TM-1101AVEVAPlant(12.1)StructuralModellingRev2.0.pdf

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TRAINING GUIDE

AVEVA Plant

(12.1)

Structural Modelling

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Revision Log

Date Revision Description of Revision Author Reviewed Approved

14/10/2011 0.1 Issued for Review PDMS 12.1 KB

15/11/2011 0.2 Reviewed KB NG

16/11/2011 1.0 Approved for Training PDMS 12.1 KB NG NG

12/03/2012 1.1 Issued for Review PDMS 12.1 SP2 KB

15/03/2012 1.2 Reviewed KB SB

19/03/2012 2.0 Approved for Training PDMS 12.1.SP2 KB SB NG

Updates

Revision 1.0 incorporates a number of significant alterations to this guide, including the amalgamation of the 12 Series Basic and Advanced Structural Modelling guides. Change highlighting has not been employed at Revision 1.0 but will be employed for all other revisions.

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CHAPTER 1

1 Introduction

AVEVA PDMS allows designers to utilise an array of applications contained within the program modules. This training guide provides discipline specific training for the Structural Modelling application contained within the Design module.

1.1 Aim

The aim of this training guide is to provide designers with the knowledge and skills necessary to create and modify structural models.

1.2 Objectives

 Introduce PDMS concepts specific to the Structural Modelling application.

 Make designers aware of the administration elements required by the application.

 Explain how to create a variety of structural elements.

 Explain how to manipulate and modify structural elements.

 Understand how to apply section fittings, section joints and panel fittings.

 Outline the use of aid constructs and working planes.

 Explain how to assign materials to structural elements.

 Explain how holes and penetrations effecting structural elements are managed in PDMS.

1.3 Prerequisites

It is expected that trainees will have completed the TM – 1001 AVEVA Plant (12.1) PDMS Foundations training course. Trainees who can demonstrate a suitable understanding of other PDMS applications and techniques may also be permitted to undertake the training.

1.4 Course Structure

Training will consist of oral and visual presentations, demonstrations, worked examples and set exercises. Each workstation will have a training project populated with model objects. This will be used by the trainees to practice their methods and complete the set exercises.

1.5 Using this guide

Certain text styles are used to indicate special situations throughout this document. Menu pull downs and button press actions are indicated by bold dark turquoise text. Information the user has to Key-in will be bold red text.

Additional information notes and references to other documentation will be indicated in the styles below.

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Example files or inputs will be in the courier new font. If users are required to enter information as part of an example, appropriate fonts and styles previously outlined will be used.

1.6 Setting up the Training Course

Login to PDMS using the details provided by the Trainer. They will typically be as shown below:

Project: Training (TRA) Username: A.STEELMAN Password: A

MDB: A-STRUCTURAL

Select Utilities > Training Setup… from the main menu to display the Training Setup form.

Navigate to the Structural tab, select the Structural radio button then check the Setup Training Course checkbox.

Click the Apply button and Close the form.

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CHAPTER 2

2 Overview of the Structural Modelling Application

PDMS data is stored in a hierarchical structure, similar to the directories and sub-directories used to access computer files. The Structural Modelling application requires specific administrative elements to be in place in order to maintain the system hierarchy.

2.1 How PDMS Stores Structural Modelling Data

As with all PDMS Design databases that store design data, the topmost element is the WORLD which owns the administrative sub-level elements SITE and ZONE.

For structural modelling, the element types used below a ZONE are:

 Structure (STRU)

 Framework (FRMW)

 Subframework (SBFR)

The SBFR level is optional as structural

components may be owned by a FRMW, a SBFR, or, a combination of both. The elements that represent physical structural components are:

 Section (SCTN)

 Panel (PANE)

 Generic Section (GENSEC).

2.2 Considerations When Creating the Hierarchy for Structural Models

For some design disciplines the manner in which the database hierarchy should be arranged is readily apparent. For example pipes may be grouped in zones by system, piping class, or fluid code. Equipment may be grouped in zones by equipment type, systems, or physical location.

This is not always the case for structural models. Some company/project procedures require the structural model to be broken down by project build methodology, while others may emphasise weight control or material purpose. To assist designers in meeting the required engineering deliverables, the structural hierarchy provides more administrative elements than other disciplines.

Whatever the modelling objective may be, it is important that the hierarchy is well thought out and has a meaningful structure. The production of drawings and other deliverable documents are greatly aided by a good hierarchy breakdown and well named significant elements.

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2.3 Starting the Structural Modelling Application

The Structural Modelling Application is contained within the PDMS Design module. The Structural Modelling Application contains four utilities to assist designers in creating structural models. These utilities are:

 Beams & Columns – creation of structural profile elements

 Panels & Plates – creation of plate type elements

 Walls & Floors – creation of wall, floor and screed elements

 Access Stairs & Ladders – creation of access ways, stair towers, stair flights, ladders, platforms and hand railing elements.

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The Walls & Floors utility and the Access Stairs & Ladders utility are not covered in this training guide.

These applications may be accessed from the main menu by selecting Design > Structures > Beams & Columns… (or another structural utility) from the main menu.

