I've been considering the addition of a tool that adds in a depression to the slab-on-grade. The user would create any polygon shape which would then be used to generate this depressed region on the slab.
The actual modifications to the concrete slab would be fairly easy to accomplish with the API however a number of ripple effects would pose other problems. The first problem would be slab reinforcement. The depressed region would need to have its reinforcement translated down with the slab so it remains centered within the slab.
A similar problem exists for slab insulation and subbase material, these items would need to be moved down in the z direction as well. This of course is assuming that the slab in the depressed region remains the same thickness as the rest of the slab, however this might not be the case.
One could assign the a zero thickness to the depressed region slab thickness which essentially cuts a hole in the slab if the depression is equal to the slab thickness.
Or one could specify a thicker slab in this depressed region.
Regardless slab depressions are quite interesting and introduce a number of complex problems when combined with other features like internal footings, slab insulation, subbase and slab reinforcement.
The actual modifications to the concrete slab would be fairly easy to accomplish with the API however a number of ripple effects would pose other problems. The first problem would be slab reinforcement. The depressed region would need to have its reinforcement translated down with the slab so it remains centered within the slab.
A similar problem exists for slab insulation and subbase material, these items would need to be moved down in the z direction as well. This of course is assuming that the slab in the depressed region remains the same thickness as the rest of the slab, however this might not be the case.
One could assign the a zero thickness to the depressed region slab thickness which essentially cuts a hole in the slab if the depression is equal to the slab thickness.
Or one could specify a thicker slab in this depressed region.
Regardless slab depressions are quite interesting and introduce a number of complex problems when combined with other features like internal footings, slab insulation, subbase and slab reinforcement.