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Polybeam Length Calculation in TeklaStructures

There are two main ways to calculate the length of a polybeam part in Tekla Structures: 1) unfolding the part and measuring the unfolded length, or 2) adding the lengths of straight segments without unfolding. The document provides detailed instructions on how to specify which method to use for different part types, materials, profiles, etc. using project parameter settings and an unfold_corner_ratios.inp file. Examples are given to illustrate how length calculation can vary based on these settings.

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Craciun Paul
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696 views

Polybeam Length Calculation in TeklaStructures

There are two main ways to calculate the length of a polybeam part in Tekla Structures: 1) unfolding the part and measuring the unfolded length, or 2) adding the lengths of straight segments without unfolding. The document provides detailed instructions on how to specify which method to use for different part types, materials, profiles, etc. using project parameter settings and an unfold_corner_ratios.inp file. Examples are given to illustrate how length calculation can vary based on these settings.

Uploaded by

Craciun Paul
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOW IS THE LENGTH OF A POLYBEAM CALCULATED

Basically, there are two different ways to calculate the length of a polybeam:
- Unfolding the part and calculate the length from straight, unfolded solid
- The "old" way, in which no unfolding is done and length is calculated by adding lengths of straight parts
together.
1) By setting set XS_USE_OLD_POLYBEAM_LENGTH_CALCULATION=TRUE
in the batch file, unfold_corner_ratios.inp is not checked and unfolding is not used for length calculation.
This way all polybeam lengths are calculated using the center of the solid.
- If also XS_CALCULATE_POLYBEAM_LENGTH_ALONG_REFERENCE_LINE=TRUE is set in the
batch file, the reference line is used for all polybeams.
NOTE: Using "In depth" offset other than 0 affects the length calculation of angles. The length may be
heavily incorrect with offsets, but with middle-middle offset this works ok.
- If option 3 is used in the unfold_corner_ratios.inp for some parts, only their length calculation follows
the "old" routine. Reference line is used, if
XS_CALCULATE_POLYBEAM_LENGTH_ALONG_REFERENCE_LINE is set to TRUE.
Example:
Length of PR*-profiles made of material 350W is calculated using the old length calculation without
unfolding:
# [type = 3] [profile] [material]
3 PR* 350W
For all other parts, unfolding is used.
2) When chamfers without rounding are used, the length is based on the inside-outside [0-1] edge of the
solid. You can define the
Beams: # [type = 1] [profile] [material] [rotation min] [rotation
max] [flag: 1 = sharp] [angle min] [angle max] [ratio]
1 * * -180 180 1 -180 180 [0-1]
Plates: # [type = 2] [profile] [material] [rotation min] [rotation
max] [flag: 1 = sharp] [angle min] [angle max] [ratio]
2 * * 0 200 1 -180 180 [0-1]
3) When chamfer is rounded, the part is first unfold and the length is then calculated from this unfolded

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solid.
Beams: # [type = 1] [profile] [material] [rotation min] [rotation
max] [flag: 2 = curved] [radius min] [radius max] [ratio]
1 * * -180 180 2 0 1000 [0-1]
Plates: # [type = 2] [profile] [material] [rotation min] [rotation
max] [flag: 2 = curved] [radius min] [radius max] [ratio]
2 * * -180 180 2 0 1000 [0-1]
The length is based on the inside-outside edge of the solid, with curved lines used for length calculation
in the folded area. The straight parts are calculated using the centerline of the solid (if you zoom close to
the round chamfer, you can see that the chamfer does not start exactly at the same point in the inside
and outside edges, see the picture below)

4) If the profile is not defined in the unfold_corner_ratios.inp, then the centerline of the solid is used.
5) Part rotation values:
When bending is done
- over the right hand edge of the profile, rotation angle is -180 or 180
- over the top flange of the profile, rotation angle is -90

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- over the left hand edge of the profile, rotation angle is 0


- over the bottom flange of the profile, rotation angle is 90
6) To cover all bending angles, define the angle range as from -180 to 180. The range from 0 to 360
does not cover all bending angles.
General notes:
- If the polybeam is folded in more than one dimension (bending is done over more than one of part's
main axes), no unfolding is done. The length is always calculated using the "old" way.
- unfold_corner_ratios.inp is searched, like any other attribute file, first from the model folder, then from
XS_PROJECT, XS_FIRM, XS_SYSTEM folders defined in the batch file. So you can place the file with
your preferences for example into XS_FIRM folder and this way keep your custom settings untouched
by new Tekla Structures installations.
Example 1:
1) Three plates with different thicknesses. Lines
2 PL* * 00.0 10.1 1 -180 180 0.0
2 PL* * 10.1 20.1 1 -180 180 0.5
2 PL* * 20.1 30.1 1 -180 180 1.0
are used in unfold_corner_ratios.inp. No "old" length calculation is used. If material thickness is between
0 and 10.1 mm, inside edge is used, between 10.1 and 20.1 mm the centerline, between 20.1 and 30.1
mm the outside edge is used. (Please note that using some tolerance with the thicknesses is suggested,
as the thickness may be slightly inaccurate, e.g. 10.000001 mm). Also, to prevent any thickness to fall
"between" two settings, the thickness ranges should be continuous (previous maximum thickness
equals next minimum thickness). All materials are unfold with the same corner ratios.
From the picture below, you can see how the length calculation edge differs by different material
thicknesses.
- The inner edge of the solid is used with profile PL10*100
- The centerline of the solid is used with profile PL20*100
- The outer edge of the solid is used with profile PL30*100
The result can be seen in the picture on the next page. Along the reference line, all would have length of
200 mm, but using unfold_corner_ratios.inp this way results in three different lengths.

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Tekla Corporation/Tekla Structures Support

Example 2:
1) Three identical plates modeled using different reference lines. In the batch file:
set XS_CALCULATE_POLYBEAM_LENGTH_ALONG_REFERENCE_LINE=TRUE
set XS_USE_OLD_POLYBEAM_LENGTH_CALCULATION=TRUE
have been set.
This means all polybeam lengths are calculated along reference line.
In the picture on the next page, you can see three identical plates, which have been modeled by using
different reference line. But because the variables above have been set, all have different lengths.
NOTE: Although the lengths are different, these parts are considered to be similar in numbering, as the
solids are identical.

Tekla Corporation/Tekla Structures Support

Tekla Corporation/Tekla Structures Support

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