Once the desired utility has loaded, the

Structures toolbar is displayed.

Beams & Columns Panels & Plates Walls & Floors

The other utilities may be started by selecting from the main menu again, or by selecting one of the buttons on the

Structures toolbar. The button for the utility currently being

used will be disabled.

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Options within the main menus change depending on which structural utility is loaded.

2.4 Creating Administrative Elements

Before modelling can commence, the required administrative hierarchy must be created. From the General application, in the Design Module, only SITE and ZONE elements can be created as these are common to all disciplines. The standard structural hierarchy elements may be created from the Create pull down menu in the Beams & Columns utility or the Panels & Plates utility.

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SITE and ZONE elements may also be created from these Create menus in these utilities.The Walls & Floors utility and the Access, Stairs & Ladders utility create their own administrative elements.

To create the structural administrative elements, select Create > Structure…, Create > Framework… or Create > Sub-Frame… from the main menu to display the relevant form.

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Significant elements, e.g. SITE, ZONE, STRU, FRMW and SBFR, are normally named to facilitate navigation around the model and to ease creation of Draw Lists and other model tools. The Create forms enable the element’s Purpose attribute to be set. A pre-defined list of values can be accessed using the Purpose options list.

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Standard Purpose attribute settings are used by the Walls & Floors utility and other applications. The Purpose attribute may be set manually via the command line to any value which may be used by the other applications.

Clicking the Attributes… button on any of the Create forms displays the Attributes form.

The Attributes form displays the attributes for the

element type being created. Some attributes are common whilst others are specific to the element.

Some attributes are editable and can be modified using the form.

Clicking an editable attribute, e.g. Function, displays the attribute name at the bottom of the form and a relevant gadget that enables the attribute value to be set, e.g. a textbox, checkbox, etc.

Clicking the Apply button on the Attributes form modifies the attribute and refreshes the form. Clicking the OK button on the Create form creates the element and dismisses the form.

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Exercise 1 – Creating the Design Hierarchy

The aim of this exercise is to create a simple hierarchy for the storage of structural elements created in the worked examples and other exercises of this training guide.

 Enter the Beams & Columns application by selecting Design > Structures > Beams & Columns… from the main menu.

 In the Design Explorer navigate to SITE-STRUCTURAL-AREA01. Select Create > Zone… from the main menu to display the Create Zone form:

Enter ZONE-STRUCTURAL-AREA01 in the

Name textbox: and press the Return key to confirm the name.

Click the OK button on the form to create the ZONE element and dismiss the form. Note that the new element appears in Design Explorer as the current element.

Repeat this process using the appropriate options from the Create menu to create a Structure named

PIPERACK and a Framework named ROW_7.

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The row IDs referred to in the worked examples and exercises, e.g. ROW 7, reflect pre-defined user grids that are maintained for training purposes.

 The Design Explorer should now look like this:

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CHAPTER 3

3 Creating Straight Sections

The Beams & Columns utility facilitates the creation of structural profiles (e.g. Pre-cast concrete profiles, steel

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-beams, T-sections, Channels, Angles, Circular Hollow Sections, etc) in the design model. The application enables the profiles, once created, to be manipulated and modified to create the desired structural configuration. The application also enables the insertion of Catalogue fitting components (e.g. stiffeners, lifting lugs, etc) onto profiles and the application of Catalogue based joints to connected profiles.

3.1 How PDMS Represents Straight Structural Profiles

To ensure design consistency and conformity to national or company standards, the definition of all profile shapes used in structural modelling are held in a Catalogue database.

Each individual straight structural profile (column, beam, brace, etc.) is represented in Design by a Section (SCTN) element. The SCTN has many attributes, some of which are set automatically by placing or manipulating the element via the appware, graphically or manually whilst others may be set by the user via appware or manually.

The cross-sectional shape, or geometry, of the profile is defined in a catalogue database. The geometry is usually defined parametrically, such that the same definition may be used for many different profiles with the same generic shape but differing values e.g. depth, width, web thickness, flange thickness, etc.

The SCTN has a Specification Reference (Spref) attribute which points to a Specification Component (SPCO) element in the catalogue database. The specification acts as a selection mechanism and filters the available profiles to the user depending on choices made on the selection form. The SPCO points at a Structural Profile (SPRF) element, which is also held in the catalogue database, via its Catalogue Reference (Catref) attribute. The Catref in turn references the geometry definition and other elements.

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The SCTN may directly reference the SPRF via its Spref attribute. However, this must be done manually via the command line or programmatically via a user macro or application.

When a profile is added to the design model, the position, orientation, and other attributes are set for the element in the Design database. However, the physical properties of the profile are specified by the Spref attribute pointing at the geometry definition in the catalogue.

Two of the most important attributes are the Position Start (POSS) and Position End (POSE) which effectively determine the length and orientation of the element. These positions are determined from graphical picks, explicit co-ordinates, direction and distance or a combination of these methods. The 2D cross-section is ‘extruded’ from the POSS to the POSE.

