Contents

Purpose and description
System requirements
Installing Spiral staircase
Using Spiral staircase
General tab
Parts tab
Step tab
Stringer tab
Using direct modification
 

Purpose and description

Use Spiral staircase to create and model a spiral staircase.

System requirements

Tekla Structures version: 2017i, 2018
Environments: All

Installing Spiral staircase

To install the extension:

1. Download the SpiralStaircase_2.0 installer package from Tekla Warehouse. For more information see Downloading an application from Tekla Warehouse.
2. Install the file package.

Using Spiral staircase

To use the applicationpart of Tekla Structures functionality that is developed in order to extend the capability of Tekla Structures but that is not included in the Tekla Structures installation

:

1. Open a Tekla model.
2. Click the Applications & components button  in the side pane to open the Applications & components cataloguser interface for displaying or modifying information in categorized lists
   
   For example, profile catalog and shape catalog are catalogs.
   
   .
3. Search for Spiral staircase   and then double-click to open it.
4. The Spiral staircase dialog will open.

Field	Description
(1)	Attribute file - shows a list of saved attribute files
(2)	Parts tab - defines the parts
(3)	Step tab - defines the steps
(4)	Stringer tab - defines the stringer
(5)	Save button - saves the attribute file
(6)	Delete button - deletes the attribute file
(7)	Help button - opens the help file
(8)	Overview window- when opened, additional information is displayed. Field Description Default (1) Extra column height  - (2) Height - (3) Step length - (4) Picture with dimensions of the staircase updated with the values from the user interface - (5) Calculated tread rise - (6) Picture with rotation direction of stairs Clockwise rotation (7) Information about the staircase - tread run, outer width, inner width, number of steps and angle values are calculated and displayed -
(9)	Live update settings - when clicked, live update settings window opens, from here slider increments can be set with the desired values. Field Description Default (1) Height increment - the increment for stair height slider 10.00 (2) Step length increment - the increment for step length slider 10.00 (3) Inner radius increment - the increment for inner radius 10.00 (4) Tread rise increment - the increment for tread rise 10.00 (5) OK button - Saves the increment values and closes the Live update settings window - Note: Sliders are shown only when Live update (10) is activated.
(10)	Live update Options are: Default -  Live update not activated   -  Live update activated  - values from interface are updated in the model as you drag sliders  Live update not activated
(11)	Get button - gets the values of the selected spiral staircase from the model and shows it on the interface
(12)	Cancel button - closes the  Spiral staircase window
(13)	Modify button - modifies the selected spiral staircases
(14)	Apply button - applies values to the selected spiral staircases
(15)	OK - Saves the changes and closes Spiral staircase window

5. Make desired modifications and then press the OK (15) button.
6. Pick the origin point.
7. Pick the X axis direction.
8. The spiral staircase is created.

General tab

1.  Column-Stringer option  is selected:

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Spiral staircase type - defines what type of spiral staircase will be created Options are: - Column-Stringer option - creates a spiral staircase with a column and one stringer - Double-Stringer option - creates a spiral staircase with double stringers	Column-Stringer
(2)	Extra height - extra height of the column Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed:	0.00
(3)	Height - The height of the stair Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed:	3100.00
(4)	Step lenght- defines the lenght of the step. Limitations: Items and Custom components lenght is defined when they are created. Items and Custom components lenght  needs to be the same as the step lenght in order to get the desired results. Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed:	1000.00
(5)	Tread rise - defines the maximum vertical distance between two consecutive steps Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed:	175.00
(6)	Tread run - defines the horizontal distance between two consecutive steps, measured as an arc length	175.00
(7)	Rotation - the rotation direction of the steps Options are: - Clockwise  - creates the spiral staircase in clockwise rotation direction - Counterclockwise  - creates the spiral staircase in counterclockwise rotation direction	Clockwise
(8)	Remove first step - removes first step from the staircase	First step not removed
(9)	Remove last step - removes last step from the staircase	Last step not removed
(10)	Remove stringer - removes stringer from the staircase	Stringer not removed

When Live update is activated, the interface looks like this:

Modify and Get buttons are unavailable.. Slider increments can be set from Live update settings window.

