Input points of different embed types

Updated: 18 Mar 2020

General guidelines

When defining input points, the following aspects should be considered:

  • Ease of use when placing the embed
  • Automatic dimension creation in the drawing
  • Logical and consistent point locations for each embed type

Ease of use means that picking the points for placing the embed is easy in a typical modeling case, and controlling the rotation of the embed works in a useful way.

Automatic dimensions in drawings are created to the first input point. For most embeds the desired dimensioning point is the center of the embed, so this requirement dictates the first point location.

An example of a center point dimension:

Tekla Structures embed input points - center point dimension

Logical and consistent means that the embeds of similar type should have the same logic for input point locations. So the use of them would be consistent and embeds will be interchangeable.

Embed coordinate system

In embed internal coordinate system the second point should be towards the positive X-direction and the optional third (on the left) point towards the positive Y-direction. See the picture below.

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed coordinate system

Workplane

When creating the embed, set the workplane parallel to the surface of the concrete part the embed relates to. In the examples of the picture above the default workplane can be used.

Embed type categories

There are many different types of embeds. We have divided them to three main type categories, each one having their own rules for input point definitions. They are described in detail in the following sections.

In later chapter Type category examples there are examples of embeds of different categories.

Type category 1: embeds that are related to the surface of concrete part

Tekla Structures input points of different embed types - embed type category 1

There are two basic rules in defining input points for this type of embeds:

1. Input points are on the surface of the concrete part

2. The second input point is along the "flat" direction of the embed

The "flat" direction is not always clear, e.g. for complex embeds. See the examples in later chapter Type category examples for guidance in defining the input points.

Fixed size and variable size embed

For fixed size embed the first point is in the center of the embed, on the concrete surface. The second point is also on the concrete surface, along the "flat" direction of the embed.

If the length of the embed is variable, then the first input point should be in the start point, and the second input point in the end point of the embed.

Tekla Structures input points of different embed types - fixed and variable size embeds

Type category 2: embeds that are related to the edge of concrete part

Tekla Structures input points of different embed types - embed type category 2

For edge embeds the input points are along the concrete part edge.

 

Fixed size and variable size embed

For fixed size embed the first point is in the center, corner of the plate. The second point is along the concrete part edge. This way the embed is easier to place on a sloped structure, and the rotation control works in a useful way.

If the length of the embed is variable, then the first input point should be in the start point, and the second input point in the end point of the embed.

Tekla Structures input points of different embed types - fixed and variable size embeds in category 2           Tekla Structures embed input points - fixed and variable size embeds legend

 

Type category 3: embeds that are inside concrete part

Tekla Structures input points of different embed types - embed type category 3

For embeds that are completely inside the concrete, and not related to the surface or edge of the concrete part, the input point definition depends on the type and purpose of the embed. No specific rules can be given, but the General guidelines defined in the beginning of this Input points of different embed types guideline should be applied.

See later chapter Category 3: Sandwich panel (shear) connectors for examples of this type of embed.

Type category examples

Category 1: Fixed size fastening plate

Input points:

Tekla Structures input points of different embed types - embed type category 1 example       Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example legend

 

The first point is in the center of the plate, on the concrete (and plate) surface. The second point is along the longer side axis of the plate.

Notes for creation:

  • Use UNDEFINED_STUDs for anchors.

Category 1: Lifting anchors and sockets

Embeds of similar type should be easily interchangeable. With lifting anchors, this means that the second point should always point towards the center of the concrete part. For this reason, the general rule of "flat" direction is not applied for some embeds, e.g. the one on the left.

Tekla Structures input points of different embed types - embed type category 1 example lifting anchors and sockets

Notes for creation:

  • Use additional “dummy part” in lifting anchors, which are made of rebars or strands. This enables same behavior and attributes as any other custom parts, like dimensioning in drawings, listing in BOM etc. Place the “dummy part” inside the rebar to a point where it is dimensioned in drawings. Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example lifting anchors and sockets

Lifting socket

Input points:

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example lifting socket

Notes for creation:

Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.

Lifting anchor

Input points:

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example lifting anchor

The first point is in the center, top of the anchor. The second point is along the longitudinal axis of the concrete part.

Notes for creation:

  • In order to have this embed interchangeable with other lifting anchors, the general rule of input points along the "flat" direction is not applied. Use bolt -tool to create the holes

Category 1: Embeds for vertical surface of concrete part

These embeds are for example for wall vertical connections or for supporting a wall or a beam. The input points should defined so that the first point is on the concrete surface; second point is horizontally towards the edge of the concrete part. This way it is easier to control the angle of the embed e.g. in a case like this:

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 vertical surface of concrete part

 

This means that the general rule of "flat" direction is not always applied, like in the examples of the picture on the right. However, this way the embeds of this type will be interchangeable.

Also the general rule of workplane is not applied for these embeds as they are typically placed only on the vertical edge of the concrete part.

