Supports
Building strong structures needs solid support. Advance Design equips you with a robust set of commands that empowers you to efficiently create the supports for your structures. Discover the versatility within this powerful software as we explore the various support types tailored to meet diverse engineering requirements: point, linear, and planar. Each support type, whether rigid, elastic, traction/compression or advanced, contributes to the foundation of your structural vision.
Supports in Advance Design
Creating supports
The process of modeling supports is facilitated through the use of the creation commands available in the Modeling toolbar or the Supports panel, conveniently located in the Home tab of the Ribbon. These creation commands are categorized into three distinct types: point, linear, and planar supports.
To access subordinate types within each category, simply engage the flyouts displayed by the support icons in the Modeling toolbar. Keep pressed to display the list of subordinate types, according to the support functionality: rigid, elastic, tension/compression, or advanced (available only on the Ribbon). Release the click over the desired support to select.
Alternatively, on the Ribbon, support icons are presented as drop-down lists, allowing for efficient selection. Advance Design offers the capability to automatically generate the supports on a selection of elements or on systems elements.
Types of supports
Advance Design provides a comprehensive range of support types to suit diverse engineering requirements. The three primary support types available are as follows: point, linear, and planar. Each support type offers the versatility of being classified as rigid, elastic, traction/compression (T/C) or advanced.
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Point |
Linear |
Planar |
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Rigid |
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Elastic |
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T/C |
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You can change the type of selected supports, such as switching from rigid to elastic, or from rigid to traction/compression (T/C), and more.
Supports properties
You can modify the attributes of supports by accessing the properties window either before or after creating the element. The properties window allows you to adjust the support attributes. This thoughtful design ensures efficient support customization, enhancing the overall precision and accuracy of the structural analysis.
Display of linear supports symbols
Advance Design enables the application of local axis symbols on linear supports. By accessing the Display settings dialog box, you can enable this feature, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of the structural system.
Supports symbol display
How to convert the support type
To accommodate specific design needs, Advance Design offers you flexibility to convert the type of selected supports with ease. This functionality enables transitions between different support types, including conversions from rigid to elastic, rigid to T/C, and other combinations, providing optimal design versatility and adaptability.
To transform the types of selected supports, follow these steps:
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Select the support(s) that require type conversion.
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Menu: Select Modify > CAD > Convert supports to > Rigid Support \ Elastic Support \ T/C Support.
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Alternatively, select the Convert Rigid Support, Convert Elastic Support or Convert T/C Support option available in the Utilities tab of the Ribbon, under the CAD panel.
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The selected supports are converted to the specified type, enabling you to refine your design with confidence.
As you navigate through the challenges of structural design, Advance Design offers you a comprehensive array of support types. From straightforward point supports to adaptable linear and planar supports, you can choose what suits your project.