Cover

Use the Cover tool to generate load-transfer planes or walls that distribute surface loads to supporting structural elements.

When you select Cover, a tool palette opens.

Cover tool palette

Define – create a new cover with the current subtype and definition method
Properties – check or edit properties of existing covers. Opens the Default settings dialogue for the selected elements
Convert – turn a selected roof, slab or wall region into a cover
Hole – cut an opening inside an existing cover
Load bearing direction – set how the cover distributes load (read below in more detail)
Supporting structures – choose which objects receive the cover reactions (read below in more detail)
Default settings – set the default parameters for new covers (read below in more detail)

Within Define you first pick the cover subtype, then the contour method.

For Slab or roof cover and Hole

Rectangular – draw a rectangle by two opposite corners
Circular – draw a circle by centre and radius
Polygonal – pick consecutive corner points to close a polygon
Pick lines – select existing lines or edges to form the boundary
Pick existing region – reuse an existing roof or slab outline (not available for Hole)

For Wall cover

Straight line – pick two points to draw a straight wall cover
Arc by centre, start point and angle – define the centre, a start point and sweep angle
Arc by 3 points – pick three points on the arc
Arc by start, end point and tangent – start point, end point and tangent at start
Line by selection – select an existing line or edge to define the wall cover's path

Auto supports – let the program detect and link underlying or adjacent structural members automatically
Consider only visible objects – restrict auto-detection to currently visible layers

h – height of the wall cover
Above place the cover above the defined line
Below – place the wall below the defined line
ɑ – angle threshold that splits curved walls into straight segments (similar to Refracting angle in Solid)

Monodirectional – loads are transferred in the specified primary direction only
Bidirectional – loads are shared in two orthogonal directions

Select supporting structures manually – click elements to include or exclude
Select supporting structures automatically – let the program choose based on proximity and orientation
Reset supporting structures – remove all supporting structures from the selected cover(s)

When you press the Default settings button, a small dialogue opens.

Cover tool default settings