
If you know the number of the vertex you want, you can type it directly in the
Vertex number field. Do not forget, though, that the numbering may change
as you edit the list; it is usually safer to pick a vertex graphically.
125.
Click the Create points button in the Mode Selection area of the
Loop Vertex Editor form. Set the Positioning Control to Element
Snap and position the vertex at the end of the beam which joins the column
from the direction of V4 (i.e. at point V5 on the diagram). A New vertex tag is
added to the graphical view so that you can check the proposed position; if it is
correct, click the Create button at the bottom of the Loop Vertex Editor form
to confirm the creation.
Notice that the new vertex is now the current vertex (labelled <5>), ready for
the next one to be added after it.
126.
Position the next vertex, V6, at the intersection of the corner of the column with
the panel. To do so, click the button again, set the Positioning
Control to Pline Snap, and pick the column pline which passes through
the required point (RBOS or LBOS; see diagram in Section 5.2.1). If you cannot
pick the pline you want, select Settings>Pick Filters>Plines from the main
menu bar and reset the current filtering rule to No Rule (it is probably still set
to Extremities, as in Step 83). Dont forget to click Create when you
have positioned the vertex.
127.
Create V7 and V8 by using similar methods to those in Steps 126 and 127,
respectively.
Rotate the graphical model as necessary and check that the panel now
incorporates a cut-out which fits round the column, as shown in the diagram at
the end of Step 124. At present the panel edges are abutted against the column
flanges. We will next introduce a small clearance gap by moving the relevant
vertices using the explicit editing facilities.
128.
8-8
To change from create mode to modify mode, click the button and pick
V5. Note how its current settings are copied into the Vertex area at the bottom
of the form (X, Y and Radius text-boxes). To introduce a 10mm clearance,
change the setting in the X box by adding 10 (the axes, shown at the panels
origin, are useful here for checking directions in the panels coordinate system).
Click the Modify button to confirm the new setting.

Version 11.6
129.
Repeat the procedure from Step 129, adding or subtracting as necessary, to

move V6, V7 and V8 to give a 10 mm clearance all round, noting that V6 and
V7 must be moved in both the X and Y directions.
130.
Pick V6 and change the Radius setting from the default of zero to 15 mm.
Update the V6 data to the new setting, then repeat the process for V7.
The final result will be as follows:
V7
V6
P AN EL
V8
V5
(Set the view to Look>Down and zoom in to see this in detail. You might find it
easier to see the detail if you switch to wireline mode.)
8.8
Moving Panel Edges to New Positions

So far, we have aligned the panel edges along the centrelines of the beam flanges on
which they are supported. We will now move the panel edges linking V4-V5 and
V8-V1 to the outer edges of the beams. We will specify the new position by aligning
the edge with the appropriate pline of the beam on which it rests (LTOS in the
following diagram), thus:
V7
V6
P ANE L
RTOS
Move edge
Move edge
TOS
LTOS
V1
V8

Version 11.6
V5
V4
8-9
Exercise continues:
131.
Still using the Loop Vertex Editor form, click the select edge to
modify button in the Mode Selection area and then pick a point on
the panel near the edge between V4 and V5.
Notice how the upper part of the form now shows the current focus as Edge 4,
while the lower part shows the coordinates of the Start of the edge (i.e. V4) and
the length of the edge, thus:
Navigate to
edge by
Step through
edges
Notice also that the controls in the Line area are now active (they were
previously greyed out). These are examples of how the form changes to suit
current circumstances, as mentioned in Step 124.
132.
By default, the next modification would be applied only to the Start position of
the edge; as shown by the Start option, and the fact that START is tagged in
uppercase letters in the 3D View (at the V4 end of the beam). We want to move
the whole edge (that is, we want to move V4 and V5 simultaneously), so change
the option to Aligned, thus:
Set the Positioning Control to Pline Snap, pick the LTOS pline on
the top outer edge of the beam and then click the Modify button to move the
panel edge to this position.
8-10
133.
Select Settings>Tag edges from Loop Vertex Editor menu. Repeat the
method of Steps 132 and 133 to move Edge 8 (V8-V1) to the outer edge of its
supporting beam.
134.
Use the same process to move the non-abutting edges of all three panels to the
outer edges of their supporting beams (but do not modify any more edges to fit
round columns yet; we will look at other ways of doing this later).

Version 11.6
8.9
Creating Negative Extrusions

In exactly the same way that you position Panel Vertex elements to define the shape
of a 2D Panel Loop and then extrude this by the required thickness to create a 3D
Panel, as illustrated in Section 12.2, so you can also position Vertex (VERT)
elements to form a 2D Loop (LOOP) and then extrude this to create a 3D Negative
Extrusion (NXTR). The difference is that, as its name implies, the negative extrusion
represents a negative volume, that is, a hole. (We have already encountered negative
volumes used in the catalogue definition of a bolted flange, where they were used to
remove the end of the section to accommodate the joint and to represent bolt holes
through both the joint and the flange of its owning column; see illustration in Step
101.)
A negative extrusion is owned by the panel through which the hole is required.
When created, its justification is set automatically to be the same as that of its
owning panel, although you can move it later if necessary.
We will use this facility to create a hole through the floor plate where one of the
columns passes through it. The negative extrusion will have the same shape as that
created by the interposed vertices (V5-V8) in the preceding diagram, namely:
V3
V4
P ANEL
N EGATIVE
EXTRUS ION
Panel V3
V2
Note:
Panel V2
V1
Vertices V1-V4 in this diagram define the negative extrusion; their

numbering is independent of the panel vertices. (Negative extrusion
vertices are shown in italic to distinguish them from panel vertices.)
Notice how the outer edge of the negative extrusion (V1-V2) extends beyond the
outer edge of the panel to ensure that the hole always penetrates through the panel
edge. Similarly, the thickness of the negative extrusion should exceed the thickness
of the panel to ensure that the hole always penetrates completely through the panel.
Exercise continues:
135.
We will create the negative extrusion where a column passes through the
midpoint of the easternmost edge of the largest panel (that is, at the opposite
end of the structure from the vertices added in Section 12.7). Navigate to that
panel (which should be PANEL 3 in the Design Explorer) and select

Version 11.6
8-11
Create>Negative Extrusion. You will see a Create Negative Extrusion

form (similar to the Create Panel form which you used earlier).
136.
To see the negative extrusion volume in the graphical view when you create it,
select Settings>Graphics>Representation and clear the Holes Drawn
check box (we selected this in Step 103; we will see the effect of this setting in
more detail shortly). Select the Update all Graphics check box and OK
the change.
137.
To achieve the correct justification and orientation for the negative extrusion
relative to its owning panel, click the Surface button in the Settings area
of the form, then pick the upper face of the panel.
Hint:
zoom in close to the panel and the column of interest and look along
(and slightly above) the panel.
The hole will penetrate into (or, in our case, through) the panel thickness from
this surface.
Set Hole Depth (equivalent to the thickness of the negative extrusion) to
250. This large depth will make it easy to see the volume of the negative
extrusion once you have created it: a depth slightly greater than the panel
thickness would normally suffice, since the application automatically adds 1
mm to ensure that the hole always cuts through the referenced panel surface.
The settings should now be as follows:
138.
Using any combination of the methods which you used to create and modify
panel vertices (Sections 8.4 and 8.7), create the four vertices needed to define
the required hole round the column, as shown in the preceding diagram. For
ease of positioning, align V1 and V2 with the outer face of the column
(although any position beyond the panel edge would be satisfactory). Introduce
a clearance of 10 mm round the column and set the radii of the two vertices
within the panel area to 15 mm.
Note that the origin plane of the negative extrusion is its bottom face, as shown
by the positions of the graphical aids when you are creating and modifying its
vertices.
139.
8-12
When created, the negative extrusion will appear as an outline volume

superimposed on the design in the graphical view. If you have positioned it
correctly, its upper face will just protrude from the top face of the panel, thus:

Version 11.6
Look>West:
Look>North:
Negative
extrusion
Negative
extrusion
V2
V1
Panel
V3
V2
(If not, use the Position>Relatively (BY) menu option to move the negative
extrusion vertically to a position where it cuts both faces of the panel.)
140.
To see the result of applying the negative volume represented by the negative
extrusion to the positive volume of the panel, revert to Holes Drawn On
representation (see Step 102). Notice how the negative extrusion creates a hole
only through its owning panel; it does not affect the column.
Note the effects of the Holes Drawn setting on the Representation form:
When Holes Drawn is Off, negative volumes are shown as outline shapes in
the graphical view and can be picked using the pointer (you must pick a visible
edge, not an invisible surface). Their effect of removing material from positive
(solid) items in the design is not shown. Use this mode when explicitly creating
or modifying a negative item.
When Holes Drawn is On, negative volumes are not shown explicitly in the
graphical view and cannot be picked using the pointer (although you can still
navigate to them using the Design Explorer as normal). Only their effect on
positive volumes through which they pass is visible. Use this mode for normal
design work to view a realistic 3D representation of the design model.
That concludes the addition of simple panels to the structural framework, including
two methods for representing holes in the panels where they fit round structural
members. In the next part of the guide, we shall look at ways of adding predefined
catalogue fittings to panels.

