Component Areas of Basic and Composite Elements

For most elements, the calculated area is the projection onto the virtual plane that runs through the center of the component.

The following table gives details about area calculation for each element type.

Basic or Composite Element

Which Plane is used to Calculate Projected Component Area?

Regular Straight Wall

The vertical plane that runs through the center of the component.

01_Straight_Wall.PNG 

Slanted Wall

The slanted plane that runs through the center of the component.

02_Slanted_Wall.PNG 

Curved Wall

The plane of the vertical cylinder that runs through the center of the component.

03_Curved_Wall.PNG 

Curved Slanted Wall

The plane of the cone that runs through the center of the component.

04_Curved_Slanted_Wall.PNG 

Double Slanted Wall

The plane of the variable-thickness component that is closest to the wall's reference line.

05_Double_Slanted_Wall.PNG 

Trapezoid Wall

The plane of the variable-thickness component that is closest to the wall's reference line.

06_Trapezoid_Wall.PNG 

Polygon Wall

The plane(s) of the vertical polygon(s) defined by the reference edge(s).

07_Polygon_Wall.PNG 

Roof

Plane of the roof.

09_Roof.PNG 

Slab

Plane of the slab.

08_Slab.PNG 

Shell

The plane of the component that is closer to the Shell reference plane

10_Shell.PNG 

Mesh

The Mesh reference plane

11_Mesh.PNG 

Straight Beam

The Beam's vertical plane

12_Straight_Beam.PNG 

Column without Veneer

No component area is calculated.

Column with Veneer (circular)

Circular column with veneer: The plane of the centerline of the veneer component.

13_Column_02.PNG 

Column with Veneer (rectangular)

The program calculates the veneer as if it were divided into four parts as shown, and the vertical plane of each is used.

13_Column.PNG 

Morph

No component area is calculated