Parameters of the design mode

Tools: Design (iWall) + Modify Design + Modify Wall Element

You can specify the design parameters on the five Element type, layers, Layer adjustments, concrete strips, openings, Columns in wall, Attributes and Invoicing tabs.

"Element type, layers" tab

Factory

You can see the data (name, manufacturer's address) of the factories listed in the Factory catalog on the Catalog menu. You can define a new factory in the external catalog program or delete factories at any time.

Element type

You can specify whether you want to create a concrete wall, double wall, sandwich wall, thermal wall, or a brick wall.
You can create the thermal wall with an in-situ concrete core (four layers) or without an in-situ concrete core (three layers).

If you have the appropriate license, you can create one or two facing layer(s), apart from brick walls. When you create a sandwich wall or thermal wall, the facing layer is on the side of the design identifier (formwork bottom for sandwich wall and leaf produced first for thermal wall). For concrete walls and double walls, the facing layer can be created on both sides, namely on the side opposite the design identifier (formwork bottom) and on the side of the design identifier.

Orientation

The settings for Orientation are only displayed for architectural elements, PythonParts and 3D solids. Unlike architectural walls, these elements do not have any defined structure. During the design, the program searches for the largest component area and then uses the direction that is perpendicular to the largest surface to define the Viewing direction, Reference point and Triangle indicating the visible side.

Reference point

The Reference point is the origin of the local coordinate system for the precast element. It marks the point where the first layer begins. Starting from the reference point, the program applies the thickness settings of the layers. The set viewing direction and fixed span direction combined therefore creates a local coordinate system. When elements are rearranged, this is used as the basis for comparing the identity of two precast elements or transferring fixtures and reinforcements from one precast element to another, and so on.

You can amend the suggested reference point at any time by using the Point entry option.

Viewing direction

Here you can specify the area/side of your precast element you will face. You can define the viewing direction vector by entering values directly or you can use the Enter based on two points, Enter based on three points or Enter based on midpoint options. In addition, you can Flip the direction.

The values you enter for the Viewing direction define a vector in the global x-y-z-coordinate system. Separate the individual numbers by semicolons.
The first value defines the vector in the x-direction; the second value defines the vector in the y-direction and the third value in the z-direction. Entering 1;0;0, for example, defines a viewing direction in the positive, global x-direction.

Layer(s)

Layers

This line only appears if the selected wall consists of several construction layers. Use and to specify the required layer, or click to define the layer parameters in the table.

Thickness

Thickness of the layer if it is not automatically defined by the thickness of the architectural wall, such as the thickness of the concrete wall, the thickness of the in-situ concrete layer of the double wall or thermal wall, or the thickness of the insulating layer of the sandwich wall or thermal wall.

Placement

Selection of placement pattern for bricks/tiles on the corresponding wall or facing layer. Selection of entry from the Placement Pattern Catalog.

Material

Depending on the material type, which is specified, you can select an entry in the Concrete Grade Catalog, Insulation Material Catalog or Brick/Tile Catalog. For the in-situ concrete material type, the same material type as used for precast layers is selected from the Concrete Grade Catalog.

Note: The list box of the insulation material catalog or brick/tile catalog only presents entries of which the thickness defined in the catalog matches the current layer thickness or the layer thickness calculated automatically by the program.

Automatic opening

Just like the settings for Orientation , the Create option for Automatic opening will only be displayed for architectural elements, PythonParts and 3D solids.

When you select this option, PLANBAR automatically creates openings in user-defined architectural elements, PythonPart or 3D solids. These openings replace the architectural openings (windows, doors and so on). Like architectural openings, openings in user-defined architectural elements can be analyzed or included in automatic features.

"Layer adjustments, concrete strips, openings" tab

Layer adjustment at top and bottom

Layers

This line only appears if the selected wall consists of several construction layers. Use and to specify the required layer, or click to open the table where you can specify how to adjust the layers at the top and bottom levels.

Adjust TL, BL

Specify how you want to lengthen or shorten the layer. The following options are available:

• Elevation point: The Value you enter defines the height of the layer’s top level or bottom level as an absolute height. In this case, the top level or bottom level of the layer is always horizontal.
• Offset (perpendicular): The Value you enter defines the offset so that it is perpendicular to the layer. Unlike architecture, there is no offset at the ridge point if the planes to the left and right of the ridge point have different angles of inclination. Instead, the ridge point "moves".
  A positive value lengthens the layer; a negative value shortens it.
• Offset (vertical): same as previous setting. The only difference is that the value you enter defines the offset so that it is vertical to the layer.
• As shorter leaf: This option is only available for an insulation layer or in-situ concrete layer. If you select this option, the corresponding layer will be as long as the shortest of the two concrete leaves.

