Autocad Retaining Wall Elevation Program

[RFreund]

I think most responses to this post will be - "yeah good luck with that". However I am hoping for some sort of starting point.

Basically here is what I'm looking to do and maybe Autocad is the wrong tool here -

This would be used for drawing Retaining wall elevations for segmental walls. Basically you have top grade and bottom grade points which you connect and give you your top grade and bottom grade profile lines. Currently I enter these points in excel and use simple script to connect the points in AutoCAD. However then I must copy an 8" grid over these profile lines to drawing the actual elevation of the wall. So every time the 8" grid/coursing line intersects the profile line the wall needs to step up or down. I thought maybe I could do this in excel by writing a program based on geometry and if statements but I figured I'd post the question here first.

Thanks!

EIT

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Dynamic blocks?? or VBA???

 

[RFreund]

I will look into VBA as I have almost no experience using it. I know vaguely about dynamic blocks but I will look into it more.
I don't need to draw all the blocks except for some larger unit systems. Normally it is just the top of wall and bottom of wall.

It really does not take that much time but if you do enough of them it adds up.

Thanks for the suggestion.

EIT

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Or maybe just create a number of blocks - and I don't completely understand your app - but say 1', 2', 3' etc. Then you just pull them in as required.

 

[chicopee]

I am not sure about the procedure that you are describing unless you have a sketch of the problem. Meanwhile explore the use of the array command to your problem.

 

[RFreund]

I will post a sketch tomorrow.

I think that will need to create a program to accomplish what I'm looking to do what I'd like. Which would be quite the undertaking.

EIT

 

[RFreund]

Attached is an output from a program that does what I'm trying to accomplish only I want it to be 'compatible' with AutoCad meaning either copy and paste script, dxf, or some other way.

I have also learned that this is an excel program.

There is another excel program that Keystone uses found here (for those of you that want to go the extra mile):

http://www.keystonewalls.com/pages/KS_Software.html

This also uses excel. I may contact Keystone to see what info I can get from them.

Thanks again!

EIT

 

[RFreund]

So I need to figure out the keystone program was made first I believe as that will be step 1. Step 2 is getting the info to AutoCAD.

EIT

 

[chicopee]

The jpeg file is very easy to draw with ACAD.Use polyline command, select ORTHO and draw the vertical and horizontal lines by pointing in the directions on the lines and just by entering their length. Five minute job.

 

[dik]

There are a couple of commercial segmental precast products that have programs that will draw their walls... Allen block and Risi walls, for example... I have them both on my desktop...

They will draw elevations, sections and do quantities... might check with one of their salesmen...

Dik

 

[RFreund]

Chicopee - Yes the top and bottom of wall elevations are very easy to draw don't get me wrong (this is why I feel it should/can be automated). However sometimes you want to adjust those step locations so that you get a more efficient block layout. Also you have to edit the elevation numbers. I have had jobs where we have had 20 walls to do (rare). I'm just trying to save some time and learn more about excel, programming and autocad.

dik- Yeah, I have both as well. Although I don't usually use them. I like to keep the same processes so I usually don't switch between programs (usually I use SRWall and just draw the wall). I have contemplated contacting them however I'm not sure how to have that conversation - "I like you software and can you tell me how to create it?" I tried to ask one of Keystones engineers for the password to their spreadsheet, it was kinda awkward but he told me to ask the regional sales manager.

Thanks guys.

EIT

 

[brandonbw]

I remember watching my old business partner draw retaining wall profiles at our job before. =( is all I can say to that.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil and Structural Engineering

http://bwengr.com