Shell Tool Settings

Note for MEP Designer users: Shells and Shell Settings are visible, but cannot be created or edited.


ShellTool.png

For a description of generic settings common to all tools in the Toolbox, see Working in Tool Settings Dialog Boxes.

For general information on how to create and edit shells, see Shells.

Shell Geometry and Positioning Panel


ShellGeoPanel.png

Reference Line Offset to Home Story: Enter a value here for the elevation, measured to the Home Story, of the initial point of

  • the Shell’s extrusion vector (for an extruded Shell), or
  • the Shell axis (for a rotated Shell), or
  • the Shell’s first profile (for a ruled Shell).

These reference points are distinguished by a highlighted hotspot on each selected Shell.

Home Story

See Home Story.

Reference Line Elevation [to Reference level]

Elevation of the Shell’s starting point (reference point) as measured from the Reference level (by default, this Reference level is Project Zero). Click the pop-up arrow to change the Reference level, if needed.

Note:

  • Reference levels are defined at Options > Project Preferences > Reference Levels.
  • This is a calculated value, not a link. If you change the Reference level, the bottom of the Shell will not change its position.

Shell Structure

Click one of these icons to define the Wall as Basic or Composite, then choose an attribute that reflects its structural properties:

  • For a Basic Shell: Use the pop-up to choose its Building Material.

    ShellBasicBM.png
  • For a Composite Shell: Use the pop-up to choose its Composite structure.

    ShellCompositeChoose.png
    Note: This pop-up lists composites whose “use with” setting includes the shell element: see “Use With” - define composite availability

Shell Thickness: Enter a value for the thickness of the Shell.

If a composite structure is used for the Shell, this field is gray and cannot be modified, as the Shell’s thickness is then determined by the thickness of the Composite as defined in Options > Element Attributes > Composites.

Geometry Method

In Shell Default Settings, click one of the three icons to define the Geometry Method with which to place the new Shell:


ShellGeoMethods.png
  • Extruded
  • Revolved
  • Ruled

    See About Shells for more information.

Morphing Rule (for Ruled Shell only): Click on either the “Smooth” or “Paired” method for defining the geometry of a Ruled Shell, based on how the respective nodes of the two profiles should be connected.

Flip: (Editable in Shell Selection Settings.) The Shell is composed of a membrane and a Shell body attached to one side of the membrane. Use Flip to change sides: The Shell body moves to the other side of Shell membrane.

Preflip.png        Postflip.png

Shell Special Properties Panel (Extrusion Properties, Revolution Properties)

If you are using either the Extrusion method or Revolved method, this panel contains special properties related to the Shell geometry.

Extrusion Properties


ExtrusionProperties.png

Starting angle: The angle between the plane of the Shell and the Shell edge at the initial point of the extrusion vector.

Distortion angle: Angle of the Shell profile, measured to the Shell plane. By default: 90 degrees, but changing it enables you to extrude the Shell profile at a angle, creating a distorted Shell, provided that either its starting or ending angle is other than 90 degrees.

Ending angle: The angle between the plane of the Shell and the Shell edge at the endpoint of the extrusion vector.

Revolution Properties

For a Revolved Shell:


RevolutionProperties.png
  • Revolution angle: Angle of revolution of the Shell around its axis.
  • Distortion angle: Angle of the axis of the revolved Shell, measured to the Shell plane angle. Modifying the distortion angle will affect the Shell profile. (Changing the slant angle alone, which is available through graphical editing, will not change the Shell profile, only “tip” it over.)
  • Segment Surface Along Rotation

    RevolutionProperties00371.png

By default, the surface of Revolved Shells is smooth. You have the option of dividing it into segments as needed.

Check the box if you would like to divide the rotated Shell into segmented planes. Next, enter a number for the number of segments.

The given number of segments can be applied to the existing Shell in one of two ways:

  • By circle: Divides a full circle into the given number of segments, and applying that geometry to the existing arc of the Shell.

    ByCircle.png
  • By arc: Divides the existing arc of the Revolved Shell into the given number of segments.

    ByArc.png

Shell Floor Plan and Section Panel

See Element Display in Floor Plan and Section

Cover Fills

See Assign a Cover Fill.

Shell Model Panel

This panel affects the 3D display of the Shell.

See also Override Surfaces With Surface Painter.

For a composite Shell, the “reference side” surface is the first listed skin of the composite, in Composite Settings.

Note: The Reference Side surface override, if it is a vectorial hatching, can also be applied as a cover fill for the Shell (by checking the “Use Fill from Surface” box in Floor Plan and Section panel of Shell Settings). Moreover, if the cover fill has a customized fill origin (via Link to Fill Origin option), the 3D Model will reflect that fill orientation too.
Note: You can apply custom surface settings to any one or more edges of the Shell, using Custom Edge Settings from the Pet Palette. If you do so, the Model panel of Shell Settings will indicate that one or more edges uses a custom surface, using a yellow patch.

Trimming body: Use this control to define the geometry of the Shell’s trimming body. The trimming body will cut other elements in accordance with this geometry, when you trim another element to this Shell.

  • Downward Extrusion
  • Upward Extrusion
  • Editable
    Note: To see these trimming bodies while you work (in the 3D window only), turn on Trimming Bodies in the View > On-Screen View Options menu.

    ShellTrimmings.png

    For more information, see Trim Elements to Roof or Shell.