Defining Material for Profiles

This task explains how you can define the material  properties of a profile. You can select a material, grade and section combination that is defined in the specifications catalog.

 

 

 1. With your document open click the Material & Orientation tab in the appropriate dialog box (e.g. Stiffener dialog box if you are working with stiffeners). The image below shows the options you need to set for material selection.

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2.

 If the option Show Preferred List Only is checked, only sections that are in the preferred list will be available for selection. If it is not checked, then all sections in the specifications catalog can be selected. The preferred list includes those sections for which the Spec Mode attribute has been set to Y in the specifications catalog.
  3. Select a Material from the drop down list. Once you select a material, valid grades will be available for selection.
  4. Select a grade in the Grade field. Once you select a grade, valid sections will be available for selection.
  5. Select a section in the Section field. A section is pre-selected based on your last session.

If you want to select another section, select More from the drop down list, and the Section List dialog box displays.

The Section List dialog box below shows the list for stiffeners. Double-click a section Name to select it.

You can limit the selections listed in the Section List dialog box by using the Filter field.

Enter the a string of characters with an asterisk or question mark, and click anywhere in the dialog box.

In the example above, FL* is entered in the Filter field. Only sections beginning with FL display. You can select the desired section and click OK. The selected section now displays in the Section field.

To see the entire list again, leave the Filter field blank, and click anywhere in the dialog box.

NOTE: As explained above, If the Show Preferred List Only option is NOT selected, then values for parts that are not included in the list will also be available for selection. Values for sections that are in the preferred list display a green square. Values for sections that are not in the list display a yellow triangle.
The default state of the option Show Preferred List Only depends on the Material Management Mode entry in the project resource management (PRM) file, as follows. If the value of the Location field for this resource is:
  • None: The option displays in its last opened state.
  • ActiveUnSpec: The option is unselected. (You can check it if needed.)
  • ActiveSpec: The option is selected. (You can uncheck it if needed.)
  6. Click OK when you have made your selections.
The material and grade you select for the Material and Grade fields above, should exist in both the specifications catalog and the material catalog. If the material and grade exist in the specifications catalog but NOT in the material catalog you will get the following error messages:

In Structure Design: ERROR: The selected material, grade combination cannot be found in the material catalog. You will not be able to create the profile.

In Structure Functional Design: WARNING: The selected material, grade combination cannot be found in the material catalog. You will be able to create the profile, but will not be able to generate a piece part from your design.