Cambering steel beams

Not version-specific

Tekla Structures

Environment

Not environment-specific

Question:
What options I have to camber steel beams in Tekla Structures?

Answer:
There are different ways to define cambering in the software.

One is to specify the cambering in the user-defined attribute Camber which does not change the shape of the beam in the model. Some fabricators/erectors prefer this method as it will keep connections square to the beam. To show this cambering value on drawings, add the Camber element to part mark. To get this visible in reports or templates, use the value field GetValue("USERDEFINED.cambering").

Cambering with UDA, part is straight in model

The other method is using the Cambering option in the Deforming section, which does reflect in the model and changes the beam shape.

Cambering with part properties, part is cambered in model

To get this value visible in drawing, add the User-defined attribute element to part mark and type in PartCambering. To get this visible in reports and templates, use the value field GetValue("USERDEFINED.PartCambering"). To get this value visible in Object Browser, add a custom property with following values:

Name: USERDEFINED.PartCambering
Property: USERDEFINED.PartCambering (has to be the same as in Inquire dialog box)
Unit type: Length
Data type: Number with decimals
Property type: Template

One option is to use the Truss Cambering Tool extension to model a pre-cambered truss with camber and shorten/lengthen values.

There might be some difficulties with bolt/hole location with cambered parts. For example in deformed drawing views the hole locations are not following the curvature. On option is to change the bolt representation to Solid or Exact solid. If not correct result, then try using curved beam or polybeam as a workaround solution for cambering.

See also
How to add beam cambering value in NC file