JCL Tendon Profiler in StrucPLUS

Question

How does the JCL Tendon Profiler work in StrucPLUS?

Answer

JLC Tendon Profiler

All selections should be made from Left to Right or Bottom to Top.

This program is separate from Struc-plus and operates through the DOS Shell. The program calculates parabolic profiles with circular reverse curves. The minimum reverse curve radius, maximum bar chair spacing and duct thicknesses are user definable. The program uses the theory developed for the well-known design program RAPT

Anchorage profiles are blocks, which include a C/L symbol and must be edited with the ddatte command. Anchorages can either be inclined or horizontal (square to the edge board).

Initially, a “Select Tendon Anchorage Blocks” dialogue box is displayed. This only occurs once in a single drawing session. If the selection is ‘Yes’ the program will ask if any selections are anchorages for each span profiled. If ‘No’ is selected, anchorages are nominated within the profiling dialogue box.

The main profiling dialogue box allows anchorages, anchorage inclination, cantilevers, text location, high and low profiles (bottom of duct), multiple high point profiles (slab tendons at bands or drop panels), minimum reverse curve radius, chair spacing, duct thickness and continuance to be defined.

The program is error trapped for a variety of input errors.

The routine assigns a “PS_Marker” block ‘*’ to each span profiled. This records the span length, high and low profiles, whether the span is a cantilever and the duct thickness. The attribute ‘Span’ has no function at the present time. It is important to note that if profiles are copied to a similar span, the ‘*’ must also be copied and should cross the tendon line it is copied to. If the tendon being copied to is curved, the ‘*’ should cross the direct line between the two end anchorages.

  • the ‘*’ should be edited with the ddatte command if the span profiles are manually edited.
  • the ‘*’ should not be any closer than 600mm to each other. The routine steps along a direct line between the two end anchorages, in increments, to locate them.
  • the ‘*’ is on the Defpoints layer and will not print
  • the ‘*’ must not be within 150mm of another profiled tendon. If it is, it will be counted and processed with both tendons. The routine examines a field width of 5mm each side of the direct line between the two end anchorages to locate the ‘*’.
  • in the case of a curved tendon, the ‘*’ must be placed in a straight line between the anchorages. This needs to be adjusted manually as the routine places them on a straight line between high points. It is suggested that a dotted “sight line” be drawn between the ends of the anchorage blocks as a drafting aid. This line should be on either the Defpoints or Extracted layer.

The information in ‘*’ blocks is used to calculate tendon extension information.

The standard duct sizes, included in the quantity takeoff routines are

  • 20mm thickness for 70 x 20mm flat duct
  • 21mm thickness for 90mm x 20mm flat duct
  • 50mm thickness for 50mm ID round duct
  • 70mm thickness for 69mm ID round duct
  • 85mm thickness for 85mm ID round duct