Version 11.6
8-13

In this chapter we will introduce the concept of Panel Fittings and then incorporate
such a fitting into our design to represent a manhole giving access through a floor
plate.
9.1
How Panel Fittings are Defined

A Single Panel Fitting (PFIT) is a catalogue item which can be used to represent any
type of geometric entity which is to be owned by, and positioned relative to, a panel.
Typically, the catalogue might include panel fittings representing doors, windows,
access manholes, lifting lugs, and so on.
As with the bolted joint which we used earlier, panel fittings can incorporate (or
consist entirely of) negative volumes which represent holes in their owning panels.
A panel fitting is positioned relative to its owning panels origin by setting its
Position (POSI) attribute and is orientated about an axis perpendicular to the panel
by setting its Beta Angle (BANG) attribute. It can be justified to align its origin
plane with the top face, centre plane, or bottom face of the panel by setting its
Justification (SJUS) attribute. As an example, a stylised manhole might be defined
like this:
Z
Positive volume
representing lid
Beta Angle defines

orientation about Z axis
X
Negative volume
representing hole
through panel
Origin Plane
determines justification
relative to panel
Origin
When you create a new panel fitting, it is positioned automatically at the origin of its
owning panel. You can then move it to the required position in any of the standard
ways.
9.2
Creating a Panel Fitting
Exercise continues:

Version 11.6
9-1
141.
Navigate to the panel in which you want to insert the manhole and select
Create>Fittings>Single. You will see a Create Panel Fitting form giving
access to all available panel fitting specifications in the current catalogue.

Because we are creating a new panel fitting, rather than modifying the
specification of an existing one, the form is set to show New Panel
Fitting as the current element.
Select the Specification for Standard Access, Access Cover,
Standard Manhole Access, ACCESS_COVER (probably the only
item in the list).
Set the Justification to Top outwards. These options let you specify
the panel plane (top, centre or bottom) to be used as the alignment datum and
the orientation of the fitting relative to this plane, like this:
Centre
outwards
Top
outwards
Top
inwards
9-2
Bottom
inwards
Centre
inwards
Bottom
outwards
142.
By default, the fitting will be positioned at the origin of its owning panel (as
shown by the Position field). We will position it by eye, using the pointer.
Click the Pick Position button , set the Positioning Control to
either Graphics Snap or Graphics Cursor, and pick a point
somewhere near the centre of the panel area. OK the Pick Fitting Position
form to transfer the coordinates of the picked position to the Create Panel
Fitting form, then Apply the latter to create the fitting. The new panel fitting
is shown in the Design Explorer as a PFITTING owned by the PANEL.
143.
With the PFIT as your current element, select Orientate> Angle>90 Degrees
to rotate the fitting within the plane of the panel. (The default orientation has the
Beta Angle set to zero.)
144.
To see the effects of changing the justification, select Modify>Fitting and, on

the resulting Modify Panel Fitting form, try each of the Justification
options in turn. Zoom in and look at both faces of the panel to see how the
negative part of the fitting creates the necessary access hole. Reset whichever
justification you think is most appropriate before dismissing the form.

Version 11.6
Note:
Sections can also own Fittings (FITTs rather than PFITs in this case)
which can serve a similarly wide range of purposes. We will not look
explicitly at these in the exercise, but similar principles apply to their
creation and manipulation. You may want to experiment with these
yourself by switching to the Beams & Columns application; see section
B.5 for some examples. Note that such a fitting is positioned along its
owning section by setting its distance from the sections start (the
Zdistance).
More complex fittings may be represented by Compound Fittings, each
of which can own a set of Subfittings. You will see an example of how
these may be used when we look at Penetrations in the next chapter.

Version 11.6
9-3
9-4

Version 11.6
10

Several of the design applications include the concept of a Penetration to allow one
or more items to pass through another such that there is a logical link between the
penetrating and penetrated items (in contrast to, say, a negative extrusion which can
be positioned and dimensioned independently of any item which passes through it or
through which it passes). In this chapter you will use this facility to show yet another
way of creating a hole in a panel where a section passes through it.
10.1 How a penetration is defined

Each type of penetration is a selectable catalogue item whose dimensions are
parameterised in such a way that they can be derived automatically from the
dimensions of the component which passes through the hole. You can modify the
final dimensions by specifying clearance distances etc. to allow for any special
requirements of the local design geometry.
Such a penetration can be used where pipes or sections pass through a panel, or, with
some restrictions, through a section. The element types used to represent a panel
penetration are as follows:
The point along a pipe at which it passes through a penetration is represented by

an Attachment (ATTA) element owned by the appropriate Branch.
The point along a section at which it passes through a penetration is represented

by a Fitting (FITT) element.
The point at which a penetration is positioned through a panel is represented by

a Compound Panel Fitting (CMPF) element which owns a separate Subfitting
(SBFI) for each associated penetrating item.
When you create a panel penetration, the application sets up cross- references
between the ATTA or FITT and the CMPF/SBFI, like this:
FITT owned
by Section
ATTA owned
by Branch
Branch
Panel
SBFI
by CMPF;
CMPF
by panel
CREF of ATTA points to

CREF of SBFI points to ATTA

Version 11.6
Section
Panel
SBFI
by CMPF;
CMPF
by panel
CREF of FITT points to

CREF of SBFI points to FITT
10-1
(These diagrams show only single penetrations, where each CMPF owns just one
SBFI. For a multiple penetration, each CMPF would own one SBFI for each
penetrating pipe or section.)
For your present purposes, you will consider only the case of a structural section
passing through a panel, so you will be concerned with specifying a FITT and a
SBFI for each penetration.
10.2 Creating a steelwork penetration

Your design model currently looks like this (bracing members and manhole omitted
for clarity), showing the two methods so far used for allowing columns to pass
through panels:
Vertices
fitted round
column
PANEL 1
PANEL 2
PANEL 3
Negative
extrusion
Penetration
to go here
N
U
E
You will now add a penetration, as indicated in the above diagram, to allow the
column to pass through the corner of Panel 1.
10-2

Version 11.6
Exercise continues:
128.
You can create a penetration for a section through a panel either from the
Beams & Columns application or from the Panels & Plates application. From
either application, the penetrating item will be dominant in determining the
penetrations position and geometry; that is, whether it is the section or the
panel which is to be regarded as the owner of the penetration. Here we want the
penetration to be owned by the section. Change to the Beams & Columns
application.
129.
Select Utilities> Penetrations. This starts the Panels Penetration

subapplication, whose menu bar will be displayed in addition to the existing
Beams & Columns Application menu. Both menus are active: one gives
access to the general steelwork design functions, the other accesses those
functions specific to penetration design.
130.
From the Panels Penetration Application menu select Create>Penetration

then select Steel Penetration. You will see a Create Section
Penetrations form.
This form requires you to specify four types of data:
Whether the penetration is to allow for a single penetrating item or for

multiple items.
How you want to identify the panel(s) through which the penetration is to
pass (the penetrated items).
How you want to identify the section(s) which are to pass through the
penetration (the penetrating items).
The default specification of the catalogue penetration which is to be used

(the first penetration in the selected specification will be used by default).
Set the Penetration Type option to Single Penetration.

Set both the Elements to be penetrated and Elements that
penetrate options to Pick using cursor, showing that you will
identify each item individually by picking it in the graphical view.
Set the Defaults: Spec. option to Penetrations.
Select the Confirm before penetrating check box and click Apply.
You will be prompted to Identify item to be penetrated. Pick
the panel and Escape the next prompt. When prompted to Identify items that
penetrate, pick the column and Escape the next prompt. Check that the picked
intersection point is correct, as tagged in the 3D view, and confirm the creation
of the penetration.
131.
You will now see a Penetration Item List form; this is displayed automatically
so that you can complete the specification of the penetration elements. It shows

Version 11.6
10-3
all data settings relevant to the penetrating item (FITT) and the penetrated item
(or hole; SBFI).
The upper scrollable list acts as a specific Design Explorer for the rapid
selection of, and navigation to, elements relevant to penetrations. It displays the
penetrating and penetrated items in a hierarchic (indented) format. Leave the
Show option set to Items. The List option controls how the hierarchy is
sorted. Since your penetration is owned by the section rather than by the panel,
the options work as follows: Penetrating Items - Owner lists all
FITTs for each section; Penetrating Items - Attached lists all
FITTs for each panel (grouped by CMPF), thus:
(You have only a single penetration, so the difference here is less significant
than when you have several penetrations.) Select Penetrating Items Owner.
The middle list, labelled Penetrating Item, shows the relevant attribute
settings for the current FITT (as selected in the upper list). It is in this list that
you select the settings which you want to modify.
The lower list, labelled Hole Information, shows the relevant attribute
settings for the SBFI which is referenced from the current FITT. This data is
shown for reference only; you will see how to modify it later.
Select the Navigate on selection check box. Any item picked in the
upper list will then automatically become the current element in the Design
Explorer.
132.
10-4
You have only one FITT which you can modify, so select this in the upper list.
Its relevant attribute settings appear as follows:

