steel I beams


Paul_Eyestone
 Share

Recommended Posts

I have a macro that loads all the standard sizes of WF Beam Properties into a Global Hash.  I use it for structural sizing but it would be really nice if it could be used to draw the cross section shape or better yet actually create the 3D shape to use in the model.  Real World modeling of the specified size Beam would be cool B)

 

I would gladly share that macro with CA if they want to use it to model steel beams on the fly.

 

I haven't created a macro for any other shapes such as I-Beams, Channels, Angles, Square Tubes or Pipes.  But those wouldn't be too difficult.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Joe_Carrick said:

I would gladly share that macro with CA if they want to use it to model steel beams on the fly.

 

That would be great Joe since not every Wide Flange steel beam has 1/4" flanges and webs. LOL 

Proper section views are really important on engineered drawings.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, Chopsaw said:

since not every Wide Flange steel beam has 1/4" flanges and webs. LOL 

Correct - but I haven't included the web thickness.  Actual values for Name, Height, Width, Area, Flange Thickness, Weight, Sv, Iv, Sh and Ih are all included.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Joe_Carrick said:

Correct - but I haven't included the web thickness.

 

Is that something that you might be able to include ?   Chief may take the offer more seriously then for profile generation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Chopsaw said:

 

Is that something that you might be able to include ?   Chief may take the offer more seriously then for profile generation.

Yes, it's just a matter of reading the AISC manual data to add the Web Thickness to my data.  Actually I could come pretty close (within a couple of 1/1000ths of an inch) just by using the Cross Section Areas to calculate the Web Thicknesses.  My macro does have the Cross Section Area and the calculation would be extremely close.  It would be a very easy addition to make in the macro.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Joey,

 

Those are very rough approximations and are not really usable to show reality in a 3D model. 

 

There are 20 different 12" Wide Flange Beams, ranging from (11.91" tall x 3.97" wide) to (13.41" tall x 12.4" wide).

The Flanges range from 0.2" thick to 0.79" thick.

The Webs also vary greatly, even more  than the flanges.

 

In addition, WF Beams vary in height from 4.16" to 27.8"

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, Joe_Carrick said:

Those are very rough approximations and are not really usable to show reality in a 3D model. 

Agreed. I was heading over there to look for updated catalogs and thought of this post. I use the dropdown menu when a beam is needed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Chopsaw said:

 

Is that something that you might be able to include ?   Chief may take the offer more seriously then for profile generation.

I've modified my macro to include web thicknesses.  It's notable that for heavier WF Beams the web thickness increases even more than the flange thickness.  

For CA's information, the label of a WF Beam is in the following format:

 

    W 12x45  nominal 12" tall x 45 lbs per ft.  This beam is actually 12.06" tall x 8.045" wide.

  • Upvote 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's also fairly quick and simple to take a CAD section of an actual steel beam, make it into a solid, convert to a symbol and add it to a framing schedule, or any other type of schedule.

Every time you do this, make a copy, say 8' long, and add it to your library for future use.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, Joe_Carrick said:

I've modified my macro to include web thicknesses.  It's notable that for heavier WF Beams the web thickness increases even more than the flange thickness.  

For CA's information, the label of a WF Beam is in the following format:

 

    W 12x45  nominal 12" tall x 45 lbs per ft.  This beam is actually 12.06" tall x 8.045" wide.

 

Awesome.   Thanks Joe. :D    Have you contacted Chief directly or put something into Suggestions ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share