Dynamic Block for Reinforcement Mesh Representation in Section and Plan View with Cover and Spacing Control

[rsalastopografia]

I’m working on the representation of reinforcement in a concrete structure, both in longitudinal section and plan view, and I would like to solve it using a parametric dynamic block.

In the section view, the bottom reinforcement is shown as a Polyline that follows the internal contour of the concrete (considering the cover), and the top reinforcement is represented by hatched circles placed at uniform spacing.

In the plan view, the goal is to represent the reinforcement mesh layout respecting edge cover and bar spacing in both directions.

Is it possible to create a dynamic block that allows:

Automatically adapting the Polyline path for bottom steel in the section.

Controlling the number and spacing of top bars (hatched circles).

Generating the steel mesh in plan view based on defined dimensions, cover, and spacing?

I’m attaching a reference image. Any suggestions, examples, or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

The attached image 01 shows a concrete collector box structure, represented in two views:

Left (Plan View): A top view showing the layout of the steel mesh in red. The mesh is arranged in both directions with regular bar spacing and visible concrete cover on all sides.

Right (Longitudinal Section View): A cut along the length of the concrete box:

The black outline represents the inner concrete profile.

A red Polyline along the bottom and sides indicates the bottom reinforcement (steel mesh following the internal contour).

Hatched red circles at the top represent the top reinforcement bars, evenly spaced along the longitudinal axis.

This image serves as a reference for modeling reinforcement layout using a dynamic block, considering spacing and concrete cover in both plan and section views.

In Image 2, in the lower right corner, we see the longitudinal section of the collector box. We also see a dynamic block of steel bars in that view. How can I add a property that allows me to enter any steel spacing? In that block, the steel spacing is 0.20 meters. I want to see the option to change the spacing in the properties.

[Brock_Olly]

Hi,
Sadly I no longer have full autocad so I can't help with constraints.

Check out this thread though, a lot of amazing info by Ojuris and Jpalme about how to tackle this, along with video tutorials.
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/dynamic-blocks-forum/object-in-dynamic-block-should-be-stretch-equall...

[MMcCall402 · Accepted solution]

Instead of using the Array action, use a standard AutoCAD ArrayPath and a User Parameter to provide the spacing value for the array.

(I broke the horizontal bar into three piece so it would have a piece to use for the path of array, although I could have left it as is was an instead added a construction line to use a the path for the array)

[rsalastopografia]

Thank you very much for answering my question, it works perfectly.

[rsalastopografia]

How could I make all the elements in the dynamic block rotate at any angle? In the file I modified, only one element rotates at any angle, and I want to modify it so that the entire dynamic block rotates. I would apply this to structural sections with slopes, and even vertical ones.