Predefined Types of Geometry of Surface Elements

You can select from the following types of geometry of surface elements:

Geometry Type Dimensions

One-sided unidirectional ribs:

h - plate thickness

ha - rib height

a - rib spacing

a1 - rib width

Double-sided unidirectional ribs:

h - plate thickness

ha - rib height

a - rib spacing

a1 - rib width

One-sided bi-directional ribs:

h - plate thickness

ha - rib height

hb - rib height

a - rib spacing

a1 - rib width

b - rib spacing

b1 - rib width

Unidirectional box floor:

h - floor thickness

h1 - lower plate thickness

h2 - upper plate thickness

a - rib spacing

a1 - rib width

Bidirectional box floor:

h - floor thickness

h1 - lower plate thickness

h2 - upper plate thickness

a - rib spacing

a1 - rib width

b - rib spacing

b1 - rib width

Grillage:

h - rib height

a - rib spacing

a1 - rib width

b - rib spacing

b1 - rib width

Slab on trapezoidal plate:

h - plate thickness

h1 - steel plate height

a - steel plate rib spacing

a1 - bottom rib width

a2 - top rib width

Material orthotropy:

h - plate thickness

n1 - stiffness coefficient

n2 - stiffness coefficient

Trapezoidal plate:

h - plate height

t - plate thickness

a, a1, a2 - dimensions of a single plate segment (spacing, width values)

Corrugated plate:

h - plate height

t - plate thickness

a - dimension of a single plate segment (spacing)

Slab composed with a trapezoidal plate

h - slab thickness

h1 - plate height

t - plate thickness

a, a1, a2 - dimensions of a single plate segment (spacing, widths)

Es - Young's modulus (trapezoid steel)

vs - Poisson's ratio (trapezoid steel)

Eb - Young's modulus (concrete; an adopted value is based on a selected material)

vb - Posson's ratio (concrete; an adopted value is based on a selected material)

Constant thickness with reduced stiffness:

h - slab thickness

coefficients of reduction of the matrix elements: membrane stiffness D, flexure stiffness K, and shear stiffness H; you can specify a coefficient of weight reduction used when creating self-weight load. You specify these coefficients in the Coefficients of Stiffness, Weight, Mass dialog.

Hollow slab (with circular or oval openings)

h - slab thickness

a - stiffener spacing, opening spacing

a1 - opening width / circle diameter

ho - opening height (slab with oval openings)

hc - distance between the opening center and the slab edge

h1 - lower flange height of the slab

h2 - upper flange height of the slab (h2 = h - hc - c/2 - a1/2)

c = ho - a1 (slab with oval openings)

The Disregard transversal bending stiffness check box:
  • Select the check box to ignore the bending stiffness K_YYYY in analysis. Do it for better modeling of the precast hollow slabs
  • Deselect the check box to include the bending stiffness K_YYYY in analysis.