Section Profile

Create Section Profiles through a Triangulation

Use the Section Profile option to create section profiles through a nominated triangulation(s).

Figure 1 - Sectioned Triangulation

Instructions

On the Model menu, point to Triangle Utility, and then click Section Profile to display the 3D Section Profiles panel.

Section layer

Select the layer that will be used to store the sections.

The drop-down list contains the names of all layers in the currently open dgd. If you select an existing loaded layer, then the resulting data will be appended to the nominated layer. If you enter the name of an existing layer that is not currently loaded, then you will need to confirm whether you want to load the layer or replace it.

To create a new layer, enter the layer name. The layer name:

- may contain up to 40 characters.
- must begin with an alphanumeric character [0-9] or [a-z].
- cannot include spaces.
- can include hyphens [ - ], plus signs [ + ], underscores [ _ ], periods/dots [. ].
- can include the special characters of ÁÂÃÀÇÉÊÍÓÔÕÚÜÑ that are used in the Spanish and Portuguese languages.

Description

Enter a description to further describe the contents of this layer. The description can be up to 80 alphanumeric characters and may include spaces. If a description is not entered, then a default description will be used instead. If the chosen layer already has an assigned description, the description displays when the layer is selected. Existing layer descriptions can be overwritten.

Sections

You can create equidistant or irregular sections.

Equidistant Sections

Select this option to create sections that are at a specified distance apart. You will need to specify the section spacing. There is a choice of three section calculation methods:

Calculate all sections
This calculates all sections possible through a triangulation. The location of the first section (from which the remainder are derived) is defined by the plane specified in the Section Definition panel.
Calculate one section only
This calculates only one section, which is defined by the plane specified in the Section Definition panel.
Calculate a range of sections
This calculates a specified number of front and back sections from a designated section plane. The section plane is defined through the Section Definition panel.

Regardless of the method chosen, the Section Definition panel displays once the 3D Section Profiles panel has been completed.

Irregular Sections

Select this option to create a section parallel or perpendicular to an existing line. Specify, if applicable, the dip of the section plane.

Use cross section lines

Select this option to create sections along lines defined by the user.

Use guide centre line

Select this option to create sections perpendicular to line segments, at points on the line.

Triangulations

Select solids by picking

Select this option to pick the triangulations from the screen. Check the Pass triangulation's colour onto sections check box to pass the solid's colour onto the sections. If this check box is not checked, then the default colour will be used instead. The default colour is specified through the Status toolbar.

Select solids by name

Select this option to select the triangulations using the standard Open panel. Once the section (either irregular or equidistant) has been established, the Open panel displays.

The left half of the panel contains all of the triangulations found in your current working directory. Use the Look in field drop-down list to change to a different directory.

Select the triangulation(s) you want to section (the standard windows selection methods apply). Use the button to move the selected triangles to the selection section of the panel. Select OK to select the triangulations.

You can save the selection by ticking the Save Selection check box if you think you will want to reselect the same triangulations. To use a selection file to select the triangles, change the files of type to selection files (*.sel) and select your selection file. Refer to the to File > Open option for more information on the Open panel.

Select loaded triangulations

Select this option to section all of the triangulations that are currently loaded onscreen. Check the Pass triangulation's colour onto sections check box if you want to pass the solid's colour onto the sections. If this check box is not selected, then the default colour will be used instead. The default colour is specified through the Status toolbar.

Click OK.

If you chose to create equidistant sections, then the Section Definition panel displays. If you chose to create irregular sections, then you will need to select the line that will be used to create the necessary sections.

Section Definition panel

Dip

The dip is the angle of the section from horizontal. Valid dip angles are between -90° and 90°.

Select section by line

Select this option to define the plane by selecting an existing line and specifying the dip.

Only design strings may be picked and it is not possible to pick a line in an underlay. The direction of the view, and therefore the direction of the stepping, depends on the digitised sequence of the line. The digitised sequence of the line can be reversed using the Design > Object Edit > Reverse option.

Select by points

Select this option to define the plane by digitising two points and specifying the dip.

To locate a point precisely, use the Snap to Objects or Snap to Points modes (on the Digitise toolbar). Points may be snapped onto underlays, such as block model slices or triangulations. If you use Indicate mode to select the points, then the points have the current default Z value.

Select by grid coordinate

Select this option to define the plane by using a specific grid coordinate. The grid co-ordinates can contain up to three decimal places. To achieve the best results for the following three methods, we recommend using the Zoom Data Extents icon (on the Graphics toolbar) in order to view all of the graphics.

By Easting - Select this option to enter a specific Easting value (X value).
By Northing - Select this option to enter a specific Northing value (Y value).
By RL - Select this option to enter a specific RL value (Z value).

Select by 3 points

Select this option to define the plane by digitising 3 points. To locate a point precisely, use the Snap to Objects or Snap to Points modes (on the Digitise toolbar). Points may be snapped onto underlays, such as block model slices or triangulations.

Using this option will allow you to explicitly define the location and orientation of a plane by indicating 3 points. The first two points define the bearing of the plane, and the third point defines the dip of the plane.

Click OK.

The surface(s) is then sectioned. If you chose to use the Select solids by picking and Select solids by name options, then you will be required to select the necessary triangulations before the sections are created.

The triangulation name (minus the path and file extension) will be used as the name, group and description of the created sections.