Version 11.6
You want to set the specification, so select SpecRef in this list (the > symbol
shows that this is an editable entry). You will see a Modify Fitting form.
From the list of fitting specifications displayed, select Steel Sections,
Steel Sections, Rectangular, PENI/RECT. Set the
Justification to NAL or NAR (it does not matter which). The
Zdist(ance), which determines the position of the fitting along its owning
section, is set automatically from the calculated penetration coordinates; leave
this value as it appears. Leave the Beta Angle (which determines the
orientation of the fitting about the section) at the default value of 0.
Click the Properties... button. The resulting Modify Properties form
lets you set the local geometry for the fitting (similar to the way in which you
specified joint details in Step 102). Set the X-Clearance and YClearance to 20 so that the fitting extends beyond the section extremities by
20mm in each direction. Leave the X-Offset and Y-Offset set to zero, so
that the fitting is centred on the sections neutral axis. OK these settings and
Apply the Modify Fitting form.
When you have finished setting the specification for the FITT, Dismiss the
Penetration Item List form and its associated forms.
133.
Having fully specified the part of the penetration which relates to the
penetrating section (the FITT), you must now do the same for the part which
relates to the penetrated panel (the CMPF and its SBFI).
Navigate to the panel and select Modify>Penetrations from the Steelwork
Penetration Application menu. The resulting Penetration Display form lets
you specify whether you want to modify penetrating or penetrated items: select
List Penetration Holes and click Apply. You will see a Penetration
List form. This is very similar to the Penetration Item List form which you
used in the preceding step, except that the lists are now based on the CMPF and
SBFI data rather than the FITT data. The navigation lists now look like
this, so the owner/attached definitions have been reversed when compared with
the equivalent lists shown in Step 131:

Version 11.6
10-5
Note that the middle list now shows Hole Information ready for
modification, while the lower list now shows Penetrating Item data for
the referenced FITT.
134.
Select the SBFI in the upper list. Before you modify the SBFIs specification,
you need to ensure that it is correctly aligned with the FITT from which it is to
derive some of its settings. To do this, select Position>Align with ref. from the
Steelwork Penetration Application menu.
135.
Select SpecRef in the middle list to show the Modify Panel Fitting form. Set
the specification to Hole Penetrations, Hole Penetrations,
Rectangular, PENH/FITT/RECT2.
Click the Properties... button to display the Modify Properties form for
the dimensions of the hole. Although you could set Xlength and Ylength
explicitly to match those of the penetrating item, there is an easier way of doing
this by copying the data automatically from the referenced item (namely the
FITT). Leave all properties at their default values of zero and OK/Apply the
forms to set the SpecRef.
136.
From the Steelwork Penetration Application menu, select Modify>Copy like

ref. The effect is to change the attributes of the current SBFI to match the
corresponding settings of the FITT to which it refers. In this case, the effect is
to set the X and Y dimensions of the SBFI to be compatible with those of the
FITT. To check this, look at the Ref Data settings shown in the Hole
Information list on the Penetration List form:
137.
Close all of the forms relating to penetrations, select Holes Drawn (from
Settings>Graphics>Representation...) and zoom in for a close inspection of
the new penetration. Save your design changes to conclude this part of the
exercise.
In the next part of the exercise, you will look at some ways of checking the design
model and outputting some design data derived from the database settings.
10-6

Version 11.6

Version 11.6
10-7
11

To ensure maximum design integrity, the structural applications let you check the
data in several ways so that any potential mistakes are drawn to your attention. In
this chapter you will look at one of these checking facilities, namely the method of
checking for clashes (spatial interferences) between design elements.
Finally, you will look at three ways of outputting design data derived from the
structural model: the generation of a tabulated report showing the material required
to build the design (categorised by section profile); the analysis of some mass
properties of the steelwork members (centre of gravity, surface area and weight
calculations); and the creation of a plot showing the structural layout.
Note:
The facilities which you will be using here are available from both the
Beams & Columns and the Panels & Plates applications (from all
design applications, in fact), so it does not matter which application
you are currently using.
11.1 Checking for clashes

The types of clash identified depend on two factors:
The obstruction levels of the clashing elements
The current touch and clearance tolerances
11.1.1 Obstruction levels

All design primitives and all catalogue primitives have an obstruction attribute
(OBST) which defines the physical type of obstruction which the primitive
represents:
A hard obstruction (OBST=2) represents a rigid and impenetrable object, such

as a steel beam or a plant vessel.
A soft obstruction (OBST=1) represents a volume which is not solid but which
needs to be kept clear for access.
Any primitive with OBST=0 represents a freely accessible volume and is

ignored for clash checking purposes.

Version 11.6
11-1
11.1.2 Extent of clashing

As well as distinguishing between hard and soft clashing items, the checking utility
recognises three categories of clash between them, depending on how far the two
primitives intrude on each others allocated space. These categories are:
A physical clash: the primitive volumes overlap by more than a specified

amount. This usually means that a definite interference exists.
A touch: the primitives either overlap by less than the amount needed to cause a
clash or are separated at their closest point by less than a specified distance.
This may simply mean that one item is resting upon another as intended, or it
may indicate a problem.
A clearance: the primitives are separated at their closest point by more than the
amount necessary to constitute a touch but less than a specified clearance
distance. This represents a near miss, which you may want to investigate.
These three classes are illustrated below for the clash specifications:
Touch limits: 5mm overlap to 2mm gap
Clearance limit:
8mm
so that the following criteria apply:
If the items overlap by more than 5mm, a clash is reported
If the items overlap by less than 5mm, a touch is reported
If the items do not overlap but are separated by less than 2mm, a touch is
reported
If the items are separated by more than 2mm but less than 8mm, a clearance
is reported
If the items are separated by more than 8mm, no interference is found
overlap > 5mm

a physical clash
overlap < 5mm
gap < 2mm

touches
2mm < gap < 8mm

a clearance
11.1.3 The clash detection process

Each element which is to be checked for clashes has its own geometry checked
against that of all other elements which are specified by a current obstruction list.
Items which are not in the obstruction list are ignored during the clash checking
operations. By default, the obstruction list includes all elements in the database, so
11-2

Version 11.6
that each element to be clash checked is tested against every other element. To
control the amount of checking carried out in a large database, you can restrict the
obstruction list to a few specific elements and/or you can specify a 3D volume (the
clash limits) within which the clash checking is to be confined.
To highlight the locations where clashes are found, the clashing and obstruction
items are shown in contrasting colours in the graphical view (two shades of red, by
default).
Exercise continues:
138.
You will start by using the defaults for all clash checking settings. To see what
these are, select Settings>Clasher>Defaults to display the Clash Defaults
form. Think about the meaning of each setting shown (refer to the preceding
introduction; ignore the reference to Branch, which relates to piping designs
only); then Cancel the form.
139.
You will check the westernmost panel (PANEL 1) for clashes against all other
elements in the test framework. The default obstruction list (all elements in the
current design database) will include the regular structure created in Chapter 6,
so you must edit the list to remove this. To do so, select
Settings>Clasher>Obstruction>List. You will see an Add/Remove
Obstruction Items form. Remove All current entries and then Add the
framework /TESTFRMW.
140.
Navigate to the panel which you want to check (by clicking on it in the display,
or in the Design Explorer, or in the Add/Remove Obstruction Items form)
and select Utilities>Clashes. You will see a Clash Display form. The lefthand side of this form controls the clash checking process; the right-hand side
consists of a 3D view in which you can look in detail at any clashes diagnosed.
Select Control>Check CE from the forms menu bar to run the clash checking
process and, when completed, study the Clash List which shows all clashes
found.
You will see a hard-hard (HH) clash at both points where the panel has a column
passing through it, and a hard-hard touch where the panel rests on each of its
seven supporting beams and where it abuts the adjacent panel. To see a
summary of all clashes found, select Query>Clash>Summary from the
forms menu. The resulting Summary form shows the total number of clashes
in each category:

Version 11.6
11-3
Note, in particular, that there are no clashes where the panel has been modified
to fit round the columns.
141.
To study any clash in detail, select the corresponding line in the Clash List and
then select Query>Clash>Detail. The Clash Detail form shows the extent of
the clash, the identities of both the clashing and obstruction items, and the
calculated position at which the clash was diagnosed.
Notice how the clashing items are highlighted in different colours in the
graphical view. To change these colours, display the Clash Defaults form again
(as in Step 138) and choose the colours you want to use.
142.
Experiment with some of the other options on the Clash Display menus and
then close the form.
Note:
11-4
If the Auto Clash button is selected, thus:

, each new element
that you create is checked immediately for clashes as the design is built
up. This can slow down progress when you are adding many new
elements, but is very useful when you want to add a few new items to
an existing design which has already been checked for clashes.

