Allplan FT 3D techniques page [revised 30.04.02]

Stepped Foundations - this has puzzled me for years... but with a bit of assistance from the webboard I devised this technique...
Based on project displayed on works 4 page....

hidden line isometric export of strip foundations with stepping

   animation view of same foundations showing wwalls and dtm solid with a temporary transparency
I find that Archit. slabs are better for the general strip foundations - dumb 3D objects cannot be cut easily. Also you can use the 'elevation spec' tool (right click on a slab) to fix interactive markers on the surfaces of the slab/footings (brilliant feature)... so that you can then use the Stair tool to create the stepped foundations between the slabs - i.e. the 'elevation spec' marker gives the top and bottom levels of the slab so that you know where to set the bottom and top of the 'stair' tool - obviously it would be underside of upper slab and top of lower slab.

I guess it is the same the world over that the overlap of each step should be at least twice the thickness of the slab/footing.
In the Stair tool I turn off everything except the nosing (misnamed - actually the back of tread), riser and tread.
Make the tread thickness equal to the riser value, make the nosing/back of tread the same thickness as the riser and tread but make its length at least twice the thickness. This will give quite a good set of overlapping blocks - to tighten or relax the pitch use the tread value - i.e. its surface width (known here as the 'going') not its thickness.

Once to your liking make a backup copy for display/updating, do the usual convert to 3D elements, merge all the 3D elements together and then convert to planes... copy into the wall files, set all your walls to a fixed top height and bottom height to follow the top surface of the plane.

 

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