Frame - Hinges

Form: Frame Hinge Assignments

Use the Assign menu > Frame > Hinges command to assign Auto and user defined hinge definitions to selected frames.

Select a frame(s) to be assigned hinges.
Click the Assign menu > Frame > Hinges command to access the Frame Hinge Assignments form.
- If the object(s) selected already has a user defined hinge(s) assigned, an Existing Assignments area will appear on the form. The area will include a warning that assignments may already exist on some of the selected line objects. Two options will be available: one to add the specified assignment(s) to any existing assignment(s) and one to replace the existing assignment(s) with the specified assignment(s).
The hinge properties available from the drop-down list on the Frame Hinge Assignments form are the Auto hinge properties and the user defined hinge properties. Review, add to, or modify hinge assignments using the following buttons.
- Add button. Add a hinge property to the selected object(s) as follows:
- 1. Select an Auto or user defined hinge property from the Hinge Property drop-down list.
  2. Type a location in the Relative Distance edit box. The relative distance is measured from End I (the start) of the frame object. The range is from zero to one. When end offsets are defined, if the relative distance is specified such that the hinge falls within an end offset, the program automatically moves the hinge to the inside face of the end offset. The hinges are always located within the clear length of the object between the end offsets.
  3. Click the Add button.

Note: If the Auto option is selected from the Hinge Property drop-down list, the Auto Hinge Assignment Data form will display when the Add button is clicked. Use that form to specify the Auto Hinge Type based on tables in ASCE 41-13, Caltrans Flexible, or JTG specifications.

Also, when an Auto hinge type definition is highlighted in the Hinge Property drop-down list on the Frame Hinge Assignments form, the Auto Hinge Assignment Data area will display key parameters of the hinge definition. In addition, the Modify/Show Auto Hinge Assignment Data button will become available. Clicking that button will display the Auto Hinge Assignment Data form.

- Modify button. Modify the location of a hinge on the selected object(s) as follows:
- 1. Select the hinge in the Hinge Property/Relative Location list box.
  2. Edit the location in the Relative Distance edit box.
  3. Click the Modify button.
- Delete button. To delete a hinge property from the selected object(s), select the hinge in the Hinge Property/Relative Location list box and click the Delete button.

Click the OK button to accept all of the changes made in the Frame Hinge Assignments form. Clicking the Cancel button means that none of the changes will be accepted.