Version 11.6
11.2 Generating a data output report

This section describes two ways of outputting design data derived from the
structural model.
generating a tabulated report showing the material required to build the design
creating an plot showing the layout and associated manufacturing data.
11.2.1 Generating a tabulated data report

The reporting utility lets you read selected types of information from the design
database and present the output in a convenient tabulated format. Each report can be
customised by specifying some or all of the following:
Where the output is to appear (on the screen or in a file ready for printing).
Any introductory header which is to appear at the beginning of the report.
The page length (if the report is to be paginated).
The page layout, including number and positions of columns, column headings,
etc.
Any headers and footers which are to appear at the top and bottom of each page.
The selection criteria which define which data settings are to be included in the
report.
Once such a report has been designed, its specification can be saved for future use in
the form of a report template file. The ways in which you define how a given
report is to be generated and presented are beyond the scope of this exercise, but you
will look at the results of the process by using a pre-prepared template which outputs
a material take-off list for each type of steel profile used in your design. (You will
probably use your companys standard templates for most reports anyway, in which
case this is the method you would normally use in practice.)
Exercise continues:
143.
Select Utilities>Reports>Run to initiate the reporting process. You will see a

File Browser listing all files in the current reporting directory (specified by
your System Administrator as part of the project setting-up procedure). Select
the ...\REPORTS\TEMPLATES directory. All files with a .tmp suffix are
report templates. Select steel_mto.tmp, which has been designed to
produce a material take-off report for steelwork sections. Click OK on the File
Browser.
144.
To run the report defined by the chosen template, you must specify two things
(as determined by the rules within the template): where the report is to appear,

Version 11.6
11-5
and what part of the database hierarchy is to be read when extracting the
required types of data. When you OK the File Browser to specify the template,
a Report Details form will appear which lets you do this.
Leave the Filename text-box empty (which will send the report to the screen
automatically). In the Hierarchy text-box, enter /TESTFRMW, since you
want to list the material take-off for the whole of the design model. Click OK to
run the report.
145.
The tabulated report output will be displayed in a Command Input & Output
window which is opened automatically.
This report shows the total cut length for each of the steel profiles used in the
design and the number of lengths into which each profile is divided. (Do not
worry if part of the heading seems inappropriate for your project; this wording
is written into the template simply as an example of the type of heading which
you might want to use.)
11.3 Querying mass properties

You can calculate the surface area, volume, mass and the position of the centre of
gravity (CofG) of a structural item from a knowledge of its geometry and the
properties of the material from which it is made. The calculation can be set to derive
either a gross or a net result; for example:
Gross weight is the weight of material needed before any negative geometry
(such as end preparations) is applied. This data is appropriate for material cost
estimating etc.
Net weight is the weight of material after any negative geometry is applied.
This data is appropriate for determining as-built weights for loading
calculations, transport planning etc.
(The detailed way in which positive and negative geometry is used in calculations is
determined by the Representation Level settings. These are beyond the scope of
this introduction and you will use the default levels throughout this exercise.)
In the same way that the geometry of a section profile, joint, fitting etc. is specified
by setting the design elements SpecRef attribute to refer to an entry in a Catalogue
database (as explained in Section 5.1), so its material properties are specified by
setting its Material Reference (MatRef) attribute to refer to an appropriate entry in
a Properties database. It is the material density which is the significant property
used in the mass calculations.
In the next steps of the exercise, you will first specify the material for each structural
element in your design model and will then use this data to derive some mass-related
details.
11-6

Version 11.6
Exercise continues:
146.
You will specify the same material for all structural items (sections, joints,
fittings, panels etc.), so first navigate to the subframework TESTSBFR and then
select Modify>Material from the main menu. You will see a Set Material
form listing all available material specifications in the Properties database.
Leave the option set to CE and select the Cascade Material to all
offspring check box. (The latter will set the MatRef for all elements
below the current subframework to the selected material automatically.)
From the Materials list, select GR275 (density 7850.00 Kg/M3) and click
Apply. The whole framework will be highlighted in the graphical view to
show that all design elements have been selected for modification to the
selected material. Confirm the change.
147.
Select Query>Mass Properties. You will see a Mass Properties form

which lets you make all necessary calculations based on the current material
density. Set the upper option to CE (still at subframework level), set the
Results option to Gross, and click Apply.
The calculated gross surface area, volume and mass for the whole
subframework will be shown in the Mass Properties list, together with the
position of the centre of gravity. The centre of gravity will also be tagged in the
graphical view.
148.
Change the Results option to Net, select the Append to list check
box (so that you can compare the next result with the existing one in the list),
and click Apply again. Note the difference between the calculated net and
gross weights; this small difference is due to the material removed for joint
allowances, panel cut-outs, etc.
149.
Set the upper option to Pick, click Apply, and perform similar calculations
for individual items or groups of items which you pick using the pointer. (Use
Esc to terminate each picking sequence in the usual way.)
11.4 Plotting the design model

PDMSs drawing module provides very powerful facilities for generating annotated
and dimensioned plots of all or part of the design model. You will use just a small
part of this power to produce an isometric plot of your structural layout using default
settings only.
Exercise continues:

Version 11.6
11-7
In order for the drawing facilities to apply the correct rules for representing
structural items, you must set a design attribute which will tell the drawing module
how to interpret the design data. The attribute used for this purpose is the
Function attribute of the parent Zone.
150.
Navigate to the Zone which you created in Step 13 (/TESTZONE) and select
Modify>Attributes. You will see a Modify Attributes form listing the
current settings for the Zone. The Function attribute will probably say
unset; it is this setting which you need to change.
Select the Function line in the list. You will see a small Function form
showing the current setting. Edit the text to replace unset by Steelwork.
OK/Apply the changes.
You must now switch from the DESIGN module, which you have been using to
create the design model, to the DRAFT drawing module.
151.
Select Design>Modules>Draft>Macro Files.

When the DRAFT applications have been loaded from their macro files, you
will see the DRAFT General menu bar and tool bar, and an empty 2D view
window (the Main Display, analogous to the 3D View which you have been
using in DESIGN), thus:
11-8

Version 11.6
You must next set up an administrative hierarchy to define how plots are to be stored
(in a real project this would probably have been done for you already). The parts of
the hierarchy with which you are concerned here are as follows:
DEPARTMENT
(DEPT)
LIBRARY
(LIBY)
REGISTRY
(REGI)
DRAWING
(DRWG)
SHEET
(SHEE)
LIBRARY
(LIBY)
Standard symbols, annotations etc.
VIEW
Design database elements to be drawn
152.
Select Create>Department and name the element STRUCDEPT. Click OK. You
will now see a Department Information form. Attributes set at Department
level are cascaded down to all lower levels. To set them, click the
Attributes button to display a Department Attributes form. On the latter
form:
Select the A4 drawing sheet size (note that this sets the Width and
Height automatically).
Leave all pen definitions, hatch patterns and terminators at their default
settings.
From the Ruleset Reference options, select

/DRA/PRJ/REPR/GEN/STRU.
Set Backing Sheet Reference to Reference and select

/DRA/MAS/BACKS/MET/A4_Land. This will apply standard borders
and data areas to all drawings created in this Department.
The settings should now look like this:

Version 11.6
11-9
Click Apply, then Dismiss.
Check that the Create Registry check box on the Department

Information form is selected and OK this form. You will see a Create REGI
form.
153.
Name the Registry STRUCREGI and click OK. You will see a Registry
Information form. Click Attributes... to see a Registry Attributes
form. Note that all attribute settings for the Registry have been copied from its
owning Department (any individual attribute cascaded in this way can be
overwritten at a lower level if required). Dismiss the Registry Attributes form.
154.
Select the Create Drawing check box and select Explicitly. Click OK.
You will see a Create DRWG form.
11-10

Version 11.6
155.
Name the Drawing STRUCDRWG and click OK. You will see a Drawing
Definition form. Enter the Title as Structural View. Note that the
Date and Drawn By entries are derived automatically from your system login data. Click Apply, then Dismiss.
That completes the setting up of the drawing administration hierarchy; you are now
in a position to define the content of a drawing sheet ready for viewing and plotting.
156.
Select Create>Sheet>Explicitly and OK the Create SHEE form. The Main

Display view will show the backing sheet specified in Step 152. You will also
see a Sheet Definition form. Note that all settings have been cascaded down
from Department level. Click Apply, then Dismiss.
The detailed design data, extracted directly from the Design database, is applied to
the sheet in the form of individual Views.
157.
Select Create>View>User-defined and OK the resulting form. A Userdefined View form will be displayed, and a default rectangle will be added to
the Main Display to show where the design data for this view will be plotted.
You will plot a single view on the sheet, so you will first resize the default view
area to fill the available space. To do so, select Frame>Size>Cursor from the
User-Defined View menu and, when prompted, pick points just inside the topleft and bottom-right corners of the drawing area within the backing sheet
layout.
On the User-defined View form, enter the Title as ISO3 View; set the
View Type to Global Hidden Line; and set the Direction to ISO3
(select this using the options from the middle Direction control).
The part(s) of the design model which are to be plotted are specified by means
of a drawlist. Select Graphics>Drawlist from the User-Defined View menu
to display the Drawlist Management form. In the Reference List
Members list, navigate to the subframework holding the design model
(/TESTSBFR) and click the Add button to add it to the drawlist. Dismiss
the Drawlist Management form.
You must now set the drawing scale so that the plotted model representation fits
sensibly into the area available on the sheet. First click the Auto Scale
button on the User-Defined View form and notice how the precisely calculated
scale is displayed in the adjacent text-box. To modify this to the nearest smaller
standard scale, click the Nearest button. The chosen standard scale will now
be displayed (e.g. 1/200). Click Apply to implement the new scale calculation.
The final settings will look something like this:

Version 11.6
11-11
Click the Update Design button to plot the drawlist element(s) in the Main
Display at the chosen scale, thus:
11-12

Version 11.6
This is as far as you will go with Draft in this exercise, although the full range of 2D
drafting facilities available is extensive, allowing you to add dimensioning and
labelling data derived directly from the design model, and to add any other specific
2D annotation which you require.
In the next, and final, chapter, you will look at some of the facilities available for
creating and modifying some nonlinear structural design elements.