2.  Double-Stringer option   is selected

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Spiral staircase type - defines what type of spiral staircase will be created Options are: - Column-Stringer option - creates a spiral staircase with a column and one stringer - Double-Stringer option - creates a spiral staircase with double stringers	Column-Stringer
(2)	Height - The height of the stair Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed:	3100.00
(3)	Inner diameter- inner diameter of the stair Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed:	900.00
(4)	Outer diameter - outer diameter of the stair Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed:	1000.00
(5)	Tread rise - defines the maximum vertical distance between two consecutive steps Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed:	175.00
(6)	Tread run - defines the horizontal distance between two consecutive steps, measured as an arc length	175.00
(7)	Rotation - the rotation direction of the steps Options are: - Clockwise  - creates the spiral staircase in clockwise rotation direction - Counterclockwise  - creates the spiral staircase in counterclockwise rotation direction	Clockwise
(8)	Remove first step - removes first step from the staircase	First step not removed
(9)	Remove last step - removes last step from the staircase	Last step not removed
(10)	Remove outer stringer - removes outer stringer from the staircase	Outer stringer not removed
(11)	Remove inner stringer - removes inner stringer from the staircase	Inner stringer not removed

When Live update is activated, the interface looks like this:

 Modify and Get buttons are unavailable. Slider increments can be set from Live update settings window.

Parts tab

1. Column-Stringer option  is selected:

1. Column properties

2.  Stringer properties

• Stringer type is a Bent plate(1) part that is created from contour plates, or beams whose profile is a plate
  
  (1) Bent plates can be conical or cylindrical.
  
  Curved beams, spiral beams, or deformed parts cannot be used for creating a bent plate.
  
  (2) component object that represents an angle that is bent from a plate and that connects parts
  
  

• Stringer type is a Spiral beambeam that follows the form of a helix and is defined by a start point, center point and the rotation axis
  
  Spiral beams can be concrete spiral beams or steel spiral beams. They can be used to create spiral staircases, complex architectural structures, and concrete parking ramps, for example.
  
  Spiral beam can rise from the work plane or be flat. If the spiral beam rises, the total rise is defined between the start and the end point.
  
  

2. Double-Stringer option    is selected

1. Stringer properties

• Stringer is a Bent plate(1) part that represents a flat structure
  
  (1) In some contexts, for example in analysis, the term plate object may be used to refer to plates.
  
  (2) plate that represents a steel structure
  
  (2) Plate is mainly used as a connection piece or as a floor plate.
  
  

• Stringer is a Spiral beam

3. Column Stringer and Double Stringer common properties

1. Step properties

• Step is a Contour platepart whose outline form the user defines by picking three or more points
  
  The user can define the shape of the contour plate parallel to the work plane. The profile in use defines the thickness. The corners of the contour plate can be chamfered.
  
  .

• Step is an Item

To import items follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Catalogs > Shape catalogcatalog that displays a list of predefined item shapes
   
   The shapes are modeled using software other than Tekla Structures, for example SketchUp.
   
   .
2. The Shape Catalog dialog box opens.
3. Click Import.
4. Select the import file.
5. Click OK.

- supported shape file types are: .tsc; .skp; .dxf; .dwg; .ifcfile format commonly used in BIM that facilitates software interoperability

IFC is an open specification developed by the IAI (International Alliance for Interoperability).

Model can be exported into an IFC file.

; .ifcZIP; .ifcXML; .igs; .iges; .dgn; .stp; .step
- see also: About items
- see also: Shapes

• Step is a Custom componentcomponent that the user creates and uses for creating model objects whose composition the user can modify as a group
  
  

The Custom component used as a step should be defined as a Part with 2 input points to work as expected.

