Gap Frame Connections - Intergraph Smart 3D - Help - Hexagon

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The Gap node (the Gap sheet in the StructFrameConnections.xls workbook) defines the gap frame connections that are available. A gap frame connection defines offsets between members to provide clearance for welding or simply as a work point adjustment. Smart 3D can calculate the offset either axially along or radially around the primary member.

There are three members in a gap frame connection:

  • The target member is the member always to move and is the owner of the frame connection. The target member is shown as blue in the following figures.

  • The primary member is the member that the target member moves along (axially) or around (radially). The primary member is shown as red in the following figures.

  • The secondary member is the third member in the joint, and the offset is measured relative to this member. The software does not require the secondary member to be in the same plane as the target member. The secondary member is shown as orange in the following figures.

Name

Defines the name of the frame connection. This is the name that appears in the software when placing a member system in the model.

Definition

Specifies the gap frame connection definition macro to use.

Offset Required (Catalog) or Gap (Workbook)

Enter the gap distance that you want between the target and secondary member.

Centerline Distance (Catalog) or Centerline Distance Roundoff (Workbook)

Enter the distance to which the centerline gap should be rounded off.

Direction (Catalog) or Offset Direction (Workbook)

Select the direction to calculate the gap.

  • Surface Axial - Select this mode when you want to define the offset as the distance between the center lines of the target and secondary members. This distance is measured parallel to the primary member centerline.

  • Surface Radial - Select this mode when you want to define the offset as the distance between the closest points on the hull of the target and secondary members. This distance is measured around the hull of the primary member.

Centerline (Catalog) or Design Factor (Workbook)

Enter the ratio of the member section size to use in calculating whether the centerline design passed or failed. The default value is 0.25. The centerline design pass/fail is calculated by taking the primary member's section size, multiplying it by Centerline Design Factor and then comparing that value to the Actual Centerline Distance value.

Offset Along

Defines if the target member moves along the Primary member or along the Secondary member to create the gap.

Offset Type

Select how you want to specify the Offset Required value.

  • Gap - The Offset Required distance is between the two closest points of the target member hull and the secondary member hull. This is shown as G in the figures below.

  • Centerline - The Offset Required distance is between the center line of the target member and the center line of the secondary member. This is shown as X in the figures below.

  • Overlap - The Offset Required distance is between the lowest point of the target and secondary member saddle on the support member to the point where the target and secondary member intersect. This is shown as L in the figures below.

Overlap Design Factor (Fmin)

Defines the minimum design factor for the calculation: Min ´ B < A < Max ´ B. The default value is 0.3. This calculation is used to determine if Design Passed (Overlap) passes or fails. The A and B distances are shown in the figures below.

Overlap Design Factor (FMax)

Defines the maximum design factor for the calculation: Min ´ B < A < Max ´ B. The default value is 0.5. This calculation is used to determine if Design Passed (Overlap) passes or fails. The A and B distances are shown in the figures below.

Flush Direction

Specify which direction you want the target member to move to become flush with the primary member.

Flush Offset

Specify the distance from the primary member hull edge to the target hull edge. An offset of zero indicates that the two member edges are perfectly flush.

SP3D Struct Gap FC Axially Along Surface CONCEPT

SP3D Struct Gap FC Radially Along Surface CONCEPT