Beam Panel

When you select the Beam panel thickness type, you can describe the properties of a timber panel wall or another supporting structure composed of members and surfaces in the dialog sections. Specific structures can be defined, if necessary, in further tabs. From the parameters of the elements (edge and intermediate ribs, sheathing, connectors), a member-surface thickness type is created that also takes into account the elasticity of the fasteners.

Dialog Box "New Thickness", Thickness Type "Beam Panel"

Basis

In the Base tab, you define the general properties of the elements that make up the beam panel.

Edge ribs

Define the cross-section of the outer frame members. You can select this cross-section in the list or redefine it using the buttons and (see chapter Cross-Sections).

If the panel edges do not have a uniform cross-section, activate the 'Different' check box. You can then assign the member cross-sections in the Beam Panel | Beam tab.

Intermediate ribs

In the Intermediate ribs section of the Base tab, you define the cross-section and distance of the internal members. If no type has been defined for the intermediate ribs yet, click the button . The 'New Structure of Intermediate Ribs' dialog box appears.

Dialog Box "New Structure of Inner Ribs"

Select the 'Cross-section' in the list. Using the buttons and , you can define a new cross-section (see chapter Cross-Sections).

Then define the 'Distance'. Using the button , you can control whether the distance b_v represents the center-to-center distance or the clear distance (see the dialog graphic). The button allows you to switch the input from absolute values to relative distances. The center-to-center distance and the clear distance refer to the x-axis of the surface. The first position is assumed to be the point furthest in the negative x-direction.

The 'Number of intermediate ribs' results from the geometry of the surface.

Sheathing

In the Sheathing section of the Base tab, you define the properties of the panels. Since timber panels are usually sheathed on one side only, the 'Different' check box is activated by default. You can then assign the sheathing in the Beam Panel | Sheathing tab for the front or back side. For sheathing on both sides, deactivate the check box. Then click the button to create a new type. The 'New Sheathing' dialog box appears.

Dialog Box "New Sheathing"

Define the 'Sheathing thickness' by selecting the appropriate entry from the list of thicknesses already defined. The button provides the option to define a new thickness with the corresponding material. OSB, gypsum, or hardboard materials are usually suitable for timber sheathing. If necessary, you can perform a 'Rotation of the input axes'.

In the 'Sheathing pattern' list, select the appropriate case of how the sheathing is arranged:

• Case 1: Full-surface sheathing
• Case 2: Vertical sheathing strips with unit width w_su
• Case 3: Horizontal sheathing strips with unit height h_su
• Case 4: Staggered vertical sheathing strips with unit width w_su and unit height h_su
• Case 5: Staggered horizontal sheathing strips with unit width w_su and unit height h_su
• Case 6: Parallel vertical sheathing strips with unit width w_su and unit height h_su

The first position is assumed to be the point furthest in the negative x-direction or positive y-direction. If this is not the case, you can reverse the arrangement using the buttons or .

The 'Adjust to edge member center lines' check box provides the option of arranging the slab edges centrally on the cross-sections of the edge ribs. The plate width is adjusted accordingly.

Connectors

In the Connectors section of the Base tab, you define the properties of the connections that exist between the edge and intermediate ribs as well as between the sheathing and the intermediate ribs.

Rib-to-Rib Connector

The connection of the edge and intermediate ribs is set to hinged by default. To define a different connection type, click the button . The 'New Rib-to-Rib Connector' dialog box appears.

Dialog Box "New Rib-Rib Connector"

In the 'Connector type' list, two options are available for selection:

• Hinged: Member hinge about the y- and z-axes
• User-defined: Option for assigning a hinge type with user-defined degrees of freedom and stiffnesses (see chapter Member Hinges)

If the connector conditions of the ribs are not uniform, activate the 'Different' check box. You can then assign the connector types in the Beam Panel | Connector tab.

