This section explains how to create steel parts. Click the links below to find out more:
• Creating a steel column on page 75
• Creating a steel beam on page 76
• Creating a steel polybeam on page 77
• Creating a curved beam on page 78
• Creating a contour plate on page 79
• Creating an orthogonal beam on page 80
• Creating a twin profile on page 81
• Creating an item on page 81
Creating a steel column
To create a steel column:
1. Click or Modeling --> Create Steel Part --> Column . 2. Pick a point.
Tekla Structures creates the column at the level defined in the Column Properties dialog box.
3. If you want to change the part properties:
a. Double-click the column to open the Column Properties dialog box. b. Modify the properties.
c. Click Modify.
TIP Sometimes when you copy and mirror a column, its upper and lower levels may become
incorrectly switched. Use the Orthogonal Beam Properties dialog box to correct the position of
a column. Remember to change the part name to COLUMN.
See also
Steel column properties on page 250
Positioning columns, pad footings, and orthogonal beams on page 297
Creating a steel beam
To create a steel beam:
1. Click or Modeling --> Create Steel Part --> Beam . 2. Pick two points.
Tekla Structures creates the beam between the points you picked.
3. If you want to change the part properties:
a. Double-click the beam to open the Beam Properties dialog box. b. Modify the properties.
c. Click Modify. See also
Steel beam properties on page 251
Creating a steel polybeam
A polybeam can contain straight and curved segments. You can also create bent plates with this command.
To create a steel polybeam:
1. Click or Modeling --> Create Steel Part --> Polybeam . 2. Pick the points you want the beam to go through.
3. Press the middle mouse button.
Tekla Structures creates the polybeam between the points you picked.
4. If you want to change the part properties:
a. Double-click the polybeam to open the Beam Properties dialog box. b. Modify the properties.
c. Click Modify.
5. If you want to create curved segments, chamfer the corners of the polybeam.
For example:
See also
Status of polybeam chamfers on page 146 Steel beam properties on page 251
Creating a curved beam
To create a curved steel beam:
1. Click or Modeling --> Create Steel Part --> Curved Beam . 2. Pick the start point (1).
3. Pick a point on the arc (2). 4. Pick the end point (3).
Tekla Structures creates the beam between the points you picked.
5. If you want to change the part properties:
a. Double-click the curved beam to open the Beam Properties dialog box. b. Modify the properties.
c. Click Modify.
See also
Steel beam properties on page 251 Creating curved parts on page 295
Creating a contour plate
When you create a contour plate, the profile you use defines the thickness of the plate and the picked points define the shape. The corners of the contour plate can be chamfered. To create a contour plate:
1. Click or Modeling --> Create Steel Part --> Contour Plate . 2. Pick the corner points of the contour plate.
3. Press the middle mouse button. Tekla Structures creates the plate.
4. If you want to change the part properties:
a. Double-click the plate to open the Contour Plate Properties dialog box. b. Modify the properties.
c. Click Modify. See also
Creating a round contour plate on page 79 Contour plate properties on page 252
Creating a round contour plate
To create a round contour plate:
1. Create a square contour plate with four equal sides. 2. Select the plate.
3. Select the handles of the plate.
TIP To select all the handles at once, hold down the Alt key and drag the mouse from left to right, covering all the handles.
4. Press Alt + Enter to display the Chamfer Properties dialog box. 5. Select the round chamfer symbol from the list.
6. Enter the chamfer radius in the x box. The radius must be equal to half of the side of the square.
7. Click Modify.
See also
Alternative way of creating a round plate or slab on page 297 Creating a contour plate on page 79
Contour plate properties on page 252 Chamfering parts on page 144
Creating an orthogonal beam
To create a steel beam that is orthogonal to the work plane: 1. Click Modeling --> Create Steel Part --> Orthogonal Beam . 2. Pick a point.
Tekla Structures creates the beam at the position you picked.
3. If you want to change the part properties:
a. Double-click the orthogonal beam to open the properties dialog box. b. Modify the properties.
c. Click Modify. See also
Orthogonal beam properties on page 253
Creating a twin profile
A twin profile consists of two identical beams. You define the positions of both beams by selecting the twin profile type and setting the clearance between the beams in two directions.
To create a twin steel profile:
1. Click Modeling --> Create Steel Part --> Twin Profile . 2. Pick two points.
Tekla Structures creates the twin profile between the points you picked.
3. If you want to change the part properties:
a. Double-click either of the beams to open the Beam Properties dialog box. b. Modify the properties.
c. Click Modify. See also
Twin profile properties on page 254
Creating an item
To create an item:
1. Click or Modeling --> Create Steel Part --> Item . 2. Pick two points.
Tekla Structures creates the item between the points you picked starting from the first point (yellow handle) towards the direction of the second point (magenta handle).
3. If you want to change the item properties:
a. Double-click the item to open the Item Properties dialog box. b. Modify the properties.
c. Click Modify. See also
Item properties on page 255 About items on page 74