Catalogue block - Curve

Catalogue blocks provide not only for simple structures, but also for common geometric shapes such as curves. A whole set of basic curves is available in SCIA Engineer. For each curve shape (e.g. circle, ellipse, hyperbole, etc.) the user can select the most appropriate way of its definition.

Together with the shape also a cross-section is defined and as a result a curved 1D member is created. The generated 1D member is not smooth-curved, but the exact curve of the shape is substituted with a polygon of straight segments.

A big advantage of the pre-defined curve catalogue blocks is that not only the whole curve, but only a required segment of it can be defined. Thus the field of application becomes much wider for this SCIA Engineer feature.

Curve types

circle (x)	$image\GEP_CIRCLE_X.gif$	A circle segment defined by means of radius and a set of X co-ordinates.
circle (y)	$image\GEP_CIRCLE_Y.gif$	A circle segment defined by means of radius and a set of Y co-ordinates.
circle (f)	$image\GEP_CIRCLE_F.gif$	A circle segment defined by means of radius and a central angle.
ellipse (x)	$image\GEP_ELIPSE_X.gif$	An ellipse segment defined by means of maximum and minimum radius and a couple of X co-ordinates.
ellipse (y)	$image\GEP_ELIPSE_Y.gif$	An ellipse segment defined by means of maximum and minimum radius and a couple of X co-ordinates.
ellipse (f)	$image\GEP_ELIPSE_F.gif$	An ellipse segment defined by means of maximum and minimum radius and a central angle.
parabola (x)	$image\GEP_PARAB_X.gif$	A parabolic segment defined by means of its height, length and a couple of X co-ordinates.
parabola (y)	$image\GEP_PARAB_Y.gif$	A parabolic segment defined by means of its height, length and a couple of Y co-ordinates.
hyperbole (x)	$image\GEP_HYPER_X.gif$	A hyperbolic segment defined by means of a X co-ordinates.
hyperbole (y)	$image\GEP_HYPER_Y.gif$	A hyperbolic segment defined by means of a X co-ordinates.
hyperbole (f)	$image\GEP_HYPER_F.gif$	A hyperbolic segment defined by means of two central angle.
chain curve (x)	$image\GEP_CHAIN_X.gif$	A "chain-curve" segment defined by means of X co-ordinates of chain-curve ends.
chain curve (s)	$image\GEP_CHAIN_S.gif$	A "chain-curve" segment defined by means of chain-curve end co-ordinates measured along the curve.
sinusoid	$image\GEP_SINUS.gif$	A segment of a standard sinusoid.
spiral	$image\GEP_SPIRAL.gif$	A segment of a spiral.

Curve parameters

Name	The name is used for unique and straightforward identification of the catalogue block.
Dimensions and parameters of shape	The dimensions and other parameters define the size and the shape of the appropriate curve. Meaning of individual dimension parameters can be clearly seen on the accompanying picture.
Number of straight segments per curve	This number specifies how many line segments is used to substitute the exact curve shape. The higher the number is the smoother is the final generated curve.
Cross-section	The generated "curved" 1D member has got a constant cross-section. If necessary, it may later altered via standard beam-modification functions.