FF components

Module(s): Bar Reinforcement + Mesh Reinforcement

The FF Components tool allows you to use component groups to create bending shapes and their placements in a single step. Components can be adjusted using handles.

General notes on entering components

To place reinforcement for a component

1. Click FF Components (How).
   

   Activate FF Components in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Engineering Bar/Mesh Reinforcement

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Bar reinforcement

   Mesh reinforcement

   • Configuration: Engineering Bar Entry and Placement flyout
2. Select a catalog, choose a component and click OK to confirm the dialog box.
   

   Additional tools for selecting components

   All components are shown graphically. When you drag the cursor over a component, ToolTips with a description of the relevant component appear.

   Clicking the individual components with the right mouse button and selecting Enlarge View enlarges the display of the component clicked.
   In addition, you can use the slide bar at bottom left in the dialog box to enlarge the graphic preview in its entirety. But this is reset when you quit the tool.

   Prior to selecting a component, you can use the Mirror across y axis option to mirror all components. This enables you to adjust unsymmetrical components to the existing shell.
   This option applies to all the other components, too; but you can change it every time you enter a component.

3. Define the reinforcement settings such as Diameter, Bar spacing, Bar length and Concrete cover in the dialog boxes.
   You can enter global values or bar-based values.
   You can have the program calculate the bar lengths.

   For additional wall reinforcement you can enter the stirrup width as a fixed value or you can have the program determine the width automatically. In addition, you can enter the Number of bars and the Spacing of the longitudinal reinforcement.

   

   Stirrup width as fixed value

   If you enter 0.00 for the stirrup width, the program automatically calculates the stirrup width based on the concrete covers set and the existing wall geometry.

   As an alternative, you can also enter a fixed value for the stirrup width and have the program calculate the concrete covers automatically. The stirrup width must not exceed the width of the wall.
   Depending on the concrete covers specified, the following placement options are available:

   • If both concrete covers are set to 0.00, the stirrup is centered in the wall.
   • If one of the two concrete covers is set to 0.00, this concrete cover is determined automatically based on the value set for the other concrete cover and the stirrup width.
   • If both concrete covers are not set to 0.00, the concrete cover on the selected wall side is taken into account. The value for the other concrete cover is determined automatically based on the stirrup width.

   For corbels, you can specify the concrete cover for the top and bottom horizontal stirrup. You can also configure the program to create additional stirrups in the column area if the corbel is smaller than the adjacent column.
   For corbels with an inclined bottom, two separate areas are provided for can defining the horizontal and vertical stirrups in the area of the haunch.

   Note: Use Record management to save component settings and retrieve them later.
   You can use the Replace option to globally replace individual parameters by entering the old and new values.
   For the column with three stirrup regions and some stair types, you can use to specify whether you want to create individual bending shapes as reinforcing bars or as bent-up mesh.
   For additional wall reinforcement, you can use to expand the dialog box so that you can make specific settings for precast elements.

   

   Replacing component parameters globally

   This dialog box provides a convenient way of modifying selected parameters of entire components.

   1. Select the parameters you want to change.
   2. Enter the old and the new values for the parameter(s).
   3. Click OK to replace the parameters.

      The program scans all the parameters you have selected for the old value and replaces it with the new value.
      This way, for example, you can change the diameter of an entire stirrup reinforcement without changing the diameter of the longitudinal reinforcement.

   Note: Please bear in mind that the Bar Spacing, Placing Length and Segment Length parameters are mutually dependent. i.e., changing one setting may cause another to update accordingly.

4. Click OK to confirm the dialog boxes.

   A preview of the component is attached to the crosshairs. Before you place it, you can define the placing parameters in the dialog box. Using the shortcut menu, you can specify how the bending shape is to be displayed and whether the entire component is to be mirrored.
   When you modify the Steel grade, the dialog boxes for defining the reinforcement parameters will open again as the steel grade affects the anchorage lengths. The values calculated by the program are adjusted automatically.

5. Move the crosshairs across the workspace. As soon as the program detects an appropriate component geometry, the component expands.
6. Click in the workspace to place the component
   Or
   Click in the workspace with the right mouse button and, on the shortcut menu, choose Component dialog to open the dialog boxes for defining the component. Any changes you make are automatically reflected in the display on screen. When you have made all the necessary settings, click OK to confirm the dialog boxes
   Or
   Click in the workspace with the right mouse button and, on the shortcut menu, choose Use handles to adjust component. Select the individual handles and the corresponding edges. Press ESC to finish making assignments.
   For additional wall reinforcement, you can use on the shortcut menu to fit in the geometric template. Then, the dialog boxes for defining the component are displayed again.
   

   Fit in geometric template

   By default, additional wall reinforcement is placed at existing shell edges, which are automatically detected by the FF reinforcement tool. This can be the end of a wall, for example.
   Using a geometric template, you can place additional reinforcement anywhere within a wall.

   1. As soon as the reinforcement expands or the desired shell edge is highlighted, click in the workspace with the right mouse button.
   2. Click Fit in geometric template.
   3. Place the two imaginary wall leaves where you require.
   4. If necessary, modify the reinforcement parameters.
      

   Note: This way, you can also create additional reinforcement in solid walls or slab elements.

7. The remaining steps vary depending on the reinforcement mode and shell:
   • Reinforce with 3D model is not active
   • Reinforce with 3D model is active and you have created the component in a 2D shell
   • Reinforce with 3D model is active and you have created the component in a 3D shell
8. When it comes to labeling bar reinforcement, select the Automatic mark number option in the input options if the program is to create the mark number at the beginning or end of the label depending on the drop-in point specified and define the Anchor point of the label, if necessary.
9. Specify the parameters of the bar label or mesh label, place the label of the definition bar (you can define the text angle in advance) and create the leader manually, if necessary.
   Or
   Skip labeling by pressing ESC.
10. When you have configured Allplan to create a layer symbol ( Options, Reinforcement - Label page) and you have not yet placed this symbol along with the label, you can now select a Layer symbol in the Leader area of the palette and click the drop-in point or a bar segment.
    Or
    Skip layer marking by pressing ESC.
11. For automatic placement, select the dimension line type in the list box at the top of the palette, specify the dimension line parameters for the Dimension line type or the text parameters and format properties of the mark number for the Mark symbols type, define the settings in the input options and place the dimension line and label of the placement or select the placing mode to immediately place the bar you have just defined.
    

    When the dimension line type is set to Dimension line and you have selected several placements of a mark for a common label, you can create a continuous dimension line even if the placements are set off. All you need to do is select the Align option.
    You can use the Formwork edges option to add the position of the placement within the shell to the dimensions by clicking two points of the shell.

    When the dimension line type is set to Mark symbols, you can use Anchor point to attach a specific point of the mark number preview to the crosshairs. In addition, you can use and to alter the distance between the crosshairs and the anchor point.

    

    For polygonal placements, the index is automatically listed after the mark number. This way, all the bars are assigned correctly to the schema and reinforcement schedules.
    Whether numbers or characters are used for the index depends on the selected design code.

    You can only place the bending shape when

    • Reinforce with 3D model is not active or
    • Reinforce with 3D model is active and you have created the component in a 2D shell or
    • Reinforce with 3D model is active and you have created the component in a 3D shell and selected manual

      and the bar has not yet been placed automatically by the program.

12. If necessary, label and place more bars.