Custom Pier Cap [SIG]

The Custom Pier Cap allows users to define a pier cap with custom geometry specified through point coordinates. This provides flexibility for non-standard pier cap shapes.

General

Location: The location of the pier cap can be determined by selecting a support line.

Cap Points: Define the shape of the pier cap cross-section by specifying a series of points as coordinate pairs. The points define the outline of the pier cap shape in the transverse plane.

Thickness: The thickness of the pier cap in the longitudinal direction (along the bridge axis).

Top Elevation Offset from Alignment: The vertical offset of the pier cap top surface relative to the alignment elevation at the pier location.

Transverse Offset: The offset of the pier cap center in the transverse direction (perpendicular to PGL).

Longitudinal Offset: The offset of the pier cap center in the longitudinal direction (along PGL).

Material: Assign a material to the pier cap. Materials can be selected from previously defined options or imported as needed.

Rotation: The rotation angle of the pier cap. By default, this is set to follow the skew angle of the support line.

Cap Center Station on PGL (readonly): Displays the station of the pier cap center on the PGL.

Cap Center Distance Perpendicular to PGL (readonly): Displays the distance of the pier cap center perpendicular to the PGL.

Cap Center Top Elevation (readonly): Displays the top elevation of the pier cap center.

FEM

Generate FEM? [Yes/No]: This parameter controls whether the pier cap is included in the Finite Element Model. When set to 'Yes', the pier cap will be modeled with shell elements.

Rigid Section: The section used for rigid links connecting the pier cap to other structural elements.

Mesh Size: The target element size for meshing the pier cap shell elements.

Min. # of Strips in Long. Dir.: The minimum number of element strips in the longitudinal direction for meshing the pier cap.

Min. # of Strips in Trans. Dir.: The minimum number of element strips in the transverse direction for meshing the pier cap.

Mesh Source [Local/Remote]: Specifies whether the meshing is performed locally or on a remote server. Local meshing is performed on the user's machine, while remote meshing uses cloud-based meshing services.

Remote Mesh Algorithm: When remote meshing is selected, this parameter specifies the meshing algorithm to use. Available options include:

• MeshAdapt

• Automatic

• Initial mesh only

• Delaunay

• Frontal Delaunay

• Frontal Delaunay for Quads

• Packing of Parallelograms

• Quasi structured Quad

Visual Settings

Cap Opacity: The opacity level of the pier cap in the 3D view. Values range from 0 (fully transparent) to 1 (fully opaque).

IFC

Type [IfcBeam/IfcColumn/IfcSlab/IfcFooting/IfcPile/IfcMember/etc.]: Specifies the IFC entity type for export. The custom pier cap can be exported as various IFC types including IfcBeam, IfcColumn, IfcSlab, IfcFooting, IfcPile, IfcBearing, IfcReinforcingBar, IfcReinforcingMesh, IfcTendon, IfcMechanicalFastener, IfcAlignment, IfcPositioningElement, IfcKerb, IfcGuardrail, IfcSurfaceFeature, IfcElementAssembly, IfcCableSegment, IfcSensor, IfcDistributionElement, IfcPlate, IfcWall, IfcRail, IfcRoad, IfcDiscreteAccessory, IfcDistributionSystem, IfcMember, or IfcBuildingElementProxy.

Predefined Type [BEAM/CORNICE/DIAPHRAGM/EDGEBEAM/GIRDER_SEGMENT/HOLLOWCORE/JOIST/LINTEL/PIERCAP/SPANDREL/T_BEAM/USERDEFINED/NOTDEFINED]: Specifies the predefined type attribute for the IFC entity. Default value is PIERCAP.

Parent [BRIDGE/SUPERSTRUCTURE/DECK/SUBSTRUCTURE/FOUNDATION/APPROACH_STRUCTURE/RETAINING_STRUCTURE]: Specifies the parent structural hierarchy element in the IFC model. Default value is SUBSTRUCTURE.

Quantities

Total Surface Area: The total surface area of the custom pier cap, calculated based on the defined geometry.

Side Surface Area: The surface area of the side faces of the custom pier cap.

Min Cross Section Perimeter: The minimum perimeter of the cross-section along the pier cap.

Max Cross Section Perimeter: The maximum perimeter of the cross-section along the pier cap.

Volume: The volume of the custom pier cap calculated from the defined geometry.

Min Length Path: The minimum length path through the pier cap geometry.

Length at COG Path: The length measured along the center of gravity path through the pier cap.

Max Length Path: The maximum length path through the pier cap geometry.

Rebar Density (per cubic yard): The rebar density value used for calculating rebar weight.

Rebar Weight: The calculated rebar weight based on the rebar density and pier cap volume.

Weight: The total weight of the custom pier cap based on material density and volume.

Material: Displays the material name assigned to the custom pier cap.