Patch properties


General
Name	The automatically generated name for the patch.
User Name	Can be used to override the automatically generated name if required.
Type	Column Beam Wall
Lx	Specifies the size of the patch in the X direction.
Ly	Specifies the size of the patch in the Y direction.
Associated Slab Panel	Where a patch sits over more than one panel then an automatic choice is made, but you are able to override this if required by selecting one of the alternative panels from a drop-down list.
Align to Panel Reinforcement	When this checkbox is selected, the calculated strip reinforcement is aligned with the background reinforcement in the Associated Slab Panel.
Local X Angle	The angle of the X axis reinforcement is only editable ifAlign to Panel Reinforcement is cleared.
Surface	Specifies the reinforcement to be associated with and designed by the patch: Top or Bottom (cannot be both).
Autodesign	This setting applies to all strips in both directions, but reinforcement in either direction can still be set to none - see below. Cleared - the specified reinforcement will be checked during the design process. Checked - reinforcement will be designed during the design process.
Select bars starting from	This option controls the starting point for auto-design procedures. Minima (default) - removes the current arrangement and begins with the minimum allowed bar size. Current - the auto design commences from the current bar arrangement.
Consider Strips	This setting controls which strips are to be designed by the patch. X Y X and Y
Consider patch surface moments only	Off (default) patch reinforcement is designed in the surface of the slab at which the patch has been specified AND the slab reinforcement is also checked in the opposite surface. On patch reinforcement is designed in the surface of the slab at which the patch has been specified, but the slab reinforcement in the opposite surface is NOT checked. Note: The only situation when you might need to activate this option is if the check of slab reinforcement in the opposite surface fails but another patch exists in the same location at that face.(When the other patch is designed additional reinforcement will be provided at that surface, so this check is not required for the original patch).


Strips in X, Strips in Y
Center, Left and Right Strip
Width	The left and right strip widths can be specified independently: the center strip width is recalculated accordingly and cannot be edited. (By default the center strip covers half the panel, so that the left and right strips each cover a quarter of the panel.)
Design Force	• Average (of all the FE nodal values within the strip). • Maximum (of all the FE nodal values within the strip).
Reinforcement
Combine with Panel Reinforcement	When this checkbox is selected, the calculated strip reinforcement takes into account any existing panel reinforcement in the Associated Slab Panel that is in the same alignment as the strip.
Cover as Panel	When this checkbox is selected, the cover is set to be the same as that in the Associated Slab Panel.
Outer Bar Direction as Panel	When this checkbox is selected, the outer bar direction is set to be the same as that in the Associated Slab Panel. When cleared, the outer bar direction can be set in X or Y.


Reinforcement
Combine with Panel Reinforcement	When this checkbox is selected, the calculated strip reinforcement takes into account any existing panel reinforcement in the Associated Slab Panel that is in the same alignment as the strip.
Cover as Panel	When this checkbox is selected, the cover is set to be the same as that in the Associated Slab Panel.
Outer Bar Direction as Panel	When this checkbox is selected, the outer bar direction is set to be the same as that in the Associated Slab Panel. When cleared, the outer bar direction can be set in X or Y.
Reinforcement	This setting is used to specify whether bars or mesh are to be used in each direction. • Mesh • Bars XY • Bars X • Bars Y • None (If Mesh is selected an extra setting then allows you to specify if main bars are in X or Y.)


Reinforcement in X, Reinforcement in Y, or Mesh
Bar Size, spacing, Mesh type etc.	The actual reinforcement provided in each of the strips is indicated here.