Draw - Frame/Cable/Tendon

Form:  Properties of Object

Use the Draw menu > Frame/Cable/Tendon command or  Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon button to draw a straight or curved frame object, a cable, or a tendon.

1. Click the View menu > Show Grids command to turn the grids on.

2. Click the Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon button or the Draw menu > Frame/Cable/Tendon command to display the floating Properties of Object form and switch to drawing a line object between two points.

3. Click the Type of Line drop-down list to display the available options for the object:  Straight Frame, Curved Frame, Cable, or Tendon. Choose the appropriate option. Use the other drop-down lists and edit box to select additional parameters, such as the Section (frame, cable, tendon), Moment Releases, XY Plane Offset Normal, and Drawing Control Type.

   • Straight Frame option.

   • 1. Click on a grid intersection, a previously defined joint or any point in the plane.

     2. Click again on another point to add a single straight frame object. Every subsequent click will add another straight frame object unless a double click on the same joint is performed or the Enter key is pressed. Pressing the ESC key will also terminate the sequential drawing mode and enable Select mode.

   • Curved Frame option.

   • 1. Click on the grid intersection that defines the beginning point for the curved frame.

     2. Click on the grid intersection to define the end of the curved frame. When the mouse button is released, the Curved Frame Geometry form displays. Use the form to review/change the section property, number of linear segments, computed coordinates of the linear segments and so on.

   • Cable option.

   • 1. Click on the grid intersection that defines the beginning point for the cable.

     2. Click on the grid intersection to define the end of the cable. When the mouse button is released, the  Cable Geometry form displays. Use the form to review/change the section property, cable unit weight, number of linear segments, computed coordinates of the linear segments and so on.

   • Tendon option.

   • 1. Click on a grid intersection, a previously defined joint or any point in the plane to specify the beginning point for the tendon.

     2. Click again on another point to specify the end point for the tendon. When the mouse button is released, the Tendon Data for Line Object {Number} form displays. Use the form to review/change the section property, cable unit weight, number of linear segments, computed coordinates of the linear segments and so on.

Note: It is not possible to draw a frame object between any two arbitrary points in space in the 3-D view.

Example:   Drawing a straight frame is demonstrated in Problem C and Problem E.

See Also

Quick Draw Braces

Quick Draw Frame/Cabe/Tendon

Quick Draw Secondary Beams

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