Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Lesson 3 - Train 3
Study first the drawing(s) and
• Start New Model
• Create 3d View
• Create Grids
• Create Views (3d, Plans & Elevations)
• Input Members for portal grid 1 only (two columns and a rafter)

Construct all necessary construction points for bracing and purlins 3

Horizontal Bracing 3
Purlins 3

Adding Connections for portal frame 4

Copy portal frame and points 4

Add wall bracing along grid A 5

Set sloping workplane for Bracing 6

Work plane 6
True plan view 6

Add horizontal Bracing 8

Set sloping workplane for purlins 9

True plan view 9
Work plane 10

Purlins 11
Parametric Profiles 11
Add purlins 13
Connect the end purlin to the rafter 13
Connect the rest of the purlins 14

Clash check 15

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Construct all necessary construction points for bracing and purlins

After inputting the two columns and the rafter, you will need to layout points to model the purlins, vertical
and horizontal braces.

Horizontal Bracing
From the Points pull-down menu choose Axis Intersection, then pick the column on grid A1 then the
rafter. This command will create a point at the intersection of the centerline of the column and the rafter.
Repeat this at the other end of the rafter.

Now using the Create extension point command type in -500 and pick from one of these axis
intersection points then the other. Repeat this picking the points in the reverse order. This will construct
the first and last bracing workpoints.

Using the Create divided line points command type in 3 (3 points) and pick the new first and last
bracing workpoints. This will divide these two points in four equal segments (3 points).

Purlins
Using the Create extension point command type in -350 and pick the end point of the rafter at Gridline
A and pick the other end of the rafter at Gridline B.

Using the Create divided line points command type in 4 (4 points) and pick each of the points that you
created with the Create extension point tool. This will divide these two points in five equal segments.

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Adding Connections for portal frame

Now add the haunch connections using the Haunch (40) macro on the fourth page of macros. Pick the
main member (column) first, then the secondary member (rafter).

To get the end plate to top of column input 10 to thickness (t) field to parts tab “Cap plate” and modify.

Finish the portal frame by adding the baseplate (1004) connections on page 3 to the columns.

Copy portal frame and points

To copy the completed portal frame, bracing and purlin workpoints, select all the items by windowing the
portal frame.

Pick the Copy-Translate icon at the top of the screen and pick the intersection of grids A-1 then the
intersection of grids A-2. This will complete the distance and direction in the Copy dialogue box.

Type in the number of copies you wish (4) and press the Copy button.

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Add wall bracing along grid A

Working in the Elevation on grid A view input the vertical bracing members using the Beam Properties
dialogue box.

Using Tube Gusset (20) macro on page 2 connect the braces to the column. You need to pick the main
member (column) then the secondary member(s) then pick the middle button of the mouse to confirm
you have completed selecting all the secondary members (braces).

Note: You may sometimes get an unwanted up direction for the macro when using auto Up direction on
General tab. Basically try then the positive directions first i.e. +X, +Y & +Z.

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Set sloping workplane for Bracing

Work plane
To set the workplane to the roof slope pick the Set Workplane by 3 Points icon at the top of the
screen.
Then follow the prompts on the command line, picking the points as shown below.

True plan view

To make it easier to add the roof bracing make a true plan view on the roof bracing by creating a view
perpendicular to the workplane.

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

From the Properties pull-down menu pick View. Complete the View Properties dialogue box naming it
"TRUE PLAN - ROOF BRACING", setting the up and down depth to 500 each and switching the Angle
to Plane.

Now go to the View pull-down menu and pick Create View - To Workplane. This will create the true
plan on the roof bracing.

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Add horizontal Bracing

Using the True Plan View on the Roof Bracing add the bracing members

Look at these bracings in the 3d view and Elevation View on Grid 1 to ensure they are positioned
correctly.

Make the connections to bracings by using Tube Gusset (20) macro on page 2.

Once you have modeled and connected the braces, use the Copy, Mirror command and two points on
Gridline 3 to create the horizontal braces between Gridlines 4 and 5.

Note: It is always more accurate to work in a true plane for modeling objects. When all of the points that
you are to snap to are in the same plane as what you are modeling it enhances the accuracy. The points
in the work plane are shown as yellow crosses and they have priority over those which appear red.

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Set sloping workplane for purlins

True plan view

Before moving the workplane create a true plan view on the purlins.

Create a True plan view for the purlins by using the Create view by three points command. Double
click the icon at the top left side of the screen, complete the View Properties dialogue box naming it to
"TRUE PLAN - PURLINS, setting the up and down depth to 500 each and switching the Angle to Plane.
Click OK and pick the points shown below.

Work plane

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Work plane
Now move the workplane to the top of the rafter by picking the Set workplane to viewplane icon at the
top of the screen and picking anywhere in the new true plan view on the purlins.

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Purlins

Parametric Profiles
Before modeling the purlins you need to select a profile to use. For this exercise use a rolled formed
shape. Even though the rolled formed shapes are not in the profile database you can still use them by
describing a parametric profile directly in to the Profile text field of the Beam properties dialog.
On the screen menu pick Help-> Contents-> Modeling-> Appendixes-> Parametric profiles. You can
now see a help screen showing the available parametric profiles. Scroll down to the one marked ZZh-s-
t1*b1-t2*b2

The format for inputting the parametric profile is to type in the capitalized letters and substitute the
necessary data for the lower case letters and numbers.

Adding a profile to profile database:

It is also possible to add the required shape to the profile database.

Select File -> Database-> Profiles-> Modify…
In the Type drop-down menu select the Z style shown in the fig below and fill in the sectional properties as shown.

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Note: Be sure that the input in the csnr box equals 1 (csnr = Cross Section Number)
and that the cstype is set to Default.
Click the Add button under the profile name.

Click OK, and then select the Save Database, To Working Directory option and click OK.

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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 3 - Train 3 Model

Add purlins
Double click the Beam icon.

Fill in the Profile field on the beam properties dialog as ZZ200-2-26*74-26*66. (In case you added the
required shape to the profile database, use Select… button to get the Z profile from the database to the
beam properties dialog) Click OK and start modeling the purlins.

Input one purlin at the top of the building (closest to Grid B) between Grids 1 & 2. Look at this purlin in
the Elevation View on Grid 1 to ensure it is orientated and positioned correctly.

Now complete the top row of purlins only (Grids 2 to 3, 3 to 4 & 4 to 5).

Connect the end purlin to the rafter

Using the Colled Rolled Sleeved macro (2) on 8. page of macros connect the end purlin to the rafter
on Grid 1 by picking the rafter first then the purlin.

Edit the macro and add a value of 200 to the "Cut distance of purlin" field on the picture tab.

Use UNP160 as a cleat profile on the Cleat tab.

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You can define the desired Bolt distances on the Bolts tab.

Connect the rest of the purlins

Now connect the rafter on Grid 2 to the purlins by picking the rafter first, then the two purlins then the
middle button of the mouse.

On Picture tab you can choose whether the connection has a sleeve (default), only sleeve holes or
neither.

If you want to create an overlap connection (Cold Rolled Overlap (1)) you need to change the rotation of
every second purlin to "below". To do this pick the second purlin (Grid 2 to 3) and modify its rotation to
"below". And the same for the last purlin (Grid 4 to 5).

Add the remaining connections then copy this row of purlins down the building 5 times.

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Clash check

Finally, by using Clash check command ensure that there are no colliding parts or bolts in the model.
The Clash check command checks the collision between parts and/or bolts and shows the collisions by
highlighting the colliding parts in yellow. Clash check is also available on the pop-up menu when more
than one object is selected.

1. Select the objects you want to check.

2. Select the command Clash check from the Tools menu (or from pop-up).

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