Download Part 2: PowerFrame Reference Manual

1 Contents
1 CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... 3
2 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 6
3 REFERENCE......................................................................................................... 7
3.1 WORK SPACE DESCRIPTION ................................................................................. 7
3.1.1
Showing general parameters..................................................................... 7
3.1.2
Selecting elements ..................................................................................... 9
3.1.2.1
3.1.2.2
3.1.2.3
3.1.2.4
3.1.3
3.1.4
3.1.5
3.1.6
3.1.7
3.1.8
Directly on the screen ...............................................................................................................................................9
Using the menu .........................................................................................................................................................9
Using the ‘Ctrl’ or ‘Alt’-button...............................................................................................................................11
Combined selections ...............................................................................................................................................11
Intelligent cursor ..................................................................................... 11
Zoom & pan............................................................................................. 11
Hide/show selection................................................................................. 12
Material library....................................................................................... 13
Cross-section library............................................................................... 14
The ‘Geometry’ window .......................................................................... 16
3.1.8.1
The grid...................................................................................................................................................................16
3.1.8.2
Drawing plane.........................................................................................................................................................18
3.1.8.3
The geometry icon toolbox .....................................................................................................................................19
3.1.8.3.1
Selection arrow ...............................................................................................................................................19
3.1.8.3.2
Draw bars........................................................................................................................................................19
3.1.8.3.3
Remove bars ...................................................................................................................................................19
3.1.8.3.4
Divide bars......................................................................................................................................................20
3.1.8.3.5
Intersection of members..................................................................................................................................20
3.1.8.3.6
Translation & copy .........................................................................................................................................20
3.1.8.3.7
Rotation...........................................................................................................................................................21
3.1.8.3.8
Mirror..............................................................................................................................................................22
3.1.8.3.9
Extrusion.........................................................................................................................................................23
3.1.8.3.10 Pre-defined structures .....................................................................................................................................24
3.1.8.3.11 Boundary conditions .......................................................................................................................................24
3.1.8.3.12 Diaphragms.....................................................................................................................................................25
3.1.8.3.13 Rigid or hinged nodes .....................................................................................................................................26
3.1.8.3.14 Connection at bar ends & tie rods ...................................................................................................................27
3.1.8.3.15 Constant and variable cross-sections based on cross-section types.................................................................29
3.1.8.3.16 Selecting a cross-section from the cross-section library..................................................................................31
3.1.8.3.17 Link to Section Utility for general cross-section types ...................................................................................32
3.1.8.3.18 Orientation of cross-sections...........................................................................................................................32
3.1.8.3.19 Eccentricity of bars .........................................................................................................................................32
3.1.8.3.20 Selecting materials from a library ...................................................................................................................33
3.1.8.3.21 Buckling and lateral buckling lengths.............................................................................................................33
3.1.8.4
Moving bars and nodes ...........................................................................................................................................34
3.1.8.5
Modifying bars and nodes.......................................................................................................................................35
3.1.8.6
Grouping and ungrouping bars ...............................................................................................................................36
3.1.8.7
Element types..........................................................................................................................................................37
3.1.8.8
Copy/paste of boundary conditions & cross-sections .............................................................................................38
3.1.9
The ‘Loads’ window ................................................................................ 38
3.1.9.1
The loads icon toolbox............................................................................................................................................38
3.1.9.2
Load cases...............................................................................................................................................................39
3.1.9.3
Load combinations..................................................................................................................................................43
3.1.9.4
Defining loads.........................................................................................................................................................46
3.1.9.4.1
Loads at nodes ................................................................................................................................................46
3.1.9.4.2
Loads on members ..........................................................................................................................................47
3.1.9.4.3
Temperature exposure.....................................................................................................................................51
3.1.9.4.4
Pretensioning load...........................................................................................................................................51
3.1.9.4.5
Generating climate loads.................................................................................................................................52
3.1.9.4.6
Surface loads...................................................................................................................................................52
PowerFrame Reference Manual
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