The CMU Wall Edit window

An SDS2 Concrete license is required to enable the adding of CMU walls in Modeling .

To open this window (in Modeling ) :

On this page or the Add CMU Wall page :

Also see :

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Wall properties

------ Attributes ------

Field block: Any template that is listed in Concrete Setup > CMU Templates . Each template on that window defines the shape and dimensions of a CMU block . The block you select here sets the shape and dimension of interior blocks in the CMU course. If " End block " is set to ' None " (the default), then the selected " Field block " also applies to end blocks.

Tip: If you want both a " Field block " and " End block ," they should be close to the same size.

To enter a template, press the "file cabinet" browse button ( ) and double-click any template that is listed.

End block: None or any template that is listed in Concrete Setup > CMU Templates . Each template on that window defines the shape and dimensions of a CMU block .

Tip: For best results, the " Field block " and " End block " should be close to the same size.

' None ' is the default choice Select ' None ' if you want field blocks and end blocks to be the same. Field blocks and end blocks will be defined by the template entered for " Field block ."

Reference: Center or Interior or Exterior . The choices you have for " Reference " behave differently depending on whether you laid out points for the CMU wall counterclockwise or clockwise. Changing the " Reference " of a wall does not reposition the member line of the wall. It repositions the CMU blocks with respect to that member line. The member line of a wall is originally defined by its layout points and may be modified using the diagram .

If points were laid out counterclockwise:

' Center '
' Interior '
' Exterior '
' Center ' centers the CMU wall around member line . ' Interior ' places the CMU blocks to the interior of the wall's member line. ' Exterior ' places the CMU blocks to the exterior of the wall's member line.

If points were laid out clockwise:

' Center '
' Interior '
' Exterior '
' Center ' centers the CMU wall around the member line . ' Interior ' places the CMU blocks exterior to the member line. ' Exterior ' places the CMU blocks interior to the member line.

Key course elevation: Auto or Auto . The key course is the 1st course above the member line .

' Auto (checked) ' instructs the CMU wall member to automatically calculate the key course elevation based on the height of the masonry unit as defined in its template and on the position of the member line . This means that the entry that is automatically made here should be fairly accurate if all segments of the member line are at the same elevation.

' Auto (not checked) ' permits you to override the automatically calculated key course elevation with an entry that you make. Your entry will not affect the model.

Starting edge: Flush or Weave straight or Weave perpendicular . The starting edge of a CMU wall is its left end , which is set by the first work point that was located when the wall was added .

An origin symbol ( ) marks the bottom course of the starting edge in these examples.

' Flush ' aligns the left end edge of the CMU wall vertically, in alignment with the origin point

' Weave straight ' staggers the starting edge, with alternate courses in vertical alignment. The second course is inset from the first course and in alignment with even-numbered courses such as the 4th, 6th, 8th courses, etc. The first segment of the bottom course matches the fist segment of the bottom course for ' Flush ', except that the first block is rotated 180 degrees so that its finished surface is in instead of out. The odd-numbered courses in the same segment all match the 1st course in that segment.

' Weave perpendicular ' also staggers the starting edge, but the bottom course is extended beyond the origin point. The bottom two examples in the illustration shown above have ' Weave perpendicular ' set for the " Starting edge ." Look at the corner blocks in the illustrations of the bottom courses in these two examples and notice that the way the segments abutt at these corners is similar.

Note: Changing the " Starting edge " and/or " Ending edge " does not affect the " Total wall length ."

Ending edge: Flush or Weave straight or Weave perpendicular .

An arrow ( ) identifies the bottom course of the ending edge in the above examples.

' Flush ' aligns the left end edge of the CMU wall vertically, in alignment with the last point that was located when the wall was added or modified using the diagram .

' Weave straight ' staggers the ending edge, with alternate courses in vertical alignment. The second course extends past the first course. The final segment of the bottom course matches the final segment of the bottom course for ' Flush ', except that the last block is rotated 180 degrees so that its finished surface is in instead of out.

' Weave perpendicular ' also staggers the ending edge. The difference between this option and the ' Weave straight ' option is most evident where corners of the wall are woven together.

Note: Changing the " Starting edge " and/or " Ending edge " does not affect the " Total wall length ."

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------ Wall segments ------

Selecting a " Wall segment ":

Select one of the " Wall Segments " to show the properties for that segment. In this example, the selected segment is named " Wall Segment #1 " and the properties are " Segment 1 Properties ."

You can, if you so choose, edit or review the properties of multiple segments. Click the " Select All " button to select all of the wall segments.

A wall segment is the segment of the wall that is between any two consecutive points in the diagram . " Wall segment 1 " is the segment that is closest to the left end of the wall. The left end of a wall is the first point that was located. " Wall segment 2 " is the segment that is the next point from the left end, and so on. If you located points in a counterclockwise fashion, " Wall segment 2 " is counterclockwise from segment 1. If you located points in a clockwise fashion, " Wall segment 2 " is counterclockwise from segment 1.

Start height: The vertical distance (in the primary dimension " Units " or other units ) from the bottom of the member line of the wall to the top of the wall. CMU walls are perfectly vertical. The " Start height " of a CMU wall segment is the height of the wall at the left end of the selected segment .

Warning : You are not permitted to close this window by pressing " OK " when you have entered a negative value (-) or zero (0) to " Start height " or " End height ."

