Modify a rebar set using leg faces and leg surfaces

In addition to modifying an entire rebar set, you can make changes to any individual leg face or leg surface. Leg surfaces are especially useful when you reinforce curved or complex concrete structures.

Note:

If a leg face or leg surface is shown in red in the model, it means that the geometry of some bars in the rebar set is not valid. Check and fix the properties of the rebar set (for example, the bending radius) or the leg face or leg surface.

Show the leg faces and leg surfaces

To modify rebar sets by using leg faces, you first need to make the leg faces visible.

Tekla Structures also shows the leg surfaces. They automatically adapt to the geometry of the parts they are associated with. You can only modify leg surfaces by using their properties or contextual toolbar, not by using direct modification.

Ensure that the Direct modification switch is active.
On the Rebar tab, click Visibility > Leg faces.
Select a rebar set.

Tekla Structures shows the leg faces and leg surfaces. Tekla Structures also shows the bar layer numbers of the rebar set on each leg face or leg surface, for example LN=1.
Move the mouse pointer over a leg face or leg surface and click to select it.

Tekla Structures highlights the leg face or leg surface in yellow.

Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Alt+1 or set the advanced option XS_REBARSET_SHOW_LEGFACES to TRUE.

Modify the leg faces

You can use any of the following methods when you modify rebar set leg faces.

To move a leg face, drag it to a new location.

The connected leg faces are extended or shortened, but the angle remains unchanged.

If you hold down Alt when dragging, also the angle of the connected leg faces may change, depending on the dragging direction. The size of the dragged leg face remains the same.

If you want to detach the leg face from the connected leg faces, hold down Shift when dragging.
To move an edge of a leg face, drag the edge to a new location.

The connected leg faces follow, if possible.

If you hold down Alt when dragging, the edge is separated from the connected leg face.
To create a parallel copy of a leg face, hold down Ctrl and drag the leg face.
To create a new, connected leg face, hold down Ctrl and drag an edge of the leg face.
To add a new leg face at a part face or pour object face, ensure that the rebar set is selected, click Add leg face on the contextual tab on the ribbon, and then select the part face or pour object face.
To create a new leg face on the basis of its corner points, switch Picking mode to , click Add leg face on the contextual tab on the ribbon, and then pick points to indicate the leg face corners. Click the middle mouse button to finish picking.
To add a new corner point to a leg face, drag a midpoint handle.
To remove a corner point from a leg face, select the point and press Delete.
To modify a corner chamfer of a leg face, select the corner point, and then select the chamfer type and enter the chamfer dimensions on the contextual toolbar.
To remove a leg face, select it and press Delete.
To define an additional offset between a leg face and the bars, select the leg face and enter a value for Additional offset on the contextual toolbar, for example, .

A negative value moves the bars outside the concrete.
To flip bars over to the other side of a leg face, select the leg face and click Flip bar side on the contextual toolbar.

Note that after flipping, Tekla Structures searches for concrete on the other side of the leg face to create a concrete cover and apply the concrete cover settings. If there is no concrete, the concrete cover thickness will be zero.
To check and change the order of the bar layers at an individual leg face, select the leg face and adjust the layer order by using the following buttons on the contextual toolbar:
- Click to move the bars to the outermost layer.
- Click to move the bars one layer outwards.
- Click to move the bars one layer inwards.
- Click to move the bars to the innermost layer.
- Click to check which rebar sets affect the selected rebar set, and which rebar sets are affected by the selected rebar set.
Alternatively, you can enter a number in the Layer number box in the property pane, and then click Modify to save the changes.

The smaller the layer number, the closer to the concrete surface the bar layer is. You can use both positive and negative numbers.

These modifications override the layer order settings of the entire rebar set.

Tip:

You can modify leg face properties also in the property pane.

Modify the leg surfaces

Use these methods to modify rebar set leg surfaces.

To add a new leg surface at a part face, ensure that the rebar set is selected, click Add leg surface on the contextual tab on the ribbon, and then select the part face.

If you try to add a leg surface to a part face that already has a leg surface that belongs to the same rebar set, Tekla Structures does not add the new, duplicate leg surface.
To remove a leg surface, select it and press Delete.
To check and change the order of the bar layers at an individual leg surface, select the leg surface and adjust the layer order by using the following buttons on the contextual toolbar:
- Click to move the bars to the outermost layer.
- Click to move the bars one layer outwards.
- Click to move the bars one layer inwards.
- Click to move the bars to the innermost layer.
- Click to check which rebar sets affect the selected rebar set, and which rebar sets are affected by the selected rebar set.
Alternatively, you can enter a number in the Layer number box.

The smaller the layer number, the closer to the concrete surface the bar layer is. You can use both positive and negative numbers.

These modifications override the layer order settings of the entire rebar set.
To define an additional offset between a leg surface and the bars, select the leg surface and enter a value for Additional offset on the contextual toolbar.

A negative value moves the bars outside the concrete.
To define whether the bars at a leg surface are cut by the openings in the concrete, select the leg surface and click the Create holes button on the contextual toolbar.

Tip:

You can modify leg surface properties also in the property pane. After modifying the properties of the selected leg surfaces, click Modify to save the changes.