Geometry

For both the Spread and Continuous Footing Geometry assignment dialog boxes, the assignments are limited to the categories that have the Assign option selected. If, for example, the Assign Thickness box is not selected, then the assigned footing's thickness parameter will not change.

The Assign > Geometry – Spread command permits the user to apply dimensional information to foundations on a single, fence or all basis. The engineer has the opportunity to indicate which dimensions will be optimized and, for those dimensions, to enter a maximum dimension. Dimensions that will be optimized have a check mark to the left and the maximum edit box is available. In Figure 11, all dimensions are being optimized.

The engineer can also use this command to indicate which dimensions will not be optimized. Removing the check mark from the check box to the left indicates that the user's entered size will be used as the dimensional value.

Setting	Description
Assume All Bars are Hooked at Ends	When reinforcing bars without hooks are specified, the footing dimensions must often be oversized to provide sufficient development length for the bars. By hooking the bars a more economical footing may be possible. The option to consider all bars hooked at the end is assigned on a footing-by-footing basis. This option provides a way to cause the footing design to ignore the development length checks for all reinforcement in spread footings. The program will not do any calculations related to the hooks; it will simply skip the development length calculations and checks. Note: It is the engineer's responsibility to check if hooks are actually required when this option is selected for a footing. When this option is selected it will be indicated in the design reports and DXF output that hooks were assumed for the specified reinforcement.

Setting

Description

Assume All Bars are Hooked at Ends

When reinforcing bars without hooks are specified, the footing dimensions must often be oversized to provide sufficient development length for the bars. By hooking the bars a more economical footing may be possible. The option to consider all bars hooked at the end is assigned on a footing-by-footing basis. This option provides a way to cause the footing design to ignore the development length checks for all reinforcement in spread footings. The program will not do any calculations related to the hooks; it will simply skip the development length calculations and checks.

Note: It is the engineer's responsibility to check if hooks are actually required when this option is selected for a footing. When this option is selected it will be indicated in the design reports and DXF output that hooks were assumed for the specified reinforcement.

If the BS 8110 code is selected, the engineer has the option to design spread footings as either reinforced or unreinforced. Spread footings are specified as unreinforced by selecting the Design as Unreinforced Footing option in the Assign > Geometry – Spread command and assigning it to the desired spread footings.