Select and change the profile or material of a part

Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures

Select and change the profile or material of a part

Each part has a profile and a material, which are selected using the profile catalog and the material catalog.

Select and change the profile of a part

There are two types of profiles available for parts in Tekla Structures:

  • Fixed profiles

    Fixed profiles are profiles that can be obtained pre-manufactured. The properties of the fixed profiles conform to industry standards, and you should not modify them unless you are an administrator. Fixed profiles are environment-specific.

  • Parametric profiles

    Parametric profiles are partly user-definable: they have a predefined shape but you can change their cross section dimensions using one or more parameters. Tekla Structures calculates the cross section shape each time you open the model.

You can use the fixed or parametric profiles available in the Tekla Structures profile catalog, or you can customize the profile catalog in several ways.

Change the profile of a part

When you create or modify a part, you can select the profile of a part from a list that contains all the profiles available in the profile catalog.
  1. Double-click a part to open the part properties in the property pane.
  2. Click the ... button next to the Profile box.

    The Select Profile dialog box appears.

    By default, only the profile types that are relevant to the material of the part are shown. For example, if you are changing the profile of a steel part, only the profile types that are associated with steel are shown.

  3. If needed, define what profile information you want to see.
    • To display all the profiles of the profile catalog in the list, regardless of the material the profile types are associated with, select the Show all profiles check box.
    • To see all the properties of profiles, select the Show details check box.
  4. Select a profile from the list.
  5. If the profile is parametric, define its dimensions on the General tab.

    (1) Click the Value box and replace the existing value with a new one.

  6. Click OK to close the Select Profile dialog box.
  7. Click Modify in the property pane.

Alternatively, if you know the name of the profile, you can enter it directly in the Profile box in the property pane or in the contextual toolbar.

Use standardized values for profile dimensions

You can use standardized values for the dimensions of parametric profiles.
  1. Double-click a part to open the part properties in the property pane.
  2. Click the ... button next to the Profile box.

    The Select Profile dialog box appears.

  3. Select a parametric profile.

    If standardized values have been defined for this profile, the Use industry standardized values only check box appears on the General tab under the profile properties:

  4. Select the Use industry standardized values only check box.
  5. Select the profile dimensions from a list in the Value column.

Select and change the material of a part

When you create or modify a part, you can select the material and grade of a part from a list that contains all the materials available in the material catalog.

  1. Double-click a part to open the part properties in the property pane.
  2. Click the ... button next to the Material box.

    The Select Material dialog box appears.

  3. If needed, define what material information you want to see.
    • To include aliases for material grades in the list, select the Show aliases check box.

      Aliases are alternative names. For example, they can be former names, or names used in different countries or standards. Tekla Structures automatically changes aliases into the standard name when you select a material grade.

    • To see all the properties of materials, select the Show details check box.
  4. Select a material from the list.
  5. Click OK to close the Select Material dialog box.
  6. Click Modify in the property pane.

Alternatively, if you know the name of the profile, you can enter it directly in the Profile box in the property pane or in the contextual toolbar.

Tip:

If needed, you can customize the material catalog.

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