Version 11.6
11-13
12

So far you have built your design model entirely from straight steelwork sections. In
this final chapter you will add some nonlinear sections.
In order to provide some reference points for use when routing a curved section, you
will construct a temporary working grid.
12.1 How PDMS represents curved sections

Curved structural items are represented by Generic Section (GENSEC) elements, the
geometry of which is defined by sweeping a 2D catalogue profile along a path. This
path is represented by a Spine element, owned by the GENSEC, whose route is
specified in terms of a sequence of member Spine Points (POINSP) and Curves.
For example:
End POINSP
CURVE
PROFILE
CURVE
Sta rt POINSP
= SPINE
= POINSP
The Beams & Columns application menu provides options for creating two versions
of the GENSEC:
A ring section, restricted to an arc of a circle (up to a full circle), comprising two
Spine Points separated by a single Curve.
A more general curved section, comprising any number of Spine Points and Curves.
12.2 Creating a semicircular platform

In order to demonstrate the principles, you will create a semicircular ring section
which projects out from your existing structure. The ends of the ring section will be
positioned near the ends of the topmost beam at the western end of the structure, and

Version 11.6
12-1
it will be supported from below by two straight sections, like this (only sections
shown, not panels):
Looking Down:
End
Support
180
Ring
Section
Existing
diamond
bracing
Support
N
Start
E
Looking East:
End
End
Inset 100
Inset 100
Start
U
N
Existing
cross
bracing
Exercise continues:
12-2
158.
In the Beams & Columns application, set the default profile specification to
British Standard, Equal Angle, 120x120x10.0, with
Justification, Member Line and Joint Line all set to NA.
159.
Navigate to the Subframe element (TESTSBFR). From the main menu bar,
select Create>Sections>Ring. You will see a Ring Section form, the
buttons on which provide many different ways of specifying the sections
geometry.

Version 11.6
You do not want to create a full circle, so click Circle Definition:

Arc.
You will define the path of the section (the GENSECs Spine) by picking the
two positions at its ends plus a third point which specifies how the arc is
directed (that is, whether it curves towards the East or the West). The diameter
of the circle will be derived automatically from the distance between the first
two positions. To do this, click the Derived diameter button
button, second row).
(fourth
To define the start of the ring section (prompt says Define ... first point), set
the Positioning Control to Pline, Distance 100 and pick near the
southern end of the NA pline of the beam (see figure at start of this section. You
will probably need to unset the pline picking rules (Settings>Pick
Filters>Plines) and zoom in very close to distinguish between the plines.
To define the end (prompt says Define ... second point), use the
same procedure at the northern end of the same pline. The third prompt says
Define ... control point. The point you pick will determine the plane in which
the ring section lies (the plane through all three points) and the direction in
which the section curves (depends on the position of the third point relative to
the line joining the first two points; or create an additional pline rule for NA
only). You want the ring section to lie in a horizontal plane and to curve
towards the west, so pick any point on the NAR pline of the beam. (This has the
same elevation as the NA pline and lies to its west.)
160.
You will now create two straight sections which run from the mid-point of the
beam below the ring section, and which support the ring section at points
equispaced along its length (as shown in the preceding diagram).
Select Create>Sections>Straight. Both sections will have the same start
point, so on the Section form set String Method to Radial. Set the
Positioning Control to Pline, Mid-Point and pick the BOS pline of the
beam.
To position the upper ends of the two supports, set the Positioning Control to
Element, Fraction 3 and pick the ring section twice, about one third of its
length from each end (not forgetting to Accept each support), then Esc.
You may, if you wish, modify the angle sections to give more realistic geometry
at their ends, although the current configuration is adequate for your present
purpose.
161.
You will complete the semicircular platform by positioning a floor plate inside
the supporting angle section.
Change to the Panels & Plates application. Select Create>Panel.
On the Create Panel form, set Thickness to 20 and Justification to
Centre. You will define the panel boundary by picking points around the ring

Version 11.6
12-3
section (GENSEC) whose shape it is to follow. Click the Derived arc

passing through three points button
Pick the three points defining the panel boundary as follows:
First point: snap to one end of GENSEC.
Second point: snap to mid-point of GENSEC.
Third point: snap to other end of GENSEC.
Escape the next prompt. The 3D View will show a circle, half of which follows
the ring section, as a construction aid. Notice that, although you have only
picked three points, the message 4 vertices defined is shown. These
vertices are positioned thus:
First pick
V4
V1
Third pick
fillet radius
fillet radius
V2
V3
Second pick
Click OK to complete the panel creation.
12.3 Creating a runway beam with multiple curves

To demonstrate how you can create and modify a section which follows a multiplycurved path, you will position an overhead runway beam along the southern end of
the structure, thus:
12-4

Version 11.6
7
End
Start
Y
Grid
origin
X
N
E
12
20
= existing structure
= working grid (1000mm spacing)
= runway beam (curved section)
The upper face of the runway beam will, for convenience, be positioned against the
lower faces of the beams from which it is suspended. In practice, you would
probably want to interpose hangers or bolted flanges to support the runway beam.
To make it easier to position the points and curves defining the GENSECs spine,
you will first create a horizontal working grid as a working aid (as shown in the
diagram).
Exercise continues:
12.3.1 Defining a working grid

162.
Switch back to the Beams & Columns application. Select Utilities>Working

Plane. The resulting Working Plane form lets you define a plane onto which
all graphical picks will be projected, with an optional grid superimposed on the
plane to help you position graphical picks without needing to refer to existing
parts of the design model.
From the Working Plane forms menu, select Define>Linear Grid. The
resulting Working Plane - Linear Grid form lets you define the number and
spacing of the grid lines, and the position and orientation of the grids plane. Set
both the X and Y Spacing to 1000 and enter the Number of visible
lines as 40. (The grid behaves as though it is of infinite size; this setting
controls only the size of the grid shown in the 3D View.)
163.
The default position of the planes centre and its orientation are shown by the
green dotted-line square in the 3D View. Leave the Orientation as it is (Y
is N, Z is U, X is E). You want the elevation of the plane to be at the
lower faces of the beams, so set the Positioning Control to Pline,
Intersect and pick the BOS plines for the two beams which meet at the

Version 11.6
12-5
required origin (see preceding diagram). The Position should be East 0,

North 0, Up 4696.6 (the latter is the height of the column less the depth of
the beam).
Click the Preview button to see the grid in the 3D View. Select the Detail
check box and click Preview again to number the grid lines. OK the Working
Plane - Linear Grid form.
164.
On the Working Plane form, select the Active and Visible check boxes
(so that the grid will be both effective and visible in the graphical view).
Select Working Grid Snap, which means that when you later pick
positions on the grid, the picked point will always snap to the grid intersection
nearest to the pointer position.
Select Control>Close from the Working Plane forms menu to complete the
operation.
12.3.2 Creating a curved section

Note:
In the following steps, you will identify positions along the path of the
spine by their (X,Y) coordinates on the working grid; for example, (X
20, Y0) is the position of the south-eastern corner of the overall
structure.
165.
Set the default profile specification to British Standard, Joists,

203x152x52kg/m. Set the Justification to TOS, so that the upper face
of the runway beam will coincide with the working plane and, therefore, with
the undersides of the supporting beams. (See generic type DINI in Appendix
B.3 for a diagram of a similar profile.)
166.
Select Create>Sections>Curved. You will see a Curved Section form, the

buttons on which provide various ways of specifying the path of the sections
spine. Because your section follows a complex path which does not conform to
the simplified standard geometry provided by most of the buttons, you will use
a free-form definition which will let you build up any sequence of spine points
and curves. Click the Free definition button
Notice that the Working Plane toggle at the left-hand side of the
Positioning Control form is now selected. This provides a way of switching
the working plane on or off without having to display the Working Plane form
each time. The red highlight on the toggle button is intended as a reminder
when the working plane is active, since you can get unexpected results if you
forget it is on when you make graphical picks.
167.
12-6
You are now in event-driven graphics mode, ready to pick the sequence of
positions which will define the spine. Set the Positioning Control to Screen,
Snap. Any pointer pick you make will be projected onto the working plane and
will then snap to the nearest grid intersection point (remember that you set
Working Grid Snap to On when you defined the grid in Step 164). If you
Version 11.6
make a mistake at any stage, the Undo button on the Curved Section form lets
you delete one or more points in reverse order.
With reference to the grid coordinates, pick position (X0, Y2) to define the
start (origin) of the GENSEC.
Set the Radius to 2000 and pick (X4, Y2) to define the position of the first
curve.
With Radius still set to 2000, pick the following positions, in this order:
(X4, Y6), (X8, Y6), (X8, Y2), (X18, Y2), (X18, Y6), (X20,
Y6). When you pick the last position, you will be warned that it is not possible
to fit in a curve with 2000 radius so close to the preceding position and will be
asked if this represents the end point: click Yes to complete the operation.
Close the Curved Section form.
12.3.3 Modifying a curved section

168.
To demonstrate how easily you can modify a curved section, you will reroute
part of the runway beam as follows:
7
End
Start
1
Y
0
6
12
20
= original path
= modified path
1
= curve number (at new fillet position)
Check that the new GENSEC is the current element and select
Modify>Sections>Definition. You will see a Modify Section (Curved)
form which lets you edit the position and/or radius for each individual
point/curve in the spine.
Set the first Spine Point option to Start and pick the new start position at
(X0, Y1). Click the Modify button to implement the move.
Change the first Spine Point option to Curve and set the second Spine
Point option (up/down arrows) to 1. Move Curve 1 to (X4, Y1), leaving
its Radius set to 2000.
Version 11.6
12-7
Note:
The graphical aids show the position and radius of the current and
adjacent curves as you modify the spine shape. The X and Y
Attributes on the Modify Section (Curved) form show the
coordinates relative to the GENSECs origin (start), not in terms of the
working grid positions.
Move Curve 4 to (X8, Y1) and change its Radius to 3000.

