External boundary

Insert a boundary from another cross section into the actual cross section

Optionally, an arbitrary number of copies of the boundary can be inserted at given distances.

The external boundary has a direction along which it (and its copies) are placed and an origin at which the placement starts.

This can be defined in three different ways:

1.) At an intersection point of a boundary (always defining the direction) and a parametric line (defining the origin on the selected boundary)

2.) At an intersection point of a (first) parametric line (defining the direction) and a second parametric line (defining the origin on the first selected param. line)

3.) At a parametric point

Note: In case of the first way of definition the placed external boundaries follow the boundary selected for the direction, even if it changes its direction or is curved.

These three possibilities of definition are all combined in one input procedure.

To insert a boundary from another cross section

1. Click External boundary.
2. Optionally, click
   • (1) an intersection point of a boundary (=direction) and a parametric line (=origin) as a reference point of the external boundary to be inserted (proceed with step 4.).
   • (2) a (first) parametric line which defines the direction.
   • (3) directly a parametric point to define the insertion point (proceed with step 4.).
3. [Only in case of variant (2)] Click a second parametric line to define the origin on the first selected param. line.
4. By clicking in the project navigation tree, select the cross section which contains the desired boundary to be inserted.

   The view automatically switches to the selected cross section.

5. In this cross section, click the desired boundary to be inserted.

   The view automatically switches back to the actual cross section.

6. By moving the mouse, select the wished orientation of the boundary to be inserted at the defined reference point in relation to the previously selected direction (i.e. the orientation of the local y-axis and z-axis).
7. Confirm the wished position with the enter key or the left mouse button.
8. In the Property window, you can optionally define the offset of the boundary to the selected reference point, the number of the copies of this boundary to be inserted and the spacing between the particular boundaries (along the selected direction).

   Notes:

   You can assign variables to the offset and spacing instead of the constant values (in the same way as for parametric lines).

   If variables are defined in the cross section of the inserted boundary, these are displayed in the Property window. Variables of the actual cross section can be assigned to these variables of the inserted boundary and thus be used in the same way as other variables of the cross section.