RC Spiral Car Park Ramp

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

I am trying to design two-way spanning concrete panels in Robot which will make up the design for a spiral shaped car park ramp. The ramp spirals around a cylindrical core/shear wall with beams spanning out from the shear wall to outer perimeter columns to help support the width of the ramp. The length of the ramp is supported via edge beams which are intended to be upstands.

1. The edge beams are curved on plan and in elevation and have been modelled as short bar elements. Is it possible to create a "super bar" from the small bar elements in the concrete design options. I know this is possible in the steel design options but I can't find this in the concrete design facilities.
2. If I attempt to import a group of elements representing the edge beams between two adjacent columns into the provided reinforcement module, Robot crashes every time. What is the cause of this? 
3. What is the recommended way to tell Robot that the beams are upstands at the edge of the ramp panels and that the beams span onto the columns?   

 

[Artur.Kosakowski · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous

It is not possible to design curved beams in the RC Beam Reinforcement module of Robot. The closest you can get is to use the RC Member theoretical reinforcement one instead and as you cannot define RC superbars define zero support widths for the inner component bars of such beam.

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[Anonymous]

Thanks for the rapid response, I will use the theoretical method to design the edge beams. Is this also the case for the contoured panels i.e. can Robot design them in the provided reinforcement module?

Regarding point 3 of my original query, is it wise to use the offset function to tell robot that the edge beams are upstands? Will this cause problems to the meshed panels?

[Artur.Kosakowski · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous

Is this also the case for the contoured panels i.e. can Robot design them in the provided reinforcement module?

They have to be flat (can be inclined). 

Regarding point 3 of my original query, is it wise to use the offset function to tell robot that the edge beams are upstands? Will this cause problems to the meshed panels?

I'd rather didn't as it would 'convert' bending into axial force. I'd increase IY (to attract more bending due to the fact that they are 'above' the slab rather than at its center) instead.

If you find your post answered press the Accept as Solution button please. This will help other users to find solutions much faster. Thank you.