How to precisely place end points of a sloped concrete beam?

[Prvoime]

When you place a sloped beam between two columns, its top side ends up bellow, i.e. above, the top of the columns (because analytical model).

It actually should be as indicated by the red line in the images. The issue is even more more prominent when a sloped beam is placed between other beams.

Top offset doesn't work because it ends up protruding above the column, and manually dragging the little blue grip also doesn't work because that can't be snapped to anything except the center of columns and beams.

[Prvoime]

Bump, any ideas?

Model in place the only option?

[RPTHOMAS108]

Yes I have ideas. No never use in-place for structural members.

Place beam between column centres

Construct one of the beam ends and the target centre line in details lines

Measure the offset required

Change yz Justification to Independent

Input offset value to y offset for each end

Regarding the offset values

One end will be the exact opposite of the other if the faces the beam is connecting between are parallel and have same column size.

If those conditions are not met then you'll have to work out the offset for each end independently as right image below.

Note also that if the beam and column section are the same width then the beam edges will extend beyond the edges of the column which is not good for reinforcement detailing (may have to crank the side bars etc.).

You tend to find that because there is uniformity you can apply the same values to multiple ends.

To draw the hidden ends of the beam I tend to draw between the location line end of the beam and then perpendicular to one of the beam faces, then I drag the other end perpendicular to the opposite beam face. Unlike below in reality you only need to draw a line representing the beam end from column centre perpendicular to side you are offsetting beam end towards (to measure offset).

Some would probably just drag the beam from column centre and snap it perpendicular to the centre of the face. Then extend beam end into the column until the beam sides merge. In 2023 that may be the approach since analytical is now independent but I prefer a joined up model myself since you can then relate the items by location points for other purposes. Plus what is the starting point for generating the analytical, should really be location line.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

See screencast.

[Prvoime]

@ToanDN 

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. As far as I can tell all of the properties are the same as in your video. But it doesn't work for me (see attached video). I can eyeball it and it's far better than what I had before, but I'm obviously still doing something wrong.

[Prvoime]

@RPTHOMAS108  Sorry for the misunderstanding, I thought "vertically" sloped, as in section, not in plan view. But I'm saving your post for when something like that comes up.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

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@Prvoime wrote:

@ToanDN 

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. As far as I can tell all of the properties are the same as in your video. But it doesn't work for me (see attached video). I can eyeball it and it's far better than what I had before, but I'm obviously still doing something wrong.

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It appears your beam has cutback.  Is it a precast concrete beam?  Load a cast in place concrete beam family instead.

[Prvoime]

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@ToanDN wrote: It appears your beam has cutback.  Is it a precast concrete beam?

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Honestly have no idea how that could have happened, I never even open that folder with precast elements because we simply don't use them. I just started a new project and inserted all new families for beams and columns, and you're right, it works!

Solved, thank you!

Any idea if it can be done automatically when a beam goes from column to column? Columns don't have Y justification property so snapping to their top center is the only option. I solved it by just placing two dummy beams and then deleting them. It even joins and cleans up nicely when dummy beams are deleted.