Cover property	Description
Icon
Modules where available
Geometry	Any shape
Load direction	Arbitrary in
Load type	Surface load
Available analysis results	-
Default Short Command	COV (Cover) BCOV (Building cover)

Table: Cover properties

Definition steps

1. If needed, set a proper position for the working plane.
2. Start Cover command from  tabmenu and choose  Define.
   
   Figure: Cover toolwindow
3. Set the cover type if it is slab/roof type  or wall type 
   
   Figure: Cover types
4. Choose a geometry definition method for the cover’s plane.
   Note: In case of arc geometry in wall covers, you must set the maximum angle between neighboring covers at  , since arced walls are replaced with straight sections.
5. Set the load bearing directions with .
   
   Figure: Setting the load direction (monodirection)
6. Defining the supporting structures with .
   After defining the supporting structures, the equidistant lines will appear with the load distribution zones.
   
   Figure: Defining cover’s supporting structures

Activating the Auto supports checkbox will automatically determine the supporting structures for the cover. These can be modified later.

When using Auto supports, the following objects or elements will be recognized as supports if they are located in the cover’s plane:

• Beams and columns (including fictitious ones)
• Line supports and line support groups
• All inner and outer edges of slabs and walls (also working with fictitious ones)
• all point elements (such as point supports)

The Supporting structures and the Load bearing direction commands can be used to alter the automatically determined specifications.

To automatically assign supporting structures to previously defined covers simply use Select supporting structures automatically option.

Building cover

With this command frequently required shapes such as flat roof, ridge roof, or inclined roof can be very quickly defined.

Figure: Starting Building cover command

Flat roof:  and its height parameters:   

No negative value is accepted for either h or h’.

Lean-to:   and its height parameters:     

No negative value is accepted for either h or h’.

Ridge-roof:   and its height parameters: 

Negative values is accepted for h’.

Keep in mind that in EC, the total height is signed by h which is h+h’ in the program’s notation. This is important in wind calculation according to EC which requires the reference height.

After setting the height parameters you can create the layout rectangle. In the picture below you can see the three types with their assumed stiff direction.

All building covers are monodirectional by default except the upper surface of flat-roof. (They can be changed one by one after definition.)

By clicking on   (Properties) you can change the ID and the height parameters of the building cover:

You can explode the building cover with , and then edit the covers one-by one.

The Auto supports function is available for building covers as well.