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As an example, some of the most commonly used Plines for a parallel flanged

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-shaped profile might be positioned and named as shown:

Where an asymmetric profile, e.g. an unequal angle, is used, an additional Pline representing the profiles centre of geometry is provided. This Pline has the PKEY CGEO. The position of the CGEO Pline is calculated and its location will be unique to the size of the profile. The CGEO Pline has significance for the Hole Management Utility.

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3.2 Initial Settings

Before starting to create sections in the model, some initial default settings must be made to suit the planned method of working.

3.2.1 Section Specification

The Default Section Specification, together with its Justification, Member line and Joint line settings (these terms are explained later), is displayed on the Beams & Columns toolbar.

The Default Section Specification is initially displayed as Unset, i.e. no section is specified.

Clicking the Set Default Profile Specification button on the

Beams & Columns toolbar displays the Section Specification (Default) form.

The Specification Data area of the form enables a specific profile to be set as the default.

The Specification, or Standard, is selected from the Specification options list.

This changes the available Generic Types (Gtype) displayed in the

Generic Type options list, from which the required Gtype is

selected.

Having selected the profile type, the available profile sizes are displayed in the list below. The appropriate profile size may be selected from the list.

PDMS provides several standard specifications, for example British, American, Japanese, DIN, etc, which may be augmented or replaced by specific company standards.

The Pline Settings area of the form enables the following attributes for the chosen profile to be set:

 Justification line

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Member line - sets the position of the line to be displayed in Draft, e.g. the section centreline.

Joint line - sets the Pline for joint geometry (normally NA).

Clicking the Apply button on the Section Specification (Default) form sets the default section profile that will be used. The section specification and Pline settings are displayed on the Beams & Columns toolbar.

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3.2.2 Storage Areas

The Design database Storage Areas specify which Framework (or Subframe), sections and Primary Nodes (see Structural Connectivity) will be stored in when they are created. The storage areas should be specified prior to commencement of creating components for that particular area of the model. The current storage areas are displayed on the Beams & Columns toolbar.

Making the FRMW or SBFR where the components will be stored the CE and clicking the button to the left of the appropriate storage area sets the CE as the storage area and displays it on the toolbar.

The settings may also be made by selecting Settings > Storage Areas… from the main menu to display the

Storage Areas form.

Making the FRMW or SBFR where the components will be stored the CE, and then clicking on the storage area required in the form, sets the storage area.

3.2.3 Automating Profile and Primary Node Allocations

Each time a new section is created it will automatically be associated with a profile from the catalogue, that is, the Default Profile Specification. Also by default, Primary Nodes will not be created automatically at unconnected section ends. These defaults are controlled by the following buttons on the Beams & Columns toolbar.

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Connecting sections and the administrative elements required are detailed later in this training guide.

3.2.4 Pline Rules

The final setting to be made before commencing creation of profiles is the Pline Rule. When a section is created and connected to an existing section, the ends of the new section are trimmed automatically by referencing the current Pline Rule.

If this rule has not been set-up correctly, the new section may not be trimmed correctly. Pline Rules determine which Pline of the existing section will be used to trim the new section to.

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In this example, the new section has terminated at the extremity of the existing section instead of the web, i.e. the NARO Pline.

With an appropriate Pline rule set, the new section will trim to the required Pline (i.e. the NAR Pline) and give the desired result.

PDMS provides one predefined Pline rule named Normal that cannot be modified. The Normal Pline rule is:

PKEY EQ ‘NA’ OR CCON EQ ‘ANY’

This means that a new section will connect to the NA Pline unless it first encounters a Pline whose

Cconnection attribute (abbreviated to CCON) is set to ANY.

Pline rules are also filter the availability of Plines for graphical picks when creating or positioning fittings, panels, etc. A Pline is only visible or available for selection if it meets the criteria of the Pline rule.

Pline rules are set by selecting Settings > Pick Filters > Plines… from the main menu to display the Pline Filter form. All available Pline Filters are displayed.

Selecting the required rule with the cursor sets the rule and dismisses the form.

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3.2.4.1 User Defined Pline Rules

While the Normal rule will satisfy many of the connection requirements for standard section profiles, there are instances when a User Defined Pline Rule may be beneficial. User Defined Pline rules can be used to filter the displayed Plines, to restrict or clarify Pline selection, or for ensuring desired connectivity.

Pline rules may be simple. For example, a rule to select only the NA Pline would be PKEY EQ ‘NA’. Pline rules can also include valid operators or expressions allowing users to build more complex rules. For example, a rule to select only the internal radial Plines on a Gtype TUBE would be MATCHWILD(PKEY,

‘NA*’).

User Defined Pline rules are created from the Pline Filter form. Clicking the Define Rule… button on the form displays the

Define Rules form.

When defining a rule it is necessary to enter a Name in the textbox. Entering a name appropriate to the rules function will assist in its use.

In the example below a Pline rule to select only the ‘Cardinal’ Plines for tubular elements is being created. As such, the name

Tube Cardinals has been given to the rule.

Valid rule syntax must also be entered in the Rule textbox. The rule syntax refers to the Pkeys that describe the location of the

Plines. In this example the Pkeys required

are the AA, GG, MM, and SS Pkeys. A range of Pkeys can be referenced in the rule syntax by using the PML operator function INSET.

