Development and Updates for the Medeek Foundation Plugin

[Medeek]

This bi-directional pattern (even though not as realistic) seems to be a decent compromise and provided the segments of the polyline stemwall are orthogonal and in length increments that are multiples of 24" the texture works:

[Medeek]

First look at a CMU polyline stemwall:



Note that the callout includes the number of CMU block calculated per the volume of the stemwall and the standard block size (16" x 8" x stemwidth).  For now the nominal depth and height of the CMU block is hard coded to these typical values found in North American construction but I will probably provide some parameters in the global settings where these values can be customized.

The horizontal face texture I'm using only really works well for standard CMU block sizes and if the walls are orthogonal and in 2' length increments.  I don't have a work around yet to deal with exceptions.  I will give this some additional thought and come up with a better solution.

Now all I need to do is enable CMU for the stemwall step tool and then I'll roll a new release.

This update is a direct result of discussions had in today's training session, thank-you to everyone who participated and providing feedback which will directly impact the plugins' development.

[Medeek]

Version 1.4.2 - 09.05.2019
- Enabled CMU blocks for polyline stemwall foundations.
- Enabled CMU blocks for stemwall steps.




** NOTE **

If you have previously installed the plugin and are upgrading to this latest version in order to utilize the new CMU feature please do the following action once you have installed Version 1.4.2:

1.) Click on the global settings tab.
2.) Click on the Layers tab within the Global Settings.

This action will initialize the "CMU Layer" for future use. New installations of the plugin will automatically initialize the new layer when they enable the layers options for the first time.  This action is only required for those users upgrading their plugin installation.

[Medeek]

Version 1.4.2 - 09.06.2019
- Fixed a bug with the rebar in closed loop stemwall assemblies.

Critical bug fix, I strongly suggest upgrading to this version of the plugin.

[Medeek]

I've moved to the complex roof development but there are still a number of glaring holes in the foundation plugin.  To get a better feel for how well it would work I modeled up a foundation for a residence that I did some local engineering for a couple of years ago:



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/7991f2ff-be4c-4835-8a88-18792bf6f699/Complex-Foundation-1

Really the only manual edits that were required was the blockouts for the garage doors and the footings for the porch roofs.  The following list summarizes some areas that need further development:

1.) Need some sort of option for garage door block outs.
2.) Need the ability to create holes in stemwalls (crawl access, windows, doors)
3.) Add interior footings to regular slabs, similar to the interior footing tool for slab-on-grade foundations.
4.) Stemwall opening tool should also remove any conflicting rebar (boolean subtraction).
5.) Still need to add the tool for a simple polyline footing (ie. porch footing shown). The workaround is to create a stemwall and then manually delete the stemwall leaving the footing portion.

I'm also thinking about creating a material list table that summarizes quantities, similar to the legend I generate in the electrical plugin. 

So much to do, I really need a whole team of developers to get everything done I need to do.

What would be interesting to know is how much time it would take to manually model up the equivalent geometry, also bear in mind that there would be no parametrics available so if you need to adjust something it would require considerably more time and effort to make that change.  With the plugin if I need to adjust something like anchor bolt spacing I simply edit the assembly with a right click and the changes are instantaneous.

Modeling time was about 30 minutes.  Most of that time was transcribing dimensions from a large, crumpled set of paper plans.  The rest of the time was largely spent on fiddling with the garage door block outs and then trimming the rebar back.  As it stands now I do think the plugin offers some significant time savings but there is much that remains to be done.

[Medeek]

Combining a slab-on-grade with a stemwall footing (with steps):



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/05197bec-7041-4b9b-ad93-73b12921ebb8/SOG-combined-with-Stemwalls-and-Steps

[Medeek]

Version 1.4.3 - 09.07.2019
- Enabled the "Draw Strip Footing" tool with the following advanced options: rebar, drain pipe.



Similar to the polyline stemwall tool you can create closed loop polylines (polygons) as well as simple linear sections of footing.

Similar to the polyline stemwall tool the point selection of the tool is terminated with the "DOWN" arrow key.

The horizontal bar option is shown in the menu but is currently not enabled.  I need to give this option some additional consideration before I make it live.

[Medeek]

After working through the complex foundation on Friday, and having to manually create stemwall blockouts for garage doors I've come to the conclusion that a stemwall blockout tool is critical to the success of this plugin.

