Bent Plates

Apart from the different forms of flat plates, you can also create three-dimensionally edged or bent plates by using ProSteel. These represent a single 3D-component part which can be depicted in 2D as flat plate with the corresponding bending edges via unfolding.

Here, you see a bent plate (1) with several plate segments and its front view (2). Apart from the outside geometry, the created unfolding (3) of the plate shows the bending edges (A) as well.

Generation of Bent Plates

To generate a bent plate, you first have to have inserted a flat plate. This plate determines the alignment of the bent plate. Now, click on the BEND button and another dialog opens.

Page B.9 - 9 Rear Distance Edge Here, you enter the rear offset in the direction towards

the reference edge. Positive values mean that inwards the segment becomes smaller.

Bending Radius The radius of the bend related to the neutral fibre (half of the plate thickness). To avoid problems with the volume modeller, the radius should always be a little bit more that half of the plate thickness.

Bending Angle The angle of the bend; this is related to the reference segment (reference edge).

Correction Value Unwinding

The unwinding is carried out using a correction factor. The correction is multiplied with half of the plate thickness.

K = 0 – unwinding on the inner radius K = 1 – unwinding on the center K = 2 – unwinding on the outer radius

This correction factor is used for the whole bent plate.

Length Calculation

Here you indicate the method how the length of the butt straps to be added has to be calculated.

Measured for

flange length from the end of the bending segment outside edge from the outside edge of the base plate inside edge from the inside edge of the base plate center from the center line of the base plate up to the end of the butt strap

Click on this button to rotate the current plate edge including the subordinate plate edges in positive direction around the reference edge. The rotation is effected with the angle specified in the neighbouring input field.

Click on this button to rotate the current plate edge including the subordinate plate edges in negative direction around the reference edge. The rotation is effected with the angle specified in the neighbouring input field.

Combine Plates to Bent Plates

Apart from the adding of butt straps, you also have the possibility to create bent plates from existing plates. In order to do so, select the plates to be connected.

Prerequisite for a correct connection of the plates is that you can generate a tangential transition between the two plates.

Radius Indicates the radius of the bend between the two plates.

Inside Radius Indicates whether the radius has to be used on the inside or outside of the plate.

Delete The existing plate is deleted by taking it over into the bent plate.

Correction Value Unwinding

Please refer to the explanations in the previous section.

Page B.9 - 11 Dependance of Segments

The following example vividly illustrates the connections between the segments and their dependencies. You see the isometric depiction of a bent plate and the plan view on the base plate (1).

First, the segment (2a) was added to the base plate (1) by using a bending angle of 45°. Then, the segment (3) was added to segment (2a) by also using a bending angle of 45°, but in addition it was equipped with a front and rear (positive) distance to the edge. Finally, the segment (2b) was added to the base plate (1) with a bending angle of 90°.

If you now delete or modify the segment (2a), you will also delete or modify the depending segment (3).

Dialog Commands

ADD SEGMENT

Click on this button to add a new plate edge to the plate. In order to do so, you have to click on the plate at the desired reference edge of a plate segment. This determines the alignment of the new segment.

The new plate segment is always subordinate to the reference segment. If the reference segment is modified later, the new segment will also be modified in relation to this.

REMOVE SEGMENT

Click on this button to remove an existing plate segment (including all subordinate segments). In order to do so, you have to click on the plate segment at any edge you like.

MODIFY SEGMENT

Click on this button to modify an existing plate segment later. In order to do so, you have to click on the plate segment at any edge you like.

Any subordinate segments of this plate segments will be modified too in relation to this.

CHECK BENT PLATE

Click on this button to check an existing bent plate with regard to errors.

In order to do so, you have to click on the bent plate at any edge you like.

Important Hint: Please take care that you don’t modify the basic polygon

Page B.9 - 13

B.9.5 Additional Settings

Always ECS If you want to insert a plate after an existing contour, you can insert it either according to the current UCS or according to the object contour.

This button has the effect that you always insert according to the object ECS. The settings on the first page will be ignored.

File Path The file path to possibly existing database files for gratings.

Click on the neighbouring button to comfortably select the path.

Grating Catalogue

The desired database file for gratings.

Close The dialog is closed after insertion of a plate.

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