Cladding

Open the Cladding dialog using either of the following methods:

• Click Geometry menu > Additional Attributes > Load Distribution - Claddings.
• Click .

The option defines a Cladding, that is, a surface that lets you distribute planar, linear and concentrated loads on bars, panels and supports. This object can considerably facilitate generating loads; it allows you defining real structure objects that do not participate in the load capacity of a structure, such as panel walls and roofing. You can apply planar loads (uniform or not uniform, defined on any contour or object), linear (defined by 2 points or on edges) and concentrated (force at the point) to claddings. You can also use claddings when 3D snow and wind loads are generated. A finite element mesh is not generated on a cladding; it is an auxiliary object for defining loads.

The dialog has the following parts:

• At the top: Several icons
• The list field: Displays available cladding types
• At the bottom: The current selection field and standard buttons.

At the top of the dialog:

• , , , and - Displays the list of active cladding types as: large icons, small icons, short list, or long list
• - Opens the Label Manager dialog.

The list field displays 3 available types of load distribution based on the load direction:

• Two-way - isotropic
• One-way X - anisotropic: parallel to the local x axis of a panel
• One-way Y - anisotropic: parallel to the local y axis of a panel and perpendicular to the local x axis of a panel.

Note: The trapezoidal and triangular method is used to distribute loads for all cladding types. Because distribution methods are limited to this method, you cannot define new types of load distribution. Use the Do not take truss bar into account option by selecting objects on which loads from a cladding are distributed.

A surface object is generated in the form of a face with defined cladding. A surface is defined in the same manner as a panel (by indicating an internal point or the list of linear objects).

You can also define a cladding by selecting the Geometry menu > Claddings.

Loads from claddings are distributed on all objects in the contour and plane of a cladding:

• Bars in the cladding plane - Robot automatically finds all bars in the plane and contour of a cladding; it generates a linear, trapezoidal load on a bar
• Nodes of supporting bars - a load is distributed on nodes that belong to bars adjoining the cladding plane (such as columns supporting the cladding) it generates a nodal load. Distribution to nodes is ignored for one-way distribution
• Support nodes - a load is distributed on nodes that are assigned supports, however, the necessary condition is that a support is assigned advanced column properties, that is, the support dimensions needs to be specified. A contour of dimensions of the support determines an area of a rectangle; the load is distributed on this rectangle using the trapezoidal and triangular distribution; it generates a nodal load.
• Edges of supporting panels - a load is distributed on edges of panels that are adjacent to the plane of a cladding (such as walls that support a cladding or slabs on which a load from the external panel wall is distributed); it generates a linear, trapezoidal load on the edge.

You can select objects that lie in the plane of a cladding (or of a panel for which the trapezoidal and triangular distribution is selected in a calculation model) and do not carry loads. In a real structure, these can be elements of roof bracing that do not carry the load transferred from the roofing. You can select objects using either of the following ways:

• use options in the Inspector pane - in the object properties (bar or panel); for the Trapezoidal and triangular distribution option you can select Analyze (an object carries loads) or Ignore (an object does not carry loads)
• use the Trapezoidal and triangular method options dialog by selecting the Loads menu > Special Loads > Trapezoidal and Triangular Method Options; objects from the bar and panel list:
  • carry loads - after clicking Analyze
  • do not carry loads - after clicking Ignore.

  Click (...) to open the Selection dialog.

  

You can define a surface by assigning cladding to a face-type object for the following structure types: bar structures and shell structures. It is assumed that for volumetric structures the face object behaves like a face of a volumetric structure; you cannot define loaded surfaces on such an object. All types of loads (planar, linear, and nodal) can be applied to a cladding, except for 2 types of planar loads: hydrostatic pressure and thermal loads.