Beam Member Finder

Beam Member Finder recognizes beam members and their lengths in 3 directions (Y, Z and torsional) based on Joints.

To start recognition execute Recognitions - Finders - Beam Member from the ribbon:

Press Settings to define recognition options: selection, default title.

Final member title = "Beam Member Title" + "Id" + "(Center - Properties)".

Center location and properties description can be included/excluded optionally.

Press Find to automatically recognize Beam Members and Sub Members for all 3 directions (Y, Z and torsional). Navigate between the directions by clicking on the correspondent tab:

Length in Y direction:

Length in Z direction:

Length in Torsional direction:

Beam Member - a straight line. If it contains joints it is split on sub members. E.g. Beam Member 18 is split on 4 sub members:

Break Joint Options define which types of joints will be used to split Beam Member on sub members. There are 3 predefined Break Joint Options (Length Y, Length Z, and Torsional) and custom. It is possible to modify all 4 options.

Plate 2D and 3D joints by default are used to break Y and Z directions and not torsional.

By default for members that are fixed by plates in Y or Z direction. The Effective Length Factor is set to 0.01 (1% of Length):

To set manually length/length factor or Cm Type to selected members use Set to selected group box:

If Beam Member contains sub-members it is possible to modify only sub-member's length. If the length was changed by user it is displayed with an asterisk.

To calculate Cm reduction moment factors for API 2A RP (table D.3-1), ISO 19902 (table 13.5-1) and Norsok N004(table 6-2) Standards it is require to define beam member Cm Type:

Following commands work for the selected members:

- picks selected member in "Edit Member (in all directions)" tab. It is available for single beam member that contains break joints;

- renames the selected beam member;

- removes the selected beam members;

Note: Sub beam members cannot be removed.

- combines two neighbor (they share a common node) members into one beam member;

- selects element from the model and highlight beam/sub-member in the list that contain selected element;

- export selected beam/sub members (using Export Menu);

- highlights the selected beam/sub members in the model;

- show the selected beam/sub members in the model;

Plot selected members - preview colored plot;

Plot Members ID labels - the plot will be displayed with the corresponding numbers at the center of the beam/sub-member;

Plot Full Members ID labels - the plot will be displayed with the corresponding numbers at the center of the beam member only;

Plot Length labels - preview colored plot with text labels of member Length;

Plot Cm Type labels - preview colored plot with text labels of member Cm Type;

Plot Length Factor labels - preview colored plot with text labels of member Length Factor;

Plot Joints for Selected Members - preview colored plot with text labels of joints;

Plot Members Y and Z axes - display arrows of local beam axes in the center of beam/sub-member;

Plot Length Labels in Y and Z axes - display arrows of local beam axes at each joint and length for each sub member in both Y and Z axes;

- edit Joints;

- should be used to fix members with common or overlaying elements;

Press to automatically highlight a single beam/sub-member selected in the table;

- display all sub members under beam members in the list;

- hide all sub members under beam members in the list.

Edit Duplicate Members

Automatic Merge - merge all members with equal parameters (length, factor, etc.)

Merge All - merge all members in a group into one.

Remove all groups - remove all groups in the list.

Edit Member (in all directions)

It is possible to modify single beam member in 3 directions at the same time. Navigate to Edit Member (in all direction) tab. In the list, the members that contain at least one joint are displayed.

Select a member from the list. The table below shows all joints on the beam member and if they break, the member for each direction. In addition, there is a visual representation of how the members are split by the joints.

To preview beam member press .

Press to select a single element from the model to find corresponding beam member in the list.

Filter

The Filter can be used to quickly modify data (length, effective factor or Cm Type) for the following members:

It is possible to filter the members using the selection, the length criteria or display beam members that have different orientations. All members on selection options search all members that contain at least one element from the selection.

In the length criteria various equality operators can be used:

Members with Different Elements Orientation - list all members where Y orientation of elements is different with a 0.01 degrees tolerance. Different orientation has an influence of calculations of Cb factor in Moment Ratio Tool where bending moments are taken in beam local coordinate system. It is recommended to make changes directly in the model to use correct bending moments.

Press Set in the Apply To Selected group box to modify all members in filter:

Import (for versions <= 3.8.5)

If it is required to import data from the Beam Member Finders that were created in version 3.8.5 or lower and navigate to Import tab:

Select in the list beam member finder for the Y/Z or torsional directions and press Import.