Concrete Masonry (CMU_ Tools)

Tekla Structures
Not version-specific
Tekla Structures
Environment
Default
United States (Imperial)
United States (Metric)

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Purpose and description

Tools to facilitate modeling with concrete masonry units (cmu).

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System requirements

Environments: US Imperial, US Metric for other environments you may need to create or export/import cmu profiles and/or shapes.
Languages: English 

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Installing CMU Tools

To install the extension:

  1. Download the TSEP package from Tekla Warehouse
  2. Import the TSEP into the Applications and components catalog (see instructions)
  3. Start Tekla Structures
  4. Open/create a model
  5. The tools will be found in the Applications and components catalog under the US extensions category

 

Image
Installed tools
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Contents

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CMU Wall

Tool for creating straight walls with part or item types of concrete masonry units.

Usage

After applying appropriate settings, pick two points to define the start point and the limit of the wall length.

CMU Wall settings

Wall Attributes

  1. Wall height limit
  2. Row stagger/offset value
  3. Row stagger option:
    • Even (second row is shifted)
    • Odd (first row is shifted)
  4. Mortar/grout thickness
  5. Block properties
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_001.png

End Conditions

  1. End closure options:
    • None
    • Start
    • End
    • Both
  2. Half block properties
  3. Full block properties
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_002.png

Bond Main

  1. Bond beam row list
  2. Full block properties
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_003.png

Bond End

  1. Half block properties
  2. Full block properties
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_004.png

Beam Rebar

  1. Number of bar
    • None
    • One
    • Two
  2. Bar spacing (cc)
  3. Bar offset from block base
  4. Block properties
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_005.png

Vertical Rebar

  1. Reinforcement start offset along wall
  2. Reinforcement spacing along wall
  3. Reinforcement set creation:
    • None
    • One centered
    • Two aligned to wall length
    • Two aligned to wall depth
  4. Reinforcement set spacing
  5. Starter bar creation
    • None
    • Straight
    • Hook oriented toward back
    • Hook oriented toward front
  6. Hook length
  7. Starter length above block base
  8. Starter length below block base
  9. Block properties
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_006.png

Tagging

  1. Custom tagging properties:
    • CMU Cut Length Tag
    • CMU Height Tag
    • CMU Width Tag
    • CMU Length Tag
    • CMU Has Rebar Tag
    • CMU Decorative Color Tag
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_007.png

Additional information

  • CMU shapes need to exist in Shape Catalog to be utilized.
  • CMU shapes are imported with the installation and may cause conflicts with existing duplicate shapes.
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CMU Wall Opening

Tool to create an opening in the walls created by the CMU Wall plugin.

Usage

After applying appropriate settings, select a wall created by the CMU Wall tool and then select a point in the wall for the opening location.

CMU Wall Opening settings

Opening

  1. Positioning options
    • Picked point is offset horizontally and vertically
    • Picked point is at lower left of opening
    • Picked point is at bottom center of opening
    • Picked point is at lower right of opening
  2. Positioning dimensions
    1. Total opening width
    2. Location point horizontal offset
    3. Total opening height
    4. Arc start height (set equal to Total opening height if no arc is desired)
    5. Location point vertical offset
    6. Arc curve height
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_Opening_001.png

Lintel

  1. Creation option:
    • None
    • Full
    • Individual
  2. Horizontal offset toward start of wall
  3. Horizontal offset toward end of wall
  4. Lintel block properties
  5. Block custom tagging
    • CMU Cut Length Tag
    • CMU Height Tag
    • CMU Width Tag
    • CMU Length Tag
    • CMU Has Rebar Tag
    • CMU Decorative Color Tag
    • CMU Is Lintel Tag
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_Opening_002.png

Horizontal reinforcement

  1. Reinforcement properties for above and below the opening
  2. Vertical offset from block base above the opening
  3. Horizontal offset above the opening toward start of wall
  4. Horizontal offset above the opening toward end of wall
  5. Hook configuration and positioning above the opening
    • No hooks
    • Hooks at both ends pointed up
    • Hooks at both ends pointed up
  6. Vertical offset from block base below the opening
  7. Horizontal offset below the opening toward start of wall
  8. Horizontal offset below the opening toward end of wall
  9. Hook configuration and positioning below the opening
    • No hooks
    • Hooks at both ends pointed up
    • Hooks at both ends pointed up
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_Opening_003.png

Tie reinforcement

  1. Reinforcement properties for above the opening
  2. Number of spaces
  3. Center to center spacing
  4. Horizontal offset toward start of wall
  5. Horizontal offset toward end of wall
  6. Tie length at back face of wall
  7. Vertical offset from block base
  8. Horizontal offset from back face of wall
  9. Tie length at front face of wall
  10. Horizontal offset from front face of wall
Image
CMUTools_CMU_Wall_Opening_004.png

Additional information

  • Picked point is projected to center plane of wall which then needs to fall within the boundary of the wall parts.
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CMU Color Mapping

An application that allows users to define a manufacturer’s name or identifier for the color of a masonry unit. The end goal is to export this data to a tab-delimited text file in the model folder so that it may be referenced in drawing and report templates on a project-by-project basis.

Usage

To use the extension:

  1. Load pre-saved colors (or save entries) 
  2. Add/edit desired manufacturer’s name or identifier for the color
  3. Write the values to a tab-delimited text file
Image
CMU Color Mapping example dialog
Image
CMU Color Mapping example output file
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CMU Corner Connection

Connects two adjacent walls together and switches end conditions to interlock blocks.