I guess I'm just a lazy 3D modeler, but even having to push/pull a blockout is too much work for me and then it ultimately breaks the parametrics of that particular stemwall assembly, so manual edits should be avoided whenever possible.

Yet another toolbar:



Like the Wall plugin the Foundation plugin is starting to collect quite a few toolbars, this will be the sixth toolbar for this plugin.  I'm starting to run out of screen real estate, I may have to do something about that, I'm not sure what yet.

The problem is that the plugins need to be able to do a lot of things, so there are a lot of tools and each operation/function needs its own icon or button to instigate it.  I've managed to wrap some functions into context menus but some operations are better presented as a direct icon in my opinion.

[Medeek]

First look at some column footings (spread footings) with and without pedestals:



I've decided not to add the column portion into the Foundation plugin, that will be part of the Wall plugin.

I just need to add a bit of rebar into these assemblies and then I will roll a new version.

[Medeek]

Version 1.4.4 - 09.09.2019
- Enabled the "Draw Column Footing" tool with the following footing types: spread footing, spread footing w/ pier.
- Added transverse and longitudinal rebar for column footings.
- Added the Stemwall Blockout toolbar and icons.





The Draw Column Footing tool is the 4th icon on the main toolbar.

This is a really easy tool to use, I highly recommend upgrading to the latest version to take advantage of it.

The blockout toolbar has been added however these tools will not be functional until the next release.

With the pier option enabled I would be interested in adding in options for vertical rebar (with hooks) and possibly hoops, but I first would like some more feedback in this regard.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/4a9fcaa7-e1f3-4ce3-b9b7-cacc0f07f98e/Column-Footing-with-Pedestal

[Medeek]

For concrete piers resting on a spread footing I was kind of thinking something along these lines for the rebar:



However, one would probably want the vertical bars to hook into the spread footing rather than terminate as shown.

Parameters might be something like:

Vertical Bars:  Yes/No
Vert. Bar Dia.:
Vert. Bar Qty.: 2,4,6,8

Hoop Bars: Yes/No
Hoop Bar Dia.:
Hoop Spacing:

Let's try to avoid taking it to this extreme though:

[Medeek]

Probably something more along these lines:



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/e29c9077-303c-41ff-916d-96be5d583814/Pier-Rebar-Test-2

If you look closely at the model you will notice that the texture/material on the vertical bars is a bit of a mess where they flare out to meet the spreading footing.  Special attention will be required to make sure the initial follow me operation is done on the X-Y plane and then the bars are rotated up into the vertical position.

Does this type of rebar detailing look useful?  Sometimes I need to use a bit of restraint so I don't take things to far, but if this is something that would find some utility I can add the additional rebar options in.

[Medeek]

I really need some concrete contractors to take a look at this and let me know their thoughts.  What is customary, what isn't, I'm trying to provide features that will work for 90% or more of the user base and avoid going down paths that will probably never be utilized.

[Medeek]

Version 1.4.4b - 09.10.2019
- Added vertical and hoop rebar for column footings with round or square piers.





Sorry, useful or not, that pier rebar was just too tempting to pass on.  When you enable piers and rebar you are now presented with an additional section with options for vertical and hoop rebar within the pier.  Square piers are currently limited to two, four or eight vertical bars, round piers are limited to the following number of bars: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. 

If you need more than twelve vertical bars then you are probably not designing a residential structure. 

I'm not a concrete guy (haven't done a lot of reinforced concrete engineering, mostly lumber and timber), so this is kind of my best guess at what is appropriate for residential work.  If you need specific details changed up, please let me know.

Square pier with eight vertical bars:



I'm also thinking about adding in sonotube footings/piers (no spread footing) with an option for a bell shaped footing:

[Medeek]

Version 1.4.5 - 09.11.2019
- Added Sonotube footings to the "Draw Column Footing" tool.
- Added a flared "Bell" footing option for sonotube footings.
- Added vertical and hoop rebar for sonotube footings.



When you toggle the "bell" option on I have the vertical rebar bend 90 degrees as shown and extend to the perimeter of the bell (ground clearance maintained).

Sonotube footings without a bell option have vertical bar as shown.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/299cee85-4ad4-4d67-a6eb-665d95be013d/Sonotube-Footings