OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Using a Point Control for Superstructure Component Control
If you are familiar with roadway templates working with many of the bridge component templates (deck, barriers, etc) will be familiar to you. Constraints and variables can be associated to the template points. Constraints can be overridden by utilizing a geometry element.
The example below will be controlling the deck width by flaring out one end of the deck. The following items will need to be present or true for this workflow:
- Deck has been placed
- Add Constraints option was checked ON when the deck was placed
- Point name to be controlled is known
- Geometry element to be used in controlling the point is present
- This geometry element can be located in a referenced DGN file or in the file/model containing the Bridge Model
Controlling a Deck Point Using a Civil Feature
- Open the file containing the Bridge Model
- Provide the geometry element that will control the deck point in one of two ways:
- Draw the Civil Feature in the model the 3D Bridge Model is in, or
- Attach the file or model containing the Civil Feature
- Attach the geometry element as a reference
Notice in the image below how the geometry element flares out from the deck on the left side going up-station. The deck point will be associated to this geometry element and will follow that geometry.
- Select the deck using the Element Selector or the Explorer and open the Properties dialog
- Under the Deck panel, click on the ellipse for the Point Control to open the Edit Point Control dialog
- This dialog lists the Point name on the left, and the Direction and Path on the right
- Select point P_5
- This is the top point of the deck on the left side of the template in the up-station direction
- The point will only be controlled horizontally by the geometry
- Select Horizontal from the pull-down under Direction for P_5
Notice the other options for direction control available. If the geometry has a profile, it can control the horizontal alone, the vertical alone, or both horizontal and vertical at the same time.
- Click on the Select button to select the path the point will follow.
- The heads-up prompt directs to Select Alignment
- Select the geometry element
- The path for P_5 will be filled in with the name of the Feature Definition of the geometry element
- Click the Apply button and point P_5 will follow the geometry
This may take time as OBM calculates adjustments to the deck, beams, and associate components.
- Close the dialog