Select Curve 5 and change the third Spine Point option from Fillet to
Centre:
Notice how the graphical aid now shows the radius centre at (X16, Y4)
instead of the radius fillet at (X18, Y2). Move the centre to (X15, Y4),
press Modify, then change the Radius to 3000.
The latter operation illustrates the two ways of specifying a curves position:
Fillet position
Radius
Centre position
169.
Repeat the clash checks which you carried out on the earlier version of the
design model in Section 11.1. Think about the reasons for the extra clashes
which are diagnosed for the current design.
170.
Save your design changes and exit from PDMS.
12.4 Conclusion
This concludes both the tutorial exercise and this introduction to some of the ways in
which PDMS and AVEVA applications can help you in your structural design work.
You should now have an insight into the potential power of PDMS and sufficient
confidence to explore some of the more advanced options on your own.
For further technical details, refer to the sources of information listed in the last
appendix.
If you have not already done so, you are strongly advised to attend one or more of
the specialised PDMS training courses, which will show you how to get the
12-8

Version 11.6
maximum benefits from the product in your own working environment (see Section
1.5).

Version 11.6
12-9
12-10

Version 11.6

The part of the Design database hierarchy which holds structural elements is as
follows (elements in italics, e.g. RELEASE, are for analytical purposes only):
STRUCTURE
(STRU)
FRAMEWORK
ROUTING PLANE GROUP
(FRMW)
(RPLG)
LOAD CASE DESCRIPTOR

optiona l
(LCDE)
SUBFRAMEWORK
ROUTING PLANE
(SBFR)
(RPLA)
PANEL LINEAR JOINT
PANEL
SECTION
(SCTN)
(PANE)
PRIMARY NODE
(PALJ)
(PNOD)
PANEL FITTING
(PFIT)
PANEL LINEAR JOINT

(PALJ)
negative
COFITTING
primitives
(PLOO)
PANEL VERTEX (COFI)
(PAVE)
PANEL VERTEX
NEGATIVE EXTRUSION
PANEL LOOP
(PAVE)
(NXTR)
LOOP
PRIMARY COMPOUND JOINT (LOOP)
PRIMARY JOINT
(PJOI)
RELEASE
(PCOJ)
NODAL LOAD
(NOLO)
(RELE)
VERTEX
SUBJOINT
GENERIC SECTION NODAL DISPLACEMENT

(GENSEC)
(VERT)
(SUBJ)
(NODI)
JOINT LINE DATUM
SPIN
(SPINE)
E
(JLDATUM)
POSITION LINE DATUM
SPINE POINT
(PLDATUM)
CURVE
(CURVE)
(POINSP)
FIXING
(FIXI)
FITTING
SECTION POINT LOAD
(SPLO)
SECONDARY NODE
(FITT)
(SNOD)
(SELJ)
SECTION VERTEX
SECONDARY JOINT
(SJOI)
SECTION DISTRIBUTED LOAD
(SDLO)
RELEASE
(RELE)
SECTION LINEAR JOINT
(SEVE)
NODAL LOAD
(NOLO)
NODAL DISPLACEMENT
(NODI)
SECONDARY COMPOUND JOINT

(SCOJ)
SUBJOINT(SUBJ)

Version 11.6
A-1
A-2

Version 11.6

This appendix gives a much-simplified introduction to the way the structural
catalogue is used in creating the design model and lists the principal features of
some standard catalogue components to which you may want to refer when creating
your design model. (For full details of the way in which the catalogue is built up and
used, see the PDMS PARAGON Reference Manual.)
B.1
The Basic Features of the Catalogue

All profiles, joints, fittings etc. used in the design are selected from the Catalogue
database by setting the Specification Reference for the corresponding design
element so that it points to the required catalogue entry.
Each catalogue item is defined in terms of two subsidiary sets of data:
A Geometry Set, which defines the overall physical shape of the item in terms
of a set of 2D and/or 3D basic shapes (known as primitives). A sectional
profile is made up of 2D primitives only (which are extruded to form a 3D
section in the design model); a joint or a fitting is made up of 3D primitives
which define its complete volume. A geometry set can include negative 3D
primitives to represent holes.
Point Set, which defines a number of reference points and directions

superimposed on the geometric shape so that individual parts of that shape can
be identified and manipulated. These reference points can include p-points,
which represent a 1D point position and a direction, and p-lines (or plines),
which represent a 2D line and a direction.
A range of catalogue components with similar overall geometry will all reference
the same geometry set and point set, so that the amount of data needed to represent
all possible items is kept to a minimum. The dimensions of the items are not fixed in
the catalogue but are expressed in terms of design parameters. Values are allocated
to these parameterised dimensions when the item is used in a specific part of the
design model: they may either be set explicitly or derived from associated
dimensions of other design components to which the item is to be connected.
B.2
P-line Identification
Each p-line is identified by a two, three or four letter code (known as its PKEY)
which identifies its relative position in the 2D profile (remember that each p-line is
extruded in the design model to represent a line running along the length of a
section). The most commonly referenced PKEYs use the following naming
conventions (each profile uses only a subset of these):

Version 11.6
B-1
BBH
BBHL
BBHR
BLW
BLWT
BOC
BOS
BRW
BRWT
FOC
HBA
HOA
IOC
LBOA
LBOC
LBOS
LBTS
LTBA
LTBS
LTOC
LTOS
LTTA
NA
NAB
NAL
NALO
NAR
NARO
NAT
RBOA
RBOC
RBOS
RBTS
ROA
ROC
RTBS
RTOC
RTOS
TBH
TBHL
TBHR
TLW
TLWB
TOAX
TOAY
TOC
TRWB
B-2
Bottom bolt hole

Bottom bolt hole, left
Bottom bolt hole, right
Bottom left of web
Bottom left web top
Bottom of channel
Bottom of steel
Bottom right of web
Bottom right web, top
Face of channel
Hole, bottom of angle
Hole, outside of angle
Inside of channel
Left bottom of angle
Left bottom of channel
Left bottom of steel
Left bottom top of steel
Left top bottom of angle
Left top bottom of steel
Left top of channel
Left top of steel
Left top of angle
Neutral axis
Neutral axis bottom
Neutral axis left
Neutral axis left outside
Neutral axis right
Neutral axis right outside
Neutral angle top
Right bottom of angle
Right bottom of channel
Right bottom of steel
Right bottom top of steel
Right of angle
Right outside of channel
Right top bottom of steel
Right top of channel
Right top of steel
Top bolt hole
Top bolt hole, left
Top bolt hole, right
Top left of web
Top left web, bottom
Top of angle, X orientation
Top of angle, Y orientation
Top of channel
Top right web, bottom

Version 11.6
TOS
TRW
B.3
Top of steel
Top right of web
Some Standard Profiles

The following pages illustrate the principal catalogue profiles, showing the p-lines
and parameterised dimensions associated with each.