Usage

The picking order for selecting the two walls to be interlocked is important and is dependent on the start and end points of the walls. The end of the first wall should be at the corner to interlock with the start of the second wall. The start nodes are in yellow and the end nodes are in magenta. For ease of use when using this tool, it is recommended that Direct Modification is turned off.

  1. Model two walls adjacent to one another.
  2. Activate the Corner Connection Tool.
  3. Hit the Create button in the Corner Connection Tool dialog.
  4. Select the first wall, which endpoint (magenta) falls at the corner to be connected.
  5. Select the second wall, of which the start point (yellow) falls at the corner to be connected.
  6. The half blocks are removed at the end of the first wall and the start of the second wall, and the course is adjusted as necessary.

💡
Ensure that the Select components selection switch is active in the lower Selection toolbar when using this tool.

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CMU Wall Swap Handles

Inverts direction of the CMU wall by switching start and end handles. If CMU wall is selected before running macro, only selected walls are swapped. If no CMU walls are preselected then all walls will have handles swapped.

Usage

This tool is useful for quickly adjusting a wall modeled in the incorrect direction. Ensure that the Select components selection switch is active in the lower Selection toolbar when using this tool.

  1. Select a CMU wall.
  2. Activate the CMU Wall Swap Handles tool by double-clicking the icon.
  3. The start and end handles will then be switched to the opposite ends of the CMU wall.
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CMU Wall Update

Forces CMU wall and openings to update in case of manual edits cause the plugin to be out of date. If CMU wall as selected before running macro, only selected walls are updated. If no CMU walls are preselected then all walls are force updated.

Usage

From the Applications & components side pane:

  1. Select the masonry wall.
  2. Activate the CMU Wall Update tool
  3. The wall is regenerated using the settings applied to create it.

From the Contextual Toolbar (using Direct Modification):

  1. Select the CMU Wall
  2. In the contextual toolbar, click the Refresh icon.
  3. The wall is regenerated using the settings applied to create it.

💡
If manual changes to a CMU wall have been made(edits outside the CMU Wall tool dialogs), using this tool will overwrite those changes and they will be lost. To make manual edits of a CMU wall, the best practice is to first explode the component by right-click → Explode component.

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CMU Drawing Creator

Creates a General Arrangement (GA) type drawing of the selected wall(s) and fits the view area. The view created is an elevation view. If multiple walls are selected, each wall will be placed on a separate General Arrangement Drawing.

Usage

Open the CMU Drawing Creator from the Applications & components side pane, in the dialog populates the following fields:

  1. Select the General Arrangement Drawing Settings used to create the drawing.
  2. Select the drawing view-specific settings if applicable (otherwise select “standard”).
  3. Provide the name of the drawing, this is the drawing number in the drawing title block.
  4. Specify the width of the drawing view. This value should be no smaller than the length of the largest wall being used in drawing creation.
  5. Click Apply to apply the settings.
  6. Click the Create button.
  7. Select the wall(s) to have drawings created.
  8. Click the middle-mouse wheel when all desired walls have been selected.
  9. Go to the Drawings & Reports ribbon and open the Document Manager.
  10. Select the created drawing to open.

💡
The auto-population of marks (call-outs) for blocks, block representation, tables, and whether rebar is present is dependent on the drawing and view settings selected in steps 1 and 2. Users should use masonry-specific settings provided with this tool, the Masonry Role, or their configuration when possible.

For more information on General Arrangement drawings and their use, see the Tekla Structures Product Guide.

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Tutorials

Masonry Tutorials - Introduction

This video provides a brief overview of the tools as well as the content of the tutorials. Additionally, viewers will also step through creating a new model for use with the rest of the masonry tutorial lessons.

Masonry Tutorials – Lesson 1

This video discusses how masonry is applied within Tekla Structures, specifically focusing on block creation and the differences between Profiles and Shapes. Additionally, this video takes a look at the CMU Tool Suite, which allows users to place individual masonry blocks or bricks with additional attributes that are designed to improve masonry workflows. This video is the first of three parts to take an in-depth look at the masonry tools.

Masonry Tutorials – Lesson 2

This video focuses exclusively on the function and use of the CMU Wall Tool, which expedites masonry wall creation by specifying common parameters to create masonry walls within a few clicks. This video is the second part of the three-part in-depth look at the masonry tools.

Masonry Tutorials – Lesson 3

This video takes a look at the remainder of the masonry tools such as Corner Connection, Wall Update and Swap Handles, and discusses their application to modeling masonry. This lesson concludes the three-part in-depth look at the masonry tools, allowing users to move on to the practical application of the tools in future lessons.

Masonry Tutorials – Lesson 4

Tekla Structures Masonry Tutorials – Lesson 4 expands upon the usage of the masonry tools and provides criteria for additional structures to be created. The lesson also covers techniques and considerations when choosing to make edits outside of the masonry tools themselves, specifically focusing on the utilization of the Polygon, Line, and Part cut tools directly with blocks and structures created with the masonry tools.

Masonry Tutorials – Lesson 5

Tekla Structures Masonry Tutorials – Lesson 5 continues the discussion on techniques for practical modeling of additional masonry structures. This lesson both demonstrates and discusses considerations with creating masonry columns, pilasters, and curved walls.

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Additional information

  • This package also installs some basic CMU items to the shape catalog which mimic the profile definitions included in the US imperial and US metric environments.
 
Image
CMUTools_002.png
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