Isolated foundation
Use the Isolated foundation tool to place footing elements under columns or point loads with either regular or custom-defined shapes.
When you select Isolated foundation, a tool palette opens.
Main tools
- Define – place a new isolated foundation element
- Properties – check or edit properties of an existing foundation. Opens the Default settings dialogue for the selected foundation
- Connection point – adjust the alignment and reference point of an existing foundation
- Default settings – set default geometry, material and stiffness parameters (read below in more detail)
Shape definition methods
Available when the Define tool is selected.
- Regular shape – define a foundation using one of the contour tools:
- Rectangular – draw a rectangle
- Circular – draw a circle
- Polygonal – draw a custom polygon
- Pick lines – select existing lines in the model
- Pick existing region – use an existing region boundary as the shape
- Parametric shape – opens a dialogue with library to select a parametric shape as the foundation shape
- Shape by selection – select an existing solid element in the model to convert into a foundation element
Parametric shape functions
Available only when using the Parametric shape definition method.
- Change shape – opens the parametric shape wizard dialogue with library select a parametric shape as the foundation shape
- Change parameters – opens the parametric shape wizard dialogue with the parameters for the currently selected parametric shape
To read more about parametric shape wizard for the shape definition method and parameters, see the topic below:
User interface ➔ Tab menus ➔ Structure ➔ Additional dialogues ➔ Parametric shape wizard
Orientation options
Available during Regular shape and Shape by selection definition methods.
- x′ points to global X direction – align the local x-axis of the foundation to the global X-axis
- Edit local x′ direction – manually adjust the local x′ direction during definition
Definition settings
Available only when using the Regular shape definition method.
- Thickness – numeric field to define the thickness of the foundation element
- Above – place the foundation above the defined contour
- Below – place the foundation below the defined contour
Default settings dialogue
When you press the Default settings button, a dialogue window opens.
This dialogue contains three tabs: General, Geometry, and Material. The tabs General and Material use the same settings found in other foundation elements, while Geometry tab is unique to Isolated foundation.
Geometry
- t – numeric field for main foundation element thickness
- Plinth – select for adding a plinth to the foundation element
- a – numeric field for plinth's width
- b – numeric field for plinth's length
- h – numeric field for plinth's height above the foundation element top surface
To read more about settings in tabs General and Material, see the relevant topics below:
- For General tab see:
User interface ➔ Tab menus ➔ Structure ➔ Additional dialogues ➔ Foundation General - For Material tab see:
User interface ➔ Tab menus ➔ Structure ➔ Additional dialogues ➔ General Material