Truss cross section Data

[Wood]

I feel like this must have been covered, but search revealed nothing. 

 

I have every piece of info possibly available for my truss. How can I get the inputs required for the Cross Section Data dialogue?

 

I know what it's made of, exact wall thicknesses, member angle, load charts etc. Any guidance? 

 

 

Thanks!

 

[Chris J Clarke]

Right Click on the truss piece you want to change the Cross Sectional Data for, and click on "Customise Truss Symbol Data", then in that new window, click on "Change Cross Section".

 

Make sure you clear any Braceworks Calculations forst, otherwise when you right click on the truss, it doesn't give you the right options in the Contextual Menu, or in the OIP.

 

I think that's what you're after?

[Wood]

@Chris J Clarke Thanks for the post. 

 

I know how to change it, I just don't know how to derive the correct entries from real-world data. I have custom manufactured truss for which a cross section does not exist. 

 

Basically, wondering if anybody here can tell me how to derive the moment of inertia from the data I have, and if there is specific info I should know about each field in that dialogue.

 

Thanks Again!

 

[Chris J Clarke]

Oh sorry. I misunderstood. Good luck with it. I’m trying to find data for the Sixty82 truss we use so I can get it working properly with Braceworks. Let me know if you make any progress. 

[spettitt]

2 hours ago, Wood said:

@Chris J Clarke Thanks for the post. 

 

I know how to change it, I just don't know how to derive the correct entries from real-world data. I have custom manufactured truss for which a cross section does not exist. 

 

Basically, wondering if anybody here can tell me how to derive the moment of inertia from the data I have, and if there is specific info I should know about each field in that dialogue.

 

Thanks Again!

 

 

You'd need to speak to the manufacturer of the truss. In my experience, most truss manufacturers will instruct a structural engineer who will issue a report, usually containing that data. It's not easy data to just work out. If such a report hasn't been commissioned then I would be curious as to how the manufacturer has decided the allowable loadings for their product, even if a one-off custom fab job.

[jcogdell]

Many truss manuafacturers provide the structural data for their trusses in the TUV certificates for each model of truss. Eurotruss for example provides TUV's for all their models on their website.

[JustinVH]

Also keep in mind that if you create a custom cross section it will live within the file it was created only. You will not be able to share that cross section across files and that was done as a safety check to make sure those cross sections are not being sent out into the user base on the chance that there is an issue or the manufacturer does not want that information readily available. If you want a particular cross section added to the software for use and sharing please reach out to the manufacturer and let them know of your wishes so they can send us the data and sign the appropriate paperwork for us to share. That is the only way for us to add the data as we cannot legally add it without manufacturer consent.

 

[LMorga]

@Wood Use the PA truss calculator.

 

We then make a custom user CS in VW. Cross Section name will be :USER [Field Value]

Edited June 20 by LMorga

[Wood]

2 hours ago, JustinVH said:

Also keep in mind that if you create a custom cross section it will live within the file it was created only. You will not be able to share that cross section across files and that was done as a safety check to make sure those cross sections are not being sent out into the user base on the chance that there is an issue or the manufacturer does not want that information readily available. If you want a particular cross section added to the software for use and sharing please reach out to the manufacturer and let them know of your wishes so they can send us the data and sign the appropriate paperwork for us to share. That is the only way for us to add the data as we cannot legally add it without manufacturer consent.

 

You're saying that if I make a truss library as a VWX file, any custom cross section set in that file wouldn't transmit through when I import those symbols into a working drawing?

[JustinVH]

@WoodYes, that is correct. Custom, user created cross sections only live within the document in which they were created. I am adding in @klinzey in case he wants to add in more insight or explanation.

[LMorga]

@Wood I developed a Tyler 12x12 AV 3/16 file. I will send you to test.

 

I want to get the SGPS files you shared, setup.

[klinzey]

@Wood Custom cross sections are stored only with the file. There are not stored with the symbol or as a resource in the document.
The cross section data is custom for the document and not necessarily specific to a symbol so there is not a good method of managing, identifying, or resolving conflicts like we can do with other resources.

[Wood]

Not optimal. My manufacturer does not want this data distributed, and we avoid that by not sharing custom truss symbols outside of firms we have NDAs and agreements with. I've inquired about connecting them with Vectorworks and having you guys standardize their symbols, but they do not want geometry of their proprietary designs in the worldwide library, and rightfully so. 

 

Ultimately the task of not breaking things is the responsibility of the rigger, not software protections. Silly that there is yet another software handicap against the expensive braceworks module, while the spotlight folks get all their functionality included. Plenty of other pitfalls in the software that could let an unskilled person blindly trust the software and cause an accident. Having a symbol that can be verified accurate by an internal team and distributed to team members is FAR safer than entering that engineering data manually each time I want to use a symbol in a file. Your team should reconsider the lockout. 

 

Thanks for the information on functionality. 

[Stefan B.]

@Wood You can add custom XML files to the library to add your custom cross section data. This works like a charm but does requires a manual update when VW is updates to new version. The data does not leave your computer, just the results.

 

C:\Program Files\Vectorworks 2024\Plug-Ins\VW_Spotlight\Data\Braceworks\TrussCrossSectionData\Sections