Version 11.6
B-3
Generic Type: BOX

PARA 2
TOS
PARA 4
LTOS
RTOS
PARA 7
PARA 3
NA
LEFT
RIGH
PARA 1
PARA 6
LBOS
RBOS
BOS
Other Parameters:
PARA 5 = Weight per unit length
B-4

Version 11.6
Generic Type: ANG

PARA 2
PARA 10
PARA 5
NAT
TOAX
RTTA
TOAY
PARA 8
RTOA
PARA 4
NAB
LOA
HBA
PARA 7
PARA 9
NA
NAL
NAR
PARA 1
HOA
PARA 3
LBOA
RBOA
Other Parameters:

Version 11.6
B-5
Generic Type: TUBE

HH
GG
FF
EE
II
DD
JJ
KK
CC
NA &
NAGG
NAEE
NAII
LL
NAKK
NAAA
NAMM
MM
BB
NACC
NAOO
AA
PARA 1
NAWW
XX
NN
NAQQ
NASS
NAUU
WW
OO
VV
PP
UU
QQ
RR
SS
TT
PARA 2
There are three types of

Pli AA-XX every 15 degrees round the
S
every 30 degrees from the
i
f
S NAAA-NAWW
S NAtequivalent to NAGG
Other Parameters:
B-6

Version 11.6
Generic Type: BEAM

PARA 2
TLW
LTBS
PARA 4
TOS
LTOS
RTOS
TRW
TBHL
TBHR
TLWB
RTBS
TRWB
PARA 6
PARA 3
NA
PARA 8
PARA 1
NALO
NAL
NAR
BLWT
NARO
BRWT
BBHL
LBTS
LBOS
BBHR
BLW
BRW
BOS
RBTS
RBOS
PARA 12
Other Parameters:
PARA 7 = Cross Sectional Area
PARA 9 = Nominal Depth
PARA 10 = Nominal Width
PARA 11 = Surface Area per unit length

Version 11.6
B-7
Generic Type: DINI

PARA 2
PARA 4
TOS
LTOS
PARA 7
RTOS
TBHR
TBHL
PARA 6
PARA 3
NA
PARA 8
NALO
NAL
NAR
PARA 1
NARO
BBHL
BBHR
PARA 10
(as percentage)
LBOS
BOS
RBOS
PARA 11
PARA 4 measured midway between TOS and LTOS
Other Parameters:
B-8

Version 11.6
Generic Type: BSC

PARA 2
LTOC
PARA 4
TOC
RTOC
TBH
PARA 5
NA
PARA 10
FOC
IOC
ROC
PARA 1
PARA 3
PARA 7
BBH
PARA 9
(degrees)
PARA 8
LBOC
BOC
RBOC
PARA 13
PARA 4 measured midway between LTOC and RTOC
Other Parameters:

Version 11.6
B-9
Generic Type: DINU

PARA 2
PARA 14
LTOC
TOC
RTOC
PARA 4
TBH
PARA 5
NA
PARA 10
FOC
IOC
ROC
PARA 1
PARA 3
PARA 7
BBH
PARA 9
(as percentage)
PARA 8
LBOC
BOC
RBOC
PARA 13
PARA 4 measured midway between the PARA 14 limit and RTOC

PARA 14 is usually either zero or equal to PARA 3
Other Parameters:
B-10

Version 11.6
Generic Type: TEE
PARA 1
PARA 5
PARA 4
TOS
LTOS
LTBS
RTOS
TBHL
TBHR
TLWB
NA
RTBS
TRWB
PARA 7
NALO
NAL
NAR
NARO
PARA 3
LBOS
PARA 2
RBOS
BOS
Other Parameters:
PARA 10 = Original Depth
PARA 11 = Original Width
PARA 12 = Original Weight

Version 11.6
B-11
Generic Type: DINT

PARA 1
PARA 13
LTOS
TOS
RTOS
PARA 4
PARA 14
PARA 16
(as percentage)
PARA5
TBHL
TBHR
NA
PARA 7
NALO
NAL
NAR
NARO
PARA 3
PARA 2
PARA 15
BOS
PARA 3 measured midway between TOS and BOS

PARA 4 measured midway between LTOS and TOS
Other Parameters:
PARA 10 = Original Depth
PARA 11 = Original Width
PARA 12 = Original Weight
B-12

Version 11.6
B.4
Some Standard Joints

The following diagrams illustrate the principal types of joint in the catalogue,
showing the parameterised dimensions (as described on the corresponding forms)
which must be specified when each joint is connected to a section in the design.
B.4.1
Column Connections
Column Flange:
c
a
Dist from TOS = a

Dist from BOS = b
Thk of Plt = c
Co lu m n We b:
c
a
d
d
b
D is t fro m TOS = a
D is t fro m B OS = b
Th k o f P lt = c
B.4.2
N o tc h D e p th = d
Cleated Connections

Version 11.6
B-13
B o lte d We b:
4M20_bo lte d _w e b_c le a ts
Le n g th o f c le a ts = a
Cu tba c k B o lte d Web:
Le n g th o f c le a ts = a
We ld e d S e a t:
Ex te n s io n Wid th o f B o tto m An g le = a
B-14

Version 11.6
B.4.3
End Preparations
Single Clearance:
a
Radius of Rathole = a
Double Clearance:
Flush_p_cutback:
a
Radius of Rathole = a
Flush_p_cutback_with_snipe:
a
Radius of Rathole

Version 11.6
B-15
B.4.4
Baseplate Connections
30m m _th ic k _a tta c h e d _ba s e p la te:
a
D ia o f B o lt = a
30mm_thick_user_defined_baseplate:
c
e
Depth of Plt = a
Width of Plt = b
Bolt wrt Depth = c
Bolt wrt Width = d
Dia of Bolt = e
c
d
d
b
B-16

Version 11.6
B.4.5
Double Notched End Plates

Dble Notch End Plate:
4M6_10mm_thk_plt
B.4.6
Single Notched End Plates

Sgle Notch End Plate:
a
b
B.5
1st Row = a
2nd Row = b
3rd Row = 0
(in this example)
Some Standard Fittings

The following diagrams illustrate some typical fittings from the catalogue, showing
the parameterised dimensions (as described on the corresponding forms) which must
be specified when each fitting is added to the design.

Version 11.6
B-17
B.6
Stiffeners
Single Full Depth:

10mm_flange_stiffener
Double Full Depth:

8mm_double_stiffener
Single Partial Depth:

8mm_single_stiffener
short length = a
long length = b
b
B-18

Version 11.6
B.7
Fire Insulation
Parallel Flange Beam:
a
c
b
f
Top Flange Top Thickness = a

Top Flange Width =
b
Top Flange Bottom Thickness = c
Web Thickness = d
Bottom flange Top Thickness = e
Bottom flange Width = f
Bottom Flange Bottom Thickness = g
Position Line NA
Zdistance (measured from POSS of
section) determines start of insulation
e
g

Version 11.6
B-19
B.8
Lifting Lugs
General Lifting Lug (GEN-
d
e
Height of Pad Eye = a

Width of Pad Eye = b
Vertical Distance = c
Shape Radius = d
Hole Radius = e
Pad Eye Thickness = f
(not shown)
Lifting Lug, Bolted:
B-20

Version 11.6

This guide serves purely as an introduction to those parts of PDMS most relevant to
structural design. Therefore, it describes only the main concepts needed to get you
started.
Documents that can provide you with further information are listed below.
C.1
PDMS introductory guides

There is a set of introductory guides like this one, that introduce a subset of principal
PDMS facilities to new users. The complete set is:
Accessways, Stairs and Ladders Design Using VANTAGE PDMS
HVAC Design Using VANTAGE PDMS
Industrial Building Design Using VANTAGE PDMS
Pipework Design Using VANTAGE PDMS
Support Design Using VANTAGE PDMS
Introduction to PDMS Design Templates
Drawing Production Using PDMS
Introduces the range of facilities available in the Draft module.
Reporting from PDMS
Introduces the database reporting utility available from within
most PDMS applications, including the use of expressions to
select relevant data.
PDMS DESIGN Graphical Model Manipulation Guide
Introduces the DESIGN Model Editor, which enables you to reposition
selected Plant Items using the mouse pointer.

Version 11.6
C-1
C.2
PDMS reference manuals

The full PDMS documentation set includes a number of reference manuals which
give detailed explanations of all the technical concepts involved. These manuals also
describe the underlying command syntax which can be used to control PDMS
directly (should you wish to bypass the forms and menus interface).
Reference manuals particularly relevant to structural design work include:
DESIGN Reference Manual
Covers concepts and commands for all

design disciplines.
ISODRAFT Reference Manual

Explains how to create customised piping
isometric plots.
DRAFT Reference Manual Explains the PDMS 2D drafting
facilities.
C.3
PARAGON Reference Manual
Explains how to set up a PDMS

Catalogue.
SPECON Reference Manual
Explains how to create tabulated

specifications.
General guides
The following guides are intended for use only by experienced PDMS users who
want to write their own applications:
Plant Design Software Customisation Guide
Explains how to write your own application macros using PML
(AVEVAs Programmable Macro Language) and how to design
your own forms and menus interface.
Plant Design Software Customisation Reference Manual
Supplements the Customisation Guide.
Includes a list of PML 2 Objects, Members and Methods. For Forms and
Menus objects, the command syntax relating to the objects is included.
C-2

Version 11.6
Sample Plots
This appendix comprises some examples of typical (though relatively simple) plots
showing the sorts of structural designs which may be created using PDMS with the
AVEVA structural applications.