Sheathing-to-Rib Connector

If no type has been defined yet for the connection between the sheathing and the intermediate ribs, click the button . The 'New Sheathing-to-Rib Connector' dialog box appears.

Dialog Box "New Sheathing-Rib Connector"

In this dialog box, you define how the edge and intermediate ribs are connected to the sheathing. The following options are available in the 'Connector type' list:

• Nail
• Staple
• User-defined

For nails, you can select in a further list which standard is to be used for the stiffness analysis:

• EN 1995 (Table 7.1)
• CSA O86 (A.11.7)
• NDS (SDPWS Table C4.2.3D)
• User-defined

For nails and staples, you can specify the 'Connector dimension' (nail diameter or staple size) and the 'Connector distance'. This determines the connector stiffnesses applicable to the respective sides and directions. The 'User-defined' option allows you to define both the parameters of the fastener and to assign a 'Line hinge' (see chapter Line Hinges). This allows you to model nonlinear slip curves, for example.

The stiffness from the fasteners is taken into account for each direction. If this does not correspond to the actual conditions, activate the 'Consider connector stiffness only in longitudinal direction' check box.

If the connectors on the edge and intermediate ribs are not uniform, activate the 'Different' check box. You can then assign the connector types in the Beam Panel | Connector tab.

Beam Panel | Beam

If you have activated the Different check box in the Edge ribs section, you can define the cross-sections at the panel edges individually. Switch to the 'Beam Panel | Beam' tab.

Defining Different Cross-Sections for Edge Ribs

In the 'Top and bottom plate' section, you can assign the cross-sections that lie in the direction of the positive and negative y-surface axes – that is, the top and bottom frame profiles.

In the 'Chords' section, you can assign the cross-sections that lie in the direction of the positive and negative x-surface axes (the "studs" at the panel edges).

Beam Panel | Sheathing

In the Sheathing section, the Different check box is activated by default. In the 'Beam Panel | Sheathing' tab, you can define whether the beam panel is sheathed on one or both sides and what the properties of the panels are in each case.

Defining Double-Sided Sheathing

Select the sheathing(s) in the list. The 'Sheathing front -z' refers to the negative surface side (opposite to the local z-axis), and the 'Sheathing rear +z' refers to the positive surface side. Clicking the button also sets the sheathing of one surface side for the opposite side.

Using the button , you can define another sheathing type in the New Sheathing dialog box.

Beam Panel | Connector

If you have activated the Different check box in the Connectors section, you can define the connections between the edge and intermediate ribs as well as between the sheathing and the intermediate ribs individually. Switch to the 'Beam Panel | Connector' tab.

Defining Different Connectors

In the 'Rib-to-Rib Connector' section, you can assign the connection types that exist between the edge and intermediate ribs in the directions of the positive and negative y-surface axes – that is, between the top and bottom frame profiles with the two frame studs as well as between the top and bottom frame profiles with the intermediate ribs.

Using the button , you can define another connector type in the New Rib-to-Rib Connector dialog box.

In the 'Sheathing-to-Rib Connector' section, you can assign the connection types that exist between the sheathing and the edge ribs as well as the intermediate ribs.

Converting Generated Surfaces and Members into Standard Objects

When you assign the 'Beam panel' thickness type to a surface, the program generates surfaces and members with the corresponding geometry and stiffness properties from the parameters. These objects are marked in the Navigator – Data as generated objects in purple font and cannot be edited. If you want to edit the objects, the program offers an option to convert them into "real" surfaces and members. Proceed as follows:

1. Double-click a generated surface or generated member in the Navigator – Data.
2. Click the button at the bottom of the object dialog box.

Convert Generated Surfaces to Standard Surfaces

This function converts all generated objects of the beam panel into standard surfaces and standard members. The generated state is thereby dissolved and the generated objects are lost as such. Therefore, a corresponding note appears before executing the function.

Query Before Disconnecting the Generated State

If you have used this function accidentally, you can restore the original state using the undo button . Alternatively, you can close the file without saving.