Link Girders

Interactively create a structural member of the type “link girder” between axes and/or reference points of structural members of the type “girder”, “pier”, “link girder” or “body”

Link girders don’t require a (predefined) axis for their definition and are directly created between two potions of the 3D model. These positions can be defined via reference points at structural members of the type “girder”, “pier” or “link girder”, via docking points at structural members of the type “body” or via stations of axes in a certain vertical distance (offset) from those.

The link girders are created between these two defined positions with a certain exceedance (offset in axis direction) at each end, optionally. The first position defines the Geometric Position 1 and the second position the Geometric Position 2 of the axis of the link girder. The reference length is defined by the distance of the two Geometric Positions including the exceedance at the begin and end. In the general case, the Geometric Position 1 defines the local station zero. If, however, an exceedance at the begin is defined, the local station zero is defined by that position.

Note: The following input description relates to the station subdivision type Free. When using the options Equidistant (equidistant subdivision of stations along the reference length) and Begin & End (subdivision of stations only at the begin and end of the reference length), the steps 7 to 10 and 12 are omitted. When using one of these two options, you must select the cross section (step 6) already in arbitrary step before.

To interactively create a link girder

1. Click Link girder.
2. Optionally, edit the name and the description and confirm the input with OK.

   A new link girder will be created in the menu Link Girders in the project navigation tree.

3. Click the desired first position (GP1) of the axis of the link girder in the 3D model in the View window.

   Note: Select the wished type of definition (Reference point / Docking point / Relative distance / Absolute height) in the Property window:

   • Reference point / Docking point: The position is directly defined at the reference point / docking point.
   • Relative distance / Absolute height: The position is defined related to a station on an axis in a certain vertical distance or as an absolute height through this point. Compare for example to: Pier relative to two axes
4. Click the desired second position (GP2) of the axis of the link girder in the 3D model in the View window.

   Note: Select the wished type of definition (Reference point / Docking point / Relative distance / Absolute height) in the Property window - see step 3.

5. Define the desired exceedance:
   • None: No exceedance is defined (go to step 6.).
   • Begin & End: The exceedance can freely be defined at both ends as follows:

     1. Move the mouse in the direction of the axis of the link girder in the View window to specify the wished distance related to the previously selected first position (GP1). Confirm it with a mouse click.

     2. Move the mouse in the direction of the axis of the link girder in the View window to specify the wished distance related to the previously selected second position (GP2). Confirm it with a mouse click.

6. Click on the cross section in the menu Cross Sections in the navigation tree which should be assigned to the link girder axis.
7. Move the mouse in the direction of the axis in the View window to specify the desired start position of the link girder along its axis, and confirm it with a mouse click.

   Note: Select the Type of the start station in the menu Stationing in the Property window.

8. If necessary, adapt the start station in the opening input window.
9. Move the mouse again in the View window to specify the desired end position of the link girder or rather link girder segment on its axis, and confirm it with a mouse click.

   Note: Select the Type of the stations to be added in the menu Stationing in the Property window.

10. If necessary, adapt the end station in the opening input window.
11. Define the subdivision of the link girder or rather link girder segment via Number or Length of the individual elements in the same input window. Confirm the input with OK.
12. Append further link girder segments (e.g. with different subdivision or different cross section) to the existing link girder (back to 9.), or quit the tool with ESC.

Note: In the course of the input procedure described above, you can anytime insert a subdivision point in an already existing link girder segment by simply clicking on the desired position within the already created link girder segment.