Profiles with variable section

[Anonymous]

Hi

I need to produce profiled elements (objects or any other tool), that have adifferent sections on each top. These are segments of a bridge.

I looked at Cad Garage and Encina tools, and it looks like they are not able to do this.

Had a go in Sketchup, only to find out that AC13 does not support .skp import.

Without buying Sketchup pro (to export in DWG), or going back to AC12, is there a way to do this?


Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Ok, I managed to do that via .kmz files.

Now I have another problem:

The model imported as an object into archicad is hollow, as it was modeled in Sketchup.

Is there an easy way to make it solid, without getting too involved in GDL?

[Erika Epstein]

Open the library part and change the status code.
It might be simpler to create a fill in the shape of the section, drag this into the 2D window and from their copy it into the 3D window changing the poly_ to a prism of some type.

DNC goes through this in his cookbook pg. 1.46.

Alternatively you can capture the section as a custom profile and then apply it beam, wall or column tool as appropriate.

HTH

[Anonymous]

Erika wrote:
Open the library part and change the status code.
It might be simpler to create a fill in the shape of the section, drag this into the 2D window and from their copy it into the 3D window changing the poly_ to a prism of some type.

DNC goes through this in his cookbook pg. 1.46.

Alternatively you can capture the section as a custom profile and then apply it beam, wall or column tool as appropriate.

HTH

If it is simple scaling it's fairly easy to script with the SWEEP function. (This could also be done with a PYRAMID and a CUTPLANE.) For a changing profile a series of RULED elements would do the trick.

[Anonymous]

Another possibility. Make a roof with zero pitch and as thick
as the length of the object you want. Make the roof outside
edges in shape of the cross section you want. Slope the
outside edges of the roof to the taper angle you want.
Make a hole in the roof with the shape of the void and
slope the edges of the void at the same angle as the
outside edges of the roof. Save the roof as a GDL object.
The only GDL needed is to type in a ROTx 90 command at
the beginning of the 3D script and PROJECT2 3,270,2
in the 2D script of the object.
Peter Devlin

[Anonymous]

Erika
The profile is variable, which means each top is different. Thus I can not use a simple extrude.

Matthew
Yeah... After a brain transplant, maybe.


Peter
Same problem. The ends are different.

I managed to do this with a complex profile for the upper slab (which is constant), slanted walls and a mesh on the bottom (cut by another mesh with SEO). Then I SEO everything, and finally save it a an object.

A lot of work for such a (apparently) simple object, and I do not like to abuse on the SEO gimmick.

Still, thank you for trying to help, you guys are great

[Erika Epstein]

Thank you Matthew & Peter; I am going to challenge myself to try your methods.

[Erika Epstein]

Miguel,
My instinct then is to break it up into pieces, isolating the 'end' that changes. I am not clear which section you consider the 'end'.
There is the top,
the bottom which appears to slope separately from the top?
and then the 2 struts in between. Are they continuous? they could be made with slanted walls, [or roofs, but walls for me would be easier than steeply sloped roofs]
Correct?

If the top and bottom sections are custom profiles applied to beams, they can slope and will automatically cut the struts.

What is this again?

OOPS, missed your post. IF you do the bottom with a beam then it will cut trim off the slanted walls.

[Anonymous]

A concrete bridge, done in 4.5m long sections.

The top platform is has a constant profile, so that is easy,
The walls are also easy.
The bottom platform changes profile (it gets smaller as we go along), and is also inclined, so this is the tricky part.

That is why I did it with meshes.

The problem with this approach is that I need quantities. Cubic meters is easy, but surfaces for form work is a bummer.

[Ralph Wessel]

Krippahl wrote:
I looked at Cad Garage and Encina tools, and it looks like they are not able to do this.

You can do this with OBJECTiVE from Encina. Referring to the attached image:

• 1. Draw 2 cross-sections through the bridge sections. The first is the constant part, extended to the deepest extent. The second is a section through the sloping part, looking along the incline. Use OBJECTiVE > Component > New Profile to create two new section profiles.
  
  2. A 3D view of the two profiles in their initial state.
  
  3. Viewing the profiles in a side elevation, rotate the base profile with OBJECTiVE > Tools > Rotate to the correct incline.
  
  4. Use OBJECTiVE > Tools > Split to cut off the unwanted portions.
  
  5. Viewing the profiles in an end elevation, use OBJECTiVE > Tools > Split to cut the base profile to sides of the top profile.
  
  6. The finished profile.
  
  7 & 8. You could optionally use OBJECTiVE > Tools > Split to divide the profiles into different segments for detailing (shown in 3D).