Defining a new general solid

There are two types of solid that can be defined in SCIA Engineer.

Solid	A solid is a 3D volume. Solids are defined by its surface and the interior is filled with an imaginary mass.
Open shell	An open shell is a surface. It may be planar or curved, but it is just the surface.

Solids

Prism

The prism is a solid whose base can be formed by a closed polygon of an arbitrary shape (with both straight and curved edges) and whose height can follow either a straight line (the picture above) or a curve (circle, parabola, Bezier curve or spline) (the picture below).

$image\ExtrudedPrism.gif$ $image\ExtrudedPrismBezier.gif$

The procedure to input a new prism

Open service Structure.
Expand branch Drawing tools > General solids> Solid.
Select and start function Solid - extruded prism.
Input a few parameters of the solid: Name, Layer, Colour.
If required, input also the advanced parameters: material and role.
Define the base of the prism (i.e. input a closed polygon).
Once the polygon is closed, the working plane is automatically readjusted to allow for the input of the height of the prism.
Input the height (a straight line or a curve).
Close the function.

Cylinder

The cylinder is a kind of the extruded prism. The limitation is that the base is always formed by a full circle. The height can once again follow either a straight line or a curve.

$image\GeneralCylinder.gif$

The procedure to input a new cylinder

Open service Structure.
Expand branch Drawing tools > General solids> Solid.
Select and start function Solid -cylinder.
Input a few parameters of the solid: Name, Layer, Colour.
If required, input also the advanced parameters: material and role.
Define the base of the cylinder (i.e. input a circle).
Once the base is input, the working plane is automatically readjusted to allow for the input of the height of the cylinder.
Input the height (a straight line or a curve).
Close the function.

Surface of revolution

The Surface of revolution is defined by a line or curve and the axis around which it rotates.

$image\SolidSurfaceOfRevolution.gif$

The axis can be defined in several ways.

Working plane axis X	The axis of rotation is parallel to the X-axis of the current working plane.
Working plane axis Y	The axis of rotation is parallel to the Y-axis of the current working plane.
Working plane axis Z	The axis of rotation is parallel to the Z-axis of the current working plane.
Define axis by cursor	The axis of rotation is defined manually in the graphical window.
Enter custom axis vector	The direction of the axis of rotation is defined by a user-input vector.

The procedure to input a new surface of revolution

Open service Structure.
Expand branch Drawing tools > General solids> Solid.
Select and start function Solid–surface of revolution.
Input a few parameters of the solid: Name, Layer, Colour.
If required, input also the advanced parameters: material and role.
Define the line/curve that will rotate around the axis and thus define the surface.
Once the master curve is input, a dialogue opens on the screen.
Define the angle of rotation.
Define the way the axis of the solid will be defined (see the table above).
Confirm the settings in the dialogue.
Input the centre of rotation (and depending on the type of the definition of the axis, input other required points).
Close the function.

Open shells

General polygon

This is a simple planar shape with an arbitrary number of vertices and arbitrary shape of edges (straight, circular, spline, etc.).

The procedure to input a new polygon

Open service Structure.
Expand branch Drawing tools > General solids> Open shell.
Select and start function Open shell–general polygon.
Input a few parameters of the solid: Name, Layer, Colour.
If required, input also the advanced parameters: material and role.
Define the polygon.
Close the function.

Swept surface

This shell is defined by a master curve and a line or curve along which the master curve is translated (swept). This translation generates the final shape.

$image\OpenShellSwept.gif$

The procedure to input a new swept surface

Open service Structure.
Expand branch Drawing tools > General solids> Open shell.
Select and start function Open shell– swept surface.
Input a few parameters of the solid: Name, Layer, Colour.
If required, input also the advanced parameters: material and role.
Define the master curve. End its definition with [Esc].
Input the curve along which the master curve will be swept. End its definition with [Esc].
Close the function.

Surface of revolution

This component is similar to the Solid – surface of revolution described above. The difference is that this function (open shell - surface of revolution) defines a surface and not a volume.

$image\OpenShellRevolution.gif$

The procedure to input a new surface of revolution

Open service Structure.
Expand branch Drawing tools > General solids> Open shell.
Select and start function Open shell –surface of revolution.
Input a few parameters of the solid: Name, Layer, Colour.
If required, input also the advanced parameters: material and role.
Define the line/curve that will rotate around the axis and thus define the surface.
Once the master curve is input, a dialogue opens on the screen.
Define the angle of rotation.
Define the way the axis of the solid will be defined (see the table above).
Confirm the settings in the dialogue.
Input the centre of rotation (and depending on the type of the definition of the axis, input other required points).
Close the function.