Version 11.6
D-1
Sample Plots
D-2

Version 11.6
Sample Plots
Structural Design using VANTAGE PDMS

Version 11.6
D-3
Sample Plots
D-4

Version 11.6
Index
3D view, 3-6
Clash limits, 11-3
Application
Clashing extent, 11-2
Beams & Columns, 4-1

definition, 2-1
Clearance
definition, 11-2
loading, 8-1
Collection. See List
Panels & Plates, 8-1
Compound panel fitting
Attachment
pipe penetrations, 10-1
Attribute
definition, 4-2
Bracing
creating individual members, 7-4
creating standard configurations, 7-10
modifying bracing gaps, 7-6
Button
control, 3-10
penetrations, 10-1
Control button, 3-10
Copying
mirror option, 7-8
offset option, 5-22
Current element
definition, 4-3
Curve
definition, 12-1
Curved section
radio, 3-9
creating, 12-6
toggle, 3-10
definition, 12-1
Catalogue database, 5-1

Centre of gravity calculations, 11-6
Check box, 3-10
Clash
definition, 11-2
Clash checking
checking process, 11-3
clash limits, 11-3
extent of clash, 11-2
modifying, 12-7
Database hierarchy, 4-2
Draft data, 11-10
Density, 11-7
Design Explorer, 3-5
Design parameters, 1
Design session
ending, 5-27
Display
obstruction levels, 11-1
restoring, 7-1
obstruction list, 11-3
saving, 5-26
principles, 11-1
Version 11.6
Distance
index-i
Index
measuring, 8-6
Draft applications
loading, 11-8
definition, 12-1
GENSEC
definition, 12-1
Draft database hierarchy, 11-10
Geometry set, 1
Draft module, 11-8
Graphical view, 3-6
Drag
Gross weight, 11-6
panel edge, 8-10
Hard obstruction, 11-1
Drawing sheet, Draft, 11-12
Help, on-line, 3-11
Edge
Holes
definition, 8-2
negative extrusion, 8-13
dragging, 8-10
penetrations, 10-1
picking, 8-8
Element
definition, 4-2
End position
Isometric view, 5-10

Joint
beta angle, 7-13
connection references, 7-14
definition, 5-1
cutback, 7-14
identifying, 6-5
cutting plane, 7-14
Ending design session, 5-27
dominant/subordinate, 7-18
Escape key/button, 3-9, 5-20
joint freedom, 7-18
Event-driven graphics mode, 5-14
origin plane direction, 7-13
Fillet radius
position and orientation, 7-14, 7-16
definition, 8-2
position line, 7-13, 7-16
setting, 8-10
secondary, 5-21
Fitting
section penetrations, 10-1
Forms and display
restoring, 7-1
saving, 5-26
Framework (FRMW)
creating, 4-4
definition, 4-2
Function attribute
setting for Draft, 11-8
Generic Section (GENSEC)
Index-ii
selecting from catalogue, 7-15

specifying, 7-12, 7-15
Joint line
definition, 5-5
Justification
definition, 5-5
specifying, 5-17
Leaving design session, 5-27
Linear grid
defining, 12-5
List
Version 11.6
Index
adding members, 5-22
Option button, 3-3
creating, 5-22
Owner
definition, 5-21
scrollable, 3-10
Loop (LOOP)
definition, 8-13
Mass calculations, 11-6
Mass properties
querying, 11-6
Material reference (MatRef), 11-7
Measuring facility, 8-6
Member
definition, 4-3
Member line
definition, 5-5
Menu
pull-down, 3-6
Menu bar, 3-5, 3-6
Module
definition, 2-1
Mouse buttons
functions, 3-2
Negative extrusion (NXTR)
definition, 8-13
Negative volume, 8-13
definition, 4-3
Panel (PANE)
creating, 8-4
definition, 8-2
Panel edge
definition, 8-2
dragging, 8-10
picking, 8-8
Panel fillet radius
definition, 8-2
setting, 8-10
Panel fitting (PFIT)
beta angle, 9-1
definition, 9-1
justification, 9-1
position, 9-1
Panel loop (PLOO)
definition, 8-2
Panel origin
definition, 8-5
Panel thickness
definition, 8-2
Panel vertex (PAVE)
Net weight, 11-6
definition, 8-2
Node
modifying, 8-7
definition, 5-2
picking, 8-8
deleting, 6-6
Panel vertex creation, 8-4
primary, 5-2
Panning view, 5-11
secondary, 5-2, 5-21
Parameters, 1
Obstruction levels, 11-1
Penetration
Obstruction list, 11-3
creating, 10-2
On-line help, 3-11
definition, 10-1

Version 11.6
Index-iii
Index
detailing, 10-4
Physical clash
definition, 11-2
Pick mode prompt, 5-14
Representation
setting graphical view, 7-16
Representation level, 11-7
Ring section
PKEY, 2
creating, 12-3
Pline
definition, 12-1
definition, 5-2, 1
Rotating view, 5-11
identification, 2
Save work facility, 5-26
Pline rule
function, 7-2
setting, 7-3
Saving design changes, 5-26

Screen layout
saving, 5-26
Plotting facilities, 11-8
Scrollable list, 3-10
Point set, 1
Secondary joint (SJOI), 5-21
P-point
Secondary node (SNOD), 5-21
definition, 1
Primary node
automatic creation, 5-3
Primitives, 1
Profile (PROF)
Section
extending/shortening, 6-5, 7-2
Section (SCTN)
definition, 5-1
Sheet, Draft, 11-12
definition, 5-1
shortcut menu, 3-2
specifying, 5-3
Site
Project selection, 3-3
creating, 4-3
Prompt
definition, 4-2
cancelling, 5-20
Snap function, 5-14
Prompts, 3-9
Soft obstruction, 11-1
Properties
Specification reference (SpecRef), 1
setting, 7-15
Properties database, 11-7
Pull-down menu, 3-6
Radio button, 3-9
Regular structure
creating, 6-1
Reports
templates, 11-5
Index-iv
definition, 5-1
specifying, 5-4
Spine
definition, 12-1
Spine Point (POINSP)
definition, 12-1
Split facility
panels, 8-6
Version 11.6
Index
sections, 5-20
Start position
definition, 5-1
identifying, 6-5
Status bar, 3-6, 3-9
Storage area
specifying, 5-3, 8-3
Structure (STRU)
Trimming sections, 7-2

Vertex (VERT)
definition, 8-13
Vertex creation (panels), 8-4
View
3D/graphical, 3-6, 5-9
centre of interest, 5-13
panning, 5-11
creating, 4-4
representation setting, 7-16
definition, 4-2
rotating, 5-11
Subfitting
penetrations, 10-1
Subframework (SBFR)
zooming, 5-11
View direction, 5-10
Volume calculations, 11-6
creating, 4-4
Weight calculations, 11-6
definition, 4-2
Working grid, 12-5
Submenu, 3-6
Working plane, 12-5
Surface area calculations, 11-6
World
Text box, 3-3

Tidy nodes facility, 6-6
definition, 4-2
Zone
Title bar, 3-5
creating, 4-4
Tool bar, 3-5, 3-6
definition, 4-2
Touch
Zooming view, 5-11
definition, 11-2

Version 11.6
Index-v

Structural Design Using PDMS

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Structural Design Using

pdms116/Structural Design Using PDMS

Copyright 1991 through 2004 AVEVA Solutions Limited

Updated to incorporate the Design Explorer and the new view

Updates to Design Explorer layout and Draw List.

Structural Design Using VANTAGE PDMS

Structural Design Using VANTAGE PDMS

Read This First

The scope of this guide ...................................................................................................1-1

Introducing VANTAGE PDMS

Introducing the structure of PDMS .................................................................................2-1

Setting Up the PDMS Database Hierarchy

Starting the Structural Application..................................................................................4-1

Creating a Simple Structure

Design-to-Catalogue Cross-Referencing ........................................................................5-1

Structural Design Using VANTAGE PDMS

A Quick Way to Build a Regular Structure

Enhancing the Basic Structure

Adding Panels and Plates

Starting the Panels & Plates Application ........................................................................8-1

Using Panel Fittings

Restoring a Previously Saved Setup ...............................................................................7-1

How Panel Fittings are Defined ......................................................................................9-1

Penetrating One Item With Another

10.1 How a penetration is defined.........................................................................................10-1

Checking and Outputting Design Data

11.1 Checking for clashes .....................................................................................................11-1

Structural Design Using VANTAGE PDMS

Adding Some Curved Steelwork

12.1 How PDMS represents curved sections ........................................................................12-1

The Structural Design Database

Structural Catalogue Guide

Other Relevant Documentation

The Basic Features of the Catalogue.............................................................................. B-1

PDMS introductory guides............................................................................................. C-1

Structural Design Using VANTAGE PDMS

Structural Design Using VANTAGE PDMS

Read This First

The scope of this guide

1.1.1 Intended audience

where to find PDMS on your computer system

1.1.3 About the tutorial exercise

Structural Design Using VANTAGE PDMS

Read This First

1.1.4 Further reading

for the majority of the text.

to denote internal cross references and citations.

to denote keys on your keyboard.

Click on the required item to select it.

Read This First

How the guide is organised

introduces this guide and summarises its scope.

gives a general overview of the main design facilities provided

gives you a general guide to using the PDMS graphical user

guides you through the steps needed to create a simple structure

demonstrates a useful facility which provides an alternative

shows how to add diagonal bracing members, how to model joints

shows how to clad the structure by adding panels and plates.

introduces the concept of panel fittings.

shows how to configure those locations where one item penetrates

explains how curved sections are represented and illustrates their

summarises the database hierarchy which PDMS uses to store

comprises a sample catalogue of structural steelwork sections.

identifies other sources of information which supplement, and