The section provides addtional information on the following subjects. It is aimed at experienced Tekla Structures users.
Topics A closer look at the export file (p. 143)
Do’s & don’ts of editing the export file (p. 144) Importing part of the bolt catalog (p. 144) Units used in export and import (p. 145) Bolt length calculation (p. 146)
A closer look at the export file
This information only relates to the profile and material catalogs and provides additional information on the export file discussed in Exporting elements from the profile catalog (p.
128) and Export and import (p. 134). We will use a typical export file from the profile catalog as an example. Catalog export files have the file extension lis.
Sections of the export file
The export file is divided into specific sections.
The first line of the file will be (n is the version number):
PROFILE CATALOG EXPORT VERSION = n
The next section defines the hierarchical tree structure used to display the contents of the catalog.
The next section contains the profiles.
Standard profiles Most profile types are hard-coded into the program and look like this in the export file (partial entry shown):
User-defined fixed profiles
User-defined fixed profiles can have more than one cross section. They look like this in the export file:
Do not delete this line. If it does not appear in the file, the import will be canceled.
The profile type for user-defined fixed profiles is 998. SUB_TYPE refers to the name of the cross section definition. When importing user-defined fixed profiles, the relevant cross section definitions must be in the same import file as the profile.
The cross section definition appears like this in the import file:
User-defined parametric profiles
The geometry of user-defined parametric profiles is defined in the file
..\environments\country-independent\inp\sections.clb. A user-defined parametric profile can only be imported if it is defined in this file.
As this type of profile is user-definable, different users may have different definitions.
Do’s & don’ts of editing the export file
There are a few rules to follow when editing the export file.
•
Do not delete the line PROFILE CATALOG EXPORT VERSION = 2. If it does not appear in the file, the import will be canceled.•
The hierarchical tree structure can always be deleted.Importing part of the bolt catalog
To only import part of a bolt catalog:
PROFILE_NAME = "TAN_HK_TEST_2_CS";
You will find it very useful to familiarize yourself with the different sections of the export file by reading through A closer look at the export file (p. 143).
2. Edit the file using a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad. Notice that each item in the catalog is listed on a separate line. Delete the unwanted lines from the file.
3. Do not delete these lines: STARTLIST and ENDLIST.
4. Save the file with the same name and file extension. The filename must be screwdb.lis.
5. Follow the steps in Importing the bolt catalog (p. 141) to import the catalog.
Units used in export and import
This list of units Tekla Structures uses when exporting and importing only relates to the profile and material catalogs. You will find it useful if you want to write your own import routines for large amounts of data.
Make a copy of the export file and give it a different name before you edit it, so that it easier to go back and try again if you do not get it right first time.
Type Unit (no unit if blank)
Boolean Integer String Ratio Strain
Angle degree
Length mm
Deformation mm
Dimension mm
Radius of inertia mm
Area mm2
Reinforcement area mm2
Transverse reinforcement area mm2/m
Area/unit length mm2/m
Volume mm3
Section modulus mm3
Moment of inertia mm4
Torsion constant mm4
Warping constant mm6
Force N
Weight kg
Distributed load N/m
Spring constant N/m
Bolt length calculation
The diagram below shows how Tekla Structures calculates bolt length. A full explanation follows the diagram.
Mass/length kg/m
Surface load N/m2
Strength N/m2
Stress N/m2
Modulus N/m2
Density kg/m3
Moment Nm
Distributed moment Nm/m
Rotation spring constant Nm/rad
Temperature K (oC)
Thermal dilation coefficient 1/K (1/oC) Factor
Type Unit (no unit if blank)
Bolt length calculation uses values from the bolt and bolt assembly catalogs.
The following illustration from the Bolt properties dialog box shows the values used in bolt length calculation.
Explanation 1. The minimum possible length of the bolt is calculated as follows:
washer (1) thickness + material thickness + washer (2) thickness +
(if checked) washer (3) thickness +
Checkboxes indicate if the component is used in the assembly.
Washer (1) Washer (2) Washer (3) Nut (1) Nut (2)
If unchecked, only a hole will be created
extra length
2. Tekla Structures searches for the closest match in the bolt catalog.
3. The number of fitting washers required (must not exceed 10) is calculated so that the length of the shaft is less than:
nut (1) thickness + material thickness + nut (2) thickness + washer (1) thickness + washer (2) thickness +
(number of fitting washers*washer (3) thickness)
4. Tekla Structures checks that the bolt found in step 2 is longer than:
extra length + nut (1) thickness + material thickness + nut (2) thickness +
add. dist (from bolt catalog) + washer (1) thickness + washer (2) thickness +
(number of fitting washers * washer (3) thickness)
5. If the selected bolt does not fulfill the criteria in step 4, Tekla Structures returns to step 2, otherwise it continues on to step 6.
6. The program checks that the selected bolt satisfies all the following conditions
•
Can the thread be inside the material to be connected? Even if this is not allowed, the calculation always allows 3 or 4 mm of thread to be inside the material, depending on bolt diameter. If bolt diameter ≥ 24 mm, it allows 4 mm, otherwise it allows 3 mm.•
Shaft length must be more than:material thickness + extra length + washer (1) thickness
-maximum thread in material allowed (if thread in material = no) = 3 mm or 4 mm
•
Shaft length is calculated as:Screw length - screw thread length - thread end.
•
Thread end is the part of the bolt between the shaft and the thread. It is calculated as follows:7. If the selected bolt does not satisfy all the above conditions, Tekla Structures returns to step 2 and tries the next longest bolt.
8. If the variable XS_BOLT_LENGTH_EPSILON is set, the epsilon thickness is added to, or subtracted from, the material thickness, to avoid inaccurate bolt length calculation. As an example, if this value were not taken into account, where the calculated length was 38.001 mm, a 39 mm bolt might be selected. If no value is set, a default value of 0.1 is used.
>16.0 6.0
>12.0 5.0
>7.0 4.0
>4.0 2.5
≤4 1.5
Diameter of bolt (mm)
Thread end (mm)
5 AutoConnection
Introduction You can use AutoConnection to select and apply a connection to parts in a model, using standard connection properties. AutoDefaults allows you to modify standard connection properties and save them for use in specific circumstances. You can define rule groups and rule sets for both AutoConnection and AutoDefaults to use for different conditions within the model.
In this chapter This chapter introduces AutoConnection, which you can use to automatically create connections in a model. You can use AutoDefaults together with AutoConnection to define connection properties. You can also use AutoDefaults to define connection properties and apply them to a single connection.
Test model Before using AutoConnections and AutoDefaults in a working model, we recommend that you create a test model, and create all the connection conditions in it that you need for a particular project. You can then use this test model to check the rules and properties of various connection types. It also acts as a quick reference for connection information.
Contents This chapter concentrates on the following topics: