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 Longitudinal Direction: The minimum number of strips in the longitudinal direction for the mesh can be specified using this parameter.

Min. # of Strips in Transverse Direction: 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.