The correct rule syntax would then be:

PKEY INSET (‘AA’, ‘GG’, ‘MM’, ‘SS’).

It is good practise to include a detailed description of the rule in the Description textbox as it assists other users in understanding the purpose of the rule. Clicking the Include button will display the rule in the Defined list under the User

Defined Rules section.

Clicking the OK button on the Define

Rules form will display the Name of the

User Defined Rule in the Pline Filter form.

Clicking on the rule Name in the Pline Filter form sets it to be the active Pline Rule and dismisses the form.

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The keyword INSET used in the rule definition is a PML operator function that takes a comma

separated list of text strings (or numeric values) and applies it to the preceding attribute, i.e. the Pkey attribute of the PLINE element.

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3.3 Picking Control

Pline rules, coupled with the Positioning Control toolbar, give designers a number of ways to graphically select positions in the PDMS model. To further assist designers, additional picking control functionality is provided via the Picking Control form.

3.3.1 The Picking Control Form

Selecting Settings > Picking Control… from the main menu displays the

Picking Control form.

This form allows designers to stipulate which elements within the model can act as snap points for a variety of element types. It also allows users to apply a default offsets to a picked position.

3.3.1.1 Setting Significant Snap Points

Elements such as Secondary Nodes, Fittings and Joints can be used as Snap

Points for graphical selections within the model. If the Significant Snaps

checkbox is selected (the default) then significant snap points will be available

for selection within the model. If the checkbox is not selected, then only the

start and end points of a Section will act as snap points.

The type of elements that can act as a Significant Snap point varies depending on whether sections or panels are being considered.

Clicking the Set… buttons adjacent to the Section/Wall Pick Settings and Panel/Floor Pick Settings text opens additional forms that allow the user to select how these elements will be treated in the graphical view; including which elements will be available as significant snap points.

As this section of the guide is primarily concerned with the creation of sections, consideration will now be given to the Section and Wall settings.

3.3.1.2 The Section/Wall Pick Settings form

The Section/Wall Pick Settings form is divided into three areas relating to the treatment of Section Ends, Pline Ends, and Significant Snap settings.

The Section Ends area of the form determines where the snap point at the start or end of attached section in a connected member will be.

If the Start/End radio button is selected (default) the pick point will be at the actual start or end of the section, i.e. where it is trimmed against the Posline of the owning section. The pick point is to the Justification line of the picked section.

If the Projected radio button is selected the pick point is projected to the SNOD at the relevant end of the picked section.

The Pline Ends area of the form governs where Plines terminate with respect to any negative geometry applied to the section end via a joint.

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If the Uncut radio button is selected (default), the Plines extend to the cut plane at the SNOD irrespective of any end

preparations applied to the section.

If the Cut radio button is selected, the Plines will terminate where negative geometry intersects the section, e.g a joint end preparation.

The Significant Snap area of the form enables the user to specify which features relating to section elements will be considered as snap points. The default setting enables Nodes to be snap points, however, Fittings and Joints can be enabled in isolation or in any combination required.

Clicking the Apply button on the form sets the selected options. The Reset button resets the form to the default options.

3.3.1.3 Offset Options

The Offset area of the Picking Control form presents a series of radio buttons that may be used to apply various types of offset to the picked point. Information displayed in the lower section of the form varies depending on to the Offset option selected.

The default setting for offset options is None. The pick position selected by the user will only be affected by the active settings of the Positioning Control toolbar, i.e. no other offset will be applied to the pick position. Selecting the East/North/Up radio button enables

a relative offset in each of the cardinal

directions to be applied to the pick position.

Selecting the On Plane radio button enables an

offset from a cardinal direction plane. The

direction option lists refer to the normal direction of the plane.



The normal direction will be orientated with respect to the frame of reference of the selected element, not necessarily world co-ordinates.

Selecting the Distance Direction radio button enables a distance in a specific direction to be applied to the pick position.

Selecting the From Direction radio button enables a relative offset to be applied from a selected surface in the graphical display. The offset direction will be governed by the definition of the surface selected by the user.

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Care must be taken when an offset is applied to a pick position. Other functions that utilise graphical pick points may also be affected by the offset. For example, the Measure Distance function will use the last offset condition specified. Hence the user must remember to select the None option from the offset area of the form before taking measurements in the model.



Using offsets with the Distance pick method on the Positioning Control toolbar will apply the specified distance in addition to any offset set via the Picking Control form.

The images below show the effect of the offset being set to None, i.e. the pick point is at the start/end of the element, and of the effect of the offset being set to Distance Direction, i.e. the pick point is offset East by

300mm.

Pick point with no offset Pick point with offset option Distance Direction

The pick position may be modified by selecting the Justification, Member or Joint line, for either the owning or attached section, using the radio buttons in the Projection area of the form which are enabled when the Projected radio button is selected.



The Start/End and Projected options only function where the picked section is attached using a SNOD.

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The Projected option is very useful where a new section is to be created at a given centre to centre distance from another section.