The default workplane should be used when creating these embeds, this way also placing them will be easy using the default workplane.

 Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example  

 

Wire loop

Input points:

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example wire loop   Tekla Structures embed input points - legend

Notes for creation:

  • The general rule of input points along the "flat" direction is not applied.
  • Use the default workplane when creating the embed.
  • Use rebar (grade "Undefined") for the loop.

Support anchor

Input points:

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example support anchor   Tekla Structures embed input points - legend 

 

The first point is where the plate meets the concrete surface. The second point is towards the side along the concrete surface.

Notes for creation:

  • The general rule of input points along the "flat" direction is not applied.
  • Use the default workplane when creating the embed.
  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.

Steel corbel

Input points:

 Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example steel corbel   Tekla Structures embed input points - legend  

 

The first point should be located according to the desired dimensioning point in the drawing. In this example, it is the bottom level of the seat plate. The second point is towards the side along the concrete surface.

Notes for creation:

  • The general rule of input points along the "flat" direction is not applied.
  • Use the default workplane when creating the embed.
  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.

Two-sided steel corbel, length is variable

Input points:

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example two-sided steel corbel     Tekla Structures embed input points - legend  

The first point should be located according to the desired dimensioning point in the drawing. In this example, it is the bottom level of the seat plate. The second point is in the other end of the corbel defining the corbel length.

Notes for creation:

  • Use the default workplane when creating the embed.
  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.

Wall shoe

Input points:

 Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example wall shoe     Tekla Structures embed input points - legend

The first point is in the center point of the bolt hole, on the bottom level of the plate.

The second point is towards the side of the wall. This way it is easier to pick the points in the model, and control the side of the opening.

The general rule of workplane is not applied for these embeds as they are typically placed only on the bottom edge of the concrete part.

The default workplane should be used when creating these embeds, this way also placing them will be easy using the default workplane.

Notes for creation:

  • The general rule of input points along the "flat" direction is not applied.
  • Use the default workplane when creating the embed.
  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.
  • Use bolt command to create the slotted hole

Anchor bolt

Input points:

 Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 1 example anchor bolt    Tekla Structures embed input points - legend 

The first point is on the top, center of the anchor. The second point is on a horizontal line from the first one.

Notes for creation:

  • Use a round steel beam as the "body" of the anchor. Extend it to the top level, so ASSEMBLY_TOP_LEVEL will give correct value.
  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for other round bars, also for the headings in the bottom. (Bigger sizes have been added to Undefined grade for this purpose.)
  • Add a stud to the component, so in drawing presentation a bolt symbol can be used to represent the anchor bolt. See the picture below for an example of bolt symbol representation. Tekla Structures bolt symbol in drawing
  • By default studs are drawn as solid, so not with bolts symbols. To use bolt symbols also for studs the following variable must be set in the .ini file: set XS_DRAWING_STUD_REPRESENTATION=AS_BOLT

Category 2: Fixed size edge anchor

Input points:

 Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 2 example edge anchor   Tekla Structures embed input points - legend  

  

The first point is in the center, corner of the plate. The second point is along the concrete part edge.

Notes for creation:

  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.
  • Do not model the round chamfers of the contour plate.

Category 2: Exception - Column shoe

Column shoe is in the edge of the concrete part, actually in the corner. So the input points should be along the edge of the concrete part. However, for dimensioning the embed correctly, the first point needs to be in the center of the hole, so these embeds are an exception of the general rule of edge embeds.

The general rule of workplane is not applied for these embeds as they are typically placed only on the bottom edge of the concrete part. The default workplane should be used when creating these embeds, this way also placing them will be easy using the default workplane.

Input points:

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 2 example column shoe    Tekla Structures embed input points - legend 

The first point is in the center point of the bolt hole, on the bottom level of the plate.

The second point is in the concrete column corner. This way it is easier to control the angle of the embed.

Notes for creation:

  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.
  • Use the default workplane when creating the embed.
  • Use bolt command to create the hole

Category 3: Sandwich panel (shear) connectors

Shear connectors are always vertical, so defining input points along the horizontal axis enables easier placement e.g. in skew walls.
The general rule of workplane cannot be applied for this type of embeds as they are not related to the surface of the concrete part. The default workplane should be used when creating these embeds, this way also placing them will be easy using the default workplane.

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 3 example sandwich panel

Category 3: Flat (shear) anchor

Input points:

 Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 3 example flat shear anchor    Tekla Structures embed input points - legend  

The first point is in the start point, center of the plate. The second point is along the horizontal axis of the plate.

Notes for creation:

  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined") for anchors.
  • Use the default workplane when creating the embed.

Category 3: Diagonal tie

Input points:

Tekla Structures embed input points - embed type category 3 example diagonal tie    Tekla Structures embed input points - legend 

The first point is in the midpoint, start edge of the embed. The second point is along the horizontal axis of the embed.

Notes for creation:

  • Use the default workplane when creating the embed.
  • Use rebars (grade "Undefined").
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