Tapered Section Definition - Custom Steel Beam

[josh_southall]

Is it possible to define a new tapered steel beam section within the Section Definition creation tool? 

I have a fabricated section that is to be used, constructed from steel plates, but also tapers along its length.  

This model will be used primarily to calculate deflections for a canopy construction, under various load cases including wind. 

Previously I had just defined it as a non-tapered section and applying a load reduction for reduced self-weight over its length - obviously not the most accurate but enables a quick representation.  However this latest proposed section is slightly different and would require a more accurate calculation - it involves tension members and a cut-out to the support beam. 

The cut-out section can be modelled as a different section then added to the end of the tapered beam, provided I can model the tapered beam.

Or alternatively, what would be a good way to model this within robot, plates? 

Thanks!

[Artur.Kosakowski · Accepted solution]

Hi @josh_southall

I'd try to approximate the beam with number of smaller bars with the averaged moment of inertia for each of the segments or if more accuracy is needed as a shell model with all the parts of the beam modeled as panels.

If I managed to answer your question(s) press the Accept as Solution button please. This will help other users to find solution(s) much faster. Thank you.

[josh_southall]

Thanks Artur - I think I will go with plates, since it is just a single beam that can be repeated where necessary.

A fully parametric section modeller would be a great feature to have within Robot - similar to Revit's one, or even the ability to transfer custom sections like this between the two programs!