For example, in this image a centre to centre distance of 1000 is required.

If a Positioining Control setting of

Element/Distance (1000) was used together with

a Start/End pick point on BEAM A near the column, the resulting centre to centre dimension would be 1000 + half the depth of the column. Using a Positioning Control setting of

Element/Distance (1000) with a Projected pick

point, the same pick would give the correct centre to centre distance.



Care should be taken when using these options to ensure the correct setting is being used for the required task.

3.4 Creating Sections

Selecting Create > Sections > Straight… from the main menu displays the

Section form and activates the Positioning Control toolbar.

The Section form is divided into three areas of functionality enabling users to stipulate:

 How the sections will be set out.

 How the start and end points of the section will be defined.

 What actions will be applied.

The functionality relating to each area is considered in the following sections.

3.4.1 String Method

The method used to specify how sections will be created and can be set by clicking one of the three radio buttons.

Single – Start and End Points are individually

defined for each section.

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Radial – Start position for subsequent sections is the same as first section.

3.4.2 Create Option

Initially, when the Section form is displayed, only one button is active in the Create Option area of the form. The Explicit

Position button allows the user to define the sections start

position using a 3D co-ordinate, i.e. by entering explicit X, Y and Z co-ordinates.



If the PDMS model already contains suitable elements, the start position of the section may also be defined by making a graphical selection using the Positioning Control toolbar.

Clicking the Explicit button displays the Define section start form.

The required East (X), North (Y) and Up (Z) co-ordinates may be entered and the Start position will be shown by an aid in the 3D View.

The default wrt World, defines the co-ordinate system by which the position is specified. Clicking the OK button on the Define

section start form confirms the entered co-ordinates.

Once the start point of a section is defined, the options for defining the section end point are updated.

The Direction & Distance button displayed in the Create Option area of the form will be activated.

The end position may now be defined by using the active create options or by making a graphical selection.

Clicking the Explicit button again will display the Define section

end form. This form is used in exactly the same way as the Define section start form.

Clicking the Direction & Distance button will display a different

Define section end form.

A direction in relation to a co-ordinate system must be entered. Entering a distance (applied from the section start position) and pressing the Return key will display an aid line with the start and end position marked in the graphical view.

In addition to the Explicit Position and Distance & Direction creation options there are two other Creation Option buttons:

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Perpendicular To – creates a section perpendicular to a selected section.

Where sections connect, Secondary Nodes are automatically created. This facility may be switched off by un-checking the Secondary Nodes check box in the Create Option area of the form.



Connecting sections and the administrative elements required are detailed later in this training guide.

3.4.3 Verification

The Verification area of the Section form contains a Confirm check box. This feature allows the user to check the position of each new section before it is added to the database.

If the Confirm box is checked the Accept and Reject buttons are enabled.

The Redefine Start button may be clicked at any time during section creation to start the definition of the section again.

3.5 Section Connectivity

Sections are connected automatically when they are created, providing the Secondary Nodes check box on the Section form is checked. A connection between two SCTN elements is facilitated by a Secondary Joint

(SJOI) element.

The SJOI is owned by a Secondary Node (SNOD) element. The SNOD is positioned on the Justification line of the Owning section at the intersection between the

Attached and Owning sections.

SNODs and SJOIs will be created at each Owning/Attached intersection.

The SJOI has a Cref (connection reference) attribute that points to the name of the Attached section.

The Attached section has two attributes, Joistart (Joint start) and Joiend (Joint end) that point to the name of the SJOI element by which they are attached to their

respective Owning members, thus creating a ‘circular’ reference.

When SCTN elements are connected the SJOI element is created, owned by the SNOD element of the Owning section. Where two or more sections connect to the

Owning section at the same point, a single SNOD is

created which owns two or more SJOI elements. The

Cref attribute of each SJOI points to the name of the

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Selecting Connect > Connect from the main menu prompts the user to choose the section to attach to and the section end(s) to be attached The selection process is terminated by pressing the Esc key. Connections may be updated following position changes to the owning

or attached sections by using one of the following selections from the

Connect menu:

 Connect > Trim to Pline - Trims the section to a Pline selected by the system in accordance with current Pline rule, i.e. the POSL attribute of the SJOI element is modified.

 Connect > Trim to Section - Trims the section according to the current Posline setting of the SJOI element. This may result in the attached member not being correctly connected, e.g. if the Beta

Angle of the Owning SCTN has changed.



The Joint Dominant and Joint Subordinate options are detailed later in this training guide.

3.5.1 Secondary Node (SNOD)

Secondary Node (SNOD) elements are positioned along the Justification line of the owning section where the Justification line of the attached member intersects it.

An SNOD elements primary function is to own an SJOI element and allow one section to connect part way along another. The SNOD is positioned from the start of the owning section using the value stored in the Zdistance attribute. This is automatically set when the sections are connected.

SNOD elements are owned by the Owning section.

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Secondary Joint (SJOI) elements are used to connect two sections where they intersect at an SNOD and their primary functions are:

 Providing connectivity to the structural model.

 Trimming attached members.

 Holding the Specification Reference for a joint.

