trekker – BuildSoft Support https://support.buildsoft.eu BuildSoft Support Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:48:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.11 How to model a tension bar/ tie rod https://support.buildsoft.eu/knowledge-base/how-to-model-a-tension-bar-tie-rod/ Wed, 29 Aug 2018 09:31:17 +0000 http://buildsoftsupport.com/?post_type=ht_kb&p=3433

The counterpart/ opposite of a tie rod is a compression bar.

Using button

  • Select the bar(s) you want to define as a tie rod.
  • Assign the desired cross-section to them using or .
  • Click on .
  • Select .

A tie rod defined with this button, is an element without bending stiffness. Only axial stiffness for tension. As a result, the self-weight of the tie rod is applied as two point loads at the ends of the tie rod. By consequence, the self-weight doesn’t cause bending stress in the tie rod, doesn’t cause deformation of the tie rod and won’t affect the results of the steel verification.

Using function

In some models, tie rods defined with the button can result in interation problems because the algorithm deciding which tie rod is working and which one is not, is too strict. The alternative is using a function in which you can define your own limit.

  • Select the bar(s) you want to define as a tie rod.
  • Assign the desired cross-section to them using or .
  • Click on .
  • With My’ and Mz’ choose ‘Free’.
  • With Nx’ choose ‘Function’ and click on .
  • Click on and give the function a name.
  • Enter a small value with ‘<0’ and set ‘>0’ to ‘Fixed’.
    The definition of ‘small’ depends on the model. For some models it will be 0,1 kN/m, for others it will be 1kN/m.
    Choose a value and calculate the structure. If it calculates, divide the value for example by 2 and try again. If it doesn’t calculate, multiply the value by 2 and try again.
    You’ll see that after a few attemps, the compressive force in the tie rods will be neglectable in comparison to the tensile force.
  • Assign the function also to the end of the bar.

A tie rod defined with this method, is an element with bending and axial stiffness. As a result, the self-weight of the tie rod is applied along the axis of the tie rod. By consequence, the self-weight will cause bending stresses, deformations and it will affect the results in the steel verification.

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