End height: Same as " Start height ," except that this applies to the right end of the segment.

Start depth: The vertical distance (in the primary dimension " Units " or other units ) from the bottom of the member line of the wall to the bottom of the wall. CMU walls are perfectly vertical. The " Start depth " of a CMU wall segment is the depth of the wall below the wall's member line at the left end of the selected segment .

Note: Entering ' 0 ' (zero) to both " Start depth " and " End depth " keeps the bottom of the selected segment at the elevation of the corresponding segment of the member line .

Warning : You are not permitted to close this window by pressing " OK " when you have entered a negative value (-) to " Start depth " or " End depth ."

End depth: Same as " Start depth ," except that this applies to the right end of the segment.

Top style: Stepped or Smooth . This applies to the selected segment . It can make a difference even when the " Start height " and the " End height " of that segment are the same.

' Stepped ' results in each course of the wall that is above the member line being the block height defined in the template, thus potentially causing a stepped appearance at the top of the wall. Rounding to a unit value equal to the template block height takes place in order to best approximate the " Start height " and the " End height ."

' Smooth ' results in the selected segment being modeled to the precise " Start height " and " End height " that is specified. The top of the wall is smooth and cut horizontally at a slope that is defined by the segment's specified " Start height " and " End height ." That slope will be zero if the " Start height " and " End height " are equal. When the " Start height " and " End height " are equal, the top course of the wall will still be cut if a cut is required to achieve the specified height.

Bottom style: Stepped or Smooth . This applies to the selected segment only when either or both the " Start depth " and " End depth " are non-zero (not 0).

' Stepped ' results in each course of the wall that is below the member line being a depth equal to the block height defined in the template, thus potentially causing a stepped appearance at the bottom of the wall. Rounding to a unit value equal to the template block height takes place in order to best approximate the " Start depth " and the " End depth ."

' Smooth ' results selected segment being modeled to the precise " Start depth " and " End depth " that you specify. The bottom of the wall is smooth and cut horizontally, perpendicular to a potentially sloping line to points that are defined by the segment's specified " Start depth " and " End depth ."

Joint type: Weave or Butt . This applies to 90-degree corner joints and affects the two adjacent segments of the CMU wall that together form the 90-degree corner. Select the leftmost segment at the corner. The choice made to that selected segment affects the right edge of that segment and causes " Joint type " (this option) to be disabled ( grayed out ) in the adjacent segment that is to the selected segment's right.

' Weave ' staggers the blocks at the corner of the CMU wall so that the natural corners of the blocks are in vertical alignment.

' Butt ' cuts the blocks at the corner at an angle equal to half the corner angle. The blocks will abutt at that angle.

Horz offset: Auto or Auto .

' Auto (checked) ' instructs the CMU wall member to automatically calculate the horizontal offset.

' Auto (not checked) ' lets you enter a horizontal offset in the primary dimension " Units " or other units . A positive horizontal offset slides the key course (first course above the member line ) horizontally that dimension and affects all other courses in the pattern. A negative horizontal offset slides the key course in the opposite direction, affecting every other course in the pattern.

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------ Diagram ------

Tip: You can also change the coordinates by using the Move Layout Nodes tool in the model.

Radius: A distance (in the primary dimension " Units " or other units ) that defines the amount of corner rounding that takes place.

" Radius " is the radius of a circle. Two lines that are tangent to that circle meet at the located point. The arc of the rounded corner ends at the points of tangency of these two lines.

A " Radius " of ' 0 ' designates a sharp corner with no corner rounding.

Increasing the size of the " Radius " moves the edge of the rounded corner back from the corner point. This is because the " Radius " defines a circle that is tangent to both lines to the corner point. The arc of the rounded corner begins and ends at the tangent points.

You can set a different " Radius " for each corner. Clicking on the upper-right corner of the table (" Radius > ") lets you set the radius for each point to be the same value.

View: X-Y or X-Z or Y-Z .

' X-Y ' shows a plan view of the layout points . If the " Z-axis " values of the CMU wall are the same (they don't necessarily have to be the same), then this is the view that will best represent the spatial relationships between those points.

' X-Z ' shows a elevation view of the layout points in a flat, X-Z plane that is at right angles to (orthogonal to) the Y global axis .

' Y-Z ' shows a elevation view of the layout points in a flat, Y-Z plane that is orthogonal to the X global axis.

Dimension by: Length and angle or Previous point or Origin point . This applies when you hover a point in the diagram with your mouse pointer ( ), regardless of whether or not you are adding points.

' Length and angle ' shows one or two dimensions and an angle. The dimension(s) are to the point you are hovering. One dimension may be to the previous point, and another dimension may be to the next point. The angle to the point you are hovering may be the included angle between the hovered point and the previous two points. Or it may be the angle between the hovered point and a horizontal or vertical bisector to the previous point.

' Previous point ' shows horizontal and/or vertical dimensions between the point you are hovering and the previous point in the diagram. Dimensions of zero will not be shown.

' Origin point ' shows horizontal and/or vertical dimensions from the origin point (point 1) to the point you are hovering. Dimensions of zero will not be shown.

Adding points: You can click a line in the diagram to add a point. The new point snaps to your mouse pointer until you left-click to locate that point or right-click to cancel. Dimensions are shown as you move your mouse pointer to reposition the snapped-to point. An alternative to clicking in the diagram to add points is to enter the points to the table.

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