Advanced modelling techniques

/Checking multiple columns

4.0 Advanced modelling techniques

How to creating sloping columns,

beams and slabs

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Advanced modelling techniques
Introduction

4.1 Introduction
With the release of Version 15.1 came new geometry functions to allow the user to create structures with increasingly
complex geometry, a list of some of the major enhancements are as follows:-

• Curved Beams (in plan)

• Sloping Planes
• Sloping Columns
• Sloping Beams
• Sloping Slabs
• Pile Caps

This chapter covers some of the above topics in a relatively simple modelling exercise, which demonstrates the
enhancements recently introduce to Orion.

Above is a screenshot from the completed model, on which this exercise will focus.

Note: Please read the Hints and Tips at the end of this section, before using these options on your
own models.

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Advanced modelling techniques
Creating the advanced model

4.2 Creating the advanced model

Ø Start a new model called ‘Advanced Modelling Exercise’

Ø Create the drawing sheet size to A2, and the Storey Height to be 3000mm

Ø Set up the grids and the levels as shown below using the ‘Orthogonal Axis Generator’

Ø Create the four 500*500 columns and beams as shown below

Ø Create a 200mm slab as shown. The slab

loads are to be 0.5kN/m2 for Additional Dead and
2
5.0kN/m for Imposed Load

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Creating the advanced model

4.2.1 Creating curved grid lines and beams

Orion can now be used to place a series of facetted grid lines in the model to form curved edges, ready for the insertion of
Beams and / or slabs. This technique is also useful when creating a curved edge to a flat slab model.

Ø Left click on the Beam icon and specify the properties for a 250*250 beam

Ø Hold down shift, left click and drag from axis points A2 to C2, a window will then be displayed as shown below:-
This window allows the user to specify curved Axis and Beams

Parallel Offset – This option can be used to create beams

offset from the two points you have dragged between
for the beam insertion. In our example today these will
be left at I (start) = 0.0mm and J (end) = 0.0mm.

Curved Beam Insertion – This allows the curve to be

specified from the set out points shown h, c and R. Set
the Chord Offset to be -2500. Note negative values
reverse the curve.

Tangent Segments (External) – The grid / beams can be

set out about the external face of the beams. Untick this
option to place the beams centrally.

Number of Segments – This is the number of straight

edges the beam will be split into for its insertion in the
model, use 8 in this example.

Ø Add another slab to this area (note how the Yield

Lines have been formed around the curve to suit the
number of beams)
Advanced modelling techniques
Creating the advanced model

4.2.2 Inserting a sloping column

Ø Set up the column Properties as shown

250*250 column aligned central to the grid

Ø Set Dir to 1, to make the column parallel and

perpendicular to Axis B

Ø Insert the column at the point where axis B

crosses both axis 4 and the curved axis

Ø Left click on the Pick Bottom Insertion Point

icon

Ø Left Click on the Axis Intersection B/3

Ø Click Update

The column has now been inserted in the model with

varying insertions for the top and bottom.
Advanced modelling techniques
Creating the advanced model

4.2.3 Create storey 2 (St02)

Ø Right Click on Storeys and select Insert Storey – Enter 2 and click OK

Ø Create the 250 x 250 columns and beams as shown below

Note the two central columns are supported by the beams on

Storey St01 below.

Ø Create the Offset Beams running horizontally (in plan)

at the mid-span of the two bays. This is done by holding Shift
(drag from A/1 to A/2)whilst creating a beam to open the
‘Beam Insertion and Offset Options’

Ø Tick the Parallel Offset option and insert an Offset Distance of 2000mm. Do this in both bays, as shown on the
following page.
Advanced modelling techniques
Creating the advanced model

2 2
Ø Insert the 150mm deep slabs with Additional Dead Loads of 0.5kN/m and Imposed Loads 1.5kN/m

Ø On these slabs tick the ‘Slab Does Not Contribute to Floor Diaphragm’
Advanced modelling techniques
/Creating planes

4.3 Creating planes

Creating planes allows the modelling of sloping beams and slabs within Orion.
Planes must be created before sloping members can be added.

Ø Left click the ‘Plane’ icon

Ø Holding down ‘Ctrl’, left click on slab 2S2 and 2S3, you should see the red box increase in size as additional slab panels
are selected. Planes are denoted in the model with a reference P1 etc…….

Ø Repeat this same process with slab panels ‘2S4 and 2S5’

Ø Select Plane 1 (P1), right click and select Properties, and edit points 1 and 2 as shown, to be 2000mm

Ø Adopt the same principle for Plane 2 (P2), by changing Point 3 to be 2000mm

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/Creating planes

4.3.1 Changing the planes of the beams and slabs

Ø Left click on ‘P1’

Ø Right Click and select ‘Move Members
to Plane Definition’
Ø Click Yes to move the members to the
plane
Ø Repeat the same process for P2.

Ø View the 3D screen

Ø Run the Building Analysis

Advanced modelling techniques
/Creating planes

Viewing the Model and Analysis Results

All the same functions are still available for

sloping members, allowing Deflections and
Member Forces to be graphically reviewed in the
Analysis Results Display.

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Advanced modelling techniques
Modelling pile caps

4.4 Modelling pile caps

Ø Select all of the 500*500 columns at St00 (Foundation Level)

Ø Right Click and select ‘Insert Pile Cap’, and click OK to create a Typical Base

Ø Make the following settings in the Pile Cap Window

This window allows the user to specify the depth of

the cap (h), along with the size and spacing of the
reinforcement in the pile cap.

The pile size/SWL capacities and spacing is also set

in this window

Ø Make the settings as shown adjacent

Ø Again make the settings as shown adjacent

Ø Click Calculate
Advanced modelling techniques
Modelling pile caps

Orion will calculate the number of piles required in the Pile Group based on the Column Forces.
This will also take into account for the effects of moments at the column bases.

Lx and Ly are the length and width of the pile cap, along with the number of piles required to satisfy the design forces.

Note – At present the scope of the analysis ONLY resolves the forces to calculate the Number of Piles.
Orion DOES NOT design the pile cap; this remains Beyond the Scope.

Ø Click OK, and view the 3D model

Advanced modelling techniques
General information for modelling inclined members

4.5 General information for modelling inclined members

Hints and tips
• Inter connecting diaphragms can only be specified in the same plane. If diaphragm warnings are ignored in the
Building Analysis this will lead to incorrect analysis forces –see Engineers Manual for further details.
• Inclined Members for beam and columns is perfectly possible for the Building Analysis. However in doing so this may
introduce Minor Axis Shear and Bending / Torsion and Axial Tension, which are not checked when designing beam
members in Orion.
• Gravity Loads are applied vertically to inclined members and NOT perpendicular.
• Concrete and Formwork Quantities do not account for the effects (increase) of inclined members.
• Finite Element Analysis and Inclined Members – It is possible to run an FE load chase down when Inclined members
have been included in the model, however the following limitations must be carefully considered
• FE Analysis will ignore inclined members (slabs/columns/walls/beams) the model is idealised as a series of
vertical and horizontal members.
• All inclined members will be assumed to exist at the lower level in the horizontal plane.
• Inclined columns are modelled vertically. However the loads are transferred to the physical location of the
column in the storey below, not the vertically projected location.
• FE results should not be merged for Inclined Beams as the shorter horizontal length will be used for the
design.
• FE results can be merged for the columns, as the column length will be taken from the BA model. As the
column is modelled vertically in the FE model this will create a stiffer column, due to the column being
shorter than the inclined length.

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