SUDA – Join Adjacent Conduits

Problem: I have two conduits which are supposed to connect but do not, because there was a slight gap between the ends of the geometry I used for creating the models. How can I join the two conduits without creating a new node.

You may find yourself with something similar to the following image.  Two conduits which almost but do not quite join.  You desire for them to exactly connect.

SUDA break pipe join

The solution is pretty simple. In the plan view, select one of the conduits. Click on the first drag handle and then reconnect the conduit to the node on the end of the other conduit.

SUDA subsurface utility join pipe

The conduits will now connect because they share the conduit on the end.

Delete the old leftover node.

SUDA subsurface utility node

In this example, the 3D presentation of the node changed shape because the software cannot make a “connector” which also changes shape.  Thus, you will see a ball shaped node in 3D. If the two conduits were the same shape then the 3D would be generated to look like a connector/reducer.

You can then change the feature definition of the shared node to look like something more appropriate.  In this case, I used a water valve feature definition.

Alternatively, you could create a special feature definition for such purposes which shows almost nothing in plan or 3D. For example, you could show a small circle in plan and a tiny dot in 3D.

SUDA subsurface utility node join pipe

Robert Garrett

Robert has over 25 years experience as a practicing engineer and is licensed in the State of Tennessee. After graduating from Tennessee Technological University, Robert worked for the Mississippi State Highway Department, Bridge Design Division. Then he spent 12 years with the Tennessee Department of Transportation in the Roadway Design Office and later served as Regional Manager in the Design Survey Office.From 2000 to 2006, Robert worked for Robert G Campbell and Associates in Knoxville, TN where responsibilities included roadway, site, and utilities design projects.Joining Bentley Systems in March 2006, Robert wrote specifications & documentation for software development. Duties included testing, customer feedback and ensuring the products met the needs of the civil engineering user base. He also developed training material for education both internally to Bentley and for outside organizations. He served as Product Manager for Utilities Products, including the new OpenRoads Subsurface Utilities Design and Analysis software. Robert also provided guidance and implementation services for new technologies.He is a frequent presenter and trainer at user conferences.

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