Tendon

Module(s): Bridge and Civil Engineering

You can use the Tendon tool to create the sheath and anchorage elements for a prestressing tendon in bridge and civil engineering components. The tendon uses an axis as its basis. This axis consists of points saved as a coordinate point file ending in *.re2.

To create the sheath and anchorage elements for a prestressing tendon

1. Click Tendon (How).
   

   Activate Tendon in one of the following ways

   • Actionbar:Role Engineering Task Engineering Structures Task area Engineering Structures

   • Menu bar: Create Bonus Tools Bridge and Civil Engineering

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Bridge and Civil Engineering

   The Properties palette opens. It includes the parameters of the tendon, which is basically a SmartPart. When you slowly move the cursor horizontally across the parameters, it changes to a double-headed arrow as soon as you reach the area between the parameter names and the boxes. You can now change the width of this area.

   The program uses the layer set in the Properties palette to create the admin element of the tendon.

2. In the Tendon palette, select the Axis tab and define the format properties (pen, line, color and layer) in the Format area. If you want to match a format property from the layer, select the relevant option.

   Note: If you choose Current for the layer, the program uses the layer of the tendon's admin element.

3. In the Geometry area, click the button and select a coordinate point file ending in *.re2. The points in this file define the axis of the tendon.
4. Define the axis' Height at start and specify if you want to display the axis.
5. Open the other tabs one after the other and define the parameters for the Sheath, Trumpet, Spiral, Anchor plate and Anchor object. The object you are defining is displayed in color in the illustration.
   • Define the format properties (pen, color and layer) in the Format area. If you want to match a format property from the layer, select the relevant option.
     By using different layers for the elements, you can control which elements are visible. All you need to do is switch the corresponding layers on and off. Of course, you can also use the Display option to show and hide the elements in general.
   • In the Geometry area, define the parameters of the elements in the unit of length set. The parameters you can define are illustrated graphically.
     By entering an offset for the sheath, you can shorten it in relation to the axis, moving the anchorage elements accordingly. Enter a negative value. You cannot lengthen the sheath by entering a positive value.
   • Specify if you want to display the element. For some elements, there are separate options for the start and end.
6. Place the tendon in the workspace by clicking its start point.
   If you have created the two-dimensional plan view of the tendon axis in its correct position, click Global point in the dialog line. To place the tendon, enter // = 0/0/0 for the global coordinates.
   The Input Options provide a number of tools you can use to place the element. In order to rotate the tendon, specify an angle of rotation in the dialog line.

   Note: You cannot use handles to modify tendons. Consequently, the Modify SmartPart using Handles option is irrelevant.

   A copy of the tendon you placed last is attached to the crosshairs.

7. Place more tendons or press ESC to quit the tool.
   

Notes:

• With Save as a favorite, you can save the current tendon as a favorite file (*.smv). In order to retrieve this tendon, use Load Favorite. You can then adjust it if you want.
  Info displays the version number of this program, copyright and some legal notes. In addition, you can find a link to Allplan Connect.
  Click Settings to open the Settings dialog box. You can check and change the settings of the tendon.
• If you want, you can save the tendon in a folder of the Library palette.
• In order to modify the tendon, double-click it or select Properties on the shortcut menu.