Splay at TL / BL

By selecting the check box, you can choose to create a horizontal wall even if the top level and/or bottom level in the transverse direction of the wall is inclined due to sloping planes.

Concrete strip, top and bottom

This area is only available for sandwich walls and thermal walls.

Layers

Use and to specify the required layer, or click to open the table where you can specify how to create concrete strips at the top and bottom levels of the wall.

Top / Bottom of concrete strip

To create a concrete strip for the concrete layers, select the Top of concrete strip or Bottom of concrete strip option, and enter the Width (parallel to wall height) and Depth (parallel to wall thickness).

Concrete strip as

Here you can specify whether you want to create the concrete strip as an upstand or as an end shutter. In this context, upstand refers to a concrete strip that is placed on top of the leaf. When you select end shutter, the entire concrete strip is created by the end shutter.

Note: The manner in which the program creates basic reinforcement differs depending on which option you select for the concrete strips. When you select Upstand, the program creates reinforcement in the area of the upstand and observes the concrete cover for the concrete edge. When you select end shutter, the program creates reinforcement as far as the beginning of the end shutter, including the concrete cover.

Fixture

If you want to analyze the concrete strips in lists or transfer them to production, you can select a linear fixture from the Fixture Catalog here.

Width

Width (parallel to wall height) defines the width of the concrete strip or shutter.

Depth

The meaning of the Depth parameter (parallel to the wall thickness) varies depending on the selected option:

• Upstand: The value defines the part of the concrete strip that projects beyond the defined layer thickness.
• End shutters: The value defines the total height.

Layer adjustment for openings

Layers

This line only appears if the selected wall consists of several construction layers. Use and to specify the relevant layer or click to open the table where you can define the adjustment of layers in the areas around openings.

Layer adjustment / Lateral

To specify that layers are to be adjusted in the areas of openings, select the Layer adjustment option and click to define the Lateral parameter. The table opens. Specify the side by selecting the corresponding Create parameter and enter a Value. A positive value lengthens the layer; a negative value shortens it.

Concrete strip openings

This area is only available for sandwich walls and thermal walls.

Layers

Use and to specify the relevant layer or click to open the table where you can define the generation of concrete strips in the areas around openings.

Concrete strips / Lateral

To create concrete strips in the areas around openings, select the Concrete strips option and click to define the Lateral parameter. The table opens. Specify the side by selecting the corresponding Create parameter and enter a value for the Width.

Concrete strip as

Here you can specify whether you want to create the concrete strips around the opening as an upstand or as an end shutter. In this context, upstand refers to a concrete strip that is placed on top of the leaf. When you select end shutter, the entire concrete strip is created by the end shutter.

Note: The manner in which the program creates basic reinforcement differs depending on which option you select for the concrete strips. When you select Upstand, the program creates reinforcement in the area of the upstand and observes the concrete cover for the concrete edge. When you select end shutter, the program creates reinforcement as far as the beginning of the end shutter, including the concrete cover.

Fixture

If you want to analyze the concrete strips in lists or transfer them to production, you can select a linear fixture here.

Depth

The meaning of the Depth parameter (parallel to the wall thickness) varies depending on the selected option:

• Upstand: The value defines the part of the concrete strip that projects beyond the defined layer thickness.
• End shutters: The value defines the total height.

Limit values for openings

Layer adjustment / Concrete strip

Click for the parameter and enter the minimum values for the Opening width, Opening height, and Opening area. As soon as one of these values is reached or exceeded, the program adjusts the layers or generates the concrete strips.

"Columns in wall" tab

So that the program considers columns within the architectural wall, enter values by which to shorten the sides or the top and bottom of the precast wall in the area of the column. This creates a continuous joint around the column.

"Attributes" tab

Production parameters

Standard

You can see the standards entered in the Standards catalog on the Catalog menu. You can define the default setting by using the Catalog, Factory, and Standards Admin tool in the Catalogs task area.
This setting affects the selection of concrete grades and steel grades.

Production type

You can choose between Special production and Standard production; however, this setting is intended for future developments.

