Design

Precast Slab module

Owing to the wide range of parameters available for the factory configurations, catalogs and the parameters currently set by the user during the process of element design or modification and the current geometry of the element (outline or recesses), it can happen that bars or lattice girders of the basic reinforcement are not created and, consequently, individual parts of the element (e.g. corners with acute angles, narrow webs between recesses or between recesses and the edges) are not reinforced. The program does not check that all the bars and lattice girders are actually created.

That is why you need to spend some time thinking about how to handle non-rectangular element outlines and recesses. These considerations can be described as "engineering thinking". This is exactly the reason why working with the Precast modules requires some experience. In particular, you should not create production data without checking the reinforcement beforehand.

Note: The procedure for slab element design for half floors varies depending on the option you have selected in the Catalogs and Configurations module - Configurations - Configuration Menu - Half Floor - Entry - BS number:

• Specific type of entering slab spans selected
• Specific type of entering slab spans not selected

The following description applies when you have not selected the specific type of entering slab spans. It can be used for all slab types.

To enter a roof/slab span

1. Click Design (How).
   

   Activate Design in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Precast Factories Precast Floor

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

   Precast Floor

2. Select the Precast Slab Type you want to use. The slab types that are actually available to you depend on the configuration you have purchased.
3. Depending on the license, you can create half floors and brick slabs with additional filling objects by clicking Create filling objects. You can define settings for filling objects and spreader ribs in the ‘Filling Objects, Spreader Ribs’ dialog box.
4. Depending on the license, you can create a layer of tiles at the bottom by clicking Create facing layer at bottom. This is possible for all slab types except TT slabs and suspended brick slabs. For (prestressed) hollow core elements, concrete slabs, TT slabs and concrete brick slabs, you can create a layer at the top by clicking Create facing layer at top A dialog box opens where you can select an entry from the placement pattern catalog.

   The program creates the selected placement pattern as soon as you confirm the settings on the Design Placing Region Context toolbar. The starting point of the placement pattern is the element's origin. The program does not create tiles in the area of the defined support widths.
   Note: You cannot place the tiles at an angle or define tile areas with special placement conditions as with walls with facing layers.

5. Click Properties to enter the basic parameters for designing and reinforcing the slab/roof panels.
6. Click the button to see more parameters for modification.
7. If you want to design a slab, enter the placement polygon. If you are designing a roof, click the required roof surface and then draw the placement polygon.
8. When you have selected Prompt for span direction in the program sequence configuration, enter a value for the span direction (in degrees) in the dialog line or use the context toolbar to define the span direction in one of the following ways:
   • Click to define the span direction by entering two points.
   • Click the data entry box to enter a value for the span direction at the keyboard.
   • Click to change the direction of span in the active placing region by +90 degrees.
9. Click OK to confirm.
10. If you have selected the prompts for the support values in the design parameters, the program prompts you to specify the support, bar overlap and bending shape for each edge of the placement polygon in a dialog box.
    If you cancel part way through this process, all the entries you have not yet specified are filled with default values.
11. Select the required division parameters on the Design Placing Region Context toolbar. For example, you can specify the span direction, half panels, standard panels, fixed point for element division and so on.
    Note on designing slabs:
    If you want to change the support conditions, click the edge of the slab.
12. Click OK to confirm your entries, reinforcing the active placement. If you want, you can still change the placement or basic reinforcement later by clicking Modify Design (How).
    

    Activate Modify Design in one of the following ways

    • Menu bar: Modify Precast Factories Precast Floor

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

    Precast Floor