Tag Archives: model

Modelling, Programming

Creating Custom Parameteric Pipe Structures in Civil 3D Part Builder

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Its not everyone’s favourite part of Civil 3D. But I get a lot of questions about it.

Civil 3D Part Builder has the ability to create custom parametric parts of all shapes and sizes. The video below will explain everything in detail, the rest of the blog further below will just run over the stumbling blocks you need to know.

Adding Custom Contexts

To add custom contexts you will need to go to this path and edit the “AeccPartParamCfg.xml”. You will need to restart civil 3D to see the changes in part builder

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2016\enu\Pipes Catalog\Aecc Shared Content\AeccPartParamCfg.xml

Add your custom parameter in the <AeccParamDeclaration> section, just copy another one and change it to suit.

Then add your same context into the <AeccParamUsage> section further below. Make sure you enter it under the correct structure type.

Linking the Custom Context to the Dimensions

To create the link to the custom context parameters you will need to ensure your part is mostly finished first. Ensure you have a dimension in Civil 3D that represents the custom parameter, you will override it in the part’s XML

Now open the parts XML file it can be found in the catalog location here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: opening the part in part builder will reset these changes shown here and you will need to go and do them again

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2016\enu\Pipes Catalog\ANZ Metric Structures\Junction Structures with Frames\AeccStructRectSlabTopRectFrameANZ_Metric_offsets.xml

Inside the XML you will need to find the dimension that represents the basepoint offset width.

IMPORTANT NOTE: opening the part in part builder will reset these changes shown here and you will need to go and do them again

So this is that the line should look like

Adding Custom Sizes

You can add custom sizes in this same XML.

Find the parameter you want to change and copy the lines down. Ensure you update the index number as well.

Updating the Catalog and Validating

When your done making changes you will need to update the catalog in civil 3D. Command PARTCATALOGREGEN, select structures or pipes, whatever you need.

I also recommend validating the parts in the catalog screen.

The results can be found here

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\C3D 2016\enu\Pipes Catalog\ANZ Metric Structures\Validate

Find your part name and open the txt file.

Everything Else!

I suggest watching the video above.

Enjoy!

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Modelling

Preparing A Section for Slope W/Seep W analysis

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UPDATE: Before following this outrageously long, but complete guide to exporting for slope W. Consider buying the Exchange App here for $25

http://www.redtransitconsultants.com/app/export-profiles-dxf-use-slide

Otherwise…. read on.

We are often required to take the analysis of stability/seepage outside the Autocad environment to horrible 3rd party applications like SlopeW. To do so can be rather cumbersome, as these products usually require intensely simplified DXF sections for import.

So here is my method for bringing in section data for analysis in Slope W/Seep W.

1. I am going to assume you know how to create section views/profile views!

2. I recommend keeping all your analysis sections in a separate DWG to your model. Link it all back with data shortcuts. Then when your design updates and you have to redo your stability analysis you can create the sections easily again.

3. Its important that all your sections get created at coordinates close to 0,0. This makes it easier to import into Slope/Seep.

4. Once you have all the sections you need, make sure you have them displayed with a section/profile view style that only displays the datum, border and the profiles themselves like so:

5. Explode them twice

6. Then rejoin any lines you need together and trim if necessary. (Most of the time you don’t need to do anything)

7. Wblock these exploded lines out to a separate dwg, close your current dwg and open the exploded output. (this removes all the civil 3d layers)

8. Slope W doesn’t like lots of points. So we need to filter these out using WEEDFEATURES.

9. Start by weeding vertices close by to each other, then finish by using Angle. You want to get your vertices below 200 if possible.

10. Slope/Seep prefers closed polygons as these can be converted to regions to assign materials quickly. To do this, my trick is to convert all your polylines into parcels. You can tell if any of your regions aren’t not working. Because there will be no label in the centroid of your boundary.


11. Let’s say you have a few problems! If you select parcel labels in the area, you can see where the problem areas are. This region selected here has multiple boundaries.

12. Some areas might not be joined anymore, particularly if you used ANGLE or LENGTH to WEEDFEATURES. These gaps will need to be fixed manually. (If you have a lot of sections, consider exploding everything and doing a PEDIT, JOIN, fuzz distance of 0.5/1, then reconvert to parcels and check again)

13. Now you can create the regions that will be used to import into Slope/Seep. Just SELECTSIMILAR on all the parcel labels and EXPLODE. You will now have all the regions you need to wblock out to SlopeW.

14. Check their properties to make sure they are all closed before using! UNDO and move parcel vertices until you have it fixed!

15. Once you have all the regions, move them so that the very left most part of the section’s X value is distance starting from 0 and the Y value matches the elevation of the datum like so. Mine is EL 1145

16. Wblock to 2007 DXF format with the name of your section and import into Slope/Seep

17. You should now be able to import into Slope/Seep for analysis

18. Don’t forget to change your Y scale to suit your elevation

19. Let the analysis begin!

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