Design mode parameters

Tool(s): Wall Element Design + Modify Design + Modify wall element

You can specify the design parameters using the Wall type, layers, Layer adjustments, concrete strips, Columns in wall and Attributes tabs.

Wall type, layers tab

Wall type

You can specify whether you want to create a concrete wall, double wall, sandwich wall, thermal wall or a wall consisting of n layers.
The thermal wall can be created with an in-situ concrete core (four layers) or without an in-situ concrete core (three layers). Specify the number of layers for the wall consisting of n layers.

You can apply a facing layer to a concrete wall, sandwich wall and a thermal wall (provided you have the appropriate license). 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). When you create a concrete wall, the facing layer is on the side opposite the design identifier (formwork bottom).

Layer(s)

Layer

This line is only displayed 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 layer parameters.

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.
When you create a wall consisting of n layers, you can use the Calculate layer thickness parameter to specify whether the program is to automatically calculate the thickness of the relevant layer. If this parameter is selected for several layers, the remaining wall thickness (architectural wall thickness minus layer thicknesses defined) is distributed evenly across these layers.

Material

Depending on the Material type, which you can specify only for a wall consisting of n layers, you can select an entry in the Concrete grade catalog, Insulation material catalog or Placement pattern catalog. A material selection is currently not provided for the material type of in-situ concrete.

Note: The list box of the insulation material catalog or placement pattern catalog only presents entries of the which the thickness defined in the catalog agrees with the layer thickness entered currently or determined automatically by the program.

Layer adjustments, concrete strips tab

Layer adjustment at top and bottom

Layer

This line is only displayed 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 specify how the layers are to be adjusted to the top and bottom levels.

Adjust TL, BL

The relevant layer is lengthened or shortened in accordance with the option you choose:

• Elevation point: the Value you enter defines the height of the top level of the layer as an absolute height. Here, the top 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 corresponding layer. Unlike architecture, there is no offset at the ridge point if the planes to the left and right of the ride point have different angles of inclination. Instead, the ridge point "moves".
  A positive value lengthens the relevant 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 corresponding layer.

Concrete strip at top and bottom

This area is only available for sandwich walls, thermal walls and n-layer walls with concrete layers.

Layer

Use and to specify the relevant layer or click to open the table where you can specify how concrete strips are to be generated at the top and bottom of the wall.

Top / Bottom of concrete strip

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

Layer adjustment for openings

Layer

This line is only displayed 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 relevant layer; a negative value shortens it.

Concrete strip openings

This area is only available for sandwich walls, thermal walls and n-layer walls with concrete layers.

Layer

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 / Depth

To create concrete strips in the areas around openings, select the Concrete strips option, enter a value for the Depth (parallel to wall thickness) 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.

Limit values for openings

Layer adjustment / Concrete strip

Click for the parameter you want to use 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 columns within the architectural wall are taken into account, you can enter values by which the precast wall is shortened in the area of the column. This creates a continuous joint around the column.

Attributes tab

Production parameters

Factory

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

Standard

You can see the standards entered in the Standards catalog in the Catalogs. You can set the default using the Catalog, Factory and Standards Admin tool in the Catalogs and Configurations module.
This setting has an effect on the selection of concrete grades and steel grades. It applies to all precast elements in the current drawing file.

Production type

You can choose between Special production and Standard production; however, this setting is currently not analyzed.

Rotated production direction

You can specify whether the elements are not to be rotated (None), whether they are to be rotated from a specific height (Calculate automatically) or whether they are Always rotated for production.

Rotate from height

So that the panel fits on the pallet, the element is rotated internally as soon as this value is reached. This parameter is only displayed if you have selected the Calculate automatically setting for the rotated production direction.

Maximum rotated length

Maximum length for rotated elements; this value usually corresponds to the pallet width.

Note: The Maximum rotated length parameter defines the length of the element in plan, which is automatically taken into account when you divide the element using the Divisions tool. If the element is rotated, this length corresponds to height of the element on the production pallet. Therefore, the value you specify here should not exceed the value entered for Rotate from height.

Rotation direction

Define how the elements are rotated:

• Clockwise: the elements are rotated in a clockwise direction. This is the usual direction.
• Counter-clockwise: the elements are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction.
• Automatically by order: use the Variant parameter to set the rule defining the rotation of the first or last element. You can choose between the First element clockwise and Last element counterclockwise settings. All the other elements of the wall in question are then rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise.
• Automatically by geometry: the individual elements' geometry is analyzed and the rotation direction is determined accordingly.
  The goal is to rotate elements with an offset to the concrete layers on the vertical edges (e.g. due to corner connections) such that the side with the offset leaves is facing up during production. In addition, the lateral lifting bolts are created there (provided you have chosen to create lifting bolts in Basic reinforcement,..... The following rules apply:
  • Both layers the same length on both sides: the element is always rotated in a clockwise direction.
  • One layer longer on one side: the element is rotated such that the side with the offset leaves is facing up during production. Here, it is irrelevant whether the longer layer was produced first or second, or whether it is the bearing leaf or the outer leaf of a sandwich wall.
  • Each layer projecting outward on a different side: the element is rotated such that the side where the second-produced leaf or the bearing leaf of a sandwich wall is longer points down during production, and the side where the first-produced leaf or the outer leaf of a sandwich wall is longer points up during production.
  • One layer longer on both sides: the element is always rotated in a clockwise direction.

Surfaces

Visible side / Invisible side

Select a surface in the surface catalog. The list box includes all the 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.

Exposure classes

Visible side / Invisible side

Enter the appropriate exposure class.
You need to include the exposure class in reinforcement drawings according to DIN 1045-1, section 4.2.1 (3). 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 for mark number. The program always begins with the number 1. You can change mark number assignment when you define divisions.
The largest 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, you need to 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. It is only displayed if you have defined that surfaces are created as fixtures in the Configurations.

If you use Surface areas ( Surfaces and areas for concrete, insulation and facing layers in the Modify Wall in View tool) to define a surface 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/or OberFlS2 variable(s).

Formwork attributes

Wall
Visible leaf / Invisible leaf
Layer...

Click to open the table for the relevant parameter and define the formwork attributes for the different element edges and concrete layers.
You can combine the attributes as you need. The program does not check whether these combinations make sense.

These attributes are only analyzed when you use the Unitechnik ULB interface (version 4.0 or later). The elements are transferred as polylines. A formwork attribute is transferred for each polyline.

Additional attributes

This area is only available when you have defined entries on the configuration menu. To select an attribute or cancel its selection, select or clear the check box in the line of the attribute name. You can change the attributes presented by defining defaults on the configuration menu.

The program analyzes the attributes as follows:

• As text under the mark number (with the Attr1 to Attr30 string variables for custom attributes 1 to 30).
• As variables for label styles. Use the Additional custom attribute from the Precast concrete elements area and specify the number of the additional attribute you require using the Special index.
• As variables in the list generator of the BFT menu.