Side of formwork bottom / Leaf 1 on side

You can enter a setting here if you want to create the wall with a rotated production sequence. The term production sequence here refers to the definition of which side of the wall is leaf 1 (double and thermal walls) and which side is the formwork bottom (in the case of concrete, sandwich and brick walls).

Rotated production direction

Specify whether to rotate the elements: You can choose between No (do not rotate), Calculate automatically (rotate from a specific height), and Always (always rotate).

Rotate from height

The program internally rotates the element as soon as it reaches this height. Otherwise, the panel would not fit on the pallet. This parameter is only available when the Calculate automatically setting is selected for the rotated production direction.

Maximum rotated length

Maximum length for rotated elements; this is usually the pallet width.

Note: The Maximum rotated length parameter defines the length of the element in plan, which will automatically be considered when you divide the element by using the Divisions tool. When you rotate the element, this length is the height of the element on the production pallet. Therefore, this value must not be greater than the value entered for Rotate from height.

Rotation direction

Define how to rotate the elements:

• Clockwise: The elements rotate clockwise. This is the default direction.
• Counterclockwise: The elements rotate counterclockwise.
• Automatically by sequence: Use the Variant parameter to choose the rule that defines how to rotate the first or last element. You can choose between First element clockwise and Last element counterclockwise. Then, all other elements of the wall rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise.
• Automatically by geometry: The program analyzes the geometry of each element, defining the rotation direction accordingly.
  The goal is to rotate elements whose concrete layers are offset at the vertical edges (for example, due to corner connections) so that the side with the offset leaves is on top during production and the lateral lifting bolts can be created there (if you have chosen to create lifting bolts in Basic reinforcement,....). The following rules apply:
  • Both layers the same length on both sides: The element always rotates clockwise.
  • One layer longer on one side: The element rotates so that the side with the offset leaves is on top during production. It is irrelevant whether the longer layer is produced first or second, or whether it is the load-baring leaf or outer leaf of a sandwich wall.
  • Each layer projecting outward on a different side: The element rotates so that the side where the second-produced leaf or the load-bearing leaf of a sandwich wall is longer is at the bottom during production, and the side where the first-produced leaf or the outer leaf of a sandwich wall is longer is on top during production.
  • One layer longer on both sides: The element always rotates clockwise.

Surfaces

Visible side / Invisible side

Select a surface in the surface catalog. The list box provides all entries that are assigned to the current factory.
If there are facing layers, you cannot define a surface for the side with the facing layer.

The option to enter surfaces is completely removed for brick.

Exposure classes

Visible side / Invisible side

Enter the appropriate exposure class.
Cement formulation, minimum concrete cover, and minimum concrete strength grade depend on the exposure class.

Fire resistance classification

Select the fire resistance classification in the catalog.

Label

Mark number

Default setting for the mark number. The program always begins with the number 1. You can change mark number assignment when you define divisions.
The greatest possible mark number is 99999999.

Additional text for mark number

Additional text for mark number.

Thickness attribute / Type attribute

You can use these entries to label the elements. To include these entries in analyses, use the variables DickBez (for the thickness) and ElemBez (for the type).

Text for special surfaces

You can use this parameter to identify special surfaces. This parameter is only visible when you have chosen to create surfaces as fixtures in the Configurations.

When you use Surface areas ( Surfaces, concrete areas, insulation areas, and areas for facing layers in the Modify Wall in View tool) to define a surface that is different from the main surface for specific areas, the mark number text in plan display includes this Text for special surfaces, which is assigned to the OberFls1 and OberFlS2 variables.

Code text

Only available when the Precast with BCM option is selected in the configuration for the program sequence. Click to open the dialog box with the catalog for selecting the code text. Select an entry or assign entries manually.

Formwork attributes

Wall
Visible leaf / Invisible leaf

Click next to the required parameter and define the formwork attributes for the different element edges and concrete layers in the table.
You can freely combine the attributes. However, the program does not check whether these combinations make sense.

The option to enter formwork attributes is completely removed for brick.

The program analyzes these attributes only when you use the Unitechnik CAD-CAM interface (version 4.0 or later). This interface transfers the elements as polylines. A formwork attribute will be transferred for each polyline.

