Dynamic Connectivity Rules

The connectivity between structural section elements is maintained automatically by the connection manager. Connectivity tolerances are used by the clash check facility to determine if an attached section should be disconnected. Refer to Structural Defaults for further information. Modifications to GENSEC element properties can affect connectivity or geometry between the owning and attached sections.

• Position

• Start position

• End position

• Beta angle

• Specification reference

• Parameters

• Justification

• Mirror

• Member line

If any of these properties are modified, the connection manager uses a set of dynamic connectivity rules to determine the effect on existing connections between owning and attached sections that have been modified.

The most important property to consider when modifications are made is the joint dominance property of a FIXING. Refer to Dominant and Subordinate Connections for further information.

Move Owning Section

If the joint dominance property is False and exceeds the structural connectivity tolerances, the attached section is disconnected and the JLDATU, PLDATU and FIXING elements are deleted. If the attached section does not exceed the structural connectivity tolerances, the connection is maintained and Z distance from the start position is updated.

If the joint dominance property is True, the connection between the owning and attached sections is maintained.

Stretch Owning Section

If the start of the owning section is stretched and the joint dominance property is False, the JLDATU position (Z distance from the start position) is modified and the attached section does not change direction.

If the start of the owning section is stretched and the joint dominance property is True, the JLDATU position (Z distance from the start position) is maintained and the attached section changes orientation when reconnected.

If the end of the owning section is stretched, the JLDATU position is not modified and has no effect on the attached section regardless of the joint dominance property (which controls the Z distance from the start position).

Re-orientate Owning Section

If the joint dominance property is False and exceeds the structural connectivity tolerances, the attached section is disconnected and the JLDATU, PLDATU and FIXING elements are deleted. If the attached section does not exceed the structural connectivity tolerances, the connection is maintained and the start distance of the joint is maintained.

If the joint dominance property is True, the connection between the owning and attached sections is maintained.

Move Attached Section

If the JLDATU contains one PLDATU and one FIXING, the JLDATU position is moved to the attached section position.

If the JLDATU contains more than one PLDATU, a new JLDATU, PLDATU and FIXING is created at the attached section position. The old FIXING is deleted.

If the PLDATU owns more than one FIXING, a new JLDATU, PLDATU and FIXING is created at the attached section position. The old FIXING is deleted.

If a JLDATU or PLDATU no longer contain any members, they are deleted.

Copy Attached Section

If the copied attached section is positioned on the same owning section and has the same orientation as the original, a new JLDATU, PLDATU and FIXING is created at the attached section position.

Modify Specification Reference of Owning Section

If a new specification reference property is applied, the connection of the attached section is maintained and trimmed to the most appropriate Pline.

Modify Specification Reference of Owning Section

If a new specification reference property is applied, the connection of the attached section is maintained and trimmed to the most appropriate Pline.

Modify Beta Angle of Owning Section

If the beta angle of the owning section is modified, the connection of the attached section is maintained and trimmed to the most appropriate Pline.

Modify Justification Line of Owning Section

If the justification line of the owning section is modified, the attached section is trimmed to the PLDATU positioning line property, the direction of the attached section may be modified, dependent on the joint dominance property.

Mirror Owning Section

If the mirror property of the owning section is modified, the connection of the attached section is maintained and trimmed to the most appropriate Pline.

Force Position Line

If the Pline of a PLDATU is modified, the attached member is trimmed to the selected Pline. Subsequent modifications may result in modification to a different Pline.

Alternatively, you can manually trim the connected section ends to a new Pline to update the PLDATU positioning line property. Refer to Trim Connected Section Ends for further information.

DATAL

Dynamic connectivity is active by default, but is inactive when running in a datal. In some circumstances the RECONNECT command.

RECONNECT DYNAMIC ON/OFF/IGNORE

can be used to inactivate dynamic connectivity. The IGNORE option is a temporary switch which can be added at the end of a macro to ignore any modifications made within the macro. After running the macro, dynamic connectivity resumes.