Structural Member Shape Definitions
Structural Member Shape Definitions should be named according to the structural member style(s) for which they are intended to be a part of. For example, if you are defining a steel bar joist member style and you’ve defined a structural member shape definition on which you plan to base the bottom chord component of the joist, you would name it simply “Steel Joist Bottom Chord”.
Structural Member Styles
Structural members should be named according to the specific structural object type that they are to represent, including dimensional information.
Structural Member Style Naming Conventions:
<Structural member type> <Size>
Note: Frequently standard structural shape designations include the size of the member. In these cases, the structural name can simply be the structural designation.
Example Structural Member Style Names:
| Structural Member Style Description |
Example Name |
|---|
| Wide flange steel shape (W8x40). |
W8x40
|
| 10” K Series Bar Joist. |
Bar Joist 10K1
|
| Decorative square tapered square column (specific use). |
Decorative Square Column - Tapered 12”-8”
|
| 10” Plywood Web Wood Joist. |
Plywood Web Joist - 10
|
Note: Naming conventions for structural member styles are not fixed. In the case of structural member styles defined as a result of the Structural Member Catalog, it is acceptable and more efficient in many cases to use the default name that is provided by the catalog. As an example the “Plywood Web Joist - 10” style name listed above would be “10in Plywood Web Wood Joist”.
Best Practices for Structural Member Styles:
- When naming a structural member style, consider whether it can be used for more than one purpose. For example, wide flange shapes can be used for either columns, bracing or beams. In the case of such an element, you should not indicate a specific use in the member style name.
- When defining custom display blocks for the Model display of structural member styles, you should use other structural members to define the blocks where possible, in lieu of mass elements. An example of this is seen in the example Bar Joist styles that are provided with AutoCAD Architecture 2024 toolset. The custom display blocks that define the webbing are made from a structural member style called “Steel Joist Webbing”.
- Materials should be assigned to structural member style components.