Frame Editor

 

The frame editor collects all the tools needed to be able to predesign the geometry and reinforcement of concrete frames.

 

The frame editor has the following structure:

 

  

 

 

The  object tree is a schematic representation of the frame set and the properties defined in the database. All the geometrical properties of each frame can be seen in the frame view and can be modified in the properties window. In this window the grey text data cannot be edited by the user while the black ones are editable.

 

In the main window there are two tabs, the first one is Geometry View, which shows the geometry, the terrain properties, the surface load and all other data needed to predesign the reinforcement. The second tab, Solution View, shows the reinforcement and the reinforcement configuration once it has been calculated.

 

In the upper part of the window there is a tool bar. Its appearance will change depending on the entities selected at each moment.

 

Object Tree

 

In the tree object all the frames and the properties of each frame gather in different categories are shown.

 

 

Properties window

 

This window, located under the object tree, has three aims:

 

• To show the properties of each object or group of selected objects. Each time an item is selected (frame, projections, terrain properties, etc.) the window will show all of its properties.
• To allow to modify data. The selected item will have properties that can be changed. To change any property, the value shown in this window has to be modified by placing the cursor on it and typing or selecting the new value.
• To be used as a dialog in certain actions. In some cases, as for example when a new point is created, it is necessary to type in a series of values or properties. The Properties window will change its appearance to be used as a dialog.

 

 

Tool Bar

 

The tool bar is located at the upper part of the editor. The tool bar has two areas, the fixed area, which will have the same appearance at any time, and the variable area, which will change depending on the situation, showing only those buttons which are applicable.

 

The fixed area of the tool bar has the following components:

 

    Exit saving all changes.

    Exit without saving changes.

    Save changes.

    Show this help document.

    Show the text box.

 

The variable part of the tool bar has button which are different depending on the activated tab.

 

Tab Geometry View

 

 

In this tab the geometry of the frame is shown (the terrain, the brackets the flanges, etc.). In this window it is possible to change all the geometry data of the frame.

 

The tool bar part for this tab has the following buttons:

 

    Create a new frame.

    Delete the selected frame.

    Copy the selected frame to a new one.

    Predesign the reinforcement of the selected frame.

 

 

Tab Solution view

 

In this tab the value of the reinforcement and a sketch of the configuration of the reinforcement are shown.

 

 

The size of the reinforcement and the location of it is shown.

 

With this tab selected it is not possible to change the data of the frame. If any geometry or property data is changed it is necessary to recalculate the reinforcement.

 

The tool bar part for this tab has the following buttons:

 

    List the frame properties.

    Activate the tool tips.

    Activate the reinforcement configuration.

    Export the model to ANSYS.

 

Button actions.

                 

          When this button is pressed the following dialog in showed:

 

 

In the edit box for FRM1 the number of the frame to list must be entered. This will list all the geometry data, the terrain data, the loads, etc. If the Reinforcement List check box is checked the reinforcement design will also be listed.

 

    When this button is pressed the following dialog opens:

 

     

 

Where Ufrm is the frame number and ESIZE is the element size of the exported model.

 

If List LOG file is clicked, the note pad will be opened to show the log file needed to export the frame and the reinforcement to ANSYS, in order to continue the analysis.

 

If  Create model is clicked the model will be exported and the frame editor will be closed.

 

By clicking with the right mouse button on any of the two views, the following options will be displayed.

 

 

• Zoom In: A zoom of the model is done. The center of the image is the point where the right click was done.
• Zoom Out: A zoom out of the model will be done.
• Zoom Box: A box can be created by clicking the two corners of it on the screen. A zoom will be done to this box.
• Fit: The initial view of the model is displayed, showing the complete extents of it.
• Auto-Fit: If enabled, it will show the complete extents of the model, even if the window is resized.
• Move: The graphics shown in the window can be panned with this utility.
• Distance: The distance between two points is calculated by clicking on the desired two points of the screen. The result will be shown on the lower bar of the window. An automatic snap will be done to the characteristic points of the model.
• Angle: The angle between two segments is calculated by clicking on the three points of the screen which define the segments. The result will be shown on the lower bar of the window. An automatic snap will be done to the characteristic points of the model.

 

 

Related commands:

~FRMDEF

~FRMCR

~FRMGT

~FRMBS

~FRMLDS

~FRMVHS

~FRTRCK

~FRMGEN

~FRMLST

~FRMDEL

~FRMMDL