Train Loads on 1D Members

This MS Excel VBA-based tool creates train loads on multiple 1D members, which can be imported via XML to SCIA Engineer.

Instructions

1. Make a backup copy of your SCIA Engineer project
2. Creating a "Running Length" in this excel workbook
   • Go to the Params-sheet in this excel workbook
   • In the "Train Running Length Definition - Table", input values for:
     • Beam Name: -> this are the beam names from your SCIA Engineer project
     • Length: -> input the length of each beam
   • Calculated fields:
     • Σ Run: -> sum of the total length of all inputted beams in each Running Length.
3. Creating a "Train Load" in this excel workbook
   • Go to the Params-sheet in this excel workbook
   • In the "Train Load Definition - Table", input values for:
     • Dir: -> input 'X', 'Y' or 'Z'. These directions taken according to the LCS of the beam.
     • Load: -> input the value of the load
     • Offset: -> input the position of each load along the direction of the Running Length.
   • Calculated fields:
     • First position, First load: -> first (generated) position of the first load of the Train Load on the Running Length -> compare this value with the beginning of your Running Length.
     • Last position, First load: -> last (generated) position of the first load of the Train Load on the Running Length -> compare this value with the beginning of your Running Length.
     • First position, Last load: -> first (generated) position of the last load of the Train Load on the Running Length -> compare this value with the end of your Running Length.
     • Last position, Last load: -> last (generated) position of the last load of the Train Load on the Running Length -> compare this value with the end of your Running Length.
4. Creating a "Limited Running Length" in this excel workbook
   • Go to the Params-sheet in this excel workbook
   • In the "Limited Running Length - Table", input values for:
     • First position on Run: -> refers to the first position of the Offset point (Train Definition) on the Running Length
     • Step Size: -> a new load case will be genereted for each step. Input the step size.
     • Number of Steps: -> Input the number of steps that will be generated. Number of generated load cases = Number of Steps + 1
   • Calculated fields:
     • Last position on Run: -> refers to the last position of the Offset point (Train Definition) on the Running Length
   • Configuration
     • Load Case name: -> prefix for the generated load case names
     • Load Group name: -> the name of the Load Group. All generated load cases will be assigned to this exclusive load group.
     • Load name: -> prefix for the generated load names
5. Generating the Train Loads on 1D Members
   • Go to the Params-sheet in this excel workbook
   • Click the [Generate Data of Input Sheet]-button
6. Exporting the generated Train Loads on 1D Members from this excel workbook
   • Go to the Input-sheet in this excel workbook
   • Click the [Export XML]-button
   • Input a name for the XML-file that will contain the definitions of the generated Train Loads on 1D Members
7. Importing the generated Train Loads on 1D Members into SCIA Engineer
   • Open SCIA Engineer
   • Open the .esa project from point 1. (see above)
   • Select Main menu > File > Update from > XML file, and select the exported XML file from point 2. (see above)