Cover
Use the Cover tool to generate load-transfer planes or walls that distribute surface loads to supporting structural elements.
When you select Cover, a tool palette opens.
Main tools
- Define - create a new cover with the current subtype and definition method
- Properties - check or edit properties of existing covers. Opens the Default settings dialogue for the selected elements
- Convert - turn a selected roof, slab or wall region into a cover
- Hole - cut an opening inside an existing cover
- Load bearing direction - set how the cover distributes load (read below in more detail)
- Supporting structures - choose which objects receive the cover reactions (read below in more detail)
- Default settings - set the default parameters for new covers (read below in more detail)
Define tool
Within Define you first pick the cover subtype, then the contour method.
Sub-types
- Slab or roof cover - builds a cover in any plane or slope
- Wall cover - builds a vertical cover only
Contour / Line methods
For Slab or roof cover and Hole
- Rectangular - draw a rectangle by two opposite corners
- Circular - draw a circle by centre and radius
- Polygonal - pick consecutive corner points to close a polygon
- Pick lines - select existing lines or edges to form the boundary
- Pick existing region - reuse an existing roof or slab outline (not available for Hole)
For Wall cover
- Straight line - pick two points to draw a straight wall cover
- Arc by centre, start point and angle - define the centre, a start point and sweep angle
- Arc by 3 points - pick three points on the arc
- Arc by start, end point and tangent - start point, end point and tangent at start
- Line by selection - select an existing line or edge to define the wall cover's path
Common options (both sub-types)
- Auto supports - let the program detect and link underlying or adjacent structural members automatically
- Consider only visible objects - restrict auto-detection to currently visible layers
Extra options for Wall cover
- h - height of the wall cover
- Above place the cover above the defined line
- Below - place the wall below the defined line
- ɑ - angle threshold that splits curved walls into straight segments (similar to Refracting angle in Solid)
Load bearing direction tool
- Monodirectional - loads are transferred in the specified primary direction only
- Bidirectional - loads are shared in two orthogonal directions
Supporting structures tool
- Select supporting structures manually - click elements to include or exclude
- Select supporting structures automatically - let the program choose based on proximity and orientation
- Reset supporting structures - remove all supporting structures from the selected cover(s)
Default settings
When you press the Default settings button, a small dialogue opens.
- Identifier - label shown in schedules, lists and tooltips