Curved Railing on concrete stair

[advandes]

Using Advance Steel 2020

I have a small project that may be quite challenging with AS and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is even possible to do using this software. Please see attached screen capture. I have modeled the existing concrete curved stair from the actual field verified dimensions. I modeled this by extruding segmented polylines, so it's basically a 3D solid at this point. I am not asking anyone to do it for me, but just a push in the right direction if it is possible. I have attached the file as well if that helps. Thank you! 

[advandes]

i have attempted to to use the spiral stair macro to create my railing with some success, although the routine appears to be very limited. The attached screen capture is how far I have gotten with this. There appears to be no way to move the posts to specific locations, include additional posts at the upper landing, create a loop return.  

[crydee-AG1 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

There is no macro that will do everything you want. I would approach it like this:-

• Model one post on the bottom step. 
• Use a Polar Array in Advance Copy (or Transform Elements depending on build) to copy the post up the stair.
• Draw a spline between the top points on each post.
• Edit the spline and choose convert to polyline.
• Use Beam, Polyline to convert the polyline into the handrail.
• Copy handrail and change section as required for middle rails.

You can see this idea near the end of my webinar here.

[advandes]

Thanks Aleck, that was what I was looking for, someone with experience who could point me in the right direction. Much appreciated!

[Sebastian_Eiche · Accepted solution]

Why not using the railling macro? 

By creating the railing a beam is needed but this is easy to do. Maybe not like me in the video by picking the points (but was faster to show), a better could be to use a spline or another better polyline.
screencast

[advandes]

Sebastian, that approach is very impressive. Thank you for sharing! I will definitely use that method.

[crydee-AG1]

Hi Sebastian,

That is brilliant. I am sure the railing macro could not do 3D curved stringers the last time I tried it.

Just one note though; in my test, the curved rails are dozens of tiny short beams not one curved polybeam. You can select the option on the "End of handrail (Start)" page to "Use Polybeam" and make the rail one beam but the middle rails are still lots of tiny straight beams welded end to end, not a polybeam. I don't know a way to overcome that.