- see also Create a custom component

Step tab

When from Parts tab => Step properties => Contour plate option is selected the interface looks like this:

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Step shape - defines what is the shape of the steps Options are: - Inner width straight, outer width straight - Inner width rounded, outer width rounded - Inner width rounded, outer width straight	Inner width rounded, outer width rounded
(2)	Step position - position from where the step position is calculated Options are: - Edge  - Center	Edge
(3)	Defines the position of the step at depth Options are: - MIDDLE - FRONT - BEHIND	MIDDLE
(4)	Depth offset	0.00
(5)	Inner width of the edge of the steps, straight dimension in the case of a straight edge and circle length in the case of a round one	150.00
(6)	Outer width of the edge of the steps, straight dimension in the case of a straight edge and circle length in the case of a round one	400.00

When from Parts tab => Step properties => Item option is selected, Step tab looks like this:

When from Step tab the Custom component option is selected the Step tab is not shown. 

Stringer tab

• Column-Stringer option  is selected:

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Top angle stringer offset	0.00
(2)	Stringer offsets Options are: - Horizontal Field Description Default (1) Stringer offset in horizontal direction 0.00 - Vertical Field Description Default (1) Stringer offset in vertical direction 0.00 - Inclined Field Description Default (1) Stringer offset inclined 0.0	Vertical
(3)	Bottom angle stringer offset	0.00

When from Parts tab => Stringer properties => Spiral beam option is selected, Position is displayed:

• Double-Stringer option   is selected, the interface looks like this:

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Top angle stringer offset	0.00
(2)	Stringer offsets Options are: - Horizontal Field Description Default (1) Inner stringer horizontal offset 0.00 (2) Outer stringer horizontal stringer 0.00 (3) Activates the horizontal outer stringer Options are: - Enables the horizontal outer stringer  - Disables the horizontal outer stringer    - Vertical Field Description Default (1) Inner stringer vertical offset 0.00 (2) Outer stringer vertical offset 0.00 (3) Activates the horizontal outer stringer Options are: - Enables the horizontal outer stringer  - Disables the horizontal outer stringer    - Inclined Field Description Default (1) Inner stringer inclined offset 0.00 (2) Outer stringer inclined offset 0.00 (3) Activates the horizontal outer stringer Options are: - Enables the horizontal outer stringer  - Disables the horizontal outer stringer	Vertical
(3)	Bottom angle stringer offset	0.00

When from Parts tab => Stringer properties => Spiral beam option is selected, Position is displayed:

Using direct modification

You can resize, reshape and move the spiral staircase objects by using direct modificationfunction that activates the mode where the model objects can be modified by using handles

Direct modification enables additional handles and modification options.

handles and the direct modification toolbar.

To use direct modification:

1. Ensure that Direct modification is switched on.
2.  Click on the Spiral staircase.
3. The  following icon  appears.
4. Click on it.
5. The direct modification toolbar for Spiral staircase opens.
6. Click on the desired icon, the changes are applied instantly in the model. Also you can use the direct modification handles to make changes.

• Column Stringer option is active the Spiral staircase direct modification toolbar looks like this:

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Step type - Column Stringer
(2)	Rotation Options are: - Clockwise - Counterclockwise	Clockwise
(3)	Extra column height   - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	0.00
(4)	Tread rise  - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	175.00
(5)	Tread run  - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	175.00
(6)	Remove first step - when pressed removes the first step	Do not remove first step
(7)	Remove last step - when pressed last step is removed	Do not remove last step
(8)	Remove stringer - when pressed stringer is removed	Do not remove stringer
(9)	Move in perpendicular direction - moves the stair in perpendicular direction Option are: - Move in 3D - Move in parallel direction - Move in perpendicular direction Drag the staircase in the desired position.

• Double Stringer option is active the Spiral staircase direct modification toolbar looks like this:

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Step type - Double Stringer
(2)	Rotation Options are: - Clockwise - Counterclockwise	Clockwise
(3)	Tread rise  - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	175.00
(4)	Tread run  - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	175.00
(5)	Remove first step - when pressed removes the first step	Do not remove first step
(6)	Remove last step - when pressed last step is removed	Do no remove last step
(7)	Remove inner stringer - when pressed inner stringer is removed	Do not remove inner stringer
(8)	Remove outer stringer -  when pressed outer stringer is removed	Do not remove outer stringer
(9)	Move in perpendicular direction - moves the stair in perpendicular direction Option are: - Move in 3D - Move in parallel direction - Move in perpendicular direction Drag the staircase in the desired position.	-