In addition, TIM also uses the definitions of the formwork attributes to model chamfers or fillets into the geometry exported to IFC for the following types of precast elements:

• half floor slab, where the chamfer is usually predefined by the profiles.
• Walls created by means of Design, except brick walls
• Walls created by means of Design (iWall), except brick walls

Modeling is based on the Chamfer width defined in the Factory catalog or the Fillet radius, parameters defined for the precast element, and fixtures in the precast element. When you create the NTF file, ALLPLAN includes these parameters and uses them to calculate the chamfer or fillets for IFC export. Which edges of a precast element get chamfers or fillets depends on these definitions of the formwork attributes for the precast element and on the definitions of the formwork attributes for fixtures on the Prod. internal tab in the Fixture catalog.

Note: It is not always possible to compute chamfers or fillets, in particular with modelings by other tools (for example, profile definitions, ...).
Should you have any questions, please contact our technical support team.

Additional attributes

This area is only available when you have defined at least one entry in the Configuration Menu.

If you use Reset attributes, you can subsequently reset the additional attributes to the entries in the configuration or even attach newly added or deleted additional attributes in the configuration to existing elements. You can also delete them in their entirety too.
Note: Please note that the content of attributes already set for the element will be overwritten again with the default values from the configuration when using Reset Attributes.

To turn an attribute on or off, select an entry in the line of the respective attribute. As is the case with the definition contained in the configurations, you can choose from No, for precast element group and for precast element. You can change the attributes.

Note: Please take note of the Rules for additional attributes with the for precast element group and for precast element option when working with these functions in the BIM Booster task area.

The program analyzes the attributes as follows:

• As text under the mark number with the Attr1 to Attr30 or txtAttr1 to txtAttr30 string variables for custom attributes 1 to 30 maximum.
• As variables for label styles. Use the Custom attribute 01~ - 30~ or Custom attribute~from the Precast elements, element-specific area or the Custom attribute from the Precast elements, other area. Select Custom attribute~ or Custom attribute and specify the number of the required additional attribute by means of the special index.

'Invoicing' tab

The entries in this tab are intended for use with an ERP system in which the invoicing-related parameters are generally defined. You can import the attributes from an ERP system.

If you do not work with an ERP system, you can enter any value.

Should you have any questions, please contact your personal sales engineer or our technical support team in Puch.

Invoice item

Import file

This field, which is only displayed when you are working with an external ERP System (i.e. an existing import file in the project folder), provides information about the name of the import file. You cannot change the name.

Name

When you have imported attributes from an ERP system, go to the dialog box Selection of invoice item and select one of the components noted in the list box.

User-defined name that can be used for labels in element plans or lists. Select the Invoice text~ attribute of the string type.

Invoice ID

This value is preset automatically when you have imported attributes from an ERP system and selected a component for Name .

Component group

The component group contains a rough classification of the component (e.g. straight stair, spiral stair, column, and so on).

This value is preset automatically when you have imported attributes from an ERP system and selected a component for Name . This field can also be kept empty.

Invoice for customer

Calculation unit

Note: This entry is preset automatically when you have imported attributes from an ERP system and selected a component for Name .

You can only choose Area [m²] (= projected shadow) as the calculation unit for the wall.

Basis for invoicing

Select the required basis for invoicing. You can choose from Not defined, Area of wall element, Greater leaf area, Mean value of leaf areas and Greater leaf height x mean width.

Note: You can only choose from Greater leaf area, Mean value of leaf areas and Greater leaf height x mean width for multilayer walls.

Calculation method

Select the required calculation method. You can choose from Not defined, Panel outline (polygon), Circumscribed rectangle and Mean value of outline/rectangle.

Note: Only the Not defined or Circumscribed rectangle calculation methods can be selected for the Greater leaf height x mean width basis for invoicing.

Recess limit area

Recesses and shortfalls with an area greater than the specified value are subtracted from the element area.

Invoice for factory

Calculation unit

Note: This entry is preset automatically when you have imported attributes from an ERP system and selected a component for Name . In this particular instance, you can only choose Area [m²] (= projected shadow) as the calculation unit for the wall.

If no attributes are imported from the ERP system, you can choose from the None, Pieces, Length [m], Area [m²], Volume [m³] and Other calculation units.

Invoice for reinforcing bars

Reinforcement included

Enter a value here in [kg/m²].

Cutoff

Bars / stirrups
Lattice girders
Meshes / bent-up meshes

You can define the cutoff values here for the bars / stirrups, lattice girders and meshes / bent-up meshes as a [%].