Product(s):	ProStructures, ProSteel
Version(s):	CONNECT Edition (10.XX.00.XX)
Environment:	N/A
Area:	Steel
Subarea:	Structural Objects
Original Author:	Alistair Lobo, Bentley Product Advantage Group

Overview

While modelling steel structures, you may need to create a portal frame. In a large model with considerable repetitive placement of these portal frames, creation & placement becomes a lengthy task and consumes more modelling time. Thus, by using the Frame tool, you can create, insert and control the entire portal frame structure by a single tool.

This document will guide you on how to create, place and control the insertion and placement of frame assembly.

Method

1) Select the Portal Frame tool form Steel > Home> Structural Objects > Frames.



2) It will now prompt you to enter the insertion point for the frame’s left column, and then it will require you to select a point for the direction of the portal frame’s right column.



3) After this, the frame is created and the ‘Portal Frame’ dialog box is opened with the focus on ‘Dimensions’ tab.
    Here you can set the dimension parameters for the frame. 



4) In the ‘Shapes’ tab, you can select and assign the shapes of your choice to the members of the frame and control their alignment.  



5) In the ‘Left/Right knee’ dialog box, you can set up a connection for the column & rafter as per your requirement.



6) In the ‘Apex’ dialog box, you can set up a connection or choose an angle cut for the intersection of the rafters.








7) In the ‘Assignment’ tab, you can associate the frame members with Display class, Area class, Part family & Description, etc. for sorting these later.



8) On clicking OK, the Portal Frame is now placed.





In this manner, you can create a portal frame and control it’s layout while modelling in the Steel workflow.