Parametric model (Beta)
Contents
The parametric model is an editor module, where the User can create parametrized model as templates. The templates later can be imported into the Structure module with customized settings.
This module can be found in the command center.
Elements
In the first version of the parametric model module the user can use point and straight line objects, like point and line foundations, bars, point and line supports, and fictitious bars.
Parameters
All the tools that can be used to parametrize the model are located in Parameter tab.
Base objects
Base rays and base planes
Base rays and base planes can be used as the frame of the parametric model. Structural and analytical elements can be attached to them.
The following example, which is a simple roof structure with columns, shows a practical way to use base planes and base rays. The base planes define the plane where supports and columns, the bottom and the top level, and the first and last plane of the roof structure will be placed. The base rays will defines the beams x’ direction.
Grids
Grids are used to create iterative patterns, like a series of columns or an array of point foundations.
With this function the User can create one, two or three dimensional grids:
Structural and analytical elements can be attached to the grid. The attached elements should fit in one cell of the grid:
The user can draw anywhere in the cells, and it will be attached to that grid. Grids can be warped in every possible way by the corner points.
The User can set the number of cells in one direction by any given numbers or parameters:
The User can set where to multiply structural objects on the grid:
Using the Local y’ axis option allows to follow the objects local y’ axis in the grid, after the structural element are assigned to it.
Rules
Lock
Locks are used to bound nodes of structural elements, analytical elements, base lines and grids to the cross points of base elements. The locked objects are marked with the lock symbol in the model space.
Cross points can be an intersections of two base line, an intersection of a base line and base plane and a cross point of three base plane. The following example shows how to define the middle beam position with lock object (the base ray and base plane intersection will be the position of the middle beam).
Constraints
Constrains are used to set distances between parallel base objects.
The following example shows how to use these parameters:
Parameters
Parameters are used to control the parametric model. New parameters are created directly in the Parameters dialog, or indirectly in parametric objects’ dialogs (grid and constraint).
If one of the parameters that are assigned to the parametric model is changed, the modifications will automatically be apply to the parameteric model.
Import parametric models to structure module
The parametric model can be imported to 3D modules by
- Tools / Apply parametric model
- Edit / Paste file
- Open (file with *.prm extension)
After selecting the .prm file, the Parameters dialog will appear. There, one can set the previously defined parameters that should be applied to the new model.
