Modeling
About Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

How do you usually create non rectangular collumns?

Anonymous
Not applicable
I can't see a way to create irregular shaped columns.

How do you usually handle such a case?
27 REPLIES 27
David Larrew
Booster
We've been asking for "polygonal" Columns for a while. Maybe someday. For now you will have to use custom GDL column Objects.
David Larrew, AIA, GDLA, GSRC

Architectural Technology Specialist

a r c h i S O L U T I O N S



WIN7-10/ OSX 10.15.7

AC 5.1-25 USA
Anonymous
Not applicable
till then ,an easy way is to create the column with wall tool.
Djordje
Virtuoso
farzinassadi wrote:
till then ,an easy way is to create the column with wall tool.
... especially the polygon geometry method.
Djordje



ArchiCAD since 4.55 ... 1995
HP Omen
Karl Ottenstein
Moderator
farzinassadi wrote:
till then ,an easy way is to create the column with wall tool.
...or draw the column profile on plan and magic wand it with the slab tool...or...

Karl
One of the forum moderators
AC 28 USA and earlier   •   macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, MacBook Pro M2 Max 12CPU/30GPU cores, 32GB
Anonymous
Not applicable
I see a workaround for such basic stuff.

If there is not such a wish in the wish list its time to put it.

Thx for you answers.
Djordje
Virtuoso
oreopoulos wrote:
I see a workaround for such basic stuff. If there is not such a wish in the wish list its time to put it. Thx for you answers.
Well ... most of the columns I have seen in my life are aither rectangular or round. Cladding, however, can take any shape. Strictly speaking, the column tool in my book is good for the structural part; the rest is another story, so has to be done with other tools.

By assigning the needed property object, you can simulate the "column" up to the calculation point.

I also don't remember seeing a freeform COLUMN in some other architectural CAD. Can you please enlighten me?
Djordje



ArchiCAD since 4.55 ... 1995
HP Omen
Anonymous
Not applicable
Djordje wrote:
Well ... most of the columns I have seen in my life are aither rectangular or round.
What about classical orders? Egyptian? Minoan?

There are more than a few (structural) columns in the world that are not cylindrical or rectangular prisms. Before the twentieth century this was the rule rather than the exception. It is curious to me that every one seems to assume that columns have strictly vertical surfaces.

I consider the column tool to be fundamentally flawed* and have found it to be largely useless. In my experience it has been the rare exception rather than the rule to have a column which is rectangular or circular with strictly vertical surfaces and which is no taller than the wall(s) with which it engages. Now that the composite structures include pen and line type settings that are actually useful I expect that I will probably never again use the column tool in its present state.

While I am inclined to agree that "freeform" (strictly vertical) columns will probably always be best modeled using the poly-wall and/or composites, there are plenty of examples of regular shaped columns in modern practice where the column tool also fails. Steel columns, while strictly vertical are more often than not "H" section and cast-in-place concrete is often flared at the top. Beyond columns, there is presently no tool that properly represents diagonal structural elements such as butresses, bracing and sheer legs. All of these I have had to make as library parts.

And now for my wish (which I will presently add to the list):

The column tool should allow the element to be defined by a custom GDL script. Wall intersections in plan will be accomplished by proper scripting with global parameters and special functions - some of which are automatic (similar to doors and windows). Wall intersections in the model will be automatic using solid element operations (this will also apply to the current circular and rectangular columns) by detecting and responding to the intersecting wall. A setting in the column parameters will determine whether the wall is subtracted from the column or the column from the wall (I can see important uses for each).


Here's to hoping for a column tool we can all use in most circumstances.

Cheers to all,
Matthew


*Part of this is for historical reasons which I have discussed before. When introduced in AC5 the wall tool was already existing (obviously) so it was decided to remove the wall volume from the column (in 3D) rather than the other way around and since there were no solid element operations (also obvious) the column was cut through its entire height. My first attempt at using the new tool resulted in large (2', 0.6m), tall (22', 7m) concrete columns with slots cut to the structural deck above wherever the low partition walls ran through them.
Anonymous
Not applicable
"Djordje
Well ... most of the columns I have seen in my life are aither rectangular or round. Cladding, however, can take any shape. Strictly speaking, the column tool in my book is good for the structural part; the rest is another story, so has to be done with other tools.
[/quote wrote:


What about columns at edges when the building sides are not perpendicular. This is very usuall at least where i live.
Not to mention T shaped Gamma shaped Pi shaped

Of course T shaped is easy to implement (although as i am new to Archicad i dont know if the overlapping part is excluded at constuction lists or counted twice)

(anyway after 1 month of using Archicad and coming from autocad i dont want to look back far easier to work. And lots of things to be evolved)
David Larrew
Booster
Let's also not forget inclined/skewed columns for those designs that aren't always rectilinear.
David Larrew, AIA, GDLA, GSRC

Architectural Technology Specialist

a r c h i S O L U T I O N S



WIN7-10/ OSX 10.15.7

AC 5.1-25 USA