Assigning a rebar reference orientation

The angular orientation of a rebar layer is defined relative to the rebar reference orientation. The global coordinate system determines the default rebar reference orientation. However, you can assign a rebar reference orientation to a shell part, region, skin, or stringer by selecting an existing datum coordinate system from the viewport and then selecting an axis on the datum coordinate system that approximates the direction of the shell normal. The datum coordinate system can be rectangular, cylindrical, or spherical; and you can apply an additional rotation to the coordinate system if required. For more information, see Orientations.

Related Topics
Creating and editing sections
Selecting objects within the viewport
Controlling datum display
In Other Guides
About shell elements

Context:

The rebar reference orientations that you assign to a part or region are assigned automatically to all instances of that part in the assembly. You can use the Query toolset to verify that you have assigned the correct rebar reference orientation to a selected region. For more information, see Using the Query toolset to obtain assignment information.

  1. If the part to which you want to assign a rebar reference orientation is not visible in the current viewport, click the name of the desired part in the Part list located in the context bar.

    The selected part appears in the current viewport.

  2. From the main menu bar, select AssignRebar Reference Orientation.

    Tip: You can also click the tool in the Property module toolbox.

  3. Select the regions from the viewport, and click mouse button 2 to indicate you have finished selecting. (For more information, see Selecting objects within the viewport.”)

    Tip: You can limit the types of objects that you can select in the viewport by using the tools in the Selection toolbar. See Using the selection options, for more information.

    If you select Skins as the object type, you can assign the rebar reference orientation to the entire skin or to one or more of its faces. From the prompt area, select (pick entire skin) or (pick partial skin), then make your selection in the viewport. If the selected part has multiple skins, Abaqus/CAE will display the ambiguous picking options in the prompt area while you make your selection.

    If you select Stringers as the object type, you can assign the rebar reference orientation to the entire stringer or to one or more of its edges. From the prompt area, select (pick entire stringer) or (pick partial stringer), then make your selection in the viewport. If the selected part has multiple stringers, Abaqus/CAE will display the ambiguous picking options in the prompt area while you make your selection.

    If you would rather select from a list of existing sets, do the following:

    1. Click Sets on the right side of the prompt area.

      Abaqus/CAE displays the Region Selection dialog box containing a list of available sets.

    2. Select the part set of interest, and click Continue.

    Note:

    The default selection method is based on the selection method you most recently employed. To revert to the other method, click Select in Viewport or Sets on the right side of the prompt area.

  4. Specify a local coordinate system in the selected region using one of the following methods:

    • Select a coordinate system in the viewport.

    • Select a datum coordinate system by name. Click Datum CSYS List from the prompt area, select a name from the list, and click OK.

    • Click Use Default Orientation to use the global coordinate system.

    Abaqus/CAE displays the resulting rebar orientation specified for the region, and the Edit Rebar Orientation dialog box appears.

  5. Choose Axis 1, Axis 2, or Axis 3 to specify the coordinate system axis.

    • For a shell region, specify the coordinate system axis that approximates the normal to the shell in the Normal Direction portion of the dialog box.

    • For a solid region, specify the coordinate system axis about which an optional additional rotation occurs in the Additional Rotation Direction portion of the dialog box.

  6. If desired, you can provide an additional rotation of the rebar reference orientation about the shell normal (for a shell region) or about a local axis of the datum coordinate system (for a solid region). Choose Angle, and enter a value in degrees for the additional rotation.

    Abaqus/CAE applies the additional rotation, if any, and displays the resulting rebar reference orientation applied to the region.

  7. Click OK in the dialog box.