Analytical Projection Planes of Structural Elements

The analytical projection plane references the location of, or the limits of, the structural member analytical model.

The following table defines the default plane for each structural element type.

Structural Element	Default Analytical Projection Plane
Columns	Columns have an analytical projection plane at the top and the base of the column. These horizontal planes are offset from a level and define the limits of the structural column analytical model.
Structural Walls	The central plane of the wall.
Beams	Beams have an analytical projection plane parallel to the x-axis of the beam. The plane is defined at a plan level or relative to the beam section geometry.
Braces	Relative to the brace section geometry. The plane is parallel to the x-axis of the brace.
Structural Floors	The analytical projection plane of a structural floor is parallel to the plan level on first placement. Subsequent structural floor placements reference the last used projection plane.
Foundation Slabs	The top face of the foundation slab.

Each structural member analytical physical model has optional locations for its analytical projection plane. These projection plane locations are relative either to the levels of the structure or to the structural element itself. Change the location by adjusting the Vertical Parameter on the Analytical Model section of the Properties palette. The following are the possible projection locations for each structural element family:

Beams

Start and End Projections
Horizontal reference (Y)	Vertical reference (Z)
Location Line	Location Line
Left of Element	Top of Element
Center of Element	Center of Element
Right of Element	Bottom of Element
<Grids...>	<Level...>
<Reference Planes...>	<Reference Level...>
	<Reference Planes...>

Braces

Start and End Projections
Horizontal reference (Y)	Vertical reference (Z)
Location Line	Location Line
Left of Element	Top of Element
Center of Element	Center of Element
Right of Element	Bottom of Element
<Grids...>	<Level...>
<Reference Planes...>	<Reference Planes...>

Braces

Start and End Projections
Horizontal reference (Y)	Vertical reference (Z)
Location Line	Location Line
Left of Element	Top of Element
Center of Element	Center of Element
Right of Element	Bottom of Element
<Grids...>	<Level...>
<Reference Planes...>	<Reference Planes...>

Columns

Start and End Projections
Horizontal reference (Y)	Vertical reference (Z)
Location Line	Location Line
Left of Element	Top of Element
Center of Element	Center of Element
Right of Element	Bottom of Element
<Grids...>	<Level...>
<Reference Planes...>	<Reference Planes...>

Vertical Extensions (X)
Top	Base
Top Level Reference	Base Level Reference
Top of Column	Bottom of Column
<Level...>	<Level...>
<Reference Planes...>	<Reference Planes...>

Structural Floors and Foundation Slabs

Projection
Horizontal/planar reference (Edge)	Vertical reference (Whole element)
Top of Element	Top of Element
Center of Element	Center of Element
Bottom of Element	Bottom of Element
<Level...>	<Level...>
<Reference Level...>	<Reference Level...>
<Reference Planes...>	<Reference Planes...>

Structural Walls

Horizontal Projection
Interior Face of Element
Center of Element
Exterior Face of Element
Center of Core
<Grids...>
<Reference Planes...>

When the Horizontal Projection instance property for a wall is specified as a Center of Element on a vertically compound structural wall, it includes all layers and regions to calculate the center. To place the analytical projection at the center of the wall core, specify the Horizontal Projection as Center of Core.

Center of element projection	Center of core projection

Vertical/planar Extensions
Top	Base
Top of Wall	Bottom of Wall
<Level...>	<Level...>
<Reference Planes...>	<Reference Planes...>