Intro
This plug-in transforms the load combinations into combinations only for the basic load cases, making them applicable in SDS.
Version
- v1.0.0 : Plugin release
- v1.1.0 : Improved the internal libraries, enhancing performance and stability
Applicable Standards
- General Use
Benefits of this plugin
To design a structure, you must create load combinations. These combinations depend on the state of the load affecting the structure, and the coefficients considered for these loads depend on Standard. Therefore, it is difficult to automatically create load combinations that meet all conditions.
So, how uncomfortable would it be if users directly create and use the load combination that the program does not provide, but it does not work in the program to which the load combination is linked?
To this end, the plug-in converts the load combination generated by the existing program into a combination of basic loads, such as MIDAS SDS, by breaking down.
- Design time is reduced due to the decrease in unnecessary tasks when switching between different programs.
- It reduces human errors that come from repetitive modification tasks.
- It allows for more economical designs by preventing the automatic generation of unnecessary loads.
How to use this plugin?
1. After running the plug-in, select the "Select lcb Type" to choose the Design Type you want to import.
2. Once the Design Type is selected, the "Select Active Type" window will be activated, showing only the Types where a Load Combination currently exists. Select the Type you wish to convert into SDS LCB Type and press the Create button to convert it into the SDS Format.
3. Since SDS does not yet have an active API, load combinations must be entered using a copy-and-paste method. There are two methods: the first saves the load combination to the Clipboard for immediate pasting into SDS, and the second allows the user to modify the load combination as desired by downloading it as an Excel file. The download method automatically saves to the OS's Download folder.
4. The copied load combination is then completed by pasting it into the active cell of row 1 in the Load Combinations' Spread Sheet Form in SDS.
Conclusion
This guide allows you to leverage plug-ins to create load combinations for only one CIVIL or GEN program, reducing design time and increasing accuracy.