Beam IDs vs Sets and using both

Hi all,

I have a query on the combined use of Beam IDs and Sets for assembling a model and then doing some optimisation.

Here is a simple example of the issue:

I have two general groups of members, primaries and secondaries (see attached sketch)

For this example let's say:

A - primaries - made in 355 steel from a beam section type.

B - secondaries - made in 275 steel from a column section type.

I therefore set up my model with the curves given IDs of A and B so it easy to assign a base section, material and releases.

Then I want to run the optimiser. I am happy for the beams to all be different sizes but I don't want the A beams to be different sections along their length. They should each be a consistent size from end to end.

What would be the best way to achieve this?

Attachments:

IMG_20141030_163216574.jpg, 1 MB

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Karamba3D on October 30, 2014 at 1:37pm

Hi jjsolly,

you could give names like 'A1', 'A2',... to the elements that shall have identical cross sections. For attaching material properties, sections and releases use regular expressions: '&A.' refers to all elements whose identifier starts with 'A' followed by an arbitrary character. More details on regular expressions and their syntax can be found in the Karamba manual. Regular expressions can also be used at the 'GroupIDs' input-plug of the 'Optimize Cross Section'-component.

Best,

Clemens

Permalink Reply by jjsolly on October 31, 2014 at 3:11am