The Cref attribute holds the name of the Attached section. This is set automatically when the connection is made.

The Posline attribute holds the name of the Pline to which the Attached section is trimmed. This is set in accordance with the Pline rule current when the connection was made.

The Spref attributes holds the name of the Specification

Component (SPCO) of the joint applied to the connection (if any).



Applying a joint to connected sections is detailed later in this training guide.

SJOI elements are owned by an SNOD.

3.5.3 Primary Node (PNOD)

Primary Node (PNOD) elements have two main functions:

 As analytical points when using PDMS data for structural analysis.

 To own a Primary Joint for referencing a catalogue joint element on an unconnected section end.

A PNOD element may be created automatically at the ends of a SCTN when it is created, providing the end is not connected. This is achieved by enabling Primary Node creation.

Alternatively, a PNOD may be created at the end of and

existing SCTN by selecting Create > PNode at SCTN end from the main menu, providing Primary Node creation is enabled.

PNOD elements are owned by FRMW or SBFR elements,

and sit at the same level in the hierarchy as SCTN elements.

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3.5.4 Primary Joint (PJOI)

Primary Joint (PJOI) elements are used for referencing a catalogue joint element on an unconnected section end. This may occur where a baseplate is required on a column or an end plate is required on a beam.

The Cref attribute holds the name of the section from whose end was used to determine the PNOD position.



This is only applicable if the PNOD/PJOI was created with the appware, otherwise the Cref attribute is

unset.

The Spref attributes holds the name of the Specification Component (SPCO) of the joint applied to the connection, if any.

PJOI elements are owned by a PNOD.



PNOD and PJOI elements are not commonly used in structural modelling with PDMS.

3.5.5 Tidying Nodes and Joints

Normally when a connected structural member is deleted, the SJOI element in the connection is also deleted. This can leave an SNOD owning no SJOI elements, i.e. the SNOD is ‘empty’.

Graphical selections utilise SNOD elements as significant snap points in the PDMS model. To reduce the chance of selecting an incorrect point on a structural profile it is good practice to remove ‘empty’ SNOD elements from the model.

Selecting Delete > Tidy Nodes… from the main menu displays the

Tidy Nodes form.

The command may be executed from any level in the hierarchy from SITE to SCTN. All ‘empty’ SNODE elements below the CE will be found and the number reported on the form.

If the Mark Nodes for Deletion checkbox is checked, a text aid showing the SNODE is displayed and the owning SCTN

highlighted.

Clicking the OK button on the Tidy Nodes form deletes all ‘empty’ SNOD elements found.

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In some circumstances, e.g. if an attached member is deleted from the Command line, the Cref attribute of the SJOI is set to Nulref but the SJOI is not deleted. In this case the SJOI element is redundant and it is good practice to delete the SJOI.

Selecting Delete > Tidy Joints... from the main menu displays the

Tidy Joints form.

The command may be executed from any level in the hierarchy from SITE to SCTN. All SJOI elements below the CE with the Cref attribute set to Nulref will be found and the number reported on the form.

If the Mark Joint for Deletion checkbox is checked, a text aid showing the owning SNODE is displayed and the owning SCTN is highlighted.

As deleting the SJOI may leave the SNOD ‘empty’, checking the Delete Node if empty checkbox will also delete the SNOD if it does not own any other SJOI elements.

3.5.6 Checking Connectivity

The connectivity of sections in the model can be checked by navigating to a suitable element in the hierarchy (e.g. a FRMW or

SBFR) then selecting Query > End Connections… from the main menu. The Highlight Connections form will be displayed.

The form will show all SCTN elements in the CE that have Both ends connected, Neither end connected, and One end connected.

Selecting an appropriate checkbox will graphically highlight the

SCTN elements of the CE in each category in the colour shown on

the form.

The default colours can be changed by clicking on the colour button to display a colour form for that selection. Clicking a colour button will set that colour for the selected category.

For the One end unconnected category the SCTN will display a tag at the unconnected end as well as being displayed in the highlight colour.

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3.6 Creating a Pipe Rack - A Worked Example

This worked example demonstrates how to construct some initial frames for a simple pipe rack using different section sizes. The text and accompanying drawings provide step-by-step guidance to create the Pipe Rack.

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3.6.1 Initial Settings

Ensure the Beams & Columns application is current or select Design > Structures > Beams & Columns from the main menu to enter the application.

Make initial settings for the storage areas. Ensure that FRMW ROW_7 is the CE and click the Set Section Storage Area and Set Node Storage Area buttons on the Beams & Columns toolbar.

For the Default Profile Specification, click the Set Default Profile Specification button on the Beams &

Columns toolbar, set the specification to British Standard and the Generic Type to Universal Columns. Select 203x203x46kg/m from the displayed list and set the Justification to NA, leaving the Member line and

Joint line at NA. Click on the Apply button and then the Dismiss button on the form. The Beams &

Columns toolbar should now look like this:

Set the Pline rule to Normal by selecting Settings > Pick Filters > Plines… from the main menu and selecting Normal from the displayed Pline Filter form.

