Add Standard Bracing Configurations

To avoid the need to create individual bracing sections, the application provides a quick way to add some predefined bracing configurations.

To demonstrate this facility, the next section shows how to add a cross bracing configuration with angle sections in the vertical plane and then a diamond bracing configuration with universal beam sections in the horizontal plane as indicated by the thick black lines in the diagram:

1. From the main menu bar select Create > Sections > Bracing configurations.

   The Bracing window opens.

   

   Note: You can create bracing configurations with the appropriate connections at the end of the bracing sections, between GENSEC elements.

2. For the purposes of this user guide, use this section data:

   1. Set the Storage area to the Subframe /TESTSBFR.

   2. Click Profile to display the Section Specification window.

   3. Set Profile to British Standard, Equal Angle, 70x70x6.0.

   4. Set Justification to NAL (Neutral Axis Left: this aligns the angle sections back-to-back. for further information, refer to Sample Plots);

   5. Set Member Line and Joint Line to NA.

   6. Bracing Plane: leave the option set to Derived by Section so that the bracing members lie in the same plane as the sections to which they are attached.

   

3. Click Apply and then click Dismiss to discard any information and close the Section Specification window.

4. In the Available Bracing Configurations list, select Cross Bracing.

   The parameterized diagram shows the details of the selected configuration. The diagram shows the dimensions which must be specified (A, B) and the order in which sections that already exist must be picked (1, 2) so as to position and connect the bracing members correctly. For the cross bracing configuration it looks as shown:

   

5. Click Apply.

   The Cross Bracing window is displayed.

   

6. Input gaps A and B and select Confirm.

   You are now in event-driven graphics mode.

7. Using the diagram on the Bracing window as a guide, pick the two columns between which the bracing members are to be connected.

   To achieve the required configuration, make sure that the first pick is near the bottom of the first column and that the 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.

8. When you are satisfied with the configuration shown in the 3D graphical view, accept the creation of the sections which forms the bracing members and then click Dismiss to discard any information and close the Bracing window.

9. In the Available Bracing Configurations list, select Diamond Bracing.

   The parameterized diagram shows that you need to specify the separations between the bracing members for each pair of opposing sections.

10. Click Apply to display the Diamond Bracing window in which the data can be entered.

11. Set both Gap A and Gap B, leave confirm selected, and pick the four beams (in the correct sequence, as shown in the diagram) to complete the operation.

12. You must click Dismiss to discard any information and close the Bracing window when finished.

13. You must dismiss the Diamond Bracing window and leave the event-driven graphics mode in order to change the bracing configuration.