Isolated foundation
Use the Isolated foundation tool to place footing elements under columns or point loads with either regular or custom-defined shapes.
When you select Isolated foundation, a tool palette opens.
Main tools
- Define – place a new isolated foundation element
- Properties – check or edit properties of an existing foundation. Opens the Default settings dialogue for the selected foundation
- Connection point – adjust the alignment and reference point of an existing foundation
- Default settings – set default geometry, material and stiffness parameters (read below in more detail)
Shape definition methods
Available when the Define tool is selected.
- Regular shape – define a foundation using one of the contour tools:
- Rectangular – draw a rectangle
- Circular – draw a circle
- Polygonal – draw a custom polygon
- Pick lines – select existing lines in the model
- Pick existing region – use an existing region boundary as the shape
- Shape by selection – select an existing solid element in the model to convert into a foundation element
Orientation options
Available during any definition method.
- x′ points to global X direction – align the local x-axis of the foundation to the global X-axis
- Edit local x′ direction – manually adjust the local x′ direction during definition
Definition settings
Available only when using the Regular shape definition method.
- Thickness – numeric field to define the thickness of the foundation element
- Above – place the foundation above the defined contour
- Below – place the foundation below the defined contour
Default settings dialogue
When you press the Default settings button, a dialogue window opens.
This dialogue contains three tabs: General, Geometry, and Material. The tabs General and Material use the same settings found in other foundation elements, while Geometry tab is unique to Isolated foundation.
Geometry
- t – numeric field for main foundation element thickness
- Plinth – select for adding a plinth to the foundation element
- a – numeric field for plinth's width
- b – numeric field for plinth's length
- h – numeric field for plinth's height above the foundation element top surface
note
To read more about settings in tabs General and Material, see the relevant topics below:
- For General tab see:
User interface ➔ Tab menus ➔ Structure ➔ Additional dialogues ➔ Foundation General - For Material tab see:
User interface ➔ Tab menus ➔ Structure ➔ Additional dialogues ➔ General Material