Tekla

Structures
<Transmission
Tower Components
Part 1 - Layout
and Bracings>

Training Manual
Product version 20.0
June 2014

2014 Tekla Corporation

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Content

Conventions used in this guide ....................... 5

1

Tower Legs ....................................... 6

1.1

Create a Grid ................................................ 6

1.2

Input the tower layout........................................ 7

Lower Tower Bracing .............................. 13

2.1

Input cross_bracing_type_2 ................................... 13

2.2

Add cross_bracing ........................................... 17

Mid Tower Bracing ................................ 21

3.1

Add cross_bracing ........................................... 21

3.2

Add cross_bracing ........................................... 25

Top Tower Bracing ................................ 30

4.1

Add 1_single_lattice_bracing ................................. 30

Horizontal Bracing ............................... 34

5.1

Add Horizontal_bracing....................................... 34

Bracing Connections .............................. 38

6.1

Add Single_Brace_Out ......................................... 38

6.2

Add Single_Brace_Inside...................................... 40

6.3

Add Double_Brace ............................................ 43

6.4

Add Bolted_Gusset ........................................... 45

6.5

Add Mid_Connection .......................................... 48

6.6

Add Remaining Connections .................................... 50

Copy to other tower faces ........................ 51

7.1

Copy to other tower faces.......................................... 51

Conventions used in this

guide
Note boxes
The following types of note boxes are used in this guide:
A tip might introduce a shortcut, or suggest alternative ways of
doing things.

A note draws attention to details that you

might easily overlook. It can also point you
to other information in this guide that you
might find useful.

You should always read very important notes and

warnings, like this one. They will help you
avoid making serious mistakes, or wasting your
time.

This symbol indicates advanced or highly technical

information that is usually of interest only to
advanced or technically-oriented reader

Tower Legs

1.1

Create a grid
Create a grid in the model with the dimensions required,
3000mm in the X & 3000mm in the Y directions.

The tower is input on the center of the tower

(as shown in the component dialog)

by default so a construction line may be

needed to help get the correct input first
time.

Alternatively create a grid to represent the center of the

tower.

1.2

Input the Tower Layout

From the component catalog select the Tower Layout component

Select the center point of the tower in the model.

The tower layout is then input.

The tower layout contains Dummy members which are used later
to help with the input of various other tower parts.
(Horizontal bracings, leg connections etc.)

There is a view filter to turn off the Dummy parts

which can be set if required.

Double click on the tower layout component in the model to open

the dialog and apply the following settings:

10

11

12

Modify the tower to apply the settings.

13

Lower Tower Bracing

2.1

Add Cross_Bracing_Type_2
From the component catalog select Cross_Bracing_Type_2

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

14

Select the Leg 1, then the Leg 2, Mid Point 1 & Mid Point 2
The legs define the parts to create bracing between and the
points define the slope.

NOTE! The component direction must be set

correctly before inputting the bracing see
bracing dialog for reference

15

The Bracing will be input along with construction lines.

The horizontal construction lines are to enable easy input of
more bracing groups.
The Leg construction lines show the gauge line of the leg
angles.
A Dummy part is also input at the crossing bracing
intersection point; this is to enable easy input of the mid
cross bracing connection.
Apply the settings as shown below.

Make sure to set the Select component

switch

16

17

2.2

Add Cross_Bracing
From the component catalog select Cross_Bracing

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

18

Select the Leg 1, then the Leg 2, Mid Point 1 & Mid Point 2
The legs define the parts to create bracing between and the
points define the slope.

NOTE! The component direction must be set

correctly before inputting the bracing see
bracing dialog for reference

19

The Bracing will be input along with construction lines.

The horizontal construction lines are to enable easy input of
more bracing groups.
The Leg construction lines show the gauge line of the leg
angles.
A Dummy part is also input at the crossing bracing
intersection point; this is to enable easy input of the mid
cross bracing connection.
Apply the settings as shown below.

Make sure to set the Select component

switch

20

21

Mid Tower Bracing

3.1

Add Cross_Bracing
From the component catalog select Cross_Bracing

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

22

Select the Leg 1, then the Leg 2, Mid Point 1 & Mid Point 2
The legs define the parts to create bracing between and the
points define the slope.

NOTE! The component direction must be set

correctly before inputting the bracing see
bracing dialog for reference

23

The Bracing will be input along with construction lines.

The horizontal construction lines are to enable easy input of
more bracing groups.
The Leg construction lines show the gauge line of the leg
angles.
A Dummy part is also input at the crossing bracing
intersection point; this is to enable easy input of the mid
cross bracing connection.
Apply the settings as shown below.

