This function groups the members defined as Tapered Sections. It automatically
calculates the sectional properties of the non-prismatic section such
that the group section varies uniformly irrespective of the number of
segments in the group. The auto-calculated sectional information can be
converted into the model data.
Tapered Section Group
From the Main Menu
select Model > Properties
> Tapered Section Group.
Select Geometry >
Properties > Tapered Section Group in the Menu
tab of the Tree
Menu.
Click Tapered Section Group in the Property
Tool Bar.
Tapered Section Group
Define Tapered Section Groups.
Group Name:
Name of a variable section group
Element
List: The element numbers belonging to the variable section group
Note
Graphical selection of elements on the model screen automatically enters
the element numbers in Element List. However, the selected elements should
have been defined with an identical variable section property.
Section Shape Variation
The change of section shape along the element
local x-axis is defined relative to the element local y & z-axes.
z-Axis (y-Axis):
Change of section dimensions in the element local coordinate system
Linear:
Linear variation along the length
Polynomial
Specify an exponent defining the curvilinear function of the section variation
in the entry field.
Symmetric
Plane
Enter the location where the tangent to the member profile in a polynomial
curvature is parallel with the element local x-axis.
From:
Reference point to define the plane of symmetry
Distance:
The distance from the reference point to the plane of symmetry in the
element local x-axis.
Note
In order to define a second order curvature, 3 points on the curve are
required. The variable section property data at Section-i and Section-j
provide the information on two points, and the Symmetric Plane defines
the third point. If the variable section is assumed to be symmetrical
in the length direction, the tangent to the curve at the plane of symmetry
is parallel with the element local x-axis and perpendicular to the cross-section.
(a) Symmetric Plane at the i-th end
(b) Symmetric Plane at the j-th end
Application of Symmetric Plane
Click to include the defined
variable section group in the list. Click to change the
contents of a section group and to delete section groups.
The automatically calculated section data are assigned to each element
constituting the variable section group. The variable section data corresponding
to the number of elements assigned to the group are automatically generated.
The sections are then sequentially numbered starting from the defined
start number. Once the variable section information of the group is converted
into Sections, the group automatically becomes deleted.
Tapered Section Group
Tapered Section Group
to include the defined
variable section group in the list. Click 
to change the
contents of a section group and 
to delete section groups.
