How can I control the length of polybeams and curved beams

Question:
How can I control what LENGTH is displayed for polybeams and curved beams?

Answer:
There are a few commands which control how Tekla Structures measures the length of polybeams and curved beams (curvature controlled on the Position tab).

The commands can be advanced options, which for polybeams depend on the type of chamfer used. Also, the unfold_corner_ratios.inp file is found in every environment's system folder. You can also use this file inside your model folder.

Here is how it works:

1. The length of polybeams with straight corner chamfers ignores any settings in the unfold_corner_ratios.inp file if the advanced option XS_CALCULATE_POLYBEAM_LENGTH_ALONG_REFERENCE_LINE is set to TRUE. Then, the length is calculated along the part's reference line. See the attached picture.
2. For curved polybeams (polybeams with Rounding or Arc Chamfer) the length is always controlled by using the unfold_corner_ratios.inp file. In the picture below, the following unfold_corner_ratios settings are used for straight chamfers and curved chamfers:
   1 H* * -180 180 1 -360 360 0.3
   1 H* * -180 180 2 0 10000 0.3
3. For curved beams (not polybeams), the length is calculated only using XS_CURVED_AXIS_PLACE.

See also Polybeam lenght calculation.

Image

See also:

• Using unfold_corner_ratios.inp