Positioning of objects

Updated on 13 October 2023

Supports

Supports under nodes:

Syntax example: placement = "1 | 3 | 0"
Syntax example: placement = "1 | 3 | 0 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 1 = Placed under a node
  • 3 = Node number
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use. since version 6.1)

Supports under beams:

Syntax example: placement = "2 | 4 | 8.7"
Syntax example: placement = "2 | 4 | 8.7 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 2 = Placed under a beam
  • 4 = Number of the beam
  • 8.7 = Distance from the start of the beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use. since version 6.1)

Sections properties:

Syntax example: s = "1: 3.5,2: L"
  • 1 = Section property 1: applied from the start of the beam to 3.5 mtr
  • 2 = Section property 2: applied from the 3.5 m to L, the end of the beam 
Syntax example: s = "1: 2 | 0 | 3.5 | 0,2: 4098 | 0 | 0 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 1 = Section property 1: applied from the start of the beam to 3.5 mtr
  • 2 = Placed under a beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value
  • 3.5 = Distance from the start of the beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value
     
  • 2 = Section property 2: applied from the 3.5 m to L, the end of the beam 
  • 4098 = L = end of beam (see explanation below for this code)
  • 0 = Mandatory value
  • 0 = Mandatory value
  • 0 = Mandatory value

Internal releases

Syntax example: r = "1: 6.75"
  • 1 = Internal release 1: applied at 6.75 m from the start of the beam
Syntax example: r = "1: 2 | 0 | 6.75 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 1 = Internal release 1: applied at 6.75 m from the start of the beam
  • 2 = Placed under a beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value
  • 6.75 = Distance from the start of the beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value
Syntax example: r = "1: 2 | 0 | 6.75 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 1 = Internal release 1: applied at 6.75 m from the start of the beam
  • 2 = Placed under a beam (could be combined with ES_LEFT_SIDE or ES_RIGHT_SIDE for specifying placement side of release)
  • 0 = Mandatory value
  • 6.75 = Distance from the start of the beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value

Elastic foundations

Syntax example: ef = "1: 2.1,2: 6.5"
  • 1 = Elastic foundation 1: applied from the start of the bar / beam to 2.1 m
  • 2 = Elastic foundation 2: applied from 2.1 m to 6.5 m from the start of the bar / beam
Syntax example: ef = "1: 2 | 0 | 2.1 | 0,2: 2 | 0 | 6.5 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 1 = Elastic foundation 1: applied from the start of the bar / beam to 2.1 m
  • 2 = Placed under a beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value
  • 2.1 = Distance from the start of the beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value
     
  • 2 = Elastic foundation 2: applied from 2.1 m to 6.5 m from the start of the bar / beam
  • 2 = Placed under a beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value
  • 6.5 = Distance from the start of the beam
  • 0 = Mandatory value

Loads

Line load position on a beam:

Syntax example: pos = "2 | 7 | 3.3 | 2 | 8.8"
  • 2 = Placed on a beam
  • 7 = Beam 7
  • 3.3 = Start position of the beam load at 3.3 m
  • 2 = Placed under a beam
  • 8.8 = End position of the beam load at 8.8 m
Syntax example: pos = "2 | 7 | 3.3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8.8 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 2 = Placed on a beam
  • 7 = Beam 7
  • 3.3 = Start position of the beam load at 3.3 m
  • 0 = Mandatory value
  • 2 = Placed under a beam
  • 7 = Beam 7
  • 8.8 = End position of the beam load at 8.8 m
  • 0 = Mandatory value

Point load position on a beam:

Syntax example: pos = "2 | 5 | 12.7 | 2 | 0"
  • 2 = Placed on a beam
  • 5 = Beam 5
  • 12.7 = Position of the point load
  • 2 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
Syntax example: pos = "2 | 5 | 12.7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 2 = Placed on a beam
  • 5 = Beam 5
  • 12.7 = Position of the point load
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 2 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)

Point load on a node:

Syntax example: pos = "1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0"
  • 1 = Placed on a node
  • 9 = Node number
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 1 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
Syntax example: pos = "1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 1 = Placed on a node
  • 9 = Node number
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 1 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)

Relative positioning:

Line load on a beam:

Syntax example: pos = "2 | 12 | 2.5 | 4098 | 0"
  • 2 = Placed on a beam
  • 12 = Beam 12
  • 2.5 = Start position of the line load at 2.5 m
  • 4098 = L = end of beam (see explanation below for this code)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
Syntax example: pos = "2 | 12 | 2.5 | 0 | 4098 | 12 | 0 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 2 = Placed on a beam
  • 12 = Beam 12
  • 2.5 = Start position of the line load at 2.5 m
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 4098 = L = end of beam (see explanation below for this code)
  • 12 = Beam 12
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
Syntax example: pos = "16 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 65538 | 12 | -0.7 | 2" (since version 6.1)
  • 16 = Placed with a reference to a support
  • 3 = Support 3
  • 0.5 = offset from support position along local beam x axis
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
  • 65538 = placed on intersection of beams
  • 12 = Beam 12 (base beam)
  • -0.7 = offset from intersection point along local base beam's x axis
  • 2 = Beam 2 (secondary beam)

Support under a beam:

Syntax example: placement = "4098 | 17 | 0"
  • 4098 = L = end of beam / beam (see explanation below for this code)
  • 17 = beam / beam 17
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)
Syntax example: placement = "16 | 4 | 2.2 | 0" (since version 6.1)
  • 16 = Placed with a reference to a support
  • 4 = Support 4
  • 2.2 = offset from support position along local beam x axis
  • 0 = Mandatory value (for internal use)

Coding:

The code 4098 converted to HEX is 1002.
1002 is a concatenation of: ES_MEMBER = 0x0002 + ES_LENGTH = 0x1000

 

ES_NODE = 0x0001 *
ES_MEMBER = 0x0002 *
ES_FEM_REGION = 0x0004
ES_SELF_CONTAINED = 0x0008
ES_SUPPORT = 0x00010  // object is placed on support

 

ES_LENGTH = 0x1000 *
ES_HALF = 0x2000
ES_QUARTER = 0x4000
ES_3QUARTERS = 0x8000

 

ES_INTERSECTION = 0x10002 // object is placed on intersection of two beams

 

ES_LEFT_SIDE = 0x20000 // object is placed on the left side of a position (releases only)
ES_RIGHT_SIDE = 0x40000 // object is placed on the right side of a position (releases only)

 

* = codes which are currently supported; other codes are for future use