Foundation Plugin
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Looking great Nathaniel! You are doing such great work with all of your plugins.
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The polygon tool for the slab-on-grade foundations is nearing completion. I've got the concrete, perimeter rebar, internal footings and even anchor bolts all working.
The only item still pending is the slab reinforcement (mesh/bar). I've been contemplating devising my own boolean subtraction tool.
I've even managed to create a fillet tool based on TIG's 2D tools that properly applies the correct bend radius to the perimeter rebar.
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Please make it so the reinforcing and anchor bolts need to be toggled on/off separately.
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This is already the case. Anchor bolts, perimeter rebar and slab rebar/mesh are all independent of each other.
The garage curb is also working well.
I still need to do further testing with the metric templates.
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I think I've got the slab reinforcement working now. I haven't tested it enough to determine if its really robust enough to release another update but I'll keep testing.
I owe Sdmitch big time for this one. I've integrated his rebar trim function into the plugin to create a new module that trims the slab rebar or mesh. I am still trying to figure out exactly how the magic is done but most of it is over my head.
View model here:
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/7d64c1ab-bb1a-47a2-9fb4-4cf3553e7cec/Foundation-4
A mesh reinforced slab though can get quite heavy with the polygon count so it may only have limited usefulness.
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I've tested it some more this morning and so far I have been unable to break it,
.In the next couple of days I will update the slab feature on par with the slab on grade feature so that polygon shaped foundations are 100%.
Then I will turn my attention to the stemwall foundation and fully implement the polygon layout tool in that as well. I now have all the widgets in my toolbelt to make this happen.
Once I get those updates done I will release the updated version.
At that point I may raise the price to $15.00, since I will now have added more functionality.
The ability to trim rebar is a much bigger prize than just rebar. This will now allow me to do the same thing for floor joists (polygon layout) in the truss plugin.
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Wonderful work! For my current uses, which is not a full house modeling, the foundation tool is probably the best because I do like to model at least the basics of a foundation for my exterior house models, and often find this is often the most helpful part to study in 3d.
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I haven't fully compiled a TODO List for this plugin yet but there are still a number of items that need to be addressed.
- A hole cutting tool that removes the concrete and the rebar and any anchor bolts in the way.
- Square and Rectangular Footings for point loads
- Strip Footings
- A line tool for the stemwall module
- Retaining Walls with Engineering
- Ability to step foundation walls
- Webdialog input for SOG and Stemwall so that interior footings can be configured with ease.
Let me know if there is anything you would like to add to this list.
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Version 1.1.0 - 04.14.2017
- Added polygon outline tool for slab-on-grade and slab.
- Enabled perimeter rebar, anchor bolts, and slab reinforcement for (polygon) slab-on-grade foundations.
- Enabled slab reinforcement for (polygon) slabs.
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Medeek,
Thank you for the Foundation Plugin update "Easter Egg", enjoy your Easter break
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Using the rectangular floor primitives I was able to manually create the floor on the previous foundation in about 30 minutes:
If I create the polygon floor tool I will be able to accomplish the same thing in under 10 seconds. The polygon floor tool in the truss plugin is next...
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Polygon stemwall foundation with post and beam interior supports.
Note that the smaller segments of the interior footing assemblies were created by copying the larger assembly and then trimming it to size with the Trim tool in the truss plugin.
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Version 1.1.1 - 04.23.2017
- Added polygon outline tool for stemwall foundation.
- Enabled perimeter rebar, anchor bolts, vents, and internal footings for (polygon) stemwall foundations.
View model here:
The next improvement would be a web_dialog input so that more than one internal footing can be specified at a time.
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I just realized that there may be a few items I missed in the last update with respect to the polygon stemwall tool and metric templates. I will do some more bug testing tonight to verify that all of the issues are addressed. I usually do all of my own work in standard US imperial units so sometimes in my rush to get a release out I forget to check all of the options and possible permutations using a metric template. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you do notice an error please feel free to post here or notify me directly. Please give as much specifics as possible, that always helps.
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The trim tool in the Truss Plugin comes in quite handy when dealing with more complex foundation geometry:
For this foundation I used the stemwall (rectangle and polygon) function and the slab (polygon) function. I had to trim the garage stemwall and also manually create the smaller interior post/beam assemblies. I also adjusted the position of some of anchor bolts once I cut the doors into the garage stemwall.
View model here:
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/4ed9f28d-11e4-4166-b698-b3cd734cd2a1/Foundation-7
Throwing a roof onto this foundation is fairly straightforward:
View model here:
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/7d17b0c7-8cfb-461b-a4a6-127fafe0ece6/Residence-7
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Recently I've received a number of requests for concrete columns to be added to the foundation plugin:
I'm still trying to figure out how to best add a concrete column module, I think it could gain some serious traction. This would cater more to the industrial rather than the residential side.
I'll use ASDIP Concrete Software as a guide in establishing the various options to include:
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This is a very interesting development. However, here is something to think about...
You need to consider if you want to expose yourself (or the persons using the extension) to possible legal action. Soil and load conditions differ from place to place and instance to instance. This would require the input a structural engineer to certify the correct steel choice and configuration. This would then mean that the steel reinforcing in the extension is really reduced to "for illustrative purposes only".
Which begs the question, just how much effort is thus justified with steel reinforcing options? Do you have a section for regular (non structural engineer) users with a "for illustrative purposes" type of output and a separate section (with all the "bells and whistles") you can only access with the completion / agreement of an indemnity?
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It looks like the "engineer" in medeek has taken over!
I agree with "juju's" thread of thinking.
The depth of detail suggested may be useful in medeek's engineering practice but have less value
for I guess the majority of users and prospective users.My suggestion would be these proposed changes are at the edge of "the bell curve".
It may be more prudent to stay within the "bulk" of users and prospective users requirements.Food for thought!
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A couple of things:
1.) Based on a conversation in the other forum I will be adding a global setting that allows one to specify the number of segments in the circular arcs that make up the rebar/mesh. This will allow a more lightweight model. The anchor bolts are pre-modeled and then dropped into the model as components. I will need to create some light weight versions of them for this purpose.
2.) So far this foundation plugin has been mostly geared toward the residential designer/architect. Concrete columns, beams, and more complicated footings and retaining walls are typically more the area of the commercial and industrial market.
It might make more sense to create a separate plugin that deals specifically with these reinforced concrete elements (Medeek RC). My engineering side wants to also integrate the calcs inside the plugin as well, so yes that element of me comes out sooner or later.
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Great work. I'd say we use a lot of conc. piers, columns and retaining walls in residential work, probably more than some, due to the soils and topography. Also because the buildings might be larger and less conventional, but still wood framed.
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