Copyright Tekla Corporation September 2010

I-Beam Reinforcement plug-in

1. Purpose and descri ption
This plug-in can be used to easily reinforce an I-Beam with bend meshes in top and bottom
flange, stem meshes, u-bars in top flange and longitudinal bars along the beam. An example
of a beam can be seen below.
2. System requirements
Tekla Structures version(s): 17.0
.NET Framework version: 4.0
Environments: All
Languages: English
Industry segment: Precast, Cast in place
3. Usage
3.1. Preconditi ons
Create an I-Beam
3.2. Steps
To use the extension:
1. Open the Component Catalog dialog box.
2. Select Plugins in the list box.
3. Select IBeamReinforcement
Copyright Tekla Corporation September 2010
4. Select the IBeam in the model
4. Plug-i n properti es
4.1. Picture
4.1.1Cover thickness
On the picture tab page the user can enter the cover thickness for the top and bottom flange
mesh and for the stem mesh. The stem mesh has the same top cover thickness as the u
bars.
The top longitudinal bars are placed between the U bars. They are defined on the U bars tap
page. All longitudinal other bars are placed in the corner of the bend meshes.
4.1.2Rebars
The user can select the rebars size for the longitudinal and u-bars out of the rebar catalog.
The size is shown on the Picture tab page. The bending radius and the grade will be shown
on the Attributes tab page.
Copyright Tekla Corporation September 2010
4.2. Stem mesh
4.2.1Cover thickness
The cover thickness of the most outside meshes and for openings can be entered here.
4.2.2Zones
The beam is divided into 5 different zones, which can be defined differently.
4.2.3Length
The user can enter a length for every zone. The meshes will be placed inside this zone using
a set overlap inside this zone and another at the edge to the next zone. The meshes are
placed as polygonal meshes using the length of the mesh.
Zone 3 can be used to fill the rest of the length. The user just doesnt enter any length value
in here. The length will be calculated by the component. (Length of the beam all other
zones.
4.2.4Overl apping inside a zone
The user can define the overlapping length between all meshes inside a zone.
Copyright Tekla Corporation September 2010
4.2.5Overl apping between two zones
The user can define the overlapping length between meshes between two meshes. The
meshes are cut and only get of the overlapping length.
4.2.6Mesh
The user can define the mesh type. The name and the grade of the mesh will be shown on
this tab page. The rest of the attributes will be shown on the attribute tab page.
Copyright Tekla Corporation September 2010
4.3. Top and bottom flange tab pages
On the top flange tab page the user can enter all needed information for the top flange bend
meshes.
4.3.1Symmetric
The user can define if the zones will be symmetrical or not. If the user selects symmetrical =
Yes, then the zone 1 =zone 5 and zone 2 =zone 4. Zone 4 and zone 5 will be grayed out.
4.3.2Length
The bend meshes are placed inside this zone. There is no overlapping inside the zones or
between the zones. The meshes are placed directly next to each other, touching always the
next mesh. The meshes at the edge of a zone are cut at the edge.
4.3.3Mesh
The user can define the mesh for every zone separately. The name of the mesh will be
shown on this tab page. The rest of the attributes will be shown on the attribute tab page.
4.3.4Same as Top
This is only on the bottom flange tap page. The user can define if all the settings on this page
are identical with the top flange tap page. If this option is set to Yes, all fields on this tap page
will be grayed out.
Copyright Tekla Corporation September 2010
4.4. U bars tab page
On the u bar tab page the user can enter all needed information for the u bars.
4.4.1Creation method
There are different creation methods. The user can decide out of these 7 options. The default
option shall be By exact spacing value with flexible first and last space.
The rebar group offers all these settings already so the values are just passed to the rebar
group.
4.4.1.1. By exact spacing value with flexible first space
Creates fixed, equal spaces between the bars. The first space adjusts to even out bar
distribution. Enter the spacing value in the Exact spacing value field. If the first space is less
than 10% of the exact spacing value, Tekla Structures removes one bar.
4.4.1.2. By exact spacing value with flexible last space
Same as the first option, but the last space adjusts to even out bar distribution.
4.4.1.3. By exact spacing value with flexible mi ddle space
Same as the first option, but the middle space adjusts to even out bar distribution. If there are
an odd number of bars (two middle spaces), the other middle space adjusts to even out bar
distribution.
4.4.1.4. By exact spacing value with flexible first and last space
Same as the first option, but both the first and last spaces adjust to even out bar distribution.
4.4.1.5. By exact spacings
Distributes the bars using the information you specify in the Exact spacing values field, so
you can enter every spacing value manually. Use the multiplication character to repeat
spacings, e.g. 5*200, to create five spaces of 200.
Copyright Tekla Corporation September 2010
4.4.1.6. Equal distribution by number of reinforcing bars
Tekla Structures determines the spacing value based on the fixed number of bars. Enter the
number in the Number of reinforcing bars field.
4.4.1.7. Equal distribution by target spacing value
Tekla Structures aims the spacing value as closely as possible at the value in the Target
spacing value field and determines the number of bars compatibly.
4.4.2U Bar di mensions
The user can set the cover thickness for the side of the u bar and also the length of the u bar.
All other dimensions are calculated by the tool.
Copyright Tekla Corporation September 2010
4.5. Attributes tab pages
The user can define attributes for meshes and u-bars. The grade and bending radius is
grayed out and will be filled out automatically through the other tab pages.