Make sure to set the Select component

switch

24

25

3.2

Add Cross_Bracing
From the component catalog select Cross_Bracing

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

26

Select the Leg 1, then the Leg 2, Mid Point 1 & Mid Point 2
The legs define the parts to create bracing between and the
points define the slope.

NOTE! The component direction must be set

correctly before inputting the bracing see
bracing dialog for reference

27

The Bracing will be input along with construction lines.

The horizontal construction lines are to enable easy input of
more bracing groups.
The Leg construction lines show the gauge line of the leg
angles.
A Dummy part is also input at the crossing bracing
intersection point; this is to enable easy input of the mid
cross bracing connection.
Apply the settings as shown below.

Make sure to set the Select component

switch

28

29

30

Top Tower Bracing

4.1

Add 1_Single_Lattice_Bracing
From the component catalog select 1_Single_Lattice_Bracing

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

31

Select the Leg 1, then the Leg 2, Mid Point 1 & Mid Point 2
The legs define the parts to create bracing between and the
points define the slope.

NOTE! The component direction must be set

correctly before inputting the bracing see
bracing dialog for reference

32

The Bracing will be input along with construction lines.

The horizontal construction lines are to enable easy input of
more bracing groups.
The Leg construction lines show the gauge line of the leg
angles.
A Dummy part is also input at the crossing bracing
intersection point; this is to enable easy input of the mid
cross bracing connection.
Apply the settings as shown below.

Make sure to set the Select component

switch

33

34

Horizontal Bracing

5.1

Add Horizontal_Bracing
From the component catalog select Horizontal_Bracing

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

35

Select the Leg 1, then the Leg 2, Mid Point 1 & Mid Point 2
The legs define the parts to create bracing between and the
points define the slope.

36

The Bracing will be input.

Apply the settings as shown below.

Make sure to set the Select component

switch

37

Bracing Connections

6.1

Add Single_Brace_Out
From the component catalog select Single_Brace_Out

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

38

Select the Leg, then the Bracing.

The connection will be input.

A dummy arrow is input to show the face of the bracing which
the gauge line is taken from (in large slopes it may be that
the face is opposite and will need to be switched through the
connection dialog)
The bolt size and gauge lines are taken automatically from the
GaugeLines.dat in the model folder

39

6.2

Add Single_Brace_Inside
From the component catalog select Single_Brace_Inside

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

40

Select the Leg, then the Bracing.

The connection will be input.

A dummy arrow is input to show the face of the bracing which
the gauge line is taken from (in large slopes it may be that
the face is opposite and will need to be switched through the
connection dialog)
The bolt size and gauge lines are taken automatically from the
GaugeLines.dat in the model folder

In this case we need to switch the gauge line

face.
Make sure to set the Select component
switch

41

Apply the setting shown below and modify the connection.

The gauge line face will then be switched

42

6.3

Add Double_Brace Connection

From the component catalog select Double_Brace

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

43

Select the Leg, the Outside Bracing, then the inside bracing.

The connection will be input.

A dummy arrow is input to show the face of the bracing which
the gauge line is taken from (in large slopes it may be that
the face is opposite and will need to be switched through the
connection dialog)
The bolt size and gauge lines are taken automatically from the
GaugeLines.dat in the model folder

44

6.4

Add Bolted Gusset Connection

From the component catalog select Bolted Gusset

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

45

Select the Leg, one of the Bracings, then the other bracing.

The connection will be input.

Apply the settings as shown below.

Make sure to set the Select component

switch

46

47

6.5

Add Mid Connection

From the component catalog select Mid_Connection

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

48

Select the Dummy, the outside Bracing, then the inside

bracing.

The connection will be input.

A dummy arrow is input to show the face of the bracing which
the gauge line is taken from (in large slopes it may be that
the face is opposite and will need to be switched through the
connection dialog)
The bolt size and gauge lines are taken automatically from the
GaugeLines.dat in the model folder

49

6.6

Add the remaining connections

Use the same connections as the previous chapters
Single_Brace_Out
Single_Brace_Inside
Double_Brace
Mid_Connection
Bolted_Gusset

50

7
7.1

Copy to other Tower

Faces
Copy to other faces
Create a selection filter as shown below

Make sure to set the Select objects in

component switch

Select the bracings and the mid connection dummy parts.

51

Select the copy/Rotate command.

52

Select point to copy/rotate around (The mid point of the

tower).

Copy 3 times 90 degrees

53

NOTE! Check all bracings and connections copy

correctly.

54