Select Utilities > User Grid Systems… from the main menu to display the User Grid Systems form. Check that the AREA_01_GRID is selected and click the Gridline IDs radio button. Click the Display button and the Set View Limits to Grid button.

3.6.2 Creating Sections Explicitly

Select Create > Sections > Straight… from the main menu to display the Section form. Make sure that the String Method is set to Single and that the Create Secondary Nodes check box is checked.

Click the Explicit button to display the Define section start form. Enter the co-ordinates West 305360, North 309680, Up 100400. Click the OK button.

Click the Direction and Distance button on the Section form to display the Define section end form.

Enter the Direction as U and a Distance of 6000. Click the OK button.

3.6.3 3D Aid Constructs – Pre-Defined User Grids

To assist users in positioning items and creating structural items with complex geometry PDMS utilises 3D Aid Constructs. 3D Aid Constructs are 2D Graphics and although not database elements, they can be copied, modified and deleted in a similar manner to PDMS elements. Aid constructs can be used in

conjunction with the Aid pick type on the Positioning Control toolbar to give positional information for such items as the start and end of structural profiles or vertex elements in a panel.

Aid constructs may be created in any of the structural utilities. A variety of construct can be created, including Grids, Planes, Circles, Lines, and Working Points. Constructs are only displayed for the duration of the Design session, but may be saved to a file and restored during subsequent Design sessions.

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The drawings provided earlier in this section give sufficient information to determine the position of the next column required in Row 7. However a pre-defined user grid can also be used to assist in positioning the columns required for the pipe rack.



Pre-defined User Grids are slightly different to standard 3D aid constructs. Although they do not need to be saved and loaded in the same manner as other 3D aid constructs, they do need to be activated in each Design session.

With the Section form still displayed click the Explicit button again, noting on the Define section start form that the displayed

co-ordinates are those defining the end position of the previously created SCTN.

Rather than calculating and entering the West, North and Up positions, navigate to the Positioning Control toolbar and set the Pick Type to Aid and the Pick Method to Snap.

Pick the intersection point of grid line 7 and gridline J.

Notice that the Define Section Start form has updated the co-ordinates to reflect the position selected on the user grid. However, as this grid represents the surface of a support slab, the Up co-ordinate of the column start position must be adjusted. Type 100400 in the Up co-ordinate, press the Enter button then click the OK button.

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Enter the Direction as U and a Distance of 6000. Click the OK button.

Click the Walk to Draw List button on the 3D View and set the view direction to Iso 3. There should now be two parallel 203x203x46kg/m sections in the 3D View.

3.6.4 Creating Sections Using Graphical Selections

The next task is to create two horizontal beams for the pipe rack frame. Graphical selections will be used to select the start and end positions of the sections rather than entering explicit co-ordinates.

Change the Default Section Specification to Universal Beams 203x133x25kg/m and set the Justification line to TOS. Navigate to the Positioning Control toolbar, set the

Pick Type to Element and the Pick Method to Snap. Click the first column created near to its upper end to define the Start position of the new section, noting that the Start label is displayed adjacent to the section.

Click the upper end of the second column created to define the End position of the new section. A new UB

203x133x25kg/m section is created spanning between the two columns.

Note that the beams have been trimmed to the TOS or BOS Pline of the columns. Toggle wire frame display mode on by pressing F8 on the keyboard and zoom in to one of the connections and note the SNOD that has been created. Set the Positioning Control toolbar Pick Method to Distance and enter a distance of 1520.

Click near the upper end of the first column, then near the upper end of the second column, to create a new horizontal beam.

A 1000mm long stub beam is required on the southern column. Set the Pick Method on the Positioning Control toolbar back to Snap and click near the top of the southern column. Use the Direction & Distance button with a direction of S WRT /* and a distance of 1000 to create the beam.

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Exercise 2 – Creating an Equipment Support Frame

The exercises contained in this training guide allow the user to create an equipment support frame using a range of standard sections, bracing members, panels, and fittings. The drawings below, coupled with instructions in each exercise, provide the information necessary to model the structure correctly.

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 In the ZONE ZONE-STRUCTURAL-AREA01 create a new STRU named EQUIP_SUPPORT and a FRMW named ROW_H.

 Model ROW H, without the knee bracing, using the drawings above to ascertain co-ordinates, dimensions and profile sizes. The other parts of the structure will be modelled in later exercises.



The columns of Row H will not be orientated correctly when modelled, however they will be modified in a later exercise.

 Remember to reset storage areas and check the Pline rule.

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 ROW H should now look like this:

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CHAPTER 4

4 Modifying Structural Sections

4.1 Positioning

Elements that have position attributes (for example SCTN’s) can be re-positioned in a variety of ways. The two main methods are position Explicitly and position Relatively.

4.1.1 Explicitly (AT)

Positioning explicitly allows the user to position elements at specific co-ordinates with respect to the WORLD or other design elements. Selecting Position > Explicitly (AT)… from the main menu will display the Positioning Control toolbar and the Explicit Position form. By default the Start position of the current element is displayed showing East/West, North/South and Up/Down co-ordinates with respect to the world. The Datum options list allows the user to specify the point on the element to which the position co-ordinates will apply. The user may specify Start, End, Centre or Designate Position.

Depending on the option specified, applying modified co-ordinates will have the following effect on the element:

Start - Relocates the start position of the element to the specified

co-ordinates, leaving its end position unchanged.

End – Relocates the end position of the element to the specified

co-ordinates, leaving its start position unchanged.

Centre – Relocates the entire element, locating its centre at

specified co-ordinates and modifying the start and end positions.

Designate Position – used in conjunction with the Positioning Control toolbar, the user can specify a point

on the element for re-positioning. The entire element is relocated, or re-orientated, with the Designated

Position at the specified co-ordinates and the start and end positions modified.

On opening the Explicit Position form a ‘bounding box’ is displayed around the element together with an axes aid, showing the cardinal directions, and a label showing the Start position.

Changing the Datum re-displays the axes aid and label to the specified position.

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the position data. The bounding box will adjust to show the new position and clicking the Apply button on the form will re-position the element.

To define a position by reference to existing design items, use the Positioning Control toolbar and the cursor to identify the required positions by picking them in the graphical view. If required, use the Lock check boxes to fix the current co-ordinate along any axis.

To position another section, use the Select menu options on the form to change the focus of the form. Use the CE or Owner option if the required item is selected in the design explorer, or use the Pick or Pick

Owner option and then select the required item with the cursor when prompted. The form will display the

current position and the user can then change any part of this by entering new values.

4.1.2 Relatively (BY)

Positioning relatively allows the user to position elements by a specified distance, along one or more axes, from its current position. The directions can be with respect to the world or other design elements. Selecting Position > Relatively (BY) from the main menu displays the Positioning Control toolbar and the Position By form.

The form allows the user to specify a distance along a single axis or varying distances along any combination of the three axes. By default the axes directions are with respect to the world although any valid design element may be used. An axes aid is displayed at the start position of the current element.

Entering distances against any of the axes will display a New

Position label at the entered distance(s) from the current

position, thus enabling the user to see if the new location for the element is correct.

Clicking the Apply button on the form moves the entire element to its new location.

The Positioning Control toolbar and the cursor can also be used to define distances graphically. Having picked two points the distances will be entered against the relevant axes on the form. If required, use the Lock check boxes to fix the current co-ordinate along any axis.

An alternative method of re-positioning the start or end of a SCTN element is to use Extend Through or Extend By functions.

4.1.3 Extend Through

Extend Through allows the user to specify a plane, position and orientation to extend either end of the

section to. The section will only extend along its Z axis, i.e. its extrusion direction, as the plane is infinite in its planar dimensions. In PDMS a plane’s direction is defined by the direction of a vector normal (i.e. perpendicular in all directions) to the plane. The position of the plane is defined by the start position of that vector. Selecting Position > Extend > Through… displays the Extend Section – Relative form.

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The End of Section list allows the user to specify which end of the section will be extended (or trimmed) to the plane. Four choices are available to the user.

Nearest end – This is the default setting. The end of the

section nearest to the plane will be repositioned.

Start – The start position of the section will be moved. End – The end position of the section will be moved. Pick – On clicking Apply the user will be prompted to pick which end of the beam is to be re-positioned.

When the Extend Section - Relative form is displayed, a label is placed at each end of the section to identify which end is the Start and which is the End.

The user can define the plane position explicitly by entering co-ordinates in the Plane Direction East/West, North/South and Up/Down

textboxes, or by using the Cursor and

Intersection options from the forms menu and

graphically selecting the position.

The Plane Direction is set by default to Up, however any direction can be entered to orientate the plane.

In the picture above the plane has been initially positioned using the Cursor > Element option and then moved be entering a new North co-ordinate. The Plane Direction has been set to South; note the plane aid and direction vector displayed to help the user visualise the position and direction of the plane.

Clicking Apply button extends the end of the current element to the plane.

The position of any Secondary Nodes owned by the section is measured from its start position. If the user requires the Secondary Nodes to stay in their original position when the start position of the section is moved, then the Maintain Sections’ Node Positions check box needs to be selected. Otherwise, the

Secondary Nodes will move with the start position, i.e. their Z distance attribute will be maintained. Checking the Cut end(s) to plane check box on the form will orientate the end of the section to the plane direction after it has been extended or trimmed.

TM-1101AVEVAPlant(12.1)StructuralModellingRev2.0.pdf

TRAINING GUIDE

AVEVA Plant

(12.1)

Structural Modelling

Revision Log

Updates

Suggestion / Problems

Disclaimer

Copyright

Trademark

Contents

CHAPTER 1

1

Introduction

1.1

Aim

1.2

Objectives

1.3

Prerequisites

1.4

Course Structure

1.5

Using this guide

1.6

Setting up the Training Course

CHAPTER 2

2

Overview of the Structural Modelling Application

2.1

How PDMS Stores Structural Modelling Data

2.2

Considerations When Creating the Hierarchy for Structural Models

2.3

Starting the Structural Modelling Application





2.4

Creating Administrative Elements



