# Custom Pier Cap \[CUG]

## Custom Pier Cap

**Location:** Select the support line where the custom pier cap is located.

**Cap Points:** Define the cap points as a list of 2D coordinates \[X, Y] representing the pier cap geometry. A minimum of 3 points is required to define the pier cap geometry.

**Thickness:** The thickness of the pier cap can be specified using this parameter.

**Top Elevation Offset from Alignment:** The vertical offset of the pier cap top from the alignment can be specified using this parameter.

**Transverse Offset:** The transverse offset of the pier cap from the alignment can be specified using this parameter.

**Longitudinal Offset:** The longitudinal offset of the pier cap from the alignment can be specified using this parameter.

**Material:** The material of the pier cap can be specified using this parameter. A previously defined material from the Properties > Materials section can be assigned, or a material can be imported.

**Rotation:** The rotation angle of the pier cap can be specified using this parameter. By default, it uses the skew angle of the support line.

**Cap Center Station on PGL (readonly):** The cap center station with respect to the principal grade line (PGL) is displayed as a readonly value.

**Cap Center Distance Perpendicular to PGL (readonly):** The cap center distance perpendicular to the principal grade line is displayed as a readonly value.

**Cap Center Top Elevation (readonly):** The cap center top elevation is displayed as a readonly value.

## FEM Settings

**Generate FEM \[Yes/No]:** Specify whether to generate a finite element model for the pier cap.

**Rigid Section:** Select the rigid section to be used for the rigid connections when FEM is generated.

**Mesh Size:** The mesh size for the finite element model can be specified using this parameter.

**Min. # of Strips in Long. Dir.:** The minimum number of strips in the longitudinal direction for the mesh can be specified using this parameter.

**Min. # of Strips in Trans. Dir.:** The minimum number of strips in the transverse direction for the mesh can be specified using this parameter.

**Mesh Source \[Local/Remote]:** Specify whether to use local or remote meshing for the finite element model.

**Remote Mesh Algorithm \[MeshAdapt/Automatic/Initial mesh only/Delaunay/Frontal Delaunay/Frontal Delaunay for Quads/Packing of Parallelograms/Quasi structured Quad]:** When remote meshing is selected, choose the meshing algorithm to be used.

## Referencing Objects

The following objects can be referenced by the custom pier cap:

**Rectangular Pier Columns:** Reference to rectangular pier columns that support the pier cap.

**Structure States:** Reference to structure states for staged construction analysis.

**Piles:** Reference to pile elements that support the pier cap.

**Pile Groups:** Reference to groups of piles.

**Tendons:** Reference to tendon elements within the pier cap.

**Stempiers:** Reference to stempier (temporary support) elements.

## Visual Settings

**Cap Opacity:** Specify the opacity level of the pier cap visualization. A value of 0.75 provides a semi-transparent appearance.


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