User Interface and Modelling
Contents
- Axis improvements
- Bar end release types
- Edge connection improvements
- Quick editing with floating toolbar
- Window list position
Axis improvements
Grid axes play a significant role within a project: together with storeys, they define the structural grid system (framework), their intersections can indicate column positions, they can be used for aligning or adjusting analytical elements, and they help define key planar views and sections. FEM-Design 24 enhances the existing Axis tool with numerous new capabilities and characteristics.
Primary and secondary Axes
Axes can now be organized and prioritize into two groups: primary and secondary. This allows for easily assigning distinct appearances and numbering styles to each group.
The two groups are also distinguished in the Filter, allowing us to quickly locate and select them either group-wise or individually.
Structural objects in the plane of the Axes can also easily be selected by choosing the desired Axis, Axes or Axis-group in the Filter.
View definition, and quick access
We can now specify which axes define vertical planes for views and which do not.
Alt + right-clicking on an axis that defines a view instantly opens the associated view with the current model content.
Axis label positions
New functionality allows us to choose which ends of a displayed axis should show its label.
Additionally, labels can be offset along the Axis by a user-defined distance from its end points.
Fit Axis to Storey
New Axis can be quickly and easily defined by selecting the direction and position of an existing structural line element or region edge with a single click.
Additionally, if Storeys are present and Fit to storeys, if possible option is chosen, the length of a new axis will be aligned to the Storey region instead of being limited by the length of the selected element or segment.
Bar end release types
FEM-Design 24 introduces the ability to store custom-defined end releases for bar-type objects (including Columns, Beams, Fictitious bars, Column corbels, Piles, and Wall foundations) as named types. These types can be assigned to bars, displayed, and listed within projects, and can also be used as filters to identify bars containing specific release types.
End release types can be accessed in the properties dialog of bar-type objects under the End conditions settings via a newly introduced dropdown list. By selecting Edit library, we can create new types within a library structure by assigning allowed displacement and rotation values to a custom type name. By default, “Hinged” and “Fixed” types are already available.
Bar-type objects can be easily located and selected using the “Bar end release type” criterion available in the Filter.
The start and end release types of selected bar-type objects can now be listed and documented in tables by enabling the “Sr. type” and “Er. type” columns. Additionally, the end release types applied in a project can be summarized in a separate list.
End release type names can be displayed as labels at the ends of bars (Detailed settings > Bars > Label; see the first image). These labels behave the same as the general FEM-Design label and their text size, font style, colour and position can be modified. By default, the colour of an end release label matches the colour of its host bar object. Automatic arrangement also has effect on them.
Edge connection improvements
Edge connections play a critical role in modelling of plates and walls, especially in projects involving prefabricated concrete or timber panels. These connections are frequently customized and adjusted to suit design requirements. In FEM-Design 24, significant enhancements simplify edge connection management, enabling quick definition, easy access to preset types, and seamless tracking of changes when modifying the geometry of the host objects.
Quick definition
The new Setup function streamlines the process of defining edge connections during object creation. Connections can now be assigned directly to edges based on the type of shell element:
- Profiled or timber wall/plate panels: we can define connection settings for the external edges individually or for the internal edges together.
- Plane walls: we can assign connections to the edges individually.
- Plane plates and fictitious shells: we can apply connection settings to all edges at once.
The Edit library function allows modifying the properties of previously saved edge connection types and creating new types to be stored in database.
We can also assign a unique identifier to an edge connection and define its behaviour at the start and end point individually, selecting either “connected” or “separated” types.
Choosing the appropriate edge connection type is faster than ever, thanks to the powerful search function that allows us to filter the factory-defined and user-saved types by their name.
Named presets for each object
For repeated use and consistency, the edge connection settings of a specific object (e.g., a wall element) can be saved as a named preset. These presets allow quick application of preconfigured edge connection setups to new similar objects.
Simply select the desired preset, and start defining new objects with the saved configuration applied automatically.
Enhanced default connections
In addition to the quick definition of edge connections, a separate tab page for default connections is now available in the Default settings dialog for both the panel and wall tools. Previously, setting default edge connections for panels required navigating through two separate tab pages, which was less intuitive and more complicated. The new interface simplifies this process, offering a more visual and user-friendly approach, as described at Quick definition.
The “Default” text in the tab title highlights its purpose: to set the initial edge connection states of objects. Any subsequent customization or modification of individual edges of walls or panels can still be done using the standalone Edge connection function.
Preservation of settings during geometric operations
Improved algorithms ensure edge connection settings are preserved or intelligently adjusted during even complex geometric modifications of shell elements. Some examples:
- New wall panels created from splitting or trimming inherit connection settings from adjacent panels.
- For walls, we can choose whether newly created edges (e.g., from splitting) default to "rigid" or inherit the connection properties of the parent object.
- When merging plates, the connection types of the original edges remain intact.
- Placing holes in shell objects no longer changes the connection settings of untouched edges.
Note: When analytical system has to be regenerated (e.g. due to geometrical changes or panel modifications), manually modified edge connections are lost. The edge connections of the newly generated analytical elements will be set according to the Default connections tab (link to Enhanced default connections!).
Quick editing with floating toolbar
FEM-Design 24 introduces a floating toolbar to streamline object editing. By clicking on an object or a specific part of it with the left mouse button, relevant editing commands are displayed in a context-sensitive floating toolbar.
Example: Clicking on different parts of a wall object — region, edge, or point — offers specific Modify menu commands; for example:
- Region: Move the entire wall.
- Edge: Insert a breakpoint.
- Corner point: Stretch the wall region.
The floating toolbar only appears for modelling, drawing and load objects (or their parts) that are on an active layer in the current view.
Window list position
FEM-Design 24 introduces the ability to customize the display of Window list and so the toggle place between windows: Bottom (default), Top or Hidden. FEM-Design remembers the last-used Window list position and status, ensuring the setting is preserved when reopening the program or starting a new project.
Hiding the Window list increases the available drawing area. This is particularly useful when windows are arranged side by side, as window switching can be done by clicking on their title bars.
When the Window list is visible, new quick-access icons for